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Trying to decide on a career as a consultant
I was just wondering what some of you consultants out there did to start your career. I know B-school is a good idea. Trying to figure out what else could help me. #career #consulting #business
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Updated
Ryan’s Answer
Hey Zachary, B school will give you the foundations for consulting and is mostly a requirement for the large consulting companies, although they make few exceptions for business owners and entrepreneurs who have gone through some kind of acquisition process.
I did not get a business degree, I went a route I don't recommend taking but I focused on understanding people. Sociology and psychology can help get you some tools for this understanding but what helped me the most was building and crafting a way to communicate between stakeholders and translate business objectives between teams (technical and non-technical / business savvy and creative). The contrast between people and language is a huge barrier for organizations and the end result of consulting is to ensure that there's a strategic plan that everyone buys into. Well, the foundations of business and finance (from B school) are required but just as equally important is to ensure that intentions are aligned properly and this is done through mediation, communication, and translation.
Here are some traditional ways to help you prepare for a career in consulting:
1. Gain relevant experience: Consider internships, part-time jobs, or volunteer work in fields related to consulting, such as management, finance, or data analysis.
2. Develop analytical and problem-solving skills: Consulting firms value candidates who are skilled at analyzing data, identifying problems, and developing solutions. Consider taking courses or workshops in statistics, programming, or other analytical tools.
3. Build a professional network: Attend industry events, join relevant professional organizations, and reach out to professionals in your desired field to build relationships and gain insights into the industry.
4. Consider certification: Some consulting firms value candidates with specific certifications, such as project management or Six Sigma. Consider obtaining certifications relevant to your desired consulting field.
5. Develop strong communication and interpersonal skills: Consultants often work closely with clients, so strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential. Consider taking courses or workshops in public speaking, presentation skills, or negotiation.
I did not get a business degree, I went a route I don't recommend taking but I focused on understanding people. Sociology and psychology can help get you some tools for this understanding but what helped me the most was building and crafting a way to communicate between stakeholders and translate business objectives between teams (technical and non-technical / business savvy and creative). The contrast between people and language is a huge barrier for organizations and the end result of consulting is to ensure that there's a strategic plan that everyone buys into. Well, the foundations of business and finance (from B school) are required but just as equally important is to ensure that intentions are aligned properly and this is done through mediation, communication, and translation.
Here are some traditional ways to help you prepare for a career in consulting:
1. Gain relevant experience: Consider internships, part-time jobs, or volunteer work in fields related to consulting, such as management, finance, or data analysis.
2. Develop analytical and problem-solving skills: Consulting firms value candidates who are skilled at analyzing data, identifying problems, and developing solutions. Consider taking courses or workshops in statistics, programming, or other analytical tools.
3. Build a professional network: Attend industry events, join relevant professional organizations, and reach out to professionals in your desired field to build relationships and gain insights into the industry.
4. Consider certification: Some consulting firms value candidates with specific certifications, such as project management or Six Sigma. Consider obtaining certifications relevant to your desired consulting field.
5. Develop strong communication and interpersonal skills: Consultants often work closely with clients, so strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential. Consider taking courses or workshops in public speaking, presentation skills, or negotiation.
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Jeff’s Answer
Find a field you are interested in and get as much experience doing as many roles in that field as you can. In consulting you need to be able to understand the needs of the business from all angles.
Excellent point
Aziz Abu Hakmeh
Kiran Rane
Senior Manager - Technology Consulting in Financial Services
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Kiran’s Answer
Hi Zachary M. - I shared this article with someone earlier and might help you as well. Good luck!
https://hbr.org/2020/07/is-consulting-the-right-career-for-you
https://hbr.org/2020/07/is-consulting-the-right-career-for-you
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Brittany’s Answer
Hi Zach,
B-school is an option but not required. Networking through campus recruiting is also a good way to get to know the people and culture of each firm you are interested in, and hear about different experiences across lines of service. An internship in consulting or in a relevant industry is also great to have hands on experience outside of the classroom. Consulting is about learning to become comfortable with being uncomfortable because you are constantly changing environments, teams, subject matter, etc. at an accelerated pace. Find a few mentors in the field who can also give you honest, unfiltered opinions about the pros and cons. Working with mentors, interning, and networking will also help you learn to talk "consulting speak" which is key to navigating different client scenarios. Getting involved in recruiting early, not just waiting until spring semester of senior year is also key. I had to network most of my sophomore year in order to land the Big Four internship for junior year.
