Do you remember Pam from ‘The Office?’
If you’re as obsessed with the series as I am, then you probably remember how she came back to the Scranton branch after trying out other workplaces. That was a stark reminder for me that who you work with MATTERS!
I am all for the idea of not bringing your work home, but let’s be honest for a second here. Is that really possible? Won’t a fight with your manager or a colleague ruin your mood and your whole day? So, how do you expect to forget it all once the clock strikes 5?
That’s why you should always choose a company that’s known not only for the million bucks it makes but also for its vibes and how much it values its employees.
So, if you are about to start your consulting career or looking for a change, then it’s a good day for you as I have just compiled a list of 13 top consulting firms to which you should send your application. But before I share my secret list of management consulting companies, let’s check out what actually makes a management consulting firm ideal.
What makes a top consulting firm?
There are several things that can make or break the image of a company, and while most of us think that it’s mainly their year-on-year growth or their losses that matter, we often forget that employees also play a huge role in the prestige of the company.
Take EY, for example; it’s one of the top management consultant companies in the world, yet the death of Anna Sebastian Perail, a 26-year-old employee, allegedly due to work pressure, has tainted its “perfect” image.
I feel tempted to ‘click apply’ on almost any vacancy with decent pay that I spot on LinkedIn, but after having to deal with toxic colleagues and rude managers, I have learned my lesson. Now, every time I am looking for a job for myself or a friend, I have a checklist to make sure it’s the right one.
Here’s the one I am talking about:
Prestige
Now, by prestige, I don’t mean that a company has to be a *pookie* only to its employees. Its influence in the industry matters, too. You wouldn’t want to join an AI consulting company where the experience you gather won’t be valued by others.
I know it’s hard to judge this one without actually joining the company, but there’s one thing that you can actually do. Read the job description carefully. I mean it. If it doesn’t align 100% with your job role, then it’s just not worth it.
Several friends of mine made the mistake of not understanding or reading the job description properly and ended up doing jobs that they were not meant to. So, keep your eyes open.
Culture
Do I really need to say anything about it? If the work culture of a place is not good, you shouldn’t work there at all. Initially, you may think that the huge compensation is worth the mental harassment, but you could not be more wrong.
While you will be able to prepare yourself mentally to deal with the toxic stuff, your body will reject the negativity, and it will turn up as health issues. So, eventually, you will realize that no amount of money can replace a good mental state.
Also, working in a toxic work culture can ruin your management consultant career. So, why would you do yourself so much harm?
Compensation
At some point we all have thought that working for less would make us look honest and good, right? But that’s a really stupid thought, and I know you understood it too when the work pressure increased. So, ask your worth from the first day.
Before you hit the apply button, you should check if the salary matches your expectations as per your job description. If it’s not, still try to negotiate by highlighting your skills and the value you will add to the company, but if the employer is adamant, it’s best to turn down that offer.
Work/Life Balance
Now, compensation shouldn’t just include salary. Signing up to work for an AI consulting company doesn’t automatically mean that they’re entitled to all your time. You should have boundaries and make sure that no one from your work interrupts your “me” time.
So, to ensure that a company respects work-life balance, you should talk to previous employees or look at Glassdoor reviews. The latter helped me a lot when I was on a job hunt.
Future Prospect
Before joining a company, you should check if they give their employees enough opportunities to grow in their careers. And I am not talking about transitioning into a full-time employee from an intern. I mean real growth in skills and experience.
At business management consultant companies, there’s always something to learn, but it’s only possible when you get involved in different projects. So, ask around and enquire about the hierarchy system in the company, as sometimes the seniors at these firms refuse to make room for juniors to learn.
Or you can ask your company to help fund a part of your education, which will help with the upskilling process. Recently, the 10X Consultant’s ‘Consultant in the Age of Gen AI’ course has been making rounds in the industry.
Both professionals and freshers are in favor of this course as it contains something for every group.
| Did you know? The course is hosted by Shen Pandi, who has over 10 years of consulting experience from top companies like Deloitte and McKinsey. |
- Freshers find the course easily understandable and praise its ‘go at your own pace’ format. They are also impressed by the role-play mock interviews that the course provides as it prepares them for actual interviews.
