IT Career Question: Consulting Vs Product Based Company. Which to Choose for a Fresh Graduate?

DrPotato on 08/09/2017 - 02:40
Last edited 08/09/2017 - 11:15

Hi all,

I recently received two good job offers from two very different tech companies for a Graduate Development role - one is a midsize consulting company where as the other one is a product based/focused company (also midsize). Both companies are growing and would offer job stability and of personal importance is that they have a very casual culture while having great benefits which promote learning (stipend for education, free Pluralsight etc.) so no issues there.

From a future outlook and general career progression perspective, however, I am very confused. The pros of consulting company is I get to work with different clients and thus get exposed to different technologies/stacks. Further, since they work with big firms, I can get exposure to people working in such companies (not too sure how true this is if I am a developer though). On the other hand, at a product based company, I would get to work with same tech stack but I would be much more proficient in it as I would be working with it everyday and since it is a tech stack which is fairly popular with Australian companies, it seems like a very good choice in terms of future prospects. I have never worked with this stack at my internships or in my own time though I am definitely considering learning it for fun.

Essentially, my thoughts are that in a consulting company I would be a generalist whereas at a product based company, I would be a specialist. Of course, these are my own views and I would love to seek more advice on this especially from folks who are experienced in this industry.

Edit: Both of these companies are in Sydney so I will have to move from Melbourne which is okay though I am looking for companies here in Melbourne too now so if something of the two comes along here I will opt for that.

Thanks all! Really appreciate your time.

Poll Options

  • 13
    Consulting
  • 9
    Product
  • 6
    Chop Leg. Claim Disability.
Education & Work

Comments

  • ihbh on 08/09/2017 - 06:48
    +2

    "Begin with the end in mind." - SC

    What are your medium/long term career plans?

    • DrPotato on 08/09/2017 - 11:08

      Good question: I should have mentioned this in OP. Ideally, I hope to start my own company one day - doesn't have to be tech based. Realistically, in a few years, I want to be a senior software engineer at a company where I can actually do coding instead of talking to different people as I am better with computers than people.

      • modsec802 on 09/09/2017 - 07:59

        Product company then for sure

      • misswanderlust on 17/09/2019 - 21:24

        Definitely product-based company if you want to focus on coding.

        Lots of politics in consulting - also long hours and uncertainty due to constantly moving from client engagement to client engagement. If you want to do consulting, do it while young without family commitments bc you’ll likely be doing lots of long hours and travel. This based on working for both types of companies.

  • negger on 08/09/2017 - 07:47

    Depending on your career goals. Note that you learn things on the job and your university education is mostly useless.
    If your intention is to progress your career in non-technical areas then go for consulting. If you are a tech savvy then product might work better but depending on the service line/org division you get in to consulting is also not a bad choice.Australian product companies are typically very small and focus on niche areas - so chose wisely.

    • DrPotato on 08/09/2017 - 11:09

      Hmm, from that perspective product based makes more sense since I wish to remain in technical roles. But with consulting I can develop soft skills which will be helpful if I wish to start my own company.

      • negger on 08/09/2017 - 15:38

        You would probably get best of both worlds, if you are part of the professional services wing of the product company.

  • fruit on 08/09/2017 - 08:17
    +2

    Pick the one you'll enjoy.

    • iforgotmysocks on 08/09/2017 - 08:53
      +2

      Chopping off your leg sounds like fun.

    • DrPotato on 08/09/2017 - 11:10

      Don't know which one I'll enjoy tbh. Product based are fun (from part-time experience) but consulting seems like a good challenge.

      • iforgotmysocks on 08/09/2017 - 11:13

        Chopping off your leg is both fun and challenging

        • DrPotato on 08/09/2017 - 11:14

          True, hahaha. But that seems like a very difficult challenge. Only a last resort. xD

  • R-Man on 08/09/2017 - 09:00
    +1

    Consulting. Does the product company deal with clients? At least with a consulting company you'll get client facing experience.

