NEW YORK, NY -- (MARKET WIRE) -- August 23, 2005 -- Known for their long workweeks and hefty travel schedules, consultants and the firms they work for may not quickly come to mind when one thinks of healthy work cultures. However, consulting firms can today be counted among those organizations having the most robust work/life cultures.

Or at least that's what the findings of Consulting Magazine's fifth annual Best Firms to Work For survey appears to once again reveal. Having surveyed more than 5,000 consultants, Consulting Magazine found several firms that were earning high praise from their toughest critics: their own employees.

"Consulting firms have long distinguished themselves by their team-oriented workforces and one of the underpinnings of this is respect for the different career options consultants may today choose to pursue," says Consulting Magazine Editor in Chief Jack Sweeney. "The professional lives of consultants can only improve, as these top firms demonstrate that people remain the ultimate competitive advantage."

CONSULTING MAGAZINE'S 10 BEST CONSULTING FIRMS TO WORK FOR

(alphabetical)

Bain & Company
Booz Allen Hamilton
Boston Consulting Group
DiamondCluster International
Kurt Salmon Associates
McKinsey & Company
Mercer Management Consulting
Mercer Oliver Wyman
Pittiglio Rabin Todd & McGrath
Sapient Corporation

Besides highlighting the cultural strengths of different leading firms, Consulting Magazine's Best Consulting Firms to Work For survey makes visible the difficult demands of a consulting career. The firms that are counted among employers of choice are the ones that show they value their most important asset -- their employees. "The consultants at these firms tells us that their employers not only offer intellectually-stimulating work, but pay them well, provide a significant amount of training and numerous opportunities to balance their work and personal obligations," said Mina Landriscina, Consulting Magazine Managing Editor and editor of the annual Best Firms Ranking.

For the rankings, Consulting Magazine surveyed more than 5,000 U.S.-based consultants at 32 firms. Firms were scored by their employees' responses to questions in six equally weighted categories: Leadership, Compensation & Benefits, Culture, On the Job, Work/Life, and Career Development.

The September/October issue of Consulting Magazine contains the full rankings as well as breakouts by individual attribute. In addition, Consulting Magazine this month is introducing its Best Firms Webcast Series featuring interviews with the consulting profession's top talent officers. For more information or to register for Consulting Magazine's Best Firm Webcasts, please go to www.ConsultingMag.com.

About Consulting Magazine

Consulting Magazine is the flagship publication of the consulting profession. The magazine features the latest information on consulting careers, thought leadership, and corporate strategies. Consulting is published by Kennedy Information, the authority in the consulting space since 1970. Consulting Magazine also organizes Kennedy Information's annual Consulting Summit -- the largest annual gathering of consulting leadership in North America.

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