The pros and cons of consulting will vary by each individual person’s preferences as well as what firms they are interested in. Here are some standard points to start considering.
| Pros | Cons |
| Variety of the work. No two days are the same. Constantly working with different industries on different types of problems. This can be a good step for students who want to explore what industries are out there. | Long hours. When a client wants something done in 2 days even though it should take 4, sometimes you have to work extra-long to meet that demand. Work life balance can be a challenge for many consultants. |
| Access to senior leadership. Interns and analysts can work with the C-suite (CEO, CFO etc.) of a company on a project. This exposure can help develop your leadership and professionalism. | High pressure and stress. Since you are working for clients and trying to meet their expectations, the job can come with pressure and stress. |
| Immediate impact. Consultants work on complex and high priority problems that can have a huge impact on your client’s company. | No real ownership of your work. At the end of the day, your work is done for the client and it is up to them to see the execution through. It’s also the client who will make the go and no-go decisions. As a consultant you can really only produce recommendations and those recommendations may never come into fruition. |
| Professional growth. Young consultants receive frequent feedback at most firms. This can be after a project is completed, every 6 months, or every 12 months. There tends to be a lot of mentorship at consulting firms and many opportunities to learn and grow new skillsets and competencies. | Frequent travel. Consultants tend to travel all over the world while working on different projects for their clients. While this may seem exciting, the travel is not a vacation. The client site can be in the middle of nowhere, or sometimes the hours mean that you cannot explore the place you are in. |
| Accelerate your career path. A consultant’s toolkit is highly recognized in the professional world and can translate to a number of additional jobs after a tenure in consulting. |
