Why choosing SEA?

Bain SEA
New answer on Oct 09, 2023
5 Answers
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Anonymous A asked on Oct 15, 2020

Hello!

I am planning to send my application for AC for Bain in SEA this week.
I researched a lot about the consulting market in SEA, its trends, its advantages/disadvantages.
However, I wanted to know from the community:

- Why do you think SEA is a good opportunity for a young consultant?
- Is it true that the projects are strongly focused on transformation?
- What do you believe are possible drawbacks of working in consulting in SEA?

Thank you to everybody sharing his opinion

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Benjamin
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replied on Oct 09, 2023
Ex-BCG Principal | 8+ years consulting experience in SEA | BCG top interviewer & top performer

Hi,

Sharing my perspective having worked in SEA for ~8+ years

Why do you think SEA is a good opportunity for a young consultant?

  • Projects: still a growth market, hence the chances of getting a growth/exciting project is higher than mature markets 
  • Client exposure: as it is still a growing market, typically higher chance of exposure to C-suite at an early tenure, versus mature markets where VPs/department heads can be the ones buying the projects
  • Lifestyle: Potential weekend travel around SEA, a wonderfully diverse and vibrant place


Is it true that the projects are strongly focused on transformation?

  • This is the direction of the industry currently and there is no escaping it
  • There is both demand from clients, and also incentives for partners to sell larger projects


What do you believe are possible drawbacks of working in consulting in SEA?

  • Travel: Some people like it, some people hate it. Imagine taking the 7am flight to Jakarta every monday morning
  • WLB: SEA has on average fairly long hours - expect to work hard and WLB is not always the best here
  • Salary: Outside of Singapore, salaries are typically lower
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Ken
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replied on Oct 16, 2020
Ex-McKinsey final round interviewer | Executive Coach

A few comments based on my experience in the region with McKinsey, which hopefully are relevant:

1. Unique first-time projects that are specific to fast growing markets including public sector, extensive regional travel (pre-COVID), and ability to have great impact where clients often don't have the required capabilities or internal resources to e.g., develop a new strategy, build a new business, restructure their business back to profitability, etc.

2. It really depends and less to do with SEA as a region

3. Client capabilities tend to be lower than clients in developed markets which for some can be very frustrating as well as the need to constantly travel (pre-COVID) where the glamour of airline miles and hotel points dies very quickly and often leads to longer hours

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Ian
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replied on Oct 15, 2020
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate

Hi there,

I completely agree with Allan - there isn't a huge difference across offices/regions other than how you fit.

Really, you should be applying where you want to live/be. Where do you fit in the best culturally? Where do you have family/friends? Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years? That is far more important than any regional differences.

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Jasper
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replied on Oct 15, 2020
Expert Financial Services | ex-FinTech Unicorn Manager | 250+ real interviews | 14y+ int work exp | ESCP Business School

Hey,

interesting question. However, the answer, if this "makes sense" also depends on you and your expectations. E.g. I worked after finishing my masters programme in Europe (Paris, London, Berlin) for roughly half a year in Shanghai as a junior consultant. Well it was back in 2007, but it was a great experience for me, because it was simply something completely different to what I experienced so far. And I strongly believe that especially new experiences (positive and negative as well) are always very helpful for the personal development.

So, back to your questions ;-)
@1. See above, I would say yes, especially if you do not know SEA so far
@2. Depends on the consultancy as well, but yes, transformation projects might happen more often to other regions, which I would say might be something postive
@3. I would say NOPE...

Hope it helps. If I can be of further help, happy to do so!

Jasper

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Gaurav
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replied on Oct 19, 2020
Ex-Mckinsey|Certified Career Coach |Placed 500+ candidates at MBB & other consultancies

According to me, there is no disadvantage to working in any geographical area in consulting. If you have spent a significant amount of time in consulting, which is around 3-5 years at least, and you navigate yourself well from one project to another. Consulting is a generalist profession and you have exposure of different types of projects, wherever you worked.

However, in SEA I see a couple of advantages. I have been worked in Europe, Africa, Asia, and in several projects in US and Australia.
SEA is an emerging market, so the kind of projects that you get to do have a lot of strategy climate because are still low-hanging fruits and some transformative things that can be done, verses in the developed markets, where projects are incremental in nature. This the first.

Secondly, the diversity of these projects are also pretty high, different cultures, different types of needs of consumers. The market is quite diverse, so the projects tend to be diverse.

I see these 2 advantages of working in SEA. However, from the prospective of long-term career strategy, you always need to think of how many years you want to spend in the particular region, depending on where you want to settle down, or where you want to make yourself a partner in consulting, and the last thing - the closer to your home-market, where not just language and culture, but the customers psycho is similar, the faster you will grow.

Was it helpful for you?

Cheers,
GB

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Benjamin gave the best answer

Benjamin

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