B-school is an option but not required. Networking through campus recruiting is also a good way to get to know the people and culture of each firm you are interested in, and hear about different experiences across lines of service. An internship in consulting or in a relevant industry is also great to have hands on experience outside of the classroom. Consulting is about learning to become comfortable with being uncomfortable because you are constantly changing environments, teams, subject matter, etc. at an accelerated pace. Find a few mentors in the field who can also give you honest, unfiltered opinions about the pros and cons. Working with mentors, interning, and networking will also help you learn to talk "consulting speak" which is key to navigating different client scenarios. Getting involved in recruiting early, not just waiting until spring semester of senior year is also key. I had to network most of my sophomore year in order to land the Big Four internship for junior year.
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Syed’s Answer
Hi Zach,
I went to a top b-school, which is the least risky and most straightforward way of getting into consulting. However, everyone else has that idea and there are only so many internship and FT seats in any given year for b-school students.
Another option is going to a well-regarded engineering program (of any kind) and getting great grades/experience. Engineers with good soft skills are more attractive to consulting firms than b-school students because of their better quantitative and general problem solving skills.
Lastly, if you don’t get into consulting right out of undergrad, many firms have a robust referral program for early career professionals. Essentially if you’re about a year or so removed from grad school or undergrad, you can leverage an internal referral from a friend or former classmate to recruit on an off-cycle basis. I helped a couple friends through this process while at IBM, but it’s quite competitive and there’s no guarantees.
You can also consider taking a support role at a consulting company (think finance, HR, Ops, sales, etc.) and network your way into consulting roles. Some firms are more amenable to this type of internal movement than others.
Best of luck!
I went to a top b-school, which is the least risky and most straightforward way of getting into consulting. However, everyone else has that idea and there are only so many internship and FT seats in any given year for b-school students.
Another option is going to a well-regarded engineering program (of any kind) and getting great grades/experience. Engineers with good soft skills are more attractive to consulting firms than b-school students because of their better quantitative and general problem solving skills.
Lastly, if you don’t get into consulting right out of undergrad, many firms have a robust referral program for early career professionals. Essentially if you’re about a year or so removed from grad school or undergrad, you can leverage an internal referral from a friend or former classmate to recruit on an off-cycle basis. I helped a couple friends through this process while at IBM, but it’s quite competitive and there’s no guarantees.
You can also consider taking a support role at a consulting company (think finance, HR, Ops, sales, etc.) and network your way into consulting roles. Some firms are more amenable to this type of internal movement than others.
Best of luck!
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Angela’s Answer
Hi Zachary M.
My first job out of undergrad was in consulting. I majored in Finance & Economics. But many people I know that went into consulting have very diverse background, so I don't think there is any limitation on what your major is.
Here are some of the things I found helpful during my school years! Hope this helps a little.
1. Explore opportunities to participate in case competitions. Normally, there are many student-run case competitions sponsored big management consulting firms (Bain, McKinsey, BCG, Accenture etc.). It's a great way for you to showcase your problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills. This can help you to think whether you enjoying working on cases (and working in excel & powerpoint)! It's also a good networking opportunity!
2. Join consulting clubs on camps (if available). These organizations hosts workshops/networking sessions regularly. It's a great way to get to know more about consulting and build network!
3. Practice case interviews! I would say the most important part is case interview. This helps you to practice skills to breakdown ambiguous problems, learn frameworks and solve business problems with structured thought-process. There is a ton of resources of case interview prep online (Case in Point, Victor Chang etc.). Make sure you practice with friends/classmates and do mock case interviews!
My first job out of undergrad was in consulting. I majored in Finance & Economics. But many people I know that went into consulting have very diverse background, so I don't think there is any limitation on what your major is.
Here are some of the things I found helpful during my school years! Hope this helps a little.
1. Explore opportunities to participate in case competitions. Normally, there are many student-run case competitions sponsored big management consulting firms (Bain, McKinsey, BCG, Accenture etc.). It's a great way for you to showcase your problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills. This can help you to think whether you enjoying working on cases (and working in excel & powerpoint)! It's also a good networking opportunity!
2. Join consulting clubs on camps (if available). These organizations hosts workshops/networking sessions regularly. It's a great way to get to know more about consulting and build network!
