Day in the Life

Day in the Life
Associate consultant (office day)
8:40 a.m.: Get into work, say “hello” to incoming employees. (“At the
consultant level everyone is congenial and talkative. The office environment
lends itself to a healthy mix of work and fun.”)
9:00 a.m.: Meet with team to allocate assignments on current engagement.
10:00 a.m.: Head to the library (“Bain is very research-oriented. I can’t think
of another firm that has such quality resources at its disposal.”)
1:00 p.m.: Take a break for a quick lunch. (“Lean Cuisine in the
microwave.”)
1:30 p.m.: Finish whatever possible in library. Ask research assistant for
some research.
2:00 p.m.: Head across town to interview some of the client’s customers
6:00 p.m.: Return to Bain office and compile results.
7:30 p.m.: Make some last-minute phone calls and return e-mail from vicepresident
assigned to team.
8:00 p.m.: Head out for cocktails (“Straight scotch, thank you.”)
Associate consultant (travel day)
5:40 a.m.: Get up to finish last night’s packing.
6:30 a.m. Grab a taxi and head to the airport, suitcase in tow.
8:30 a.m.: Review client notes on the plane.
11:00 a.m.: Arrive at client site, check into hotel.
12:00 p.m.: Grab some lunch with other team members (“On the road, the
time with your team is intense. You learn how to work with each person in a
diplomatic way. And if you can’t, you learn to cope.”)
1:30 p.m.: Organize and finalize presentation materials for a late-day
meeting.
4:00 p.m.: Meet with clients and make presentation.
6:00 p.m.: Meet with team for post-presentation feedback and discussion;
discuss tomorrow’s agenda.
8:15 p.m.: Eat dinner with team. (“The tab is always on the company when
it comes to team dinners.”)
10:00 p.m.: Retire to hotel room, call husband and set alarm for tomorrow.
Consultant
9:00 a.m.: Arrive at work and check e-mail, The Daily News and voice mail.
(“I often have upwards of 20 e-mails waiting for me each morning-clients,
client affiliates, upper-level managers with questions, team members wanting
to discuss new data analysis, the list goes on ...”)
9:30 a.m.: Review notes on a software company on the West Coast.
11:30 a.m.: Return client calls; start creating spreadsheets.
1:15 p.m.: Break for lunch with two co-workers.
2:15 p.m.: Call manager of a large company to obtain client-related industry
information.
4:00 p.m.: Begin work on client case No. 2, a cable company in New
England.
6:00 p.m.: Eat a non-nutritional snack. (“My favorites include Twinkies and
pretzels.”)
6:15 p.m.: Check e-mail again; finish the spreadsheets started earlier that
day.
6:30 p.m.: Meet with research team to determine what is needed for an
upcoming presentation.
10:00 p.m.: Call it a day and head out the door. (“The day of a consultant
necessarily extends into the night. And the long hours encroach upon family
life.”)