When you’re interested in working at a consulting firm, there are clear things you can do to prepare: meet associates, prepare for case interviews, and do your homework on what sets the firm apart from its peers. These steps are relatively straightforward, but what happens when you finally get your foot in the door?
The piece of consulting life that is less accessible to prospective consultants is the process of adjusting to the firm life post-business school. Amber Holzmeister graduated from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business last June, and began working at KPMG Strategy in San Francisco back in August 2018. She shares with us some reflections on those first months of life as a strategy consultant, and offers some wisdom to demystify the transition for others.
Amber, tell me about your first week on the job. How did you feel? What was the best part?
I was both excited and nervous. There is always uncertainty about what to expect at a new job. One of the best aspects of the first day was meeting my cohort of fellow MBA new hires. We had an instant bond, and it was reassuring to have a group of people to share this experience with from Day 1.
What was the best thing you did in business school to prepare you for your role as a consultant? What’s one thing you wish you had done before starting your role?
Taking classes with group assignments and solving problems in a team environment is one of the best ways to prepare for day-to-day consulting work. I took a lab class where a group of nine students from all areas of study (physics, biology, art history, business) came together to assess a nonprofit’s community impact and provide strategic recommendations to reach their long term objectives. It was challenging in so many ways, but I learned so much about working in teams and how other disciplines can view a problem in an entirely different way.
I hate to admit this, but I wish I had taken more finance and accounting classes in school. It’s not my favourite area of the business world, but it touches every aspect of a company. This means it will naturally be a part of any consulting project and something I need to embrace.
What was one thing you thought you knew about the job or your firm that turned out to be different than the reality?
I cannot explain why, but when I started I was intimidated by the partners and leadership team. In my first couple of weeks, I was afraid of saying or doing something that would make them question why they hired me. I quickly realised how friendly and helpful everyone is across all levels of our group. Once I overcame this self-imposed obstacle, I was able to act more like myself and start enjoying the role more.
What was the one biggest change (positive or negative) in lifestyle for you after starting your job? How have you dealt with that change?
I’ve become more of a morning person. Despite naturally being a night owl, I feel more in control of my day when I wake up early. It’s the best way to ensure I can squeeze in a workout, as it can be difficult to predict how late work will go on a given night. I also like having a head start on any emails or requests that came through overnight.
Now that you’ve been there for a bit, what piece of advice would you want to pass along to someone pursuing a consulting role?
There are two pieces of advice I often give:
- You should enjoy the campus recruiting process overall (networking, case prep, informational interviews, etc.). Many of those activities persist once you join a firm and the same level of pressure can exist on a project. This can be an early signal of whether you will enjoy day-to-day consulting life.
- Each consulting firm naturally has a personality and culture based upon its members. As you network with individuals at various firms, consider where you feel a connection and can be yourself. This can help narrow your target list and identify firms where you will be happiest.
Shelby Wenner is passionate about making a lasting social impact through her work. She worked in government and nonprofit consulting in Washington, DC and Chicago. She is currently a student at Chicago Booth School of Business and a business analyst at UChicago Medicine.
Image: Pexels
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