    I'm guessing the consulting grad program pays less, but later when you move to a product company after consulting experience i expect you'll get paid heaps.

    • DrPotato on 08/09/2017 - 11:13

      Both pay about the same (above market rates).

      The product company has clients in USA which are fairly big. But don't get to interact with them directly.

      • dragonfly090 on 08/09/2017 - 11:51

        "The product company has clients in USA which are fairly big. But don't get to interact with them directly."

        This is a deal breaker.

        Consulting all the way. you know your strengths that you love coding and good with computers. Work on your weakness to make it your strength.

        If one day you want to open your company, those consulting skills will come in handy. Think it this way..coding is one of larger consulting exposure you get.

        And since you have assessed that you are good at coding, you can always go back. But especially for a start, Consulting is the way to go.

        • DrPotato on 08/09/2017 - 14:02

          Thanks for the comment.

          I do think from a perspective of soft skills, the consulting company would be better. And I will have the opportunity to code on my own time but I can't learn how to talk to clients from my computer.

  • mini2 on 08/09/2017 - 09:12

    Pick the one with a proper/better grad program. Finish the grad program, see how many industry certs you can freeload off them, hang around for another year or 2 then figure out how to get the hell out of there.

    • DrPotato on 08/09/2017 - 11:16

      Both have fairly new grad programs but the consulting company pays for you to sit for industry exams like AWS, Oracle, Microsoft etc. So +1 for them.

      • mini2 on 08/09/2017 - 11:29

        Who's more cloud/IoT centric? AWS/Azure is the flavour of the month.

        • DrPotato on 08/09/2017 - 12:17

          At the consulting company, cloud technologies are very popular. They provide a lot of training and send you to conferences held by Amazon/Google etc at their expense.

          But as you said this is just the current trend. With the rapid technology changes, it is difficult to ascertain how popular cloud technologies will be when I am of experience to go for Senior roles.

        • mini2 on 08/09/2017 - 13:34

          @DrPotato:

          Problem is no one's got a crystal ball. Things in IT can be influenced beyond technical advancement. Red tapes for one..

          Funny enough I thought my niche was going to be extinct about 2-3 years ago. Seems like there's another 5-7 years left in it before the cloud will have any meaningful impact to it.

        • DrPotato on 08/09/2017 - 14:05

          @mini2: Oh well I am hoping cloud technologies stick for another 10 years. Going to learn a bit over the Summer while I am not too busy travelling. :)

  • Seraphin7 on 08/09/2017 - 11:43
    +1

    As a general statement, I'd say go with the consulting option for the reasons others have mentioned.

    That said, only you know the details of the two options you have in hand and it is in these details that you need to make the decision.

    • DrPotato on 08/09/2017 - 14:08

      Yup, it is a difficult choice but one that only I can make. Thanks for the reply.

  • Halo375 on 08/09/2017 - 11:50
    +1

    Consulting. You'll learn more across different areas, industries and companies. You'll also find out what you're actually good at and be able to really build up an interesting CV. You need work experience to be truly valuable and I think the diversity of the consulting role will really help you when you're looking to move to the next position.

    • DrPotato on 08/09/2017 - 14:15

      This is one of the biggest pros for me to opt for consulting. Yet, tbh, I have worked on group projects with folks who have interned at big consulting companies like Deloitte and they can't even work with Git. This for me was a harrowing realization and I hope that consulting doesn't affect my technological capabilities.

      • Halo375 on 08/09/2017 - 14:24

        Remember - you're not making a lifelong commitment to each company either. You may find it doesn't suit you and you move on in less than a year. Careers are much more fluid now, there is significantly less job security these days - it is all about making yourself as valuable as possible. I do suggest you continue to focus on your education as well otherwise your skills will stagnate. Some companies support further education, others don't. Might be a good question to ask both these companies.

        • DrPotato on 08/09/2017 - 14:27

          Fair point. I asked the question about how they support employee training/education and was satisfied with their answer.

          I suppose a lot of it does come down to the individual and their own grit and motivation.

