3. What It’s Really Like to Work in Consulting (and What They Don’t Tell You)
Apr 30, 2025
Let’s be honest: consulting has a shiny exterior. High-profile clients. Strategy decks. Business class flights. But beneath the polish lies the real, day-to-day experience of working in the industry.
This post is your behind-the-scenes pass into what life actually looks like as a consultant – the gritty realities and the surprising rewards. If you’re serious about this career path, you deserve the full picture.
The Reality Check: What You Don’t Hear on Career Panels
- Not Every Day is Strategy Day
Despite the buzzwords, a large part of your work will be:
- Coordinating with clients who haven’t opened your email.
- Formatting slides until 2am.
- Working through implementation details ("How will we actually do this?").
And yes, sometimes you’ll spend hours solving for why the client’s numbers don’t reconcile across spreadsheets.
- Client Dynamics Are No Joke
Your stakeholders might:
- Be skeptical of consultants.
- Push back hard on your recommendations.
- Expect you to be right and fast and polished.
You’ll have to learn the art of managing up, reading the room, and navigating tough personalities with grace.
- The Learning Curve Can Be Overwhelming
Your first 6 months might feel like:
- Drinking from a firehose.
- Making (and recovering from) fast mistakes.
- Being the least knowledgeable person in every room.
But that discomfort? It’s fuel for growth. You’ll look back and be stunned at how far you’ve come.
The Hidden Upsides: Why So Many Stick Around (or Launch From Here)
- You Learn at Hyper-Speed
Consulting compresses years of experience into months. You’ll:
- Build core business skills across functions and industries.
- Watch how C-level execs think and make decisions.
- Learn to simplify complex problems under pressure.
- You Build a Lifelong Network
Your peers and managers often become:
- Co-founders.
- Investors.
- Champions who open doors for your next career move.
There’s a reason why ex-consultants show up across top MBAs, startups, and Fortune 500s.
- You Gain Career Clarity
Maybe you realize you love client service. Or maybe you discover it’s not your forever path. Either way:
- You get exposure to multiple industries.
- You build optionality.
- You learn what energizes you – and what doesn’t.
Consulting is not glamorous every day. But it is a powerful career accelerator. You’ll work hard, grow fast, and develop a toolkit that travels with you wherever you go.
So if you’re considering the path, don’t just ask: Do I want to get the offer? Ask: Am I ready for the reality, and the rewards?
Want to hear more real stories from ex-consultants and get ready for the road ahead?
Our full course blends practical prep with honest insights to help you thrive in consulting—not just get in.