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Today we have interviewed a Senior Associate with Oliver Wyman in Dubai to answer questions about management consulting in the Middle East, as well as consulting and expat life in Dubai.
StrategyCase.com: Where do you work? What position?
Interviewee: I work at Oliver Wyman in their Dubai office, currently as a Senior Consultant
StrategyCase.com: What kinds of cases do you work on?
Interviewee: The projects in the Middle East are of a larger scale for big clients. They focus mostly on the public sector, telecommunication & energy.
StrategyCase.com: How is the travel for Oliver Wyman consultants from the UAE? Do you travel every week? How far?
Interviewee: I travel every week, usually within the region within a 2h flight radius.
StrategyCase.com: What are your favorite travel hacks?
Interviewee: My favorite travel hack is flying to different locations instead of returning to Dubai at the end of the workweek and spending a weekend elsewhere, which is possible working in Dubai offices of OW, BCG, or McKinsey.
StrategyCase.com: How does a typical day look in your consultant life? (e.g., distribution between client meetings, problem-solving, analytical work in excel, slide preparation, etc)
Interviewee: Powerpoint, Excel, and meetings = 100%
StrategyCase.com: What’s the typical hours you work during the week and on Friday? How about weekend work?
Interviewee: Sunday to Wednesday I work until 10-11 pm, Thursdays until 6 pm. Weekends are from Friday to Saturday, so the week starts on Sunday. There is no weekend work.
StrategyCase.com: How do you unwind during the week and on weekends?
Interviewee: By traveling to new places, other than the United Arab Emirates.
StrategyCase.com: What’s the best part of the job?
Interviewee: Travel opportunities and good pay in the region.
StrategyCase.com: What is the worst part of the job?
Interviewee: From time to time unpredictable projects. Distance to family in Europe.
StrategyCase.com: What tip would you give applicants for your role and your firm?
Interviewee: Know why you want to come to the region and specific firm.
StrategyCase.com: What exit opportunities are you considering?
Interviewee: Transfer to a European office.
StrategyCase.com: What have you learned on the job?
Interviewee: Lots, mostly managing people and working with people from all over the world
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