Hi there fellow suffer, 

I had the exact same challenges when I joined, so I fully get it. 

Upfront, I'd recommend you read these two articles with tips that I wrote based on my own learnings from starting as a consultant:

• Expert Guide: How to Become A Distinctive Consultant
• Expert Guide: How to Manage for Lifestyle in Consulting

I have one piece of advice for you that hopefully should solve both of the challenges you presented - find and isolate your workstream. 

In practice, that means you should aim to control and develop all the content on that particular workstream. Effectively, this will allow you to lead it and move it forward on your own, which will then give you enough stuff to do on a regular basis. It will also provide you a platform for discussions during problem-solving sessions with Partners. 

If you don't already have a workstream defined, then discuss it ASAP with the EM. 

Being able to handle your workstream standalone is also the main transition between BA and Associate, so it's already a step in the right direction.

Good luck!
Cristian

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Hi there,

You are being paid $, correct? And you don't want to lose the job, correct?

Use aforementioned $ to hire a coach! Seriously. A coach can help you improve your weakness areas and turn your performance around.

The first 10 months I really struggled. Then it got much better. Most of your peers are also struggling.

Pick yourself and get a can do attitude. No one ever told you this would be easy. 

You are in the marines. Do you want to be a marine or just regular infantry? You have to work. If you weren't trying to be the best you wouldn't have to work and it wouldn't be hard. It's hard because you are learning and being pushed.

I highly recommend you read my consulting survival guide

Here are a couple of snippets from that guide, based on what you've said:

1. This job is inherently stressful, and you are not going to be the first person to struggle with stress. Consulting firms have mechanisms in place to try to keep consultants from burning out. If you are struggling, reach out early.
2. You need comrades - your people for the really good and the really garbage days. Find them and stick to them.
3. There will always be pressure, but not every task will make or break the bank. If the success or failure of the project relies solely on the one slide you’re making, there are bigger issues going on.
4. Keep a one-page version of the case story up-to-date every couple of days.
5. Always bring solutions, not problems.
6. You learn so much more when you are fully transparent about what you don't understand.
7. You will do your best work once you are okay with being fired.
8. Your Project Lead/Principal is not inside your head. Learn how to communicate and guide their attention to what they need to know. Work to their style and your life will be easier.
9. You have to stand up for yourself. And people will respect you for it (98% of the time).
10. People’s perception of your performance is just as important as your performance.
11. Communication is as important as content. Communication isn’t what you say, it’s what they hear.
12. Being good at the qualitative aspects of consulting (presentation, communication et  c.) Is significantly more important than being good at the analysis/excel/quantitative side of consulting.
13. Consulting is a confidence game. Always have a strong opinion, lightly held.

Hi there,

With the limited information I have, my first reaction is suggesting you to set up a feedback coffee with your EM and share what you shared here. What you are mentioning is something quite normal to a lot of people at MBB and the company would help you to address it.

Best,

Alberto

Hi there,

I would say this is normal. My first 6 months in consulting felt awful. The tips already provided in the comments make sense. In addition to that, talk to your mentor or your buddy in the company, that’s what they’ve been assigned to you for.

Don’t get discouraged yet - it will get better over time. 
 

Best wishes