3. Practice case interviews! I would say the most important part is case interview. This helps you to practice skills to breakdown ambiguous problems, learn frameworks and solve business problems with structured thought-process. There is a ton of resources of case interview prep online (Case in Point, Victor Chang etc.). Make sure you practice with friends/classmates and do mock case interviews!
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Gonzalo’s Answer
Consulting firms are great places to learn about working ethics, and about client facing skills. They are also great to learn about a variety of professional fields. My suggestion is to gain experience during your first two to three years in a consulting firm, and then get a Master in Business degree. This will not only help you to gain analytical skills, it will grow your professional network, and it will undoubtedly accelerate your professional career. Your post-graduate degree will give you an edge on any consulting firm, if you wish to continue in consulting, but it will also boost your career in other professional fields, specifically roles related to Business Planning and Business Strategy. Make sure you choose wisely the consulting firm, and try to land a job at a prestigious one, because these consulting firms sometimes will finance your B-school.
Good luck!
Good luck!
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Gabby’s Answer
Hi Zachary! I recently went through the consulting recruitment process from the University of Washington to land a career in management consulting in tech, media, and telecom at PwC. I studied finance and international business and followed steps from campus recruiting and reaching out to my network to find a mentor.
Although a business degree is relevant in consulting, there are many different types of consulting and industries you can consult for. For example, you could do management or tech consulting. Within that, you could be aligned to industries such as technology, healthcare, consumer markets, deals, financial services, industrial products and services, media, etc. That being said, I have many colleagues who studied things like biology, engineering, psychology, and law who landed in consulting roles. At PwC (and most of the other big 4), they recruit for diverse perspectives so a business degree is not always needed!
Another focus area, that may be more important than your degree type, is your network. Use LinkedIn, campus resources, and your personal network to find a mentor or someone to talk to in the company/role that you want. This way you can discuss alignment to the role and understand the process of what the job entails. In consulting, there is never a dull moment and endless learning opportunities for something you specialize in or something new!
Network on LinkedIn
Utilize campus recruiting events/opps
Update your resume
Set up coffee chats with people in the company
Although a business degree is relevant in consulting, there are many different types of consulting and industries you can consult for. For example, you could do management or tech consulting. Within that, you could be aligned to industries such as technology, healthcare, consumer markets, deals, financial services, industrial products and services, media, etc. That being said, I have many colleagues who studied things like biology, engineering, psychology, and law who landed in consulting roles. At PwC (and most of the other big 4), they recruit for diverse perspectives so a business degree is not always needed!
Another focus area, that may be more important than your degree type, is your network. Use LinkedIn, campus resources, and your personal network to find a mentor or someone to talk to in the company/role that you want. This way you can discuss alignment to the role and understand the process of what the job entails. In consulting, there is never a dull moment and endless learning opportunities for something you specialize in or something new!
Gabby recommends the following next steps:
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Megan’s Answer
If you are trying to go straight from undergrad, going to a top school in STEM areas or having a business degree WHERE the consulting company of your choice hires is a good strategy. Then get to know the professors who help "feed" the pipeline to those consulting companies.
Or, if you're like me, you have a diverse background, are doing something totally unrelated to business in both your undergrad and experience. I made that work for me.
Once I decided that I wanted to move into business and consulting, I went back to get an MBA and focused on technology. Importantly, I focused on exactly what companies I wanted to go work for and then did everything I could to make myself more attractive to them. For example, I worked with a professor who had companies who came to him for help, getting consulting experience while at school; I took a job working in the computer lab helping students with their work and learning more about other areas of technology in the process; I worked part-time for the dean of the business school, crunching numbers for the dean's office to use to better understand their students. Most importantly, I built a network. That network got me several jobs after my first consulting job, bringing me to where I am now. So really focus on your network.
When I built my resume and went for interviews, I didn't minimize my background (a Special Ed teacher who had worked in a lot of restaurants), but I explained how that background in addition to my MBA experience made me a strong candidate for their company as it helped me build my interpersonal skills and get to understand and know people better.
It's amazing the number of pathways that will get you to where you want to go. Some take longer than others, which isn't always a bad thing. But first, you have to know where you want to go and then focus on the activities you need to do to get there.
Or, if you're like me, you have a diverse background, are doing something totally unrelated to business in both your undergrad and experience. I made that work for me.
