Overseas Management Consulting Advice
Today we will take up Part II of our series about the key questions of International Management Consulting.
What is the Lifestyle of an International Consultant Like?
1. How do salary, benefits, housing and perks compare with those of US consultants?
In general, you will have benefits that are fairly similar to those you would consider to be standard consulting perks in the US. You will be able to attend fashionable team and firm events, travel stylishly, and have an expense account.
On the other hand, your bonuses and pay will probably be less than you would receive in the US. There may be fewer perks. For example, most McKinsey offices in Asia don’t give their junior consultants Blackberries. You must reach Engagement Manager level before you get one.
If you are an international hire – that is you are hired in the US and must relocate abroad – you will get some relocation benefits. You might get a larger relocation bonus and free housing temporarily. Beyond that, your benefits would be similar to or the same as consultants hired locally.
Second: What is the lifestyle like when working abroad? What are the hours? What is the social life like?
Once again, a lot is dependent on the office and country you are working in. If you are in East Asia – Korea, Japan, China – you can expect to work harder. In Central America and Latin America – Mexico, Argentina, Brazil – you will find that your work day is shorter.
In each office, there are cultural issues that are of great importance. These will vary from office to office and country to country. For example, in Saudi Arabia, you cannot buy alcohol legally. So you can see that it is very important to research your chosen destination thoroughly before you ever apply. In this way, you can prevent embarrassing or disastrous errors.
Click here for the guide to management consultant resumes and CVs.
What Are the Duties an International Consultant Can Expect?
1. How is working as an international consultant different from working as a consultant in the US? Is there more or less responsibility?
When considering consulting overseas, you will find that there are basically two categories. You might consult in a developed country like Japan or perhaps Western Europe, or you might consult in an emerging economy, like the Czech Republic or Vietnam.
When consulting in a developed country, your work won’t differ much from consulting in the US. You would find differences in your client base and the industries you would deal with. Also, your firm’s strengths and reputation would add some variables.
The work will be different in an emerging economy for a number of reasons:
* Clients might prove less sophisticated.
* A variety of quality and experience where your partners and principals are concerned.
* The resources of your local office might be limited.
That wraps up our tour of overseas business consulting life. Please post your questions about international consulting below, and I will update the article as I receive them.
