Dark Reality of Management Consulting ☠️ | Why I Quit My High-Paying Job at Bain 🤑

Summary

The speaker candidly discusses their decision to leave a prestigious management consulting firm after nine months, despite a lucrative starting salary of 50 lakhs. They delve into the misconceptions about the glamorous life of consultants, revealing the intense workload, lack of work-life balance, and the reality of long hours spent on basic tasks. They also touch on the pressure to deliver high-quality work consistently and the impact on personal life and health. The video serves as a cautionary tale for those considering a career in consulting, emphasizing the importance of considering work-life balance and personal well-being.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker initially had a dream job at a top consulting firm, but after nine months, they decided to resign.
• 💼 The speaker clarifies that despite the prestigious position, the reality of the job was far from the glamorous image portrayed outside.
• 📈 The steep learning curve and career growth opportunities in consulting are often overhyped, with initial years involving basic tasks like data gathering and excel work.
• ⏰ The demanding work schedule with tight deadlines and long hours led to a significant work-life imbalance, impacting personal and family time.
• 🌆 The glamorous life of travel and staying in fancy hotels comes with a cost, including monotony and health issues due to constant travel and irregular eating habits.
• 🏨 The speaker emphasizes that the constant travel is not as enjoyable as it seems, often involving early morning flights and work even during travel time.
• 📉 The speaker felt the pressure of delivering top-notch work continuously, which was unsustainable and led to a decline in mental health.
• 🤝 The myth of working with and learning from smart people was overshadowed by the competitive nature and lack of support within the firm.
• 🚫 The speaker warns against joining a consulting firm without considering the impact on health, family life, and personal well-being.
• 🔄 The decision to leave the consulting firm was driven by the realization that the job was not sustainable and the importance of work-life balance.

Q & A

What was the starting salary at Bain according to the speaker?

The starting salary at Bain was 50 lakhs.

Why did the speaker decide to leave Bain after nine months?

The speaker decided to leave Bain after nine months because the job was not as glamorous as it seemed, with long hours and high stress levels affecting her personal life and health.

What was the speaker's initial dream after completing her MBA?

The speaker's initial dream was to get placed in a top company like Bain, which was a common dream among MBA students.

What was the reality of the consulting world as per the speaker's experience?

The reality of the consulting world was that it involved a lot of basic work, long hours, and high expectations with little scope for error or revision, which was quite different from the glamorous image portrayed.

How did the speaker feel about the work-life balance at Bain?

The speaker felt that the work-life balance at Bain was heavily skewed towards work, with long hours and constant travel making it difficult to maintain a personal life.

What were some of the misconceptions about a consulting career that the speaker wanted to clarify?

The speaker wanted to clarify that despite the glamorous image, consulting involves a lot of hard work, limited work-life balance, and high stress, which are often overlooked.

What was the speaker's experience with travel as a consultant?

The speaker initially enjoyed the travel aspect of consulting but eventually became tired of the constant travel and the lack of time to explore new places due to work commitments.

Why did the speaker feel guilty while working at Bain?

The speaker felt guilty because she was unable to spend time with her family and deliver the expected high level of work performance that her job required.

What was the impact of the job on the speaker's health?

The intense workload and stress from the job started to affect the speaker's health, which was a significant factor in her decision to leave.

What was the speaker's advice for those considering a career in consulting?

The speaker advised considering the intense work hours, potential impact on health and personal life, and the reality of the job before pursuing a career in consulting.

What was the speaker's primary criterion when looking for a new job after leaving Bain?

The speaker's primary criterion for a new job was work-life balance, and she decided not to join any company that did not value a balanced approach to work.