          And yup, I realize I am not committed to these companies so I can definitely look at other options after the graduate program when I have personally experienced both types of companies.

          Thanks again for your advice.

  • lowFi on 08/09/2017 - 11:57

    If you already know where you want to be make sure that your manager knows this and can place you accordingly. If you choose consulting you can try multiple roles and tech stack early in your career. The flipside is you might be placed in roles you have no intention of doing depending on the market at a given point in time. If you're after quick progression and international opportunities definitely go consulting. If you're more laid back go product based team.

    Make a list if the things important to you and score each company accordingly. Use Glasssdoor to see what their current and previous employees think of the company. I wouldn't factor in starting salary because this is going to change rapidly depending on your skill, exposure to projects. Unless they are paying you peanuts.

    1. Branding is a huge multiplier in regards to opportunity. As you progress in a career I would value this over any graduate program they run, formal or otherwise. This will open doors and increase your salary. pick the most recognized company. especially if you plan to work internationally in the future. Also factor in the size of the projects you're delivering.

    2. The company's dedication to your professional growth is pretty important. In consulting they want you to be certified in the latest trends because they need it for their portfolio this means you have set budget and time allocated for your education. A good company will cover your time off to attend a course, travel/accommodation and the course fees. You're going to be investing alot of your time learning a tech stack make sure it's something that is transferable to other organisations and is going to be current for the medium term.

    3. Lifestyle / worklife balance
      Ask about the hours for a typical week and make reasonable assessment if this is how you want to work for the next 2-3 years. Consulting has demanding deadlines typically more so than a product based company in my experience. If you're not ready to work the occasional weekend and late nights this might sway you one way.

    • DrPotato on 08/09/2017 - 13:58

      Thanks for the detailed reply!

      I am definitely more into the laid back culture and fit in a better in a casual work environment. That said, both of these opportunities fulfill that criteria (though consulting has this to a lesser extent). On glassdoor both have similar scores (very positive!), though being mid-size, there are not that many reviews so I am taking it with a grain of salt.

      1) From an international view, the product based company is probably slightly more recognized although no way as much as the tech giants like Google/Microsoft. Yet, would it be a fair assumption that if I work with the big clients of the consulting company, I might get recommendations (after doing a good job of course) from them which should help in getting recognized. I do not plan to work internationally but am open to it.

      2) Very good point and I have heard this from several people. I would say both companies place equal emphasis on employee growth and have good stipends for education/training. But my concerns, as reflected in OP, are that working at a consulting company I won't be specialized in a tech stack and won't have depth needed later on.

      3) I am hoping that being a part of their graduate program, the consulting company would provide good work/life balance. But if I have to work long hours, I am happy to.

  • itbargainhunter on 08/09/2017 - 12:22
    +1

    Try not to work for US company unless the pay is 15% or 20% more in my opinion.

    Reason?

    US company are reckless when cutting headcount. I’ve seen a far too many times that a whole performing division got lay-off in an overnight decision. ANZ market is an expensive cost base for US company and is always the first on their chopping board when they need to cut cost in Asia pacific region.

    Also

    In general Consulting is a fancy word "for building and reselling a solution by finding a combinations of products produced by other vendors". Larger company often offers chance for international travel which is a great experience.

    On the Product side, you will be tied to sell to what your company makes/distributes/sells. The ownership of the product generally give staff more control. Also winning against competitor can be satisfying.

    I would go for Consulting to see the IT world (or the world if international travel as a bonus). Be specialised in a promising tech of product is the next career move.

    • mini2 on 08/09/2017 - 13:36

      Used to work for 2 of those big yank body shop, one of the perks working for them is simply being employed by them. However, I did learn a shitload from one of them in the 2-3 years that I've worked for them compared to the last 10 years I've been elsewhere….so YMMV.

    • DrPotato on 08/09/2017 - 14:23

      The consulting company sends people to US and other countries for conferences which is pretty appealing.

      The product company is Australian but has clients which are US firms. But I suppose the same principle can apply.

