Good morning! Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to answer our questions and provide your insight. I am a Navy O5 with 26 years in, on the verge of retirement, and am interested in management consulting. My current job is largely a consulting position, though I certainly understand that there are differences between what might be considered consulting in the military vis-a-vis the civilian sector. That said, what level is an appropriate place to start applying for considering my experience....mid-level, senior? Thanks again!
Answers
Robert -- I'm a retired Naval Officer (SWO) working at Deloitte and I think the answer to your question largely centers around what experience (outside of operational/leadership) that you can bring to the firm... In my case, I concluded my career as CoS C10F/FCC .... Coupled with my MS in IT; CIO Joint Staff facilitated my transition into the firm's advisory Cyber Risk commercial practice, where I was able to bring immediate value to clients assisting them in dealing with significant cyber events. At the end of the day, the level you come in at will largely be centered on the role intended based on these experiences; aligned with current "fill" requirements. Happy to discuss further with you -- I'm on linkedin as well.
Robert - it's a great question and it's an issue that senior NCOs and officers often struggle with as they look to transition to the private sector. Some folks don't understand the levels of the organization until it's too late and commit to a position where the level was lower than expected. It's even possible to aim too high and end up at a level that won't set you up for success down the road. To the extent possible get a good understanding of the level structure of the management consulting firm that you're talking to. Be up front with the recruiter/hiring manager/interviewers and ask them for additional details about the levels. What are the typical years of experience at each level? Are there different levels associated with different service lines and/or career paths? Are there levels that are "landing points" or is there an up or out expectation?
Thank you very much, John and John for your replies. Very helpful information and advice.
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