Committing from rural area to city (Europe)

Hi,

Will share based on my experience at both a T2 and MBB, having experienced client work pre and also ‘post’ covid. 

At the end of the day, it depends on what your objective is and also your perspective on what is needed to get there.

1) Is 5/5 needed for success/advancement?

• Pre-covid, the norm was 4/5. You'd spend 4 days at client site and then Friday back in office. 
  • Practically the only people that had to be in office for 4/5 on client case were the PE ringfences/those on DDs
• Friday's were the best (not just because its the weekend) but because it was a chance for the team to regroup internally in a more relaxed environment. More often than not, we took the opportunity to clear our expenses, connect with other colleagues and have drinks in office
• Even pre-covid, there were many people that did not come into office on Friday, and rather chose to WFH/do their own stuff
• In an outcome driven culture (at least those I were part of), people didn't really care if you didn't come in on Friday
• 4/5 was still needed because of the belief that you had to be on client site (and more often than not, clients demanded this)
• What was more important was the output and performance achieved in the 4/5 and, to take a step back, on your evaluations
• Even pre-covid, there were many high performers who did not come into office at all on Fridays

2) Is 3/5 enough? Will there be times where travel/on-ground is necessary even though it is painful/difficult?

• Thus that brings us to the next question - is 3/5 enough? is 4/5 enough? 
• Consulting is very much an apprenticeship - for myself and many other PLs/managers, Covid was extremely challenging because we were not able to ‘look over the shoulder’ of our teams. We found ways to workaround it, but for me I think for many parts of the job, in-person instruction is way more effective and helpful
• As a new hire, you need time to build your skills and more importantly your reputation
• I would say, based on a pre-Covid baseline, that 4/5 ('client facing time') was the norm and enough for people to ramp up and demonstrate good performance
  • However if your firms model is 5/5 client site, then thats a different question totally, and section #3 below becomes all the more relevant
• Then there will be times when you need to travel (painfully), for the sake of the case. On implementation cases I've done, i travelled Sunday night out, Friday red eye back, because otherwise nothing would have moved on the case

3) How much is enough? Can I set boundaries without getting things off to a wrong start?

• Ultimately, this is a negotiation with yourself, on how comfortable you are with balancing and toeing the lines between your own ability to grow, your socialization with your peers, and your own ambition
• Socializing with peers / superiors on Friday does put your face out there, and sometimes helps you get information on new cases etc
• On the case that I chose to fly a painful schedule for, could I have chosen to fly less? Probably, but that would have meant poorer outcomes on the case. Would it have got me counselled out, probably not, but it definitely did contribute to getting a stronger trajectory overall
• In the mid-long term, the question is would you be okay to do less/fly less/have better balance if it meant you were borderline average, and not a top performer?
• In the short term, most new joiners choose to bite the bullet and ‘put in the hours’ before they establish their reputation

Once you have a good reputation, you have typically a lot more flexibility and leeway. But I hope the above has shown you that there really is no ‘model’ path. I have known fast promotes who never showed their face in office ever :)