Career planning - openness to project types?

Question

Hi guys, I'm evaluating a corporate strategy position that I have received, and one of the major concerns is that a common exit reason is that a high proportion of project types are very “boring”, such as PMO, HR, IT, etc.

In a nutshell, these are more operation types of projects and less strategic. Indeed, there are some “sexier” project types similar to what external consulting firms do, but those are less common and the opportunity to be staffed on the project is unknown.

As a background, I have worked in consulting and am genuinely interested in different types of projects. That said, I haven't worked on pure “operation projects” previously, and I am unclear how “dull” it could be.

Any hints that you can share to let me further realize whether this role would fit my long-term career aspiration? I am trying to think long-term (where I want to be 10 years later). But I feel where I can be in 10 years, in terms of the specialization and topic focus, is a bit unclear due to the different types of projects and unclear staffing model. Also, I want to avoid accepting the job and then finding that the projects are boring enough to motivate me to quit after I start the role.

Thank you for sharing!

Answer 1

Hi there,

First of all, I am sorry to hear about your concerns regarding the project types at your potential new role.

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your situation:

First of all, I understand your worries about the type of projects and how it may affect your long-term career goals. It's crucial to enjoy what you do, especially when thinking about a 10-year horizon.
Moreover, the diversity in projects could be both a challenge and an opportunity. Even if some projects seem boring (whatever that entails for you) initially, they could offer you a different perspective or skill that may become invaluable later.
Lastly, before making a decision, I would advise you to have in-depth discussions with current employees from the corporate strategy team. Their experiences, challenges, and insights can give you a clearer picture of what to expect.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Answer 2

Thank you for sharing your concerns about the corporate strategy position you are evaluating. It's great to see that you are thinking long-term and considering how this role aligns with your career aspirations.

When it comes to the types of projects you may encounter in a corporate strategy role, it's important to understand that the nature of the projects can vary across organizations. While some projects may be more operationally focused, such as PMO, HR, or IT, there can also be opportunities to work on strategic initiatives that align with your interests and background.

To gain a better understanding of the project landscape and determine if this role is a good fit for your long-term goals, I recommend the following:

Research the Organization: Dive deeper into the organization's strategic priorities, recent projects, and the role of the corporate strategy function. This will give you insights into the types of projects they typically undertake and the level of strategic involvement.

Network and Seek Information: Connect with current or former employees of the organization to gain firsthand insights into the project mix and the opportunities for strategic work. They can provide valuable perspectives on the day-to-day responsibilities and the potential for growth within the role.

Ask Questions During the Interview Process: Use the interview process as an opportunity to ask questions about the project portfolio, the balance between operational and strategic projects, and the potential for growth and specialization within the role. This will help you gauge if the role aligns with your long-term aspirations.

Consider Your Overall Career Goals: Reflect on your long-term career goals and how this role fits into your broader professional trajectory. Evaluate the potential for skill development, exposure to different areas of the business, and opportunities for advancement within the organization.

Ultimately, it's important to have a clear understanding of the project mix and the potential for strategic involvement in the corporate strategy role you are considering. By conducting thorough research, seeking information from reliable sources, and asking thoughtful questions during the interview process, you can make a more informed decision about whether this role aligns with your long-term aspirations.

I wish you the best of luck in evaluating and making a decision that is in line with your career goals!

Answer 3

Good to see that you're taking the long-term perspective in view.

Honestly, I would just try to have a conversation with people who are doing that role already or who work on similar projects in that organisation.

This way you can get a genuine, first-hand perspective of how things actually happen and what projects you can expect.

Without this information it's difficult to make an informed decision.

People tend to be quite helpful with these sorts of things and I'm sure you'll be able to find somebody for a 5-10 minute chat.

Best,
Cristian

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Answer 4

It's great that you're thinking long-term about your career and trying to assess whether a corporate strategy role would be a good fit for you. It's also understandable that you're concerned about the possibility of being assigned to boring projects.

Assessing the suitability of a corporate strategy role for your long-term career involves several key considerations. Firstly, pinpoint your specific interests within corporate strategy, whether it's in a particular industry or strategic domain like M&A. Evaluate the company's culture to determine if it aligns with your desire for innovative and challenging projects. Investigate the staffing model within the corporate strategy team, as this can impact the variety of projects you'll encounter. Additionally, ask yourself whether you're willing to work on diverse projects, find ways to make them engaging, advocate for assignments aligned with your interests, and invest in self-improvement.

If you affirmatively answer these questions, the corporate strategy role may be a good fit, even with occasional mundane tasks.

Remember that flexibility exists, and if the role doesn't align with your goals, you can explore other opportunities down the road. Ultimately, the decision should reflect your career aspirations and personal preferences.

Hope this helps!

Answer 5

Hi there,

Remember, you're asking us about a generic/no-name corporate strategy role with a bunch of generic consulting categories - we have no idea what this will actually look like!

^I mean the above politely, of course.

I highly highly recommend that you speak to people at this exact firm. Get on the phone, meet for coffee, etc. and ask them questions about the day-to-day.

Networking is just as much about you evaluating them as it is about them evaluating you!

Answer 6

Hi,

I understand your concern about the corporate strategy role. Indeed, from talking to peers who worked in such roles, corporate strategy can oftentimes be pretty monotonous and gravitate heavily towards research and producing reports with little to no impact. However, it varies pretty significantly from one firm to another. There are still companies with ambitious leadership and strong in-house teams that make for more exciting work.