Once I decided that I wanted to move into business and consulting, I went back to get an MBA and focused on technology. Importantly, I focused on exactly what companies I wanted to go work for and then did everything I could to make myself more attractive to them. For example, I worked with a professor who had companies who came to him for help, getting consulting experience while at school; I took a job working in the computer lab helping students with their work and learning more about other areas of technology in the process; I worked part-time for the dean of the business school, crunching numbers for the dean's office to use to better understand their students. Most importantly, I built a network. That network got me several jobs after my first consulting job, bringing me to where I am now. So really focus on your network.
When I built my resume and went for interviews, I didn't minimize my background (a Special Ed teacher who had worked in a lot of restaurants), but I explained how that background in addition to my MBA experience made me a strong candidate for their company as it helped me build my interpersonal skills and get to understand and know people better.
It's amazing the number of pathways that will get you to where you want to go. Some take longer than others, which isn't always a bad thing. But first, you have to know where you want to go and then focus on the activities you need to do to get there.
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Nevin’s Answer
Consulting firms recruit very methodically:
1- They look for a strong pool of candidates: Strong schools, referrals of existing employees, etc. Getting a degree from the best school possible and achieving a high GPA would be a great door-opener. Ideally an analytical field - like engineering, business, econ would make your case stronger.
2- Within that strong pool, they look for some metrics to see if you are capable of doing the job: Anything quantitative on your resume that shows some measurement of your analytical skills (high SAT, high GPA, etc.) would be great. Resumes are reviewed in the hundreds, very quickly, and it will really help to have some of those metrics look impressive. Jobs you have held that show business experience would also help, but not as much as those quant scores being high.
3- They will look if you are interested: This one doesn't need to be over-engineered. Joining the consulting club in your university will already strongly help. Doing some internships in consulting, or a consulting project for a non-profit, etc. would also help.
Good luck!
1- They look for a strong pool of candidates: Strong schools, referrals of existing employees, etc. Getting a degree from the best school possible and achieving a high GPA would be a great door-opener. Ideally an analytical field - like engineering, business, econ would make your case stronger.
2- Within that strong pool, they look for some metrics to see if you are capable of doing the job: Anything quantitative on your resume that shows some measurement of your analytical skills (high SAT, high GPA, etc.) would be great. Resumes are reviewed in the hundreds, very quickly, and it will really help to have some of those metrics look impressive. Jobs you have held that show business experience would also help, but not as much as those quant scores being high.
3- They will look if you are interested: This one doesn't need to be over-engineered. Joining the consulting club in your university will already strongly help. Doing some internships in consulting, or a consulting project for a non-profit, etc. would also help.
Good luck!
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Nikki’s Answer
I attended business school and was recruited during on-campus recruiting by one of the consulting firms. Prior to attending business school, I worked in business intelligence which gave me a well-rounded background that was suitable for consulting.
Even if you don't intend to focus on information technology consulting, building experience in data analytics will give you a solid foundation for a career in consulting.
Even if you don't intend to focus on information technology consulting, building experience in data analytics will give you a solid foundation for a career in consulting.
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Marc’s Answer
There are many paths into consulting. For instance, I started my career selling sports sponsorships. Sponsorships are are a very customized product. I have to learn about my prospect and customize a campaign that I propose to them. I realized the listening and solving part of the sales process was the part I liked best and figured I could build on that with a career in consulting. I spent two years getting my full-time MBA and then landed my current job as a strategy consultant.
There may be some paths to consulting that are more common than others, but as long as you are a personable problem solver (which case interviews evaluate for), it doesn't matter what you did before.
Good luck!
There may be some paths to consulting that are more common than others, but as long as you are a personable problem solver (which case interviews evaluate for), it doesn't matter what you did before.
Good luck!
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Haylie’s Answer
I went to business school and got my degree in accounting. After working as a CPA for 3 years, I switched into consulting within the same firm. Business school is a great start because you get the fundamentals and learn about all the different aspects of a business but it is not the only path to get into consulting.
Consultants tend to know a little about a lot of different areas that a potential business or client will need help in. It is good to research about the different types of consulting that is out there (e.g. technology consulting, management consulting, strategy consulting) which can help narrow down the path you need to take to start a career in consulting.
Consultants tend to know a little about a lot of different areas that a potential business or client will need help in. It is good to research about the different types of consulting that is out there (e.g. technology consulting, management consulting, strategy consulting) which can help narrow down the path you need to take to start a career in consulting.
