I am making the move from industry into consulting so would appreciate any advice. Three possible options have come up: strategic marketing (PA), sector specific consulting (KPMG) and transaction services (KPMG). Which of these three options would you say offers the most challenges and rewards? All three have their benefits and drawbacks but my priorities are job satisfaction, training, meeting smart and dynamic people (for wont of a better term) and salary. Which of these 3 options and organisations would you say offer greatest opportunity for career progression i.e. which of these options is most valued /respected/ in demand by the industry? It’s important not to take on too narrow a role and find ones options are limited.

I will give you my opinion, but i do feel for anyone to make an informed opinion they/we would need to know more of your background! Which industry have you been working in? For how long? For salary i think all the roles you stated are pretty similar, again you havent specified what level and whether the offers are for roughly the same level. If you pushed me, id prob say PA give better remuneration. In terms of not being pigeon holed, again PA comes out on top. A good variety of work and ,meritocracy. For people, I wouldnt know as i havent worked for either firm but both will have smart people. PA as you will see from another thread are known for having smart intellects. Training at both PA and KPMG will be excellent. It all depends on what type of a career you want. Transaction services is vastly different to S&M at PA. Hope this helps

PA is probably a safer bet at the moment. KPMG Consulting are a shadow of their former selves, since Atos took 95% of their best people when they bought them out a few years ago. They left KPMG with a pretty skeletal "advisory services" capability and KPMG have not been able to get involved in pure consultancy work since then. However, those restrictive covenants are coming to an end, and KPMG are gearing up to re-enter the consulting marketplace. From an ethical perspective, PA is also a better bet, as demonstrated by this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4195840.stm

Don't know much about PA, but KPMG Consulting has no training programme of any kind. They just piggy back on the audit side. You really have to push hard to get on any sort of training course

Danny Boy, I guess your comment on KPMG only goes for the UK, as KPMG (Advisory) in Germany offers a Trainee program which I recently joined. Regards John

Thanks Anon.My background is marketing in the media and entertainment industry in the UK and USA. Over the last three years I've worked at a strategic level developing plans to assist the Board in the merger and acquisition of the company. The decisions coming out of these plans are based on information produced by a new strategic marketing team which I set up and led. These findings informed senior managers as how to fulfil internal management and corporate startegic objectives, and enabled the Board to secure funds for the Group to grow through acquisition. The work I've particularly enjoyed has been that which is focused on revenue diversification. So which role and firm is in light of my experience the best option?Another question, is it best in terms of one's career progression to work as part of a sector specific team or to work in a function across sectors? Thanks again.

Thank you.

Interesting. They have offerd me training as I have no consultancy experience. If I chose this route, I would go into transaction service as an Executive (entry level) after working in the media and entertainment industry.

As an outsider, I would honestly doubt KPMG would be for you as they are much more "purist" and narrow in their consulting on Financial Management. PA's SMP practice do a lot of this type of work. From friends who work for PA, it is supposed to be a very nice place to work too - I don't know anyone working for KPMG, but I'm sure they are lovely people also !!! As for working on a sector / industry team, I'd avoid it really. It's good in the short term, but not so good if the industry goes into a downturn. Just ask any of the guys who were working in the telco or aviation sectors in the late 90s !!

Thanks Tommy.

Tommy, could you clarify your comment for me. Y

Hi Anon. Was responding to BKat's query. What aspect do you want clarity on ? I think we're both steering B Kat in the same direction. Personally, I think both orgs are good, but PA is likely to be the better option in this case

Just the type of work and clients currently being undertaken by the SMP, you seem to be quite clued up, and i was interested?