But, keeping all that in mind, if you are so concerned about the job being boring, IMO, you just need to sit down and think if the corporate role is a good fit for you at all. Instead, you can consider other potentially more exciting options, such as:

1. Management consulting: although keep in mind that not all projects there are exciting and interesting. For example, I worked on public sector projects at Big4 and absolutely hated it as the work was heavily research-oriented and lacked any real impact;

2. Startups: I worked at an in-house operations unit at an e-commerce startup and loved it - the nature of the job was much more consulting like with real problem solving involved. So yes, operations work can be exciting;

3. Starting your own business: Certainly more exciting than the corporate role but has own drawbacks, the most significant one for me being the lack of stability. Although, you can consider starting a business on the side while keeping your job in order to mitigate risks.

Good luck!
Nick

Answer 7

Hi,

Your context is a little vague in terms of your current position, as well as whether the ‘exit reasons’ are referring to your current role in consulting or in the corporate itself

I will assume for now that you are still in consulting
I will assume your key concern is ‘boring’ projects in the potential corporate strategy role

Here are some of my thoughts having interviewed and considered for corporate strategy as well

There are 2 key reasons why people switch from consulting to industry (corporate strategy)
- They want better worklife balance
  - Generally there is less travel, better hours, less last minute steerco deck turnarounds etc
- They want more ‘skin-in-the-game’ and not stay on a pure advisory role forever
  - Depending on the corp/team, working in strategy for your own corporate is often different from being a pure external advisor
  - Your KPIs may no longer be generation of slides, but can be now tied to the actual impact within the company
  - This means there are more stakes around seeing initiatives through and ensuring they are successful
A big part of running a successful business involves doing ‘boring’ stuff
- HR, IT, Finance, Ops etc. are actually important functions still to the company
- If you ever want to do a startup, or run your own business, you will eventually have to deal with these ‘boring’ functions in some shape or form
In the long-run, some things don't matter
- It's good to think ahead, but to a certain extent you cannot fully predict how your life will be to a project level specificity
- Rather, I would suggest you focus on the skills and abilities and knowledge/network that you can gain from the role

The answer on what you should do really depends on your goals and current context. Happy to chat more - just drop me a dm.

Answer 8

It's great that you're thinking about your long-term career aspirations and how this corporate strategy position aligns with them. Evaluating a role based on the types of projects and potential for career growth is a smart approach. Here are some hints to help you make a more informed decision:

1. Clarify the Nature of the "Boring" Projects:
- Investigate further to understand what is meant by "boring" projects. It might be that these operational projects have unique challenges and opportunities that you haven't considered.

2. Speak with Current or Former Employees:
- Try to network with current or former employees of the company or department to gain insights into their experiences. They can provide valuable information about the day-to-day work, career progression, and whether they find it fulfilling.

3. Assess the Potential for Learning and Growth:
- Consider the potential for personal and professional development. Even in more operational roles, there may be opportunities to learn and grow, especially if the company values continuous improvement and invests in employee development.

4. Evaluate the Impact:
- Assess the impact of the projects. Even if they seem less glamorous, they might be crucial to the company's overall success. You can find fulfillment in knowing that your work contributes to the organization's success.

5. Ask About Project Diversity:
- Inquire about the variety of projects the department takes on. Are there occasional strategic projects or opportunities to work on cross-functional teams that tackle more exciting challenges?

6. Consider the Company's Values and Culture:
- Evaluate whether the company's culture, values, and work environment align with your long-term goals and personal values. A supportive and innovative culture can make even routine projects more engaging.

7. Balance Short-Term vs. Long-Term Goals:
- While thinking long-term is important, consider how this role might help you build a foundation for your future career. Sometimes, gaining experience in areas like PMO, HR, or IT can open doors to more strategic roles in the future.

8. Keep an Open Mind:
- It's essential to approach the role with an open mind. Sometimes, the most fulfilling work can come from making a significant impact in areas that aren't initially exciting.

9. Set Clear Expectations:
- If you decide to take the role, have a frank discussion with your new employer about your career goals and aspirations. They may be willing to help you find opportunities that align with your interests.

In conclusion, it's essential to gather as much information as possible before making your decision. Consider the potential for growth, the company culture, and your own adaptability and willingness to find meaning in various types of projects. A role that may seem "boring" on the surface can often be a stepping stone to more exciting opportunities if it's part of a larger, strategically-minded organization.

Answer 9

Hi there,

I would be careful to assume that a certain project is boring or interesting because of a certain label.

Here's my personal experience:

'BORING PROEJCTS´: I never much cared for ‘HR projects’ before working at McKinsey but the most exciting thing I worked on was related to organizational design for a new joint venture, which kind of falls into that category and was an amazing experience.
‘EXCITING PROJECTS´: Conversely, I was staffed on strategy projects with McKinsey that sounded awesome but turned out to be really quite ‘boring’ with poor leadership, terrible clients. More than once I was ’fooled' and only learnt through experience on how to avoid this.

Bottom line, forget about the labels and do your due diligence by talking to people who know what's going on and are going to be candid with you. This will be much more valuable in your decision making process.

Hope this helps a bit. Best of luck!

Moritz

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Answer 10

Hi there,

Try to think long-term the other way around. First, define where you want to be in 10 years (industry, position, role, geography, etc.) and then decide the steps to go there. This would make easier to calibrate if this corporate strategy role leads you towards where you want to go.

Try also to network with people already holding the position where you want to be in 10 years to get some mentoring or least, some good advice.

Good luck!

Alberto

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Answer 11

It leads you to Corporate Roles. Corporate roles are 10% strategy and 90% execution. Those projects are about execution!