- Professionals use the course for upskilling as it includes in-depth information on AI consulting, which is the future of the industry.
- Apart from consulting enthusiasts, anyone who is interested in learning more about Gen AI, which is currently taking over the tech world, can enroll in the course. It is a great option to hone your problem-solving, communication, and consulting skills.
Now, on to the list.
The best management consultant companies to work at
I have divided this section into two parts for the USA and India – two countries where exist most of the top management consulting companies.
Best management consulting companies in the USA
If you are looking to get into data management consulting companies, then these names should be at the top of your list.
Bain
Every time I interact with an MBA grad, they mention without fail how desperate they are to get into Bain. It is one of the three top management consulting companies in the world. Though it has a reputation for making management consultants work for long hours, its projects are also damn interesting.
But do you know what the best perk is for working here? Bain’s exit opportunities. Usually, their consultants get scooped up by wealthy private equity firms for top roles.
Other reasons:
- Bain provides its employees with global exposure and experience in different sectors, such as health, equity, technology, etc.
- It makes sure you grow in the company and thus allows employees to grow from interns to case team leaders and even partners.
- The most unique feature is its 6-month externship where employees work with other companies to explore their culture and practices.
BCG
Another name that management consultants can’t stop raving about is BCG. Its work culture is quite similar to Bain’s; I mean, you will have to work long hours, but at this point, consultants have normalized this as they usually work with clients from all over the world.
But there’s still something that separates Bain from other companies. It’s the unique programs like Strategy Lab or BCG Fellows program that they offer their employees. It allows them to upskill themselves even more and grow within the same company.
Other reasons:
- If you join BCG, you’ll have the opportunity to work in over 45 countries across the world and similarly on global projects.
- BCG also offers diversity programs, allowing employees with similar backgrounds and interests to learn and network at the same time.
- The company has a very rich alumni, which proves its worth and influence in the industry.
McKinsey & Company
From Netflix series to memes, McKinsey is a well-known name, and they usually hire only from the top colleges. It is also marked as the most valued brand in the world, so yeah, you get the hype. But the best thing about the company is that they even hire professionals from non-business backgrounds.
| BTW, if you are planning to apply to top management consulting companies, here are some great cover letter samples for you. |
But I can’t hand out all the credit to McKinsey as the company would have been nothing without its extra hard-working and talented employees. They are also generously rewarded with good hikes and amazing exit opportunities. So, there’s a great reason to join the company.
Other reasons:
- McKinsey’s training is top-notch, and once you get trained there, you almost become a part of the top 1% in the management consulting field.
- It has earned its name as one of the top management consulting companies also because its tag often gets its employees into the best business programs like Harvard and Stanford.
- Its strict organizational structure also helps employees learn efficiently and climb up the corporate ladder quickly.
Cornerstone Research
A big name among risk management consulting companies is Cornerstone, and I would say it’s rightly so. All their employees are experts in handling any financial crisis and are, therefore, highly valued in the industry. All thanks to Cornerstone’s amazing training program.
Other reasons:
- If you love getting perks from your company, you should join Cornerstone. They provide gym subsidies, childcare programs, paid parental leaves, and even 401(k)
- The most amazing part is any associate of the company can become a partner via regular training from Cornerstone college.
- The company has a good reputation for providing networking opportunities, too.
Oliver Wyman
It is one of the best strategy management consulting firms and almost a paradise for management consultants as Oliver Wyman promotes its employees every 18 to 24 months. And another good thing is that it has a very fun work culture so no one really minds the long hours.
Oh, and Oliver Wyman also does not require any advanced degree. So, now you understand why I called it a paradise?
Other reasons:
- Even though Oliver Wyman is one of the top management consulting companies, it still maintains an environment similar to small business management consulting companies. By that I mean they encourage their employees to share ideas, experiments, and grow.
- Another mind-blowing perk is that at Oliver Wyman, you can make a partner within 6 to 9 years!
