ODP/MT or Job Hopping
I'm a fresh Data Science grad and I've been interning at an HR management consulting firm for about 5 months now. The path here is pretty straightforward: intern -> probation -> full-time.
I'm trying to figure out my next move and honestly feeling a bit stuck on which direction to go. I'd love to get some honest advice on a few questions:
Generalist vs Niche Specialist: I see a lot of mixed opinions online. Is it better to keep things broad as a Data Analyst/Scientist early on, or should I focus on a specific niche (like People Analytics or HR data) right away? Which path has better long-term growth and value?
Bank MT/ODP vs Job Hopping: Since I don't have many years of experience yet, I'm still eligible to apply for Management Trainee programs at big banks. From a financial and career standpoint, is it better to enter a structured corporate ladder like a banking MT, or am I better off staying agile and job-hopping every few years to bump my salary faster?
Does consulting experience actually carry weight?. As you may know, consulting has a reputation for high stress and terrible work-life balance, which I'm definitely seeing. But from a hiring manager or HR perspective, does having consulting experience on your resume actually look better than a regular in-house role with the same YOE? Do you get better exit ops?