The 10 Best Consulting Firms to Work For, 2005

"I wasn't sure I wanted to be a consultant when I arrived, but now I don't think I can ever leave," says Nick Studer, 31, who joined Mercer Oliver Wyman eight years ago and is now a director. Studer isn't the only one among the 5,048 consultants from 32 firms to wax poetic about the hold — sometimes described as a viselike grip — that their profession of choice has on them. Impacting people worldwide and having the opportunity for continual learning are just two of the benefits that outweigh the profession's warts, which include long hours and time away from loved ones. But it is also clear that much of what keeps consultants in the business of advising has to do with their employers. We've heard consultants vow time and time again that if it weren't for their individual firms, they'd leave the profession.

Now in its fifth year, the 10 Best Firms to Work For project polled consultants of all levels on their employers of choice through a Web-based survey, which ran between May and August. Companies were scored entirely by their employees' responses in six equally weighted categories: Career Development, Compensation & Benefits, Culture, Leadership, On the Job, and Work/Life.

This year, one employer, Sapient Corporation, has been selected by the editors as our 2005 Career Champion firm. The 14-year-old company distinguishes itself by the leadership and career opportunities it offers its employees as well as its strong culture that encourages feedback and openness from everyone. "Everyone is encouraged to share their ideas and act on them," says Laurie MacLaren, a vice president who joined Sapient about eight years ago, and one of many Sapient consultants who couldn't resist adding some thoughts to put forth a stronger case and underscore their point-and-click answers. "People are encouraged to take risks and are not punished when things don't work out. Honesty and integrity are rewarded here. We encourage feedback at all levels so that we can continuously improve our individual and company performance."