- Oliver Wyman also prioritizes work-life balance, and the biggest proof is its FlexOW program that allows its employees to take fellowships, sabbaticals, externships, etc.
OC&C Strategy Consultants
If you hate traveling and writing long emails just to get one leave approved, then you will love working at OC&C, one of the best global management consulting companies. Plus, it has a really high rating when it comes to employee satisfaction, not only because of the perks but also because of its friendly office setting.
By that, I meant that juniors have access to directly connect and learn from seniors and expert mentors. So, the learning opportunity is huge.
Other reasons:
- OC&C has an inclusive work culture and thus provides a safe place for LGBTQ+ and women employees.
- They also provide an unpaid leaves option just to make employees’ lives easier.
- The company also knows how to keep its employees happy by hosting events, office trips, etc.
Best management consulting companies in India
Now that we are done with the USA let’s move on to the top management consulting companies in India.
KPMG
You know, the obsession of Asian parents with pushing their children only toward the best? So, in India, most parents dream of their children getting into the Big 4, and KPMG is one of them.
The company is mainly known for its extremely supportive work culture. There’s a good possibility that you will find your bestie there. Anyway, apart from this, KPMG also provides flexible work hours which is still a dream for many management consultants.
Other reasons:
- KPMG has offices in 143 countries! So, the different opportunities one gets here are endless.
- The company also has diversity programs like the Diversity Advisory Board and Executive Leadership Institute for Women to make the office a safe place for all.
- It is also known as one of the top recruiters.
Deloitte
As one of the top business management consultant companies, Deloitte is Forbes’ and fresher’s favorite. When my friends were in business colleges, they said that most of them were planning to join the company or had already done so.
It’s maybe because Deloitte provides opportunities for a lot of international travel. The company also has a youthful environment and offers fast-paced growth.
Other reasons:
- Several professionals have reached top levels at Deloitte just after 2 or 3 years of joining.
- The company cares about its employees’ mental well-being as well and thus offers thoughtful programs and flexible work life.
- With over 200,000 employees globally, it has immense influence in the industry.
Accenture
Now, let’s talk about the shark of the industry. Accenture is one of the top data management consulting companies and has an employee count of over 700,000. There are even memes of Accenture as fresher’s last hope as the company mass hires from colleges.
So, it’s a great stepping stone for any data management consultant fresher.
Other reasons:
- Accenture’s Career Counselor program is amazing for freshers as it pairs them with mentors for better and faster learning.
- The company’s reputation in the industry allows its employees to have great exit opportunities.
- As the company has wings in 120 countries, it provides a great opportunity to learn from different cultures and work environments.
LEK
If you love a good challenge, try getting into LEK as a consultant. It is one of the top global management AI consulting companies and is also marked as one of the hardest to get into. That is why it only has 1200 consultants worldwide.
But once you get in, your earning potential increases by a lot. The company offers a joining bonus of USD 100,000, a huge bonus, along with dental and vision care benefits and others
Kearney
Another top global management consulting company is Kearney and it is known for its good work culture and its work-life balance.
Other reasons:
- The company offers fast career growth, meaning you start facing clients very early on in your career.
- Kearney exposes its employees to different high-status clients, sometimes even including Fortune 500 companies.
- It also has a very rich alumni, and that provides employees with a great networking opportunity.
PwC
You might cry after hearing this. The working hours at PwC are not as demanding as other companies. However, the company does expect you to travel frequently. But that’s not a turn-off for many.
PwC is also known for its fun workplace culture, as it hosts weekly happy hours and also has a ‘Common Connections’ program to help employees network easily with other colleagues. The company makes sure that its employees are mentally fit as well, which is a huge plus.
Management Consulting as a career
I’ll be honest with you. Management consultants have to endure rigorous work schedules, long calls, frequent travels, etc, so it becomes difficult for them to have a proper work-life balance. Therefore, it is important that they choose a company that has a great work culture.
It is easily possible if you are highly skilled, and you can start your upskilling journey with 10X Consultant today. Take it slow, and you will make it happen.
And as always, All the best!
