Today we will take up Part II of our series about the key questions of International Management Consulting.
An International Consultant’s Lifestyle
1. What can you expect in housing, salary, benefits, and perks when you work abroad?
Generally speaking, the benefits will be pretty much the same as you would find in consulting perks in the United States. You will have an expense account, be able to travel in style, go to elegant events with your team and your firm, and so on.
On the other hand, your bonuses and pay will probably be less than you would receive in the US. There may be fewer perks. For example, most McKinsey offices in Asia don’t give their junior consultants Blackberries. You must reach Engagement Manager level before you get one.
If have been hired in the US and will be relocating to your new position, you will be considered an international hire. You will then receive some relocation benefits. These could include an increased relocation bonus and temporary housing. Other than that, you will be on a par with all the other local consulting hires.
2. What kind of lifestyle can you expect? What hours will you work? What kind of social life is there?
Once again, a lot is dependent on the office and country you are working in. If you are in East Asia – Korea, Japan, China – you can expect to work harder. In Central America and Latin America – Mexico, Argentina, Brazil – you will find that your work day is shorter.
In each office, there are cultural issues that are of great importance. These will vary from office to office and country to country. For example, in Saudi Arabia, you cannot buy alcohol legally. So you can see that it is very important to research your chosen destination thoroughly before you ever apply. In this way, you can prevent embarrassing or disastrous errors.
Click here for the guide to management consulting CV and resumes.
What Are the Duties an International Consultant Can Expect?
1. Is the work different from that of a US consultant? Is the responsibility greater or less?
When you think about consulting overseas, there are generally two categories you might fall into. One is consulting in a developed country. This would include Western Europe or Japan. The other is consulting in an emerging economy. This would include Vietnam and the Czech Republic.
In a developed country, your work will be very much like what you would do in the US. The variables would be your mix of industries and clients in your target country. Additionally, the local reputation and strong points of your firm would make a difference.
In an emerging economy, your work might differ for several of reasons:
* Clients might prove less sophisticated.
* There might be greater variety in the experience and quality of your partners and principals.
-You will have fewer resources in your local offices.
That wraps up our tour of overseas management consultant lifestyle and salary. If you have more questions about consulting abroad, please post them here, and I will update the article!
