Happy new year to all. I have to choose between going on an international assignment with Ericsson building their Business Consulting capability in Algeria or going on Middle management consulting at Atos Consulting in France. Responsibility and money are different, but my priority is a career shift to banking or strategy. My objective is to go on a one-year MBA (preferably Insead, if not would be a 2-years MBA in the US) ASAP, and than move to M&A or alternatively to strategy consulting. I am 29, strong international profile, with 5 years of experience (with some significant change): 2 years in business consulting in CapGemini, than moved to industry at Vivendi Universal to build a group technology planning capability for 1 year, than freelance in telecom business consulting for 2 years (didn't find the right job in market, so moved to freelance) What would be your pick? Thanks for your help! K.

Beware, this is a very typical mistake:I-banking and Strat consulting are two COMPLETELY different thinks. If you really like one of them, I doubt you´ll like the other. Also the needed skill set is very different. Choose wisely and inform yourself of what really each of them means. Do not go for a job just because of prestige or things like "it will look good on my CV"!!!

Thank you for your note. Actually you are somehow right. I still didn't made up my mind regarding those two career options. My desired focus is M&A (in emerging countries in particular), which can be handled either in strategy consulting services or within banks. Both options are viable to me, I still got time to think about it, at least two years, till graduation from MBA for example. The easiest would clearly be strategy consulting, where I shall better adapt regarding my background in consulting and industry operations, whereas banking will be a new experience to me, but a very attractive role.Having said this, what would be your best pick regarding the short term options? (first message)

I would pick Investment Banking, if you don´t mind working within an extremely aggressive environment filled with greedy and money driven people. That is what you´ll find, no mater what people might tell you. It may be good or bad, depending on your point of view..!Strat consulting is about making ppt presentations of things you take from textbooks and previous projects. This may look very depreciating but it is what you will feel after a couple of years there. It is less demanding but you will make less money to, if that is what you´re looking for...

Thanks a lot, you gave me a different perspective from what I had thought! Really interesting.Actually my question about choosing a career path towards one of those included heading now for Ericsson as an expatriate in Algeria to build their business consulting capability or stay within a consulting company in Paris now (Atos Consulting). You can read my first email for a detailed explanation about it. I don't know what is better valued for the career options I want to get through and the MBA admission. My questions was realted to this short term choice. Thanks a lot

I think that Algeria is a good experiment, you would be face much of problem and much of case, and I can say to you that there is not to better learn, if you wanted France it is too square.it is my oppinion

Hi,Thanks very much for this comment. It help me to think about my ideals.Tks again and pls keep posting.

If you want to get into i-banking, with MBBB as a secondary option, shoudn't you be thinking about doing an MBA right now? The post-MBA route seems a pretty strong way in, if difficult.I'm not sure what either of those positions will add to your eventual application to ibanking or strategy, and as you're 29 and want to do a year (at least) as an MBA, you would already be pretty old vs. the youngest associates. An alternative might be an executive MBA - typically one day a week, but I've no idea how those work with internships or ibanking admission in general.Or (and disclosure - I was at LBS) if you're focused on just finance you might consider their Masters in Finance program - again not sure what success rate it has but clearly intended to be for the finance guys.

MBA'er... I think you'll find he's 34 now, not 29 ;)

Fair point