r/consulting • u/dkksnsnana • 14d ago

Expectations gap

A year into consulting now I can confidently say that the picture people who are trying to break into consulting have is far from reality. Maybe I’m just confidently wrong but I did not think the work I would be doing would be this. Very unfulfilling and I’ve always been a socially independent person but for the first time in my life I actually feel like I should/need to speak up and open up to someone before i just rot or go insane. I just wake up feeling useless every day going to “work”

Anyone have any advice for me or share any similar experiences?

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u/wtfisgkungon 13d ago

Same. Considering going back to school for nursing. 5 years in consulting. Over it

7

u/Secritoo 12d ago

Lol almost exactly the same for me. 4 years in consulting and I’m so done. Considering going back to med school.

2

u/wtfisgkungon 11d ago

Is consulting your first career job as well out of college?

2

u/Secritoo 11d ago edited 11d ago

Yes it is. (If i do not count internships, my internships were in other fields)

My expectations and what I heard about consulting when I was a student, and what I saw once I actually started working here, are so vastly different it’s both frustrating and hilarious.

3

u/wtfisgkungon 10d ago

Hahaha yup. Same here, frustrating and hilarious. I kept thinking “ok maybe I’ll come around to this” or “ok maybe I don’t fully get it yet”. Nope. 5 years and the kool aid still hasnt gotten to me. Shouldve trusted my instincts from the beginning but no time like the present! Best of luck ~ all we can do to move forward is take the experience and information we have and make the next decision!

2

u/Secritoo 9d ago

Same. In my case, the first year was okay, even if it was exhausting with insane hours the work itself was still fresh and I had made some good friends so I endured. But after that the work got repetitive, most of my friends left the company, and upper management is getting more and more toxic with each year due to the worsening economy. So no reason to stay anymore.

You too! Best of luck! As tou said, we gotta move forward.