Offered two projects at the same time, how can I decide?

Hi there,

I do understand that you want to try other teams and clients. But you will have several opportunities to do that during your career at consulting. Right now you have a team that wants you and in which performed very well… You have a highway in front of you. I cannot stress enough how much valuable that is for a fast track career. 

Moreover, you always perform better when working with teams and clients you already know (no need to spend time learning about the company and the team, etc.). It doesn't mean you have to stay forever, but taking the secondment project will help you get a 5* performance that will pay dividends later on.

This is of course your career, and only you know for how long you plan to stay. If you want to stay long and want a fast track career, you should stay with the same team and the same client. If you want to learn about the other topic or have an experience as diverse as possible, then obviously go for the other project.
 

Now let me address this specific statement, as you have it wrong: “secondment might have disadvantages for an associate as I need to network within my own company."

Yes, you have to network within your own company… when at higher levels in the company, when it becomes more political. But at your level, what you really need is a champion who cares about you and really wants you happy (i.e., promoted). At your level, networking is important to be able to get staffed… but given that you had that 2nd staffing option, it doesn't seem like you really need to do this, people in the office seem to already know that you are performing well and are trying to “grab” you into their teams.

Hope this helps, and good luck with your decision.

Hi there,

I'm going to take a difference stance from Pedro (sorry Pedro!). I think this sentence here is critical: “The partner strongly insists that I go to the secondment option but I am more inclined towards the other option as I want to try new teams ”

Of course the Partner insists! He/she has an incentive to keep you on. Ultimately, if you want to dip your toes elsewhere you absolutely should feel like you can. Don't let senior people control your life :)

Now, how do you do this the right way? Well, first, I would actually talk to other people. Talk to your staffing manager, the project lead on your project, other people you've gotten to know at the firm. Ask them what they think. 

Perhaps the office culture is setup so that you really don't want to burn that Partner. Or, perhaps, people will tell you that Partner is controlling and that you absolutely don't want to get stuck in just 1 client/project set for your first few years - get advice on the ground!

Now, ultimately, if you opt to go for the second project, you obviously need to let the Partner down easy. My advice is to speak with them in person (over, say, a coffee) and tell them the following:

1. You seriously and genuinely enjoy working with them
2. You're excited by their project and, in any other scenario, would join them
3. But, you're concerned about exposure and really want to stay true to the  Generalist route in your early years
4. Re-iterate how much you enjoy working with them, and that you ultimately want to work on future projects with them once you've just explored a couple of other industries/functions