These are a few tips and tricks that I’ve picked up from my own personal experience as well as anecdotes for consultants a few years out. There are a lot of things to note when first starting your career, but these are the most broadly applicable.
1. Be open-minded
While not all consulting firms are structured like this, some have talent managers or staffers that put you on projects. The problem is, sometimes the first or second or even third project is not exactly what you may have had in mind. The projects you may be placed on as a junior consultant may be catered more toward the current business needs as opposed to your personal preference. This holds especially true if the consulting firm you work for covers a variety of industries and functions. Even at firms where consultants are highly encouraged to network their way onto projects of their choice, some find it very difficult to get staffed on their dream project.
At the end of the day though, when first starting you career, don’t be so picky. Many people join consulting to experience an array of industries and functions because they are unsure of what they really want to do. They may think they really want to work on financial service projects, but realize that they’re actually really passionate about health and life sciences. Approach everything with an open mind when first starting out and be a sponge. Absorb all that you can before you make any definitive decisions about what you like and don’t like.
2. Ask dumb questions
Something I’ve observed is that when people start their first jobs, they are often very nervous to come off as uninformed or unintelligent. As a result, they often keep quiet when they have pressing questions and struggle to solve the problem themselves. I think that while there is a fine balance of not attempting to figure things out by yourself and refusing to ask for help, it is always fine to air on the side of asking for help, especially when first starting out. People are generally very understanding if it seems like you’ve really thought out the options and need their help.
You never want a manager to come up to you and ask why your work isn’t done and you have to tell them you didn’t know what to do. For the most part, they would rather take the time to help you understand the problem than have you waste your time pondering about it alone. I would also suggest asking someone who is more approachable and has the time to answer your questions, such as a peer or someone similar in level to you. Unless it is urgent, partners and managers typically already have a lot on their plate.
3. Remember to relax
This is the start of working for the rest of your life. While you definitely want to succeed and do well on the job, you also want to remember the importance of a good work life balance. At times, it is extremely easy to forget that life goes on after the job. In fact, it is highly likely that you will only stay at your current firm for a few years. Most go into consulting knowing that they want to go elsewhere after.
So definitely work as hard as you can while you’re in the office, but when you are home or out with friends, relax. Enjoy your free time and make sure that you are actually taking your mind off of work. There is no point in constantly worrying and stressing about what goes on Monday through Friday. To avoid burn out, you need to live a balanced life.
For example, talk to your manager and team if you need to go to the gym at 6 PM every day. Make sure you will finish the work that needs to be done afterwards, but I’m sure most manages will understand that everyone has habits and needs to keep them sane in a stressful job. At the end of the day, a job is just a job. Everyone has their own standards for success, but success in your personal life is important as well.
Emily Ma is a recent graduate of the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University where she specialized in marketing and business analytics.
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