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Inhouse vs. regular strategy consulting

AskAFemaleConsultant
New answer on Mar 23, 2021
2 Answers
835 Views
Anonymous A asked on Mar 22, 2021

Hi everyone,

I would be very interested to get some more insights into the differences between inhouse and regular strategy consulting. Has one of you worked in both fields and can share some insights or give recommendations what to prefer?

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Miriam replied on Mar 23, 2021
Junior Consultant

Thank you for your question!

I am happy to answer your question as I have worked for an inhouse consulting firm as well as for "regular" strategy consulting companies. First, I would definitely agree to Denisa's comment that there are more similarities than differences. I think it also depends on what kind of person you are and what is important to you.

I enjoyed both ways of working but in the end I would recommend the regular strategy consulting to people who are entering the job market for the first time. In my point of view in regular strategy consulting the huge advantage is that you get to know so many industries, project topics, and clients. Every project is unique and every project will broaden your knowledge and your skill set.

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Denisa replied on Mar 22, 2021
Senior Consultant

Happy to tackle this one as I have both experiences to compare. Overall I would say there are more similarities than differences (dynamic project work in changing environments, the famous steep learning curve, lots of responsibility and strong personal development). However, I have noticed some key differences:

  • Getting started on a project: In inhouse consulting, the fact that your clients are always a part of the same group means that we rarely start a project without having any prior knowledge of that area and the colleagues working there, and if we don't then someone else within ECON usually does and can share helpful insights or contacts. This really helps us hit the ground running and is not always the case in external consulting.
  • Clients: In inhouse consulting, your clients are also your colleagues at the same time. In my experience this really helps building an open, trusting relationship from the start of the project. In our case many of our clients are actually former ECON consultants who know us and the way it works, giving an even smoother start.
  • Project focus and length: Here external consulting can offer a broader scope of projects (which are usually also shorter - but at ECON you also get to see at least two projects per year), whereas inhouse has a much narrower focus - this could be a downside based on personal preference, but for many of us this is exactly while we go inhouse!
  • Exit opportunities: In ECON at least, most colleagues go into jobs in the E.ON Group, whereas in an external consultancy the picture is much more diverse. If you already know you have a strong interest in a single industry, inhouse might be a great choice; if you are not sure or want to explore more industries, external might suit you better.
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