Hello,I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice?I am an MBA graduate, with 1 years experience in Business Management for an automotive firm and 2 years experience in Project Management with Network Rail. i have been offered an job with a small company whom deal with both private and public sector companies. They currently employ 30 consultants and work on a range of different projects. I was wondering if it is wise to join a small company for my first consultancy job? Or should i persue one of the bigger firms?

I reckon big is good in terms of training and exposure. But as long as the experience you gain is rich and diverse, it shouldn't matter where you gain it. You also need to think of the medium to long term, i.e. what next? Employability after leaving the small firm... Personally, I think consulting is not about where you do it but how you do it. If you feel you can acquire some good skills at this firm, then go for it. Some of the twats I work with are "Big 6" trained and don't know jack about consulting. Good luck pal!

Excuse my ignorance but who are the 'big 6'?

Cheers, funnily enough i wasnt really having doubts until i spoke to some of the types you mentioned.

Accen, IBM, CSC, EDS, CAP, AO, etc... I've heard some references to a Big 8 as well. Its generally the big firms who are IT focussed but have consulting arms. I'm sure some people don't agree with my Big 6, so I guess it varies...

Exposure? How can you say you get more exposure working for a big company when you are a number in a department and if you are junior all you do is spending your long hours crunching numbers in the office?

Exposure - in my 2.5 yrs since joining a big firm I have worked on more than five client facing projects - 3 priv 2 public (exposure). On each project I was regarded as a Consultant - not an analyst or number cruncher. This meant I was in there with the senior management during meetings (exposure). I have worked on numerous bids, including one in France, one in Germany (exposure). I have worked on internal assignments, so I even have a good understanding of how a large consulting firm operates (exposure). Now if you'll excuse me, I have a 10am with my client...

Well done, Thinker, you! You sound quite grounded from your previous comment about the people you work with, so keep your hair on, Jay. Besides, everyone knows that whether you get exposure or not at a big firm, recruiters don't give a toss! For years they've said "ooh, big name" and don't really care beyond that. Interesting that some established and respectable recruiters (e.g. BLT) are recognising that smaller (none software led) firms often beat the bigger ones into a cocked hat for actual delivery responsibility. They still face an uphill struggle convincing their clients though - "no one ever got sacked for buying IBM" and so on. The big boys have got a few more years yet before the penny will drop. My advice...get a big name on your CV when/if you have the chance.