Any feedback/information on what it's like to work at LEK? Any information on culture, average work hours per week (weekends, etc.), reward, recognition, promotion method welcome.Would especially welcome any comments from people who have left LEK (as LEK consultants themselves generally seem to love working there)

Great place if you can hack it. Culture is extremely collegiate which is helped by the minimal travelling so everyone is in the office most days. Hours have a worse reputation than is really justified as the average is only about 56 a week but it does get pretty intense around deadlines especially on the ground-breaking cases. Reviews and promotions are genuinely meritocratic and some people have rocketed through the system as a result but the up-or-out is also not as aggressive as some other places. The biggest positive is the quality of the people and the friendliness. There's no office politics, well at least not below Partner level! The biggest downside is probably the unstinting intellectual rigour and client focus, which can get a bit much: if you're an 80/20-kind of person, frankly you'll hate it. I've found it's been a great basis for future options and the headhunters seem to just love LEK Associates. What level are you looking at? Associate or Consultant?

An AVERAGE of 56 hours a week!! OMG! Thats over 11 hours a day, 5 days a week or 9 hours 6 days a week (every single week), or even 8 hours every single day!! Surely these hours are more likely only during pressure times? I've put in nearly 12 hours a day 7 days a week for nearly 3 weeks before, but my own average is maybe closer to 9 hours a day 5 days a week (45 hours) with maybe 1 weekend a month working a Sat or Sun too - and I thought I was worked/flogged pretty hard by a similar 1st tier strat firm... How can you really be productive if you work so long for an extended period of time - what about your family/children.... Do you live close to work as you surely couldnt commute for >+1hour each way too? Or is the figure maybe just plucked out of the air to sound a bit more 'macho' (no offense intended - we've all done it)? And before anyone mentions junior doctors, I'm aware of thier hours, but they also look like zombies after 3/4 weeks of those kind of hours... I always thought LEK looked like a great company to work for, but if thats the average, I'll be giving them a miss if/when I'm ever looking for another role.

I think 11 hrs a day is average in consulting, no matter what Firm you are in. I'm in Deloitte's Strategy and Operations area and consistently work 11 - 13 hrs a day. Even when on the bench I still manage 10 hrs due to internal development work. 9 hours a day, that's 8am - 5pm! Are you in house consulting in public sector!?

I'm afraid I'm not so sure, and while your comment made me smirk, I can assure you its not an 'in house' or 'public consultancy' - it a 'proper' top-tier one. I generally get in for 8.30 and look to leave 5.30/6 assuming its just a normal day (and I've nothing outstanding), however 1 or 2 days a week I'll be in for 8, leaving about 6.30/7ish (bearing in mind I'm talking just about a normal/non-majorly hectic week). Yes I'll admit there's times of 7.30am til >9pm, but its only maybe a few days every other month or so - as is the weekend working. Anyone else have a view - am I living in lala-land (in which case I think I'll stay here ;o>), or are the majority of strat consultants working 11 hours every working day of their lives - and if you are, how do you keep your relationships with your spouses/kids or even all those extra-ciricular activities they were so impressed by in your interview?

Doesn't sound unreasonable to me. An engagement manager at BCG said on this forum a month or so ago that their average was 60. From people I know at McKinsey and Bain I don't think they are any different. That's strategy consulting for you.... They guy did say it was great so long as you could "hack it"!!

Ha - actually, now I've added it up using my median scenario: (3 * 9.25 hours) + (2 * 10.75 hours) = 49.25 hours for a non hectic week, then possibly adjust for the odd 'stupid' week once a month (5 * 13.5) = 67.5 hours => ((3*49.25)+(1*67.5))/4 = 53.8hours!! Crickey - I work more than I thought - haha! My point still stands though, that its variable (imho), and saying '11 hours every single day' isnt realistic.... or if it is, then I pity you my friends...

Stop it! You lot are scaring the sh*t out of me. So ive been bambozzled by the PR machine of my firm...dear dear...no wonder people think consultants cant be trusted.

Who are you starting with?

The one and only...PA Consulting

well i can tell you this. i work for acn sba, and i get in every day at 8 and leave everyday at 7. thats 11 hours a day, no? and thats not too bad. i work mabe 1 weekend a month, and some nights go on until 12 am. but the difference is, i get paid a lot less than all of you guys in the strat houses.

Well, join ACN and you get what you deserve. I work at a Big4, and so many ACN lemmings are leaving to join us for a work/life balance. Grads take note - all that glitters is not gold. Why aspire to ACN? The discerning look elsewhere. All ACN shows on your CV is that you are gullible, with no life, hobbies, interests, friends, perspective....

Lets be honest about the situation- every consultance (strategy of full-house) works their conscripts to the bone. Accenture does the same, and unlike the Big4 chap, accenture on the CV is still immensly powerful.</br>It is pretty straightforward to move into Forune 100 positions after say 2-3 yrs at accenture. Its not the best place, but it aint that bad. Take it easy.

Sorry which are the big four you are refering to. So many people refer to different firms when they use this terminology

Standard working hours are officially 50 (9-19), BUT that includes the lunch hour which you are free to take in full unless you&#39;re on a tight deadline, AND most people roll into the office around 9:30 or later. Allowing for that, the 56 hour average is more like 48-50 hours.