What would you pick - AP at ZS or SM at LEK? Think SM LEK level < AP ZS? But time to partner seems about the same at each and pay at LEK seems better. Any insights on culture at either? Exiting a Big 4

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SM at LEK is 2-3 years til partner - people usually spend 1 year at SM and then 1 year at principal before making partner.

I would take LEK over ZS - Better comp, nearly pure strat cases (in LS), brand name, decent hours (average 55-60 for LS) - really no downside.

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Sort of. We’re a smaller firm, so there’s less choice. That being said, 1) you can align yourself officially or unofficially to a sector pretty early, and 2) you can build relationships with partners / managers and get on the cases you want relatively early as well. Partners and managers have a ton of control over team selection, within reason (the people they want to staff need to be available obviously).

I’d go with LEK

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AP at ZS is 2 to 3 years from equity partner. It's a senior role tested like a member of our leadership.

The hardest part here would be figuring out where you are going to drive impact and building a team.

I don't know LEKs levels, but are you sure that typical for SM is full equity partnership within a few years?

How does the pay compare? I assume LEK pays more.

With regards to exits, LEK would be better too.

I would try to understand which has a better probability to get to the partnership. They are probably close too. In either scenario, partnership is not handed easily. Good luck.

No comparison on comp. Lek will be higher in both the short and long term.

Exits will be much better here too, in case you don’t make partner. I’ve worked at both LEK and ZS.

Projects are much more interesting and impactful at LEK as well. You’ll spend more of your time on delivery of bigger projects here vs trying to sell small ones at ZS. Part of the answer also depends on how content focused you want to be.

ZS AP to P conversion is high for homegrown APs. I saw much lower rates for lateral APs though. Don’t know how to compare LEK to ZS on partnership likelihood; not saying it’s easier here either.

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