What are some of the most lucrative exit options for consultants? I suppose it's Private Equity? What about startups and PM opportunities? Do many also do their own thing? What's your experience @experts?
(edited)
What are some of the most lucrative exit options for consultants? I suppose it's Private Equity? What about startups and PM opportunities? Do many also do their own thing? What's your experience @experts?
(edited)
Frankly, exit options are quite broad (excerpt of what I remember my fellow alumni doing):
Also depends on the major, a lawyer/doctor has other options than a physicist. I remember an internal analysis that physicists stay with the firm longest on average, both a combination of them being the smartest and having (ceteris paribus) the least amount of options compared to other majors.
Regarding startups/PM opportunities - yes, for sure, especially if you are < 3 years with a firm. Short term, consulting helps you with about anything:
However, these effects diminish over time, and after a certain period you actually become less valuable when you think about going into startups:
To come back to the question (lol), it's not easy to say which is the most lucrative, as it's a combination of risk/reward. Corporate tends to be very stable with limited upside, but also limited downside and better work life balance. PE is paying better, but in the end depends on bonus and performance. Startups are usually paying (way) lower, but you have the upside to hit it big (albeit rare). Actually, freelance consulting is quite lucrative if you find a niche and project flow (lower rates but also almost no overhead cost so everything goes to you) but less sustainable over the long run as you're selling your time but in general don't really build a career.
Hope this helps somehow :)