Work in Consulting firm vs mid size product based company

Question

Hello,

I received an offer from bain for Staff software engineer. I would like to know how is the work culture and what differences are there to work in a consulting firm as a SWE compared to working in normal product company ( for eg- OLA, HERE-Technologies etc)

Answer 1

Happy to share some thoughts.

Though I'd recommend that you also go straight to the source - find a couple of people that work at Bain in this role in your geography and also at similar consulting firms in this role (e.g., McK, BCG).

Have a chat with them and see what they say. Nobody can know better than them.

From my interactions with colleagues holding these roles in McK, they seemed rather happy with the benefits (financial compensation, health insurance, participating in firm events and trips), lifestyle (similar to what you'd have in other places, and definitely better than that of the consultants) and the brand of the firm (which would enable them to get even better offers in the future).

If you decide to go ahead with it, best of luck with the recruitment process!

Best,
Cristian

Answer 2

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the offer from Bain!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:

First of all, to be honest, your previous interviews would have been the perfect place to inquire about exactly that.
Moreover, since that ship has sailed in the meantime, I would advise you to contact (former) employees of a similar role in consulting to better understand your future role.
Lastly, if you don't mind me asking, what is the reason for your question? Do you have another offer?

If you would like a more detailed discussion on your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Answer 3

Congrats on Bain offer for Staff software engineer role. Please find some comparison

Nature of Projects:

Bain: Varied, short-term projects for different clients.
Product Company: Continuous development of specific products.

Technical Environment:

Bain: Adapt to various technologies ; focus on problem , not technology
Product Company: Stable tech stack;

Skill Development:

Bain: Learn other facets including client management and strategic thinking.
Product Company: Deep technical expertise in specific areas.

All the best,
Regards, Ashwin

Answer 4

It's probably a better deal to be at the consulting firm, particularly because you will always get a lot of recognition from Corporates, and probably be working in a lot of great projects.

But, honestly, the only way to answer your question is to reach out to people who are working in those roles.

Answer 5

Hi there, First of all, congratulations on the offers! I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question: I woul... (read entire answer)

Hi there, First of all, congratulations on the offers! I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question: I would highly advise you to opt for the option that better aligns... (read entire answer)

Answer 6

I highly doubt that it is the sole reason your friend landed the job at BCG, so I wouldn't overestimate its utility.... (read entire answer)

I highly doubt that it is the sole reason your friend landed the job at BCG, so I wouldn't overestimate its utility. I agree with the reasons other experts have put forward here... (read entire answer)

Answer 7

Hi there, I would be happy to share my thoughts on your questions: First of all, you are right when you mention exces... (read entire answer)

Hi there, I would be happy to share my thoughts on your questions: First of all, you are right when you mention excessive workload and burnout as reasons for consultants leaving... (read entire answer)