I got kicked out from a tier 2. Should I join a boutique?

Hi,

Thats terrible advise from your mentor. Sorry to be blunt.

Tier 2 didn't workout- no big deal. Happens to a lot of people. You can be successful elsewhere. Clearly, this firm wasn't a fit, both ways- you and the firm. But to generalise & say that you can “survive better” in Boutique is not the right way to look at it. Depending on the office & type of Boutique anything is possible- as intense or crazier than MBB or a nicer small firm culture. You must look to thrive and enjoy and not just survive. What's the point of investing 8-10 hours at work everyday if the goal is just survival?

So, reflect on your experience in this Tier 2 firm. What worked and what didn't work. Put the learnings into practice. For your next move, make sure you avoid the same mistakes and look for a good fit with the firm. Avoiding getting dazzled purely by brand image, $$, sought after office location etc..pay attention to being a fit with the firm and then consider the other factors to make a decision.

Have a look at this article for plenty of tips and guidance- preplounge.com/en/articles/how-do-i-know-which-career-is-right-for-me

Hi there,

Just remember: Advice is a form of nostalgia.

I've had some amazing bosses/mentors and some horrible bosses/mentors. First, evaluate which type this one is.

If he/she is good and truly understands you, ok, take their advice to heart. But remember to just filter advice carefully and get opinions from multiple people.

I don't know you, so I don't know if you'll do better in a big or small firm. I, personally, do better at smaller firms.

That really depends on the reason why you were kicked-out. If it was because of office politics, then yes, you are more likely to “survive” a boutique. Some people don't like to (and most importantly don't want to) engage in office politics and can end up in a bad place - regardless of having good enough performance.

In other cases, some people have the talent but need some more time or support to develop, i.e., they'll get there but simply grow at a slower pace. A boutique may be a better place for them.

Some people need a better work-life balance, small team environment, etc., to be able to perform. Some boutiques are better in ensuring this.

Or, finally, there are some projects where you perform well, and others that not so much. There may be a boutique specialized in your kind of projects. 

Just be aware that boutiques are very diverse. So it is more about finding the right boutique rather than any boutique.

Having said this… the mentor may be completely wrong. If the issue is performance, inability to react on feedback, inadaptation to consulting type of work… a boutique is useless. So you should actually talk to your mentor and ash why specifically you got kicked out and the reason why you would better in a boutique consulting firm.