Vault’s Verdict

At Applied Value Consulting, expect a challenge. Insiders at this global, boutique consultancy say that it tends to throw its new consultants straight into the fire, trusting them with autonomy and critical responsibilities early in their careers with lots of informal mentorship to help them along the way. Opportunity awaits for those who can handle the heat: The firm has fast promotion cycles for high performers, likes to higher senior positions from within, and offers a generous bonus structure.

This firm’s intense, entrepreneurial culture sometimes requires long hours, and its consultants frequently travel to client sites. However, the firm makes a tremendous effort to make sure its employees have time to connect with each other. It brings its entire staff to two global on-site events each year, and insiders describe its culture as extremely close-knit.

If this sounds like too much pressure early in your career, then Applied Value might not be the firm for you. However, if taking ownership of your own career, travelling, and learning on the job sound like what you’re looking for, then this firm is definitely worth checking out.

Employee Reviews

Firm Culture

• “We have a great culture so it makes it easy to work late hours with your teams. There are obviously times were you really have to dig in to get stuff completed but overall happy with the balance.”
• “Flexible work culture, travel is required, but managers are keen to accommodate individual requests.”
• “Applied Value targets intelligent, driven young consultants with a desire to learn and grow quickly and also take an interest in engaging in sales pursuits outside of day-to-day consulting work.”
• “The best thing is the people. I love who I work with, and they’re a big part of why I’ve stayed as long as I have. Flexibility is overall pretty good in terms of working remotely; however, they have gotten a little stricter. Early responsibility and ownership is huge. I also work daily with senior leadership at top companies, so it's great exposure at a young career level. I do a lot of work, but I also learn a lot.”

Quality of Life

• “Very easy to take time off and they respect PTO. Given that we’re a boutique, you’re given a lot of opportunity but that also comes with some longer hours depending on the project/client.”
• “I work from home in Denver and travel to client site when needed. It is pretty easy to take time off, and while some days require long hours, the firm takes work-life seriously. I am taking three months off for paternity leave soon.”
• “The culture is really strong, hours are pretty long, but it is quite easy to take time off. Generally, we travel about one week a month, so it’s not too bad for consulting.”
• “PTO is respected but overall hours can be rigorous especially in the boutique consulting environment that Applied Value is in, but the overall benefits are excellent to truly reward you for the longer hours that can occur.”

Career Development 

• “Lots of emphasis on entrepreneurial growth. Your ability to progress is really in your own hands, which is incredible compared to larger firms that I’ve worked at. There are clear expectations on what is needed for career development at more senior levels at the company.”
• “I think there is a large amount of internal mobility, international opportunities, and a strong training and mentorship program.”
• “We allow significant opportunities for juniors in the firm to lead work streams and sell work. We are very good at building the future leaders. Maybe could put together more defined definitions by role.”
• “From the beginning of your career, you’re given the opportunity to be involved in all aspects of selling and delivering work. Every employee is given a coach/mentor. Extensive formal and informal training. The firm is not rigid and is growing quickly, so lots of opportunities to move up quickly”

Compensation

• “Pay at the senior level is higher than market when considering bonuses and other benefits, and junior level is more similar to market level.”
• “Significant upside bonus based on performance. Buy into company investments.”
• “$500 wellness stipend yearly for gym, ski passes, golf lesson, etc. Firmwide exercise classes about once a month.”
• “100 percent paid healthcare, dental, and vision. 13 percent contribution to pension annually. Three months paternity leave. Large bonus and profit sharing/equity packages for senior leadership.”

Inclusion

• “Not a ton of active campaigns, but firm culture is that we accept all employees as a part of the family and support local charity efforts. The firm has a recruiter dedicated to recruiting more women.”
• “I think the firm is very inclusive and strongly believe that the firm hires and promotes on merit.”
• “Being a small firm, we are very inclusive to every person at our company. Everyone has equal access to opportunities and feels like part of the same team/culture, which this company’s leadership strives to do.”
• “Working with external hiring firm focused on hiring women.”

Business Outlook

• “We are growing rapidly while other firms are downsizing, and we have key relationships at large clients where we are their go-to consulting firm. We were recently purchased by a private equity firm, and there are a ton of exciting opportunities for rapid growth.”
• “We are growing by 3x over the next few years. Tarriff negotiations make it a good time for business. We are highly adaptable to changes in the industry”
• “Recently fundraised outside capital through a private equity firm. Lots of opportunity for growth following the capital infusion”
• “The firm has reset its goals multiple times because they are blowing out targets. Employee morale is high. The firm having trouble hiring as fast as it is growing.”

Hiring Process

• “We are extremely competitive. You have to have the right EQ and IQ to make it through. We are very demanding and want hard workers, intuitive people, and people who are enjoyable to be around.”
• “Fast process. Feedback given throughout. The ideal candidate is top of the class in terms of organization, ability to think on their feet, and learn new processes, plus has advanced management consulting modeling experience.”
• “We look to hire future partners: smart, driven, and personable. We typically do two or three interviews, then a Super Day.”
• “Interview process is very efficient and streamlined. They are looking for candidates that are driven, hardworking, and pleasant to be around given the long hours.”

Interview Questions

• “They have a standard 20 question math test, Excel test, and multiple cases.”
• “Cases are tailored based on actual business problems we’ve faced in our own work, making it unique and challenging. Mix of quantitative and qualitative questions.”
• “Applied Value takes real-life previous case work and applies these questions to candidates to work through the beginning, middle, and end of how they would go about solving the problem outlined in the case.”
• “Tell me about a project you did and the impact you had. Walk me through a P&L.”