What a Senior Consultant at AArete Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Consulting Industry
Early in Jerry's consulting career, a Senior Consultant at AArete, a focus on "getting everything perfect" proved unsustainable in the fast-paced environment. The most valuable lesson learned was balancing perfectionism with a pragmatic approach, aiming for "90 or 95%" to meet deadlines and avoid burnout, ultimately improving overall performance.
Perfectionism vs. Pace, Stress Management, Deadlines, Fast-Paced Environment, Work-Life Balance
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Jerry Huang
Senior Consultant
AArete
UCI 2015
UCLA Anderson School of Management MBA
Medical, Sciences & Related, Economics
Consulting & Related Professional Services
Consulting
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Finding the right balance between perfectionism and a sustainable pace is crucial in consulting. Early career professionals often strive for 100% accuracy, but the fast-paced nature of the industry necessitates prioritizing efficiency and meeting deadlines. Aiming for 90-95% accuracy and moving on to the next task is sometimes more effective.
2. Consulting is a fast-paced environment with numerous deadlines. Time management and prioritization are essential skills to avoid burnout and maintain productivity.
3. The ability to adapt and learn quickly is vital. The industry demands continuous learning and development to keep up with evolving project needs and client demands.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would have told you before you entered the industry?
I think something I wish I knew, or maybe a lesson I appreciate learning, was balancing perfectionism with the right pace. Early in my career, I was very focused on getting everything perfect. I wanted to achieve 100%, with not a single error.
But I learned in consulting that it's very fast-paced. You have a lot of deadlines to meet. Sometimes you'll burn yourself out and be unable to perform other functions if you're too focused on 100% perfection.
Sometimes what you need to do is get it to 90 or 95% and be ready to move on to the next thing.
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