Vault’s Verdict

As a pure strategy shop focused primarily on the Indian market, Avalon occupies a unique space in the consulting job market. It’s an attractive opportunity for anyone looking to build a leadership career in India, and insiders say the firm is rapidly growing, but it offers few opportunities to work in other markets around the world.

The firm’s employees laud its culture, which they describe as open and supportive. They feel free to express their ideas at any time, and they say that the firm’s leadership is invested in each staff member’s development. Employees can also move upward through the firm at their own pace, without any time limits on promotions.

The work hours at Avalon can get long at times, but insiders say the hours balance out because the firm is highly flexible. Consultants can usually work from home, it’s easy to take leave, and travel is limited.

Employee Reviews

Firm Culture

“We have an open culture, where you have freedom to express and execute your ideas and opinions.”

“Senior management is very supportive. They’re open to feedback and willing to help younger employees at any time.”

“The firm has a very open and nurturing environment, which helps with developing career paths that fit each individual’s interests and abilities.”

“It’s a merit-driven organization with an open culture. You’re free to express your opinions.”

Quality of Life

“We have a high degree of flexibility on when and where we work. Leadership also doesn’t ask questions if you need leave or time off. However, cross-location team bonding is limited and work occasionally intrudes on weekends.”

“Because the company culture is so supportive, nobody questions it when you take leave. However, the working hours do tend to get hectic, especially when you’re working on proposals, but these deliverables are fun to work on because you get the freedom to be creative.”

“It’s easy to take time off and the firm does not have extensive travel requirements.”

“It’s easy to work hybrid and manage my work and personal life.”

Career Development

“As a boutique firm, Avalon does not impose any restrictions on its leadership or consultants to explore opportunities in non-core sectors, or in any geography. This is an exciting part of the work at Avalon, as it allows to have different kinds of exposure.”

“The best aspect of career development at Avalon is the cross-industry exposure you get from projects and client-facing roles. Everyone is very helpful and makes sure to guide you every step of the way, especially when it comes to client interactions. Also, nobody ever makes you feel bad for making a mistake. Instead, you’re given space and time to work on it and learn from it.”

“Upward mobility is based on merit, with no limit to how fast you can move through the organization. However, the onus on building your career is totally on the employee.”

“There is a good breadth of projects within the organization, and senior management is very supportive. However, formal learning could be better. The firm is already aware of this and rolling out new programs.”

Compensation

“Compensation is aligned to performance, and there’s an opportunity for high performers to earn a lot more.”

“Salaries are on par with industry standards. The structure is simple and transparent. However, bonuses can be a little skewed.”

“The pay package is competitive relative to the firm’s peers. However, the appraisal process is poor and doesn’t account for all the kinds of work that we do.”

“The firm provides fully paid health insurance and helps you pay for a gym membership.”

Community Engagement/DEI

“The firm is generally open to promoting diversity, and no candidate is rejected due to discrimination. However, the availability of candidates is limited, which makes it hard to be as diverse as we’d like to be.”

“We have detailed sessions on the importance of equality and inclusivity, and Avalon takes these issues seriously. All consultants get an equal opportunity, regardless of their gender. In fact, Avalon gives women more importance in front of clients who have been sexist in the past.”

“We are a no-bias recruiter. Our recruitment process does not look at gender, caste, race, disability, and so on. Avalon is a fair scene for all candidates.”

“Avalon hires people across all backgrounds with no bias. It is a very sensitive and respectful environment.”

Business Outlook

“We have a strong brand name and an attractive value proposition for our clients, but we should look at diversifying to western economies like the Americas and Europe.”

“We’re bucking the trend in consulting right now and growing quite fast.”

“The firm has explored new areas that have helped us build a strong business pipeline. We also have strong relationships with clients who prefer to work with us, so we’re well-poised for growth.”

“Employee morale is quite high, we have good projects to work on, and the culture is very conducive to learning development. The brand recognition isn’t as good as the biggest firm, but I see a huge change coming.”

Hiring Process

“We have a four-step process. First comes a resume screening. Next is initial discussion with the head of HR. Next is an interview with an associate vice president, followed by another interview with a partner or director.”

“Expect two to three rounds of interviews covering management concepts, data interpretation, case discussions, situational awareness in business, communication skills, personality, and executive presence. The ideal candidate has strong analytical skills, can think on their feet, and has good communication skills and an executive presence.”

“We’re seeking someone who is cooperative and eager to learn, with good communication and analytical skills. We want someone who can see the bigger picture.”

“We are looking for candidates with analytical skills, a commitment to excellence, and a willingness to learn. A reasonably good personality and presentability is also important, as the work is highly client-facing. Interviews are typically scheduled online, and in-person interviews are a must for more senior roles.”

Interview Questions

“Expect to see academic questions across our major functional areas, questions that ask you to make quantitative estimates, questions on current affairs, data interpretation problems, and mini case study problems.”

“We ask questions that ask you to estimate the market size for a wide range of products. We also ask questions based on real client situations to help us assess candidates’ though processes and technical questions related to subjects of interest.”

“Explore the reasons for EBITDA decline in a firm. Decide the strategy for a potato chips manufacturer in response to a new market entrant.”

“How many beer bottles are sold in Tamil Nadu each year?”