New to consulting

Hello everyone,

I recently secured a role as a Consultant within a finance practice, at a Big four firm in London. I've worked in finance (management accounts) in industry for the last three years and nearly qualified under ACCA - just to give you some context.

A broad question, but how does it all work! I mean I can understand there will be some networking etc to get yourself onto a gig that you might really want to do, but when you first jump in do they assign you a project?

Now I wait for the barrage of sarcastic comments!

thanks

as per a previous thread i'm in the process of joining a big 4 firm, but currently in a sort of consulting/outsourcing role.

i had a real culture shock when moving from industry - the level of networking that's required is much greater. i've always had a "keep your head down and your mouth shut" approach and don't like to bother senior figures unless i have to. however that doesn't work in consulting as those senior figures start to regard you as arrogant when you don't make a conscious effort to engage them.

there is a fine line between networking and brown nosing that i don't like to cross, but i'm definitely seeing the benefits of going out of my way to connect with people even if i don't necessarily need something from them.

Well done on the new job!

You'll be just fine. HR will probably assign you to help out on a few projects on a non chargeable basis. Then eventually they'll put you on a project as a chargeable team member. HR will generally make sure you have something to do, but in the longer term the best approach is to get to know the people around you and just offer to help them with things. If you know a team is busy and you have some capacity, approach one of the managers or a partner and just say you'd like to help if you can. This is also the best way to get yourself onto the good projects :)

Well done again on the new role

Guys, thank you very much for the responses, really helpful.