Big oil company vs pharm company?

and Bain BCG McKinsey
New answer on Sep 06, 2021
6 Answers
971 Views
Arty asked on Sep 05, 2021

I got 2 offers, one from huge oil company and second is from Novartis(pharm company) 

Both jobs are quite similliar with almost same pay (Finance Manager).  

Which one is better to get into consulting? 

 

Overview of answers

Upvotes
  • Upvotes
  • Date ascending
  • Date descending
Best answer
Ian
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Sep 06, 2021
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate

Hi Arty,

Please don't take a job just because it *might* lead to another job.

Genuinely, take the job that looks like the best job now (the industry/topic that interests you more, the company with the best cultural fit, the place that you will grow the fastest in due to strong mentorshop and L&D programs).

Not only is this a better way to approach life, but you'll also likely advance much quicker, gain more responsibilities, etc. which ultimately lead to better odds at landing that next job.

Was this answer helpful?
Francesco
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Sep 06, 2021
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.000+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success (➡ InterviewOffers.com) | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi Arty,

I would not base the decision only on which job allows to get into consulting, in any case, you should be able to easily check that on LinkedIn.

Some criteria I would consider for the choice:

  • Where do you want to be in 5-10 years? Look at the company that can help you to achieve that goal faster.
  • Where do you feel you fit better? Quoting Jim Rohn, you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. You will spend a lot of time with your colleagues in the next years - be sure you choose a company where people are close to the person you want to become
  • What is your gut feeling telling you? Our gut feeling is able to catch elements we cannot rationalize. You may “feel” a company is better, but don’t know exactly why. Don’t base your decision on that only, but dig deeper on why you feel that way.

If you want to do extra due diligence, contact Alumni and ask about their experience. You will learn more in a 30min call with them than with any online research you may do.

Best,

Francesco

Was this answer helpful?
Sofia
Expert
replied on Sep 05, 2021
Top-Ranked Coach on PrepLounge for 3 years| McKinsey San Francisco | Harvard graduate | 6+ years of coaching

Hello,

Judging by the way you have described the companies, I assume they are both big, recognizable brand names that people would know from your resume. If this is the case, then take a look at the consulting companies you want to be applying to, and see whether they do a lot of work in oil and gas vs. pharma. That would probably be the clearest indicator.

If you are applying for companies like MBB that do a lot of work in both of those sectors, I would say there isn't much of a difference by industry alone - what kind of work you do and your experience will matter much more. Also think about what industry you would be more interested in doing consulting work for. Even if you are coming in as a generalist, the fact that you had prior work experience in a specific industry will make it more likely that you are staffed on projects in that industry too.

But ultimately I would think about more factors when deciding which job you should take. Which industry do you find more interesting, what is the company culture like, who would you be working for/with? Those kinds of factors are going to be integral in shaping your experience and success there (which will then shape you as a candidate if you apply for consulting positions).

Was this answer helpful?
Aws
Expert
replied on Sep 05, 2021
Senior Consultant @ Google | McKinsey, BCG, Bain exp. as Client | 100+ REAL MBB cases

Check the office of the consulting company you want to get into, see what sectors they service most, that's probably going to determine the demand.

However, I would not base my choice on this alone. I would look at the team that you will be part of for the next few years, company culture, growth possibilities etc.

Better to think long-term as well beyond the potential of an exit into another firm.

Was this answer helpful?
Antonello
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Sep 06, 2021
McKinsey | NASA | top 10 FT MBA professor for consulting interviews | 6+ years of coaching

Hi!

First of all, congrats!!!

There are plenty of factors to consider. For example, exposure to client/superiors, formal training, the team you'll work with, the company brand, etc.

Most importantly, which company do you like more?

Best,

Anto

Was this answer helpful?
Florian
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Sep 06, 2021
Highest-rated McKinsey coach (ratings, offers, sessions) | 500+ offers | Author of The 1% & Consulting Career Secrets

Hey there,

From the limited information, both jobs sound equally suited as a door opener for consulting.

Rather focus on what you would be more passionate about, where you vibed best with the interviewers, colleagues, lifestyle, etc.

Cheers,

Florian

Was this answer helpful?
Ian gave the best answer

Ian

Content Creator
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate
1,088
Meetings
76,203
Q&A Upvotes
227
Awards
5.0
150 Reviews
How likely are you to recommend us to a friend or fellow student?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
0 = Not likely
10 = Very likely