Kevin O’Leary: Business Consultants Face career Stagnation
Consulting career Path May Lead to Limited Future Opportunities
While the allure of high starting salaries, often ranging from $250,000 to $350,000, draws many to the business consulting field, investor Kevin O’Leary warns of important long-term drawbacks. Despite the demanding nature of these roles, which can involve working “like an animal” for the initial three years, O’Leary believes the perceived benefits may come at a steep cost.
O’Leary, 71, asserts that spending more than 24 months in consulting can be detrimental to oneS career prospects outside the industry. He stated in an interview with Fortune, “if you’re there for more than two than 24 months, you get the virus. You’re tainted-your resume says you were someone of no consequence.”
He further elaborated on his outlook, telling Fortune, “So I always take those resumes of consultants that want to get into the real world, and throw them in the garbage. They haven’t done anything, they just wrote reports. Didn’t matter.”
Even with the prospect of 100-hour workweeks, which are common in some professions for significantly less pay, O’Leary emphasizes that consultants may never achieve true financial freedom due to their subordinate positions. “You can go to the soccer games, go to picnics. You can do whatever, and it’s a great life. You can provide for a family,” he acknowledged.”But you’ll never be free. You’ll never be financially free.”
In contrast, O’Leary highlights entrepreneurship as a path to autonomy, even if it initially involves sacrifices such as forgoing vacations or sharing living spaces. The potential reward, he suggests, is the ability to control one’s own destiny once success is achieved.
