Consulting is about more than financial return on investment (ROI). Success is fueled by the knowledge, skills, talent, and efforts of individual consultants. As Generation Z comes of age, it is important for consulting firms to understand the hopes and expectations of the newest cohort of graduating talent. Their experience of the workplace is already […]
Author: Thanduxolo Love Mtsweni
“Your resume is the single most important element in setting you apart from the competition”. As a job seeker, you’ll hear these words or a variation of them throughout your job search. Your resume is the first point of contact between you and your potential employer. In consulting, recruiters and hiring managers will filter through […]
If you are a recent graduate, the consulting industry offers a great way to get a head start in your career, and to hit the ground running from the outset. The industry understandably attracts high achievers who have big dreams, high hopes, and great expectations for how their professional careers will play out. Consulting firms […]
Over the years, many leading organizations have struggled to retain top talent. Employees who leave often cite lack of recognition, professional growth, and reward for their long hours of dedication and hard work as key reasons for pursuing other opportunities. Today, the rise of remote working has enabled many employees to re-evaluate their employment options […]
Charles R. Swindoll wrote, “first impressions never have a second chance”. The first time you interact with an individual they will form a perception of you. Although this opinion may be biased and untrue, once established it takes on a life of its own, and will require a lot of time and effort to change. […]
Have you ever wondered why someone would be attracted to consulting as a profession? Prior to Accenture offering me a position, one of my interviewers asked me “what attracted you to consulting?” This is a common question in consulting interviews, and it is one that usually throws people off. I often hear people say they […]
Dave Balter, CEO of social marketing company BzzAgent, argues that: “Most highly successful leaders really aren’t the smartest people in any room. Rather, they have something that sets them apart. That something is sponge and stone …” According to Balter, a sponge is someone who tirelessly seeks out and absorbs new information. They read voraciously. […]
As a young professional, fresh out of university I was certain I knew which career path I wanted to take. I had done extensive research into the consulting industry and was a member of the consulting club at my university. I knew then without any doubt that consulting was the great career choice for me, […]
Some of the best years of your life will be spent at university. After spending 18-years under the guidance of your parents, you gain the freedom to explore the world, study a degree of your choice, discover who you are, and explore potential career options. Pursuing tertiary studies is not only about the academics, but […]
The past two years have certainly been challenging. Every business sector was disrupted and negatively affected by the pandemic and its aftermath. Today, companies are desperately seeking strategies to retain customers, rebuild inventories, and restructure operations to fit the new business environment. Companies are also starting to adopt digital tools to streamline daily operations. These […]
When asked what consulting firms do, consultants often simplify the industry by describing it as a “one-stop shop” for formulating and implementing strategies that lead to solutions for their clients. Working for a multinational consulting firm such as McKinsey, Deloitte, or Accenture exposes an individual to various industries, companies, and well-known brand names. The value […]
Ever heard of the saying “take care of your mental health before your mental health takes care of you?” This sums up the fast-paced, highly pressured environment of management consulting. There are a number of reasons why people decide to take up a career in consulting, including: Exposure to a variety of projects and industries […]
As a management consultant at Accenture in South Africa, many students, graduates, and aspiring consultants ask me how they can maintain confidence throughout their consulting journey. Truth is, I am still trying to figure it out myself. As an extroverted individual with a bubbly and outgoing personality, I have always had the ability to bring […]
A manager at Accenture has been known to say that “analysts are often over enthusiastic about the consulting industry”. At first glance, I did not understand what this meant because it seemed normal to take on as many roles and responsibilities as possible. The motto analysts live by is “never say no to managers or […]
Often, individuals rush to study degrees with the hope that after graduating, they can transfer that knowledge to the respective fields they will be working in. This isn’t entirely false, but it isn’t entirely true either. The wealth of knowledge one gains while studying a three or four-year degree cannot automatically be transferred within an […]
Whenever you hear people speaking of the “imposter syndrome”, you will hear them say things like “I don’t belong”, “I am not worthy”, “did I make the right choice?”. Whenever you find yourself questioning why you belong in the spaces you are in, immediately block those feelings out. If you are sitting on your own, […]
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Consulting: Blazing your own trail
Apart from the rigorous selection process that consulting firms use to assess their potential candidates, securing a job and thriving within the consulting industry is not easy. The most frequently asked questions that consultants are asked by students include: “what is consulting”, “what do consultants do” and “what are the minimum requirements needed to get […]