Management Consulting does not require long hours and hard work...it can sometimes but it also has a wonderful flipside. When you actually have something valuable to deliver and can manage your time effectively, then you can work from home, go have coffees, long lunches, etc.. The people who work long hours every single day are just sad in my opinion and adding no additional value to what they can pull off in a normal working day. I know lots of consultants who do this - and a few that are smarter than them. I'm sick of all this "long hours to impress" mentality. I've worked at two consultancies, both of which I have worked long hours sometimes, but I also went home early whenever I could, worked from home regularly and basically enjoyed myself. I did always though, get the job done. All you grads out there - don't become a robot, you can enjoy yourself with a career in consulting. All - I would really like to hear your views on what I have just said? Don't you think consulting can also be quite "free" sometimes?

Absolutely. Some of the best ideas, not just in consulting, come from stepping back from frantic delivery and reflecting on problems from a more relaxed perspective. How many of our clients employ us for just that perspective and independence of vision? What is most disappointing, from my own experience, is how some firms don't extend the opportunity for remote working to staff, or reserve it as a "perk" for senior partners rather than using it as a tool in the portfolio of effective working practices.

After working as a robot for a large corporate for 10 years I have to say that I agree with your sentimen. Having been told that you must always be seen to be in the office to build your "profile" my least favorite word now!To now work for myself and choose the hours and places I work has completely changed my work life balance hence just coming back from a 3 week holiday with my partner and children. So I agree that you should be advising graduates and anyone else with a good work ethic and knowledge base to start a career in consultanting, there is however a bit of a flip side and that is constantly looking for new opportunities and no monthly pay check hitting the mat on the 28th of the month. It is a slightly daunting prospect to come back to an empty diary and empty bank account but I am sure that will all change soon!

Likewise, I'd agree with this.I've learnt in the past five years to concentrate on what's a) critical and b) visible. You can then flex the non-critical stuff around your own life.