MBB / Big 4 vs Boutique Consulting Firms - what should you do?

What is it really like working for a big like Big 4 or MBB consulting firm vs a small boutique consulting firm? Are big consulting firms better? I tackle pros and cons of working for a Big 4 / MBB consulting firm on key factors you should prioritise choosing a consulting firm on.

I spoke to a variety of people in the UK working at big and boutique consulting firms and these were the general things that I noticed. PLEASE NOTE, each firm is different so you do really need to speak to people at these firms to make sure it's a firm that you want to work for.

🎬 WANT TO SKIP AHEAD?
00:00 Intro
00:31 Career progression
01:01 Type of work
02:00 Choice of projects
02:44 Culture
04:17 Work life balance
05:09 Flexibility and support
05:55 Outro

📚 RECOMMENDED BOOKS:
1) Consulting
2) Entrepreneurship
3) Women in the Workplace
4) Other Non-Business Favs

🙋WHO AM I?
I'm Kajol, a Big 4 Senior Manager working in London, UK. In my spare time, I post content to do with career and life. My aim is to help you have more happier and successful work lives.

📞 CONNECT WITH ME
If you’d like to talk, I’d love to hear from you. If you want a quick response, Instagram is probably the best medium but feel free to email me too.

👩‍💻 MY APPROACH TO CONTENT CREATION
All videos are based on my four years of experience working in consulting. Topics where I've had no real life experience is based on research and 1-1 interviews with consultants who have the relevant knowledge.

🤓 DISCLAIMERS
*AFFILIATE LINK: This is an affiliate link that allows you to search the items I've mentioned in this video at ABSOLUTELY no cost to you. It helps and sustains my channel - thank you for the support!

My views do not represent the views of any company that I've mentioned in my video. Please do note that if I talk about a UK firm, counterparts in other countries are not always the same.

[KajolPhadnis]

PLEASE share your experiences working in a big firm or a boutique firm - it'll help the consulting community on Youtube! (Oh and plug, please LIKE my video if you genuinely liked it - thanks squad).

Each firm is different so please do make sure you speak to someone in the firm before you accept the offer! FYI you'll notice I didn't mention training - each firm will have training opportunities but very different on breadth and depth of what you're being taught. Not something which has a 'straight' answer between big vs boutique firms!

[pc-nqws]

Great content, keep it up!! The flexibility aspect @5:09 seems accurate. I just talked with a recruiter from a boutique firm today, and was amazed to hear the quantity, quality, and the speed of their institutional changes due to covid and social tensions over racial injustice.

[danny]

Hey Kajal, Thank you for creating this video. It will provide clarity to tons of people and enable them to make a more informed career move.

[minsplease]

Hey Kajol, you nailed it on the PowerPoint presentations part under career progression.

[razabadass]

Thank you for the video on the pluses and minus points of working in various forms of consulting firms, appreciated the points on the topic of internal competition as well. Raza :)

[therikay]

I work in environmental consulting and I've worked for a huge consultancy for a year and a boutique consultancy for a year (almost!) as well.

Can definitely say that my mental health is 1000% better working at a boutique firm - huge consultancies like you said its easy to be forgotten, they still know you're there because you clock your hours but the humanity is often not there and you don't get heard if you have issues.

[oluwatoyin]

Love your content. As someone who just got into uni, I've been trying to dee what career prospects I could aim towards and you make consulting seem like a good choice.

[jjohn]

In boutiques... or at least in mine... there is no choice in projects. I get an email or a phone call as to when and where to book the next flight... and BAM! There goes the next 3 to 6 months of my life. Whether I like the project or not!!

[OdysseusAres]

Consulting Actuary here, small boutique firms to date.

I smirked when I heard the intro "charge their clients less money."

Can't say I agree, based on my personal experience.

[adamsandalls]

I work for a smaller consultancy firm so am aware of what the 'Bench' is. However, I'm curious to know how big firms manage this process and what other opportunities there are to get involved with when not actually working on a project?

[hanoic]

0:56 I am surprised to hear this, have you had opportunities to present or lead in your time at Deloitte? Great video as always!

[BetterMensproject]

You did n't talk about the pay difference, are they same?

[anantsinha]

I was wondering if Boutique firms have the same kind of support for pursuing an MBA. There are so many people in McKinsey who get their Harvard MBA on the company's money and because their profile looks more impressive to admission officers (I assume partially because of the McKinsey name on it). Is that something someone working in a boutique firm could do ?

[aymanfagir]

Great content as usual. I wonder how Boutique firms allocate their knowledge assets from, is there specialised resources independent consultants can utilize also?

[GramenGB]

*fewer people *fewer opportunities *fewer offices