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Dennis’s Answer
Find the field your interested in, become the expert, then look into consultation. Once you have been established as the subject matter expert in that field, your reputation, gets known, and then the network of opportunities will start. Your reputation will get you where you want to go
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Aaron’s Answer
Hi Zachary,
B-school (especially top tier) is a natural pipeline into the Consultant-level at major strategy consulting firms which sits in between Manager - who manages a client engagement and Senior Analyst/Analyst. Undergraduate degree (especially quantitative, CS, etc.) with a relevant internship is the typical entry point for the Analyst role.
Smaller consulting firms (Tier 2/3 generalist or industry specialist strategy consulting firms) are often more open to atypical backgrounds and could be a good entry point if you are concerned about the expense of B-school. There are tons of them out there. In some cases, you could use non-consulting experience in a particular industry to move into a consulting role at an industry specialist consulting firm.
Analytics backgrounds are also becoming increasingly important in consulting compared to 10-15 years ago. So you could also consider augmenting your experience with statistical and analytical tools (e.g. Alteryx, SPSS, etc.) to help improve your chances.
Hope this helps,
Aaron
B-school (especially top tier) is a natural pipeline into the Consultant-level at major strategy consulting firms which sits in between Manager - who manages a client engagement and Senior Analyst/Analyst. Undergraduate degree (especially quantitative, CS, etc.) with a relevant internship is the typical entry point for the Analyst role.
Smaller consulting firms (Tier 2/3 generalist or industry specialist strategy consulting firms) are often more open to atypical backgrounds and could be a good entry point if you are concerned about the expense of B-school. There are tons of them out there. In some cases, you could use non-consulting experience in a particular industry to move into a consulting role at an industry specialist consulting firm.
Analytics backgrounds are also becoming increasingly important in consulting compared to 10-15 years ago. So you could also consider augmenting your experience with statistical and analytical tools (e.g. Alteryx, SPSS, etc.) to help improve your chances.
Hope this helps,
Aaron
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Sundar’s Answer
I joined a reputed MNC company and got into a consulting role. The consulting role provides me opportunity to interact with the customers and provide consultation to the customers, making recommendations and guiding the customers int heir line of business. This could be one option. There are many consultancies that offer consulting roles.
Pursuing a business course in one of the top business schools could be another option. This will also provide you with an opportunity to enhance your communication skills and soft skills and put you in good stead during your placements.
Pursuing a business course in one of the top business schools could be another option. This will also provide you with an opportunity to enhance your communication skills and soft skills and put you in good stead during your placements.
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Elana’s Answer
I went into independent consulting after a long career in classroom teaching grades 3-university). It was an outgrowth of my interests in curriculum development and teacher training.
It's hard to know what "standard" consulting career tracks will look like post-pandemic . I think the economy will have a prolonged recession.
Hope that helps.
Stay flexible and expect a long job search
Use your school's alumni network aggressively
It's hard to know what "standard" consulting career tracks will look like post-pandemic . I think the economy will have a prolonged recession.
Hope that helps.
Elana recommends the following next steps:
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D’s Answer
Top consulting firms (MBB*) hire people from diverse background. The key is to be able to gain experience in building good leadership potential, problem solving, interpersonal, analytical skills in your pre-consulting work experience.
*MBB = McKinsey & Co, Boston Consulting Group, and Bain
*MBB = McKinsey & Co, Boston Consulting Group, and Bain
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Kasturi’s Answer
Trying your role as a Consultant is good. You need to know and decide on the following first.
1. Which domain or segment would you like to be a consultant?
2. What is your technical expertise related to - which field or segment - is it financial, industrial, mechanical?
3. Why do you want to be a consultant?
The key things for being a successful consultant is - knowing your subject very well (deep and broad), know the adjacencies which will help you have broad knowledge, good to work in a company or organization related to your field to get experience and exposure. Work for a good period of time say 7-10 years before you can operate independently.
Going to a B-school surely helps to gain management knowledge, gain educational knowledge and broader connect with folks in the Industry. Connect with Alumni of that Univ.
Go to B-school and get good grades
Get into a good Org to get good experience and exposure
Start working as independent Consultant
1. Which domain or segment would you like to be a consultant?
2. What is your technical expertise related to - which field or segment - is it financial, industrial, mechanical?
3. Why do you want to be a consultant?
The key things for being a successful consultant is - knowing your subject very well (deep and broad), know the adjacencies which will help you have broad knowledge, good to work in a company or organization related to your field to get experience and exposure. Work for a good period of time say 7-10 years before you can operate independently.
