But wouldn't they basically have no choice but to scale up their own workforce if their client's business is booming? It wouldn't be a good look to say "hey actually we can't take your project on because we believe a recession is coming".
Consulting could be even more "boom and bust" than normal companies since consulting budgets might be the first thing to get cut when times get tough.
> It wouldn't be a good look to say "hey actually we can't take your project on because we believe a recession is coming".
Why not? I'd trust a consultant who demonstrably trusted their own judgement like that even more, and even if they were wrong on that particular call.
I may have to find a different consultant because that one couldn't take me on, but I'd be more likely to consider checking on them later to see if circumstances have changed enough to bring me in.
(Just to be clear, I'm talking about business consultants generally. Certainly not McKinsey specifically)
Consulting could be even more "boom and bust" than normal companies since consulting budgets might be the first thing to get cut when times get tough.