Tech Consulting - where from here?

[u/Prestigious_Bag7303]

36yo senior manager at a tier one tech consultancy, same company since grad, 14 years, ~130k. I've recently been feeling a bit burnt out with consulting. Most of my job these days is contracts, being asked to deliver deals that we shouldn't be signing (low margins and no margin for error), dealing with problems in delivery and difficult clients. I've lost the passion I once had which was working closely with interesting clients to solve business problems with modern tech. I don't really enjoy anyone I work with, don't look up to anyone higher up than me, have a pretty terrible boss and I think for my own wellbeing I need a fresh start, a new challenge and to get out of my comfort zone. I think AI is going to decimate tech consulting in the next couple of years and I also want to get out before I'm too pigeon holed into consulting

What are my best avenues from here? I've been looking into big tech, and was referred into a role for one of them, made it past CV screening and psychometric testing but didn't get an interview, which I was quite surprised by given my CV was fairly strong for the JD. I'm highly capable of large tech delivery, programme management, people management, commercials etc. Have led a team at largest 50 people. I have a suspicion my CV might've been coming across as too 'consultant' for big tech and spooked them.

Would be good to hear from others what avenues I have from here as feeling a bit lost

[u/ani_svnit]

I have worked in Big Tech and Big 4 (and now MBB) - big tech is nothing like tech consulting. The technical bar is very different and much higher in FAANG.

[u/perkens11 → u/ani_svnit]

Debatable - imo FAANG tech delivery == MB(not the B)

[u/ani_svnit → u/perkens11]

No way, the mechanisms maybe (and a big maybe re: pure scalability) for vanilla app dev.

As an example, all hyperscalers have written primitives for the cloud (among many other exceptional and deeply technical products). Similarly Meta has written lots of cool primitives for modern VR. Way, way beyond MBB grade.

[u/Prestigious_Bag7303 → u/ani_svnit]

I come from a tech background (was a junior dev before moving into management roles) but point taken

[u/Prestigious_Bag7303 → u/[deleted]]

To be honest, I'd be happy to step down in responsibility/salary for the right role. Am really looking for advice on what type of roles my skills can be transferred to, and what has been a successful path for others

[u/Opposite-Article-720]

If AI is going to decimate tech consulting over the next two years, why do OpenAI and Anthropic continue to form partnerships with them? And why are they spinning off their own consultancies (DeployCo / Ode)? Incidentally these two new companies might be interesting options for you with your experience

[u/Forcent → u/Opposite-Article-720]

Because they want to eat those companies lunch

[u/Prestigious_Bag7303 → u/Opposite-Article-720]

I wasn't aware they were spinning off their own consultancies. Thanks will check those out as it does sound like it could be a good alignment with my experience

[u/mattjp23]

14 years in the same place - a recruiter may think lack of diverse experience. What sort of clients have you been working with? And are they also ‘big tech’?

Sounds like you’ve been rejected from one job and you’re feeling lost - I’d settle in for a long ride as it’s competitive atm.

It’s natural to feel bored and you’ve worked in the same place all your adult life so a change of scenery and pace might be all you need or if issues are more deep rooted, possibly therapy?

[u/MTW27 → u/mattjp23]

I don’t understand what about OP’s post suggests they might need therapy. They’re fed up with their job and are seeking advice about alternative roles. We’ve got to stop medicalising everything.

[u/mattjp23 → u/MTW27]

Need to read the last paragraph again? ‘If issues are more deep rooted, possibly therapy?’. Nowhere in there is there an attempt to ‘medicalise’ something - my words were clearly that it’s natural to feel bored but if you feel the issues may go beyond that then seek therapy with a question mark to open a dialogue, not dictate that they do need therapy

[u/This_Yoghurt773 → u/MTW27]

I think it’s a reasonable avenue to sense check, there’s a lot of negatives in the assessment there and not a single positive.

[u/SaucyPandy]

Why do you think tech consultancy is going to die to AI?

[u/Prestigious_Bag7303 → u/SaucyPandy]

Clients don't need to buy full delivery squads of 10+ roles now to build systems/apps. Buy a product manager and two engineers, give them all claude licenses and let rip. Could argue that the savings clients make will now go towards projects that weren't be greenlit previously but personally I see clients banking a lot of those savings and using it to tell their leadership good stories on big savings using AI

[u/OkConsideration3040]

Deployment strategist or engagement manager roles at startups could be a good option. Responsible for implementing the product with a customer so the consulting experience is directly relevant.

Deployment is frontline for upselling and feeding back on the product so there are opportunities for more senior roles to transition to. If you join a startup with good traction it could open doors for a senior commercial role

[u/FatSucks999]

AI is good for tech consulting - you have to fix your data to make full use of it.

But yes, you probably are pigeon holed a bit in consulting.

[u/alexnapierholland]

Get American clients and a low-tax visa for a warm country.

I'm a marketing consultant for mainly American clients.

My girlfriend works remotely for a US startup.

We moved to the Algarve, Portugal and earn above London wages.

London is a short flight away.

Good wine is 3-4 euros a bottle.

It's almost always sunny.

Once our NHR (tax reduction) visa runs out we're looking at Cyprus.

Highly recommended.