Going to a B-school surely helps to gain management knowledge, gain educational knowledge and broader connect with folks in the Industry. Connect with Alumni of that Univ.
Kasturi recommends the following next steps:
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Anthony’s Answer
Information Technology is a good consultant career. They’re plenty of jobs that need tech students. This world of innovation including the growth of a digital presence will need assistance maintaining and creating new ways to communicate you customers, business, and the world!
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Sam’s Answer
Consultants that haven't worked in the field are not as effective. I would suggest a min of 3-5 years of professional work experience first in the industry or line of work that you want to consult in. Good luck!
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Allison’s Answer
Hi Zach! Consultants come from a wide range of backgrounds, and I have observed that all majors can lead to a consulting path. It is more about how you think and how well you can problem solve than what you major in in school. Engineering is starting to become more common of consultants. I tend to think that Business School can be something you go back to after years of experience, rather than going into it right after Undergrad.
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Sathisha’s Answer
You can earn good being independent consultant and you would exposed many domains and you might get opportunity to solve many problems.
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Michael’s Answer
Learning how to logically think through problems in areas you've never encountered before is key. Even if you're very educated in business, you are sure to face problems that you've never seen before. Being able to learn quickly and knowing good problem solving techniques is very important if you want to be a consultant.
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Eric’s Answer
You can certainly look into B-school, but most consulting paths don't require it for you to get started. My suggestion here would be to take a look at the different types of consulting that might be interesting to you.
Here are a few to think about, just to give an idea of how broad the term consulting is
- Finance
- Marketing
- Human Resources
- Supply Chain
- IT Strategy
- Strategy
Once you know where you want to end up, if you can start solving problems in that area for projects, part-time jobs, volunteer work or however else you can, it makes for a more compelling story when you're applying for jobs.
Here are a few to think about, just to give an idea of how broad the term consulting is
- Finance
- Marketing
- Human Resources
- Supply Chain
- IT Strategy
- Strategy
Once you know where you want to end up, if you can start solving problems in that area for projects, part-time jobs, volunteer work or however else you can, it makes for a more compelling story when you're applying for jobs.
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Carlos’s Answer
Hi Zach,
One thing worth mentioning is that there are many paths to consulting, and having a diverse background/skillset can make you an incredible addition to a team. For example, I studied international relations / Latin American studies in undergrad, interned at a range of international organizations and think tanks, and started out my career at a joint ventures consulting firm. After that, I worked in education consulting and like several other folks on this thread, then attended b-school. Having strong quantitative skills are certainly helpful, but so are your ability to build strong working relationships with your clients, a natural curiosity to learn new things, and a willingness to roll up your sleeves to get the job done.
Long story short, consulting is a great career and you have a lot of flexibility in terms of combining your skillset with your interest areas and then leveraging them in consulting. Hope this helps!
Carlos
One thing worth mentioning is that there are many paths to consulting, and having a diverse background/skillset can make you an incredible addition to a team. For example, I studied international relations / Latin American studies in undergrad, interned at a range of international organizations and think tanks, and started out my career at a joint ventures consulting firm. After that, I worked in education consulting and like several other folks on this thread, then attended b-school. Having strong quantitative skills are certainly helpful, but so are your ability to build strong working relationships with your clients, a natural curiosity to learn new things, and a willingness to roll up your sleeves to get the job done.
Long story short, consulting is a great career and you have a lot of flexibility in terms of combining your skillset with your interest areas and then leveraging them in consulting. Hope this helps!
Carlos
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Nicolas’s Answer
To start with, importantly, are a good communication, interpersonal, analytical and critical thinking skills, strong time management abilities, organizational skills are the skills necessary to be a consultant
Additionally, having a bachelor’s degree in business or related field is expected if you want to join one of the big consulting firms: KPMG, PWC, Accenture, etc. Usually, you would then be working in pair with an experienced Senior Consultant and be exposed to a wide variety of the consulting Firm's Client' salient issues and needs. That will give a much broader exposure. The more projects you are part of over the months (or years), the more choice you will get for your career.
Then you could specialize in one of these areas:
- Strategy consultant
- Management consultant
- Operations consultant
- Compliance consultant
- Communication / PR Consultant
- Financial advisory consultant
- Human Resource consultant
- IT consultant, etc. etc.
