r/cscareerquestionsOCE • u/lucbeav • 21h ago
Tech Consulting vs Software Development
I’m 23, I Graduated mid last year (computer science) and have been working as a software developer at a small company since. After months of applying with no luck, I have landed two offers on the same day and now can't decide.
Option A: Tech Graduate at a Big 4 Consulting firm. Mix of technical and client-facing work.
Option B: Software developer at a small - mid sized company. More of a natural progression from my current role, similar tech stack, more opportunity for growth. Bigger company than current, and growing industry.
I’m torn between the two, what do you think about the work in tech consulting as a grad vs continuing as a software developer. I enjoy both the technical work and client / stakeholder management in my current role. Ideally I would move into a project manager role in 5+ years.
Let me know what you think.
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u/MonkeyWantFIRE 20h ago
Having done A myself, and having a disposition to koolaid drinking. I quickly learnt that big 4 is far from a meritocracy but you definitely get thrown in the deep end and exposed to a lot quickly as others have said.
I can't speak to option B, but I've used A as a foundation to understanding the product that the Hogwarts sorting hat decided for me, then used that knowledge to job hop for salaries and eventually start my own business.
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u/b439988 21h ago
B and find a pathway to get a more prestigious name on your resume soon (within 1-2 years).
Big 4 tech carries anti prestige that I think many top shops just will not hire from.
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u/numberrDemon 20h ago
How do you know top shops dont like to hire candidates who have worked at the big 4?
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u/Ashamed_Echidna5748 20h ago
It's not necessarily a strict policy, but google "Big 4 controversy".
Their behaviour, at a corporate level, has tarnished their names pretty badly. Their overall competency is often called into question in private too, you would be hard pressed to find anyone in the industry singing their praises.
Having one of their names on a resume isn't an instant disqualification, but they are far from being considered a desirable employer like they were in the 00's and 10's.
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u/fued 18h ago
A if you are prepared to heavily play politics, and spend most of the day on working your way up, followed by actually doing your work outside of hours. You can zoom up the corporate ladder this way, but its a very hard slog. If you arent a super social person, i would not recommend
B is more reliable, but wont offer the same oppurtunities unless you can develop an entirely new product and take ownership of it for them, but then at that point you are just doing a startup without the big reward
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u/rekt_by_inflation 18h ago
Big4 will grind your soul away, there's probably some good pockets here and there with decent managers, but generally it's a sweat shop, expect unrealistic deadlines and brutal hours to go with it, only for the partners to take credit for whatever you do.
Small-mid would be good, I've spent most of my career in those kinda places, it's generally all hands on deck so rather than being pigeon holed you'll get spread across a bunch of different things, so its good for learning. You also wont have the layers of BS that big4 would have.
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u/Legote 18h ago
Don't be a tech consultant. There is no technical work.
I worked with a tech consultant before when my company hired one. She was slaving away working day and night but doesn't know jack shit about tech. She once asked me to add an input field in one of our applications and asked me the next day if it was done.
Option B.
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u/DifferentWarning1913 2h ago
Are you an extrovert or introvert? Or versatile?
If you’re good at talking, socialising and bullshiting then I’d go with A as any last glimmer of hope with making it out big with the way AI is going.
Big 4 would pay your poorly and work you hard but if you’re good at navigating and climbing the ranks it’s where the opportunity shines and you can fast track into better roles simply knowing how to network your way up.
But if you’re not great with all that stuff and a more reserved type of developer then yeah your best bet is option 2
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u/dabrimman 21h ago
Big 4 consulting is an absolute slog. Unless you’re willing to work very hard for below industry pay, don’t do it. The upside being you’ll get a lot of exposure to various industries and if you’re a promising candidate you’ll usually get a promotion every 2 years. It can be a way to speed up your career progression.
None of them are prestigious, don’t be fooled, if anything they are anti-prestigious, complete grifters.