When I finished my PhD, I was considering several career options. I could have stayed at university, started working at a research institute, or tried getting a job in business. I was not sure what to do because all alternatives had advantages and drawbacks. So, I decided to give myself a year, and applied for a post-doc scholarship. It was a very good decision, because during that year I realized that I was not willing to dedicate myself to academia for my whole life.
So I decided to go out to the “real world.” If you have a PhD in a rather theoretical subject, and no real work experience at the age of 29, basically the only sensible option you have is strategy consulting. Companies like BCG look for people who can learn and think fast, and that was almost the only skill I could offer at the time.
I realized how lucky I was to get a job at BCG only after some months working here. There are hard deadlines that keep me motivated, well-defined projects in many different subjects to keep me interested, colleagues who are not only very bright but also hard-working, cheerful, and motivated. I can think about difficult questions, present my findings to people who are really interested in them, and know I am generating value. Life is not as easy as it was, but the hours seem to pass much faster. The kick I got from this new and motivating environment kept me running for years. And when it ended, I was experienced enough in consulting to find other motivation factors.
I am still convinced that coming to consulting—and specifically to BCG—was one of the best decisions of my life.