Another way to get into consulting is to specialize in one area of your choice. Choose something that drives you, that interests you so you will never get bored learning more about the topic. Once you have gained a level of expertise, you could 'sell' your expertise to other businesses or individuals (eg: Card Payment specialist consultant offering services to Banks and any Credit or Debit Card issuer to help them minimize customer attrition, maximize their profit margin by cross selling other value added services, exploiting better their data analytics, etc.).
1. Practice your interpersonal and communication skills (ideally using proven techniques from a Comm, or ...with honest friends or mentors!)
2. Get a Bachelor's Degree if your choice is to join the big firms
3. Select a field of preference (to specialize-in)
4. Sell your expertise !
Additionally, having a bachelor’s degree in business or related field is expected if you want to join one of the big consulting firms: KPMG, PWC, Accenture, etc. Usually, you would then be working in pair with an experienced Senior Consultant and be exposed to a wide variety of the consulting Firm's Client' salient issues and needs. That will give a much broader exposure. The more projects you are part of over the months (or years), the more choice you will get for your career.
Then you could specialize in one of these areas:
- Strategy consultant
- Management consultant
- Operations consultant
- Compliance consultant
- Communication / PR Consultant
- Financial advisory consultant
- Human Resource consultant
- IT consultant, etc. etc.
Another way to get into consulting is to specialize in one area of your choice. Choose something that drives you, that interests you so you will never get bored learning more about the topic. Once you have gained a level of expertise, you could 'sell' your expertise to other businesses or individuals (eg: Card Payment specialist consultant offering services to Banks and any Credit or Debit Card issuer to help them minimize customer attrition, maximize their profit margin by cross selling other value added services, exploiting better their data analytics, etc.).
Nicolas recommends the following next steps:
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Joe’s Answer
Hi Zachary,
I got my career as a consultant started right after graduating undergraduate college. I think there are three helpful ways to prepare to becoming a consultant:
1: Take classes that you enjoy that also apply to the field. I studied Finance, Information Systems, & English while at school, and I find myself using the lessons I learned in a lot of my day-to-day activities. Being able to read a Profit & Loss statement, understand a balance sheet, and interpret financial ratios (RoI, RoA) are valuable financial skills. There is a general trend toward understanding coding languages and knowing digital skills, so getting your hands on courses that can teach you basics in Python, SQL, or R will all be valuable. And, finally, you need to be able to communicate your findings, communicate to your teammates, and write concisely, because having strong analysis is great, but if you can't explain why it's important you might lose your point.
2: Try talking to consultants in your network or reach out to them on LinkedIn or your school's alumni network. Not only will these conversations give you an idea of what work interests you, but also you can find out a lot about a firm's culture and where you think you'll shine.
3: Read up on current events and know generally what's happening in the business world. Especially today, there are some fascinating developments in business. How are companies responding to the rapid shift to e-commerce in consumer markets? What technology is reshaping the automobile industry? Make sure you can identify some of these big market shifts so you can add a lot of value to your work and clients.
I hope this helps! Good luck with your journey of becoming a consultant!
Joe
I got my career as a consultant started right after graduating undergraduate college. I think there are three helpful ways to prepare to becoming a consultant:
1: Take classes that you enjoy that also apply to the field. I studied Finance, Information Systems, & English while at school, and I find myself using the lessons I learned in a lot of my day-to-day activities. Being able to read a Profit & Loss statement, understand a balance sheet, and interpret financial ratios (RoI, RoA) are valuable financial skills. There is a general trend toward understanding coding languages and knowing digital skills, so getting your hands on courses that can teach you basics in Python, SQL, or R will all be valuable. And, finally, you need to be able to communicate your findings, communicate to your teammates, and write concisely, because having strong analysis is great, but if you can't explain why it's important you might lose your point.
2: Try talking to consultants in your network or reach out to them on LinkedIn or your school's alumni network. Not only will these conversations give you an idea of what work interests you, but also you can find out a lot about a firm's culture and where you think you'll shine.
3: Read up on current events and know generally what's happening in the business world. Especially today, there are some fascinating developments in business. How are companies responding to the rapid shift to e-commerce in consumer markets? What technology is reshaping the automobile industry? Make sure you can identify some of these big market shifts so you can add a lot of value to your work and clients.
I hope this helps! Good luck with your journey of becoming a consultant!
Joe
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