Hello fine sirs and sirettes,So I somehow managed to land myself in the fortunate position of having signed multiple grad job offers, and now have the much trickier task of actually choosing which one I go through with - any insights/comparisons/general ridicule etc related to lifestyle/career/earning potential would be much appreciated!The 4 on the table are: OC&C, Deloitte (Strategy), PA (Project Management), E&Y (ITA, FSO). It is admittedly quite a mixed bunch and I've put them in the order that, judging from this forum, I think people would choose. I am, however, a total newb - hence the post!Edit: I should add that, one of my reasons for hesitating is that I get the impression the industry is moving away from pure strategy, and that the implementation/technology side might have a more robust future..?

[i]"So I somehow managed to land myself in the fortunate position of having signed multiple grad job offers"[/i]Signed? Or "received"?

signed 3, and waiting on 1.. why'd you ask?

As in signed the contracts?

Rapscal either you are going to be extremely busy, having signed multiple offers, or you fail entirely to understand let alone appreciate what a contract is. Fortunately as you will not yet have set foot on any of the premises of these companies they cannot hold you to the contract, but if you have returned multiple signed contracts which you then do not honour expect bridges burned.What posssed you to SIGN multiple job offers? It's one of the dumbest things I've seen on this forum.

So I had no idea I would receive multiple offers, and the deadlines to accept them were all spread apart such that if I wanted a safety net, I had to sign it.Bridges burned, perhaps, but I also think that if I'm just honest about it there shouldn't be too much ill feeling. They all begin in Sept 2013, so will get fair notice. And yes, there is nothing in these contracts that stipulate any terms prior to the employment beginning, so nothing is binding.Any chance of an opinion on the choices? :)

I wish more of my clients were like him."Here, sign this... and this and this and this!""Okie-dokie, I'll get to it right away"Let's hope you don't end up working in a procurement department, unless it's one that buys consultancy services ;-)Kids these days, such crafty lil buggers ain't they. I bet the little sod gave 'em a fake postal address and hotmail e-mail too. LOL.

[quote] Any chance of an opinion on the choices? :)[/quote]in this order...simples:Deloitte (strategy)OC&CEY ITAPA PM

Thankyou marsday, for your helpful thoughts on my options - not sure why they've been deleted.EDIT: Ah, OK not deleted, just summarised :)

looks like they were deleted, so to reiterate:Deloitte strategy - good option, especially in light of the Monitor acquisition. First of the Big 4 (and only one so far) to really enter strategy work and potentially the combined strat piece will spin out as Deloitte Monitor or similar. Good brand, high recognition. Good downstream capabilities too supporting strat so can execute and always the option to move downstream if strat pipeline looks shaky. Choose this option if you want to run the world.OC&C - very bright people, good work, great rep, but not well known and not actually one firm so some regional areas are patchy. Pure strat so a little vulnerable and pipeline hasnt always been stable. If Deloitte hadnt just acquired Monitor I would have put OC&C first by a nose, as it is Deloitte wins by a hair. Choose this option if you want to be an evil mastermind/power behind the throne of someone who runs the world.EY ITA FSO - well known for this work, and stable, respected and safe option. Wont set the world on fire but you wont be out of work either. Choose this option if you want to run a Liberal Democratic party conference in Brighton or Blackpool.PA PM - a firm which was once very good indeed, and could have been great. Some excellent people lost in the mix there, too much internal politics, lacks a clear proposition these days, needs to be acquired and re-platformed as the MC arm of someone much bigger to give it a raison d'etre again. Choose this option if you want to run err....projects.

Hi,Just a quick question, I recently sat the online tests for OC&C, but was under the impression that they haven't given out any offers, is this a speculative offer, if not, when did you receive it?Thanks.

Hi leavinglaw,I attended an early round of interviews last week - they had first and second rounds in the same day! Haven't received the paperwork - just the phone call. I believe the usual slots take place in the first two weeks of 2013.

I wonder what OC&C stands for.

http://forum.top-consultant.com/UK/37788/What-Does-OC-C-Stand-For/

I think Mars is wrong. OC&C is way better for strategy than Deloitte and the network/ likely exit opps also better (lots go on to Entrepreneurship etc). Discount the Monitor acquisition - when did M&A in consulting ever work out? Think Deloitte has the culture to assimilate them well? No way! Forget the other two ...

And to put it another way ... - how many OC&C people could get a job at Deloitte strategy (majority) - how many Deloitte could get a job at OC&C (top quartile if that)

Thanks rapscal,I believe you would be correct, I was forewarned by HR that the first round of interviews would start on the 10th of January going into the week after. All the best with your situation buddy. Sounds like you're highly sought after. From someone holding a Deloitte offer and looking to obtain an OC&C one, I would be inclined to agree with alexandermeerkat. But have a similar hesitance as you because Strategy work seems to be increasingly scarce.

Alexandermeerkat,Who are 'Entrepreneurship etc.'?? are they a good strategy consulting firm?S

[quote]I think Mars is wrong. OC&C is way better for strategy than Deloitte and the network/ likely exit opps also better (lots go on to Entrepreneurship etc). Discount the Monitor acquisition - when did M&A in consulting ever work out? Think Deloitte has the culture to assimilate them well? No way! Forget the other two ... [/quote]Good points alexandermeerkat - yes of course OC&C is better for strategy, but the strategy market has taken a bit of a beating, and Deloitte offers more diversity of opportunities internally - as well as being a more recognised brand outside consulting. Plus straty firm growth has come through moving downstream into ops. I dont think Deloitte can assimilate Monitor either - hence I'd put my money on the Deloitte Monitor spin out. And as for entrepreneurship...well very very few start ups are successful. I agree with the point you're making, but I'm being pragmatic/boring.

Fair points MarsI'm also basing this on knowing people who have worked at both places and what they say about them and the quality of the culture. I would say your advice might be better for someone slightly later on in their career who needs more security (makes sense as that's you deal with).For a grad, whilst both are good, I reckon you'd learn more/ develop more at OCC (assuming you don't get made redundant after 6 months in a triple digit recession or kicked out early).Ref entrepreneurship what I'm alluding to is that the quality of people at OCC is high and that they go on to do interesting things (massive generalisation)

well rapscal I think alexandermeerkat and I have covered the bases...let us know which you accept

Yes thank you both, much appreciated!

Deloitte Strategy in any country other than the UK would probably see you better off than with OC&C.In almost all countries, Deloitte has Strategy & Ops together. The IT consulting is separate. In the UK, Strategy is on its won and they have been very low in profitability for a long time, at times with overall utilisation well under 50%.Plus don't forget that Deloitte, as a Big4, is mainly seen as an accounting firm and for those what know that they actually do consulting too, very, very few will now that there is actually a strategy practice.Not the case with OC&C.The choice is pretty clear: Deloitte is a big, extremely hierarchical and political organisation. Being visible, schmoozing, making the right connections will count much more than "the work".I've never worked with OC&C nor met anyone who has, but I can't imagine it being the same "situation" as a Big4.