      Do you think that working on side projects (that interest you) can achieve the same amount of technical proficiency that a person working full-time at a company dooes since I am guessing a lot of the work at the company is repetitive and not really expanding the technical chops.

      • Halo375 on 08/09/2017 - 14:27

        Business travel stinks - honestly it is nowhere near as glamorous as people thinks it is. I travel a lot for work and to me it is just an extra long commute. The novelty wears off quickly, hotels feel claustrophobic and you find yourself working non-stop. There is no time for sightseeing (normally) and you'll grow to hate airports with a furious vengeance.

        • DrPotato on 08/09/2017 - 14:29

          Hmm, never thought about this since I have never been paid to travel (except for interstate interviews). Not as excited about the potential travel opportunities then I suppose.

        • itbargainhunter on 08/09/2017 - 15:30

          Second that.

          I dislike business travel as a junior staff. Travelling in Economy class for longhaul sucks. Pressure from overseas presentations/ client visit + jet lag means sleepless nights. "Free" business travel usually means you work more than 8hr a day. (Don't you see people work with their laptop on aircraft?)

          On the flip side, travel in business is barable especially if you are a drinker. However in many company you need to reach a certain pay grade in order to enjoy that…

          However, there are many unspoken benefit as a "Product guy" in various industries and paid for care free "business" travel do exist. I once travel by busienss class to europe for 2 weeks for a vendor event, all meal and entertainment included. And I am a product guy.

          Enough said as I don't want ATO to knock on my door.

        • Halo375 on 08/09/2017 - 15:33

          @itbargainhunter: I find that it's worst if you're travelling as part of a team. What this really means is that you start talking about work at breakfast, throughout the day, over dinner, drinks afterwards - you're stuck talking about work the whole damn time. If you have the right job though, then travel can be fun and work will pick up the tab. This is all too rare though, after the first or second international trip the novelty factor wears off pretty fast.

  • scotty on 08/09/2017 - 17:09

    Worked in IT for the last 20 years, and I'll say "Product". Maybe it's just because I'm product kind of guy who like to build something and make it better. You got something at the end which you can claim, "yup I built that".

    • DrPotato on 08/09/2017 - 18:14

      Thanks for the reply, scotty.

      I never considered myself to be do consulting either (though my role is primarily development in this company) as it always seemed to formal and bureaucratic but have made an exception since this company has a casual culture.

      And I agree, it is very fulfilling to point at something and tell people that I made it and I think that is something that I would really like to have but I am sure that in a consulting there are other aspects which can be just as fulfilling.

  • notme53 on 09/09/2017 - 17:47

    I've been a consultant, a contractor & an FTE at a number of companies building a product (inc. 3 SaaS platforms).

    As a consultant I loved the gigs where is be dropped in for a 2-3 month 'greenfield' type project, building a new product, service or feature. I had one project like that where I flew in and out of Melbourne weekly for 9 weeks, it was a small team with a lot of freedom to build a quality solution. It was fun, a bit of a adventure.

    The part I hated was that 60% of the job involved being sent in as an expert to something I knew very little about and had no interest in. E.g. a role as a SQL DTS migration specialist, or fixing bugs in a behemoth VBA spreadsheet.

    Product teams can be great, depends a lot on the team culture though and your interest in the subject matter. You want a company with a bit of a startup vibe, open to change and building in an MVP way (while still concerned with quality). If you can get invested in the product then that helps with motivation. All projects get to a point where they become more about generating pages from a template/tooling than architecting & building new solutions.

    • Cynicaloflife on 23/08/2019 - 14:16

      Can I PM you about this? (It seems that you don’t accept messages). I am looking to jump from a service based organisation to product based.

  • Cynicaloflife on 23/08/2019 - 14:14

    Glad I found this thread.

    I am working as technical consultant and will be jumping to a product based company. I feel that the learning in a product based company is far superior than a service based company.

    The work that you do at a service based company is very hit and miss. I get dropped into a role, that I have no knowledge of and am expects to deliver.

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