So sorry you have to deal with this. Reading your side of the story it sounds like you have an idiot for a manager who does not care about you or people in general. (A lot of consultant managers have very stunted emotional development and people skills, it is especially common in the manager role).

What can you do? Not that much - but for now focus on doing a stellar job. Work hard - so come before them, leave after and product good quality work. Ask for feedback daily and ask for their help to improve daily and show them all the things you are doing based on their feedback. Do not bad mouth them and always praise them in front of the partner. This manager probably has very low self esteem and emotional issues so best not to trigger them in any way.

Once the project ends do a lot more due diligence on staffing and try and get on a caring team.

I heard the Middle East in some consulting firms such as Accenture is awful with discrimination.

There are a few cases online.

I personally would not be able to handle it especially if I’m feeling panic attacks only a few days in to the work. I either would complain to HR and take it to someone higher up, or I would honestly look elsewhere before they find a reason to fire you. Document as much as you can too. If anyone else can support you, let them know. This sort of behaviour is nasty and will truly make it hard for you to progress and improve yourself.

Hi there,

I am sorry to hear you are having such a bad experience in your first consulting project.

Based on the information you shared and having seen this situation before when I was working at Accenture and later PwC, I suggest you the following:

• Try to improve by any means the relationship with your manager. You need this person to be at ease to improve your performance, make your life easier and protect your reputation
• Be extra proactive. For example, on the stories you shared, (6) when you laptop froze, text or call in advance to let your manager know the situation, plus try to connect 10 minutes in advance to avoid these situations
• Ask for help to peers to get up to speed in your weakest areas (e.g., communication, document crafting, Excel modeling, personal productivity, client relationship) and to get advice on how to handle your manager (specially people who have been working with that person for long time)
• Share your situation with HR to protect yourself in advance. That would help you to (1) relief some stress on the situation and (2) get some good advice on how to handle this particular situation with this particular person (sometimes this kind of behaviors are repeated by same people and HR is well aware)

Happy to keep talking about this in private if you need more advice, just send me a message.

Best,

Alberto

—

Check out my latest case based on a real MBB interview: Sierra Springs

Reading your testimonial reminds me of my first months in consulting. 

There will always be people like that. You can't really change it. The only thing that you can change is the game that you play. And as long as you play it well and for long enough, it always plays in your favour. 

Your entire project setup sounds unpleasant. Once you have the possibility, to move to another one. 

Then, identify a senior consultant who can mentor you. They could be from your office or anybody that you got a good vibe from. 

Accept that in the beginning you're going to get a lot of ‘developmental’ feedback and sometimes it's not going to be delivered in a kind way. 

Here are a few other tips to have in mind for your first year in consulting:

• Expert Guide: How to Become A Distinctive Consultant

Lastly, sorry again for your situation. Hang in there though. It's going to get better before you know it. 

Best,
Cristian

Hi there,

I'm SO sorry about your experience. Nothing is worse than a bad boss.

Now, there are some key actions to take:

1. Protect yourself - be pro-active. Figure out what manager wants/needs and pre-empt it. Don't give them any excuses
2. Get everything in writing - you always want a paper trail
3. Be visible to others - make sure others see that you are a great consultant and do great work. Make your great work visible
4. Get higher ups on your side - anyone higher than the manager needs to like you. They can override the manager
5. Survive until you get on a new project
6. Find a new project ASAP
7. Don't take it personally
8. Get a coach - bring in an expert to help you navigate this
9. Read this: Consulting Survival Guide - Tips for Your Consulting Career

Hey there,

That is a horrible situation, there is no sugarcoating this and I am sorry you are going through this!

What can you do now to improve the situation for you?

Performance

• Focus on delivering excellent work by arriving early, staying late, and producing high-quality results.
• Seek daily feedback from your manager and demonstrate improvements based on their suggestions.
• Anticipate your manager's needs and address them in advance to prevent giving them reasons for dissatisfaction.

Relationships

• Stay professional and avoid criticizing your manager and praise them in front of others to manage their potential low self-esteem and emotional issues.
• Enhance your relationship with your manager to facilitate a better work environment and safeguard your reputation. Ask them for lunch, dinner, or drinks outside of the team room. Find a mutual connection.
• Be proactive in communicating issues, such as technical difficulties, to avoid misunderstandings.
• Start connecting with clients. Your team will see that you have a good standing with some key clients.
• Increase your visibility within the organization by showcasing your contributions and ensuring that higher-ups recognize your value. Work on things outside of the project scope (e.g., knowledge creation, proposals).
• Discuss your situation with HR or your firm mentor (who should be a partner) to discuss your experiences and get guidance on managing your relationship with your manager.
• Build alliances with senior colleagues who can influence your career positively and potentially counteract negative input from your manager.
   

Development

• Seek support from colleagues to strengthen your skills in areas like communication, document crafting, and Excel modeling.
   

Career or exit strategy

• Actively seek opportunities to transition to a team that values and supports its members.
• Look for another job.

If this continues, everything I wrote is irrelevant but the final point. In this case, it's always a good idea to leave!

All the best to you!

Florian