Consulting vs. Industry: Is it a valid debate?
While studying for my MBA @ Cranfield, I had tried securing roles in Consulting sector. The desire was fuelled from the self-belief that a consulting role should be a logical progression following my long industry stint. After all, consultants are problem solvers for the industry - so my industry experience would hold me in good stead. Right?
Wrong! Well, at least that is what my experience during the job hunt told me. A consultant looks for a consultant (almost always) even if in my view it is not correct!
Three months into a consulting career after 15 years in the industry - that's where I stand today. And I thought it would be a good idea to actually do a stock-take and look back over my shoulder.
The very fact that I managed a foray into management consulting does confirm that industry experience is relevant. I still cannot imagine a case where I as a client in industry would be happy if approached by a 25-26 year old consultant who has never had his hands dirty "doing" things. Industry experience lends credibility to a consultant. It also coaches you to be able to see solutions while wearing the cap of a realist. And above all, it equips you with the interpersonal skills (or at least the awareness about it). Whether it is organisational politics, power games, superior - subordinate management or hierarchical nuances - it is the industry experience that will teach you all this.
What did the industry stint not offer me that the consulting sector is!
A couple of things so far:
- The variety of assignments; across diverse industries, different sets of problems to be resolved, exposure to functions / challenges that I had not worked on before
- Skill to look at things from a macro level before a need to do a deep-dive in details
- Critical skill to communicate more from less, especially when writing a PowerPoint deck
- Conflict management - unlike industry, the teams you would work here do not have a hierarchy to assist you when needed; everyone is a peer
- Unlearn and relearn - as you move from assignment to assignment, not only are you cross pollinating your knowledge, you would also be unlearning and relearning continuously.
In a nutshell, I'd say that the debate, if it exists, is itself flawed. I would still stick to my belief that industry experience is a must for consulting career (vice-versa not true). And I would agree that consulting experience takes you on that "extra" marathon of learning curve. Let's see how my journey unfolds.
Wrong! Well, at least that is what my experience during the job hunt told me. A consultant looks for a consultant (almost always) even if in my view it is not correct!
Three months into a consulting career after 15 years in the industry - that's where I stand today. And I thought it would be a good idea to actually do a stock-take and look back over my shoulder.
The very fact that I managed a foray into management consulting does confirm that industry experience is relevant. I still cannot imagine a case where I as a client in industry would be happy if approached by a 25-26 year old consultant who has never had his hands dirty "doing" things. Industry experience lends credibility to a consultant. It also coaches you to be able to see solutions while wearing the cap of a realist. And above all, it equips you with the interpersonal skills (or at least the awareness about it). Whether it is organisational politics, power games, superior - subordinate management or hierarchical nuances - it is the industry experience that will teach you all this.
What did the industry stint not offer me that the consulting sector is!
A couple of things so far:
- The variety of assignments; across diverse industries, different sets of problems to be resolved, exposure to functions / challenges that I had not worked on before
- Skill to look at things from a macro level before a need to do a deep-dive in details
- Critical skill to communicate more from less, especially when writing a PowerPoint deck
- Conflict management - unlike industry, the teams you would work here do not have a hierarchy to assist you when needed; everyone is a peer
- Unlearn and relearn - as you move from assignment to assignment, not only are you cross pollinating your knowledge, you would also be unlearning and relearning continuously.
In a nutshell, I'd say that the debate, if it exists, is itself flawed. I would still stick to my belief that industry experience is a must for consulting career (vice-versa not true). And I would agree that consulting experience takes you on that "extra" marathon of learning curve. Let's see how my journey unfolds.
posted by Sandeep Gupta at
11:37 am
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