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Consulting Career: 'I Easily Had an 80-Hour Week'
🇩🇪 Germany /Culture & Society

Consulting Career: 'I Easily Had an 80-Hour Week'

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • University students are recruited by consulting firms like CCT, which visit campuses twice a year.
  • The recruitment process involves a full-day assessment center with case studies and presentations to test stress resistance.
  • Consultants often work long hours, with one describing an "80-hour week."

The world of corporate consulting beckons ambitious students with promises of exciting work and high salaries, but it demands a significant commitment. For many, the journey begins during university, with organizations like the Company Consulting Team (CCT) actively recruiting on campuses.

I had no idea what corporate consulting was until people from the Company Consulting Team (CCT) came to our lecture in the first semester.

— StudentRecounting the initial encounter with consulting firms.

"I had no idea what corporate consulting was until people from the Company Consulting Team (CCT) came to our lecture in the first semester," one student shared. The appeal is immediate: "They walk around in suits, they must be important. And their work sounded exciting, so I wanted to check it out."

They walk around in suits, they must be important. And their work sounded exciting, so I wanted to check it out.

— StudentExplaining the initial attraction to consulting.

The recruitment process is rigorous. An assessment center, lasting an entire day, tests candidates' abilities in various ways. "We had to work on a case study as a group. Afterwards, we had to present our results to CCT people who played fictional managing directors," a participant recalled. These assessors posed "mean questions" to gauge spontaneity and stress resilience. The dress code, business attire, also served as an early filter, identifying those comfortable in formal wear.

We had to work on a case study as a group. Afterwards, we had to present our results to CCT people who played fictional managing directors.

— StudentDescribing a task during the assessment center.

Despite the pressure, the experience can be rewarding. "I was extremely nervous and could barely sort my thoughts, but it worked out," one student reported. However, the demanding nature of the job is clear. One consultant admitted, "I easily had an 80-hour week," highlighting the intense workload that defines a career in consulting.

They posed some mean questions and tried to confuse us.

— StudentDetailing the challenging nature of the assessment center.
About this summary

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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