LinkedIn is an often overlooked part of the management consulting application. A candidate might spend hours on their resume and cover letter but put little thought into their LinkedIn profile other than a profile picture and a cheesy blurb in the “about” section. LinkedIn is actually a key part of the management consulting application. Although […]
Category: Consulting
Last year, after 2.5 years in management consulting, I transitioned to a Fortune 50 US company in an internal strategy role. Having had about a year on the new job, I want to highlight the benefits of this transition to give the many consultants out there some perspective. Before outlining the benefits of internal strategy, […]
Recently, I had the opportunity to run an “Impact Workshop” that aimed to reflect on our role as advisors (“consultants”), explore our individual motivations, and agree on behaviors that reflect our role. Surprisingly, one of the biggest revelations was how much we underestimated the importance of facilitating and how much of a central role it […]
As a consultant, you are likely working 60-80 hours during the week. Add in 6 hours of sleep every night, 14 hours for meals throughout the week, and 14 hours for weekly commuting, and there is not much time left for anything else. In order to keep your body and mind functioning optimally, you should […]
As consultants, we are required and recommended to take notes for the meetings we attend. This seems like a simple task because formal education has forced us, at one time or another, to take notes. The world of formal education, however, is typically parsed out so an individual only needs to focus on one subject […]
If you are transitioning into consulting from school or a job in industry or government, you will likely begin traveling more than ever. Sure, maybe you have gone to a few conferences or travelled to your company’s annual meeting, but once you begin a consulting career you will be on the road much more frequently […]
If you are a STEM major looking to go into technical consulting, whether at a large generalist firm or a small boutique one, you will likely need to draw upon your knowledge of digital tools and skills. However, some of the specific technical software you might use in graduate school may not be the same […]
Networking with industry professionals is a key strategy for anyone looking to break into the consulting field. Building relationships with experienced consultants and other industry experts can help you gain valuable insights into the profession, learn about job opportunities, and gain the knowledge and skills you need to succeed. Here are 5 tips for networking […]
Ever felt guilty for engaging in networking? Remember the pit in your stomach for getting to know someone at a target firm when you know that “getting the referral” or “getting the job” is your real motive? We’ve all done it, and it is not uncommon to feel ingenuine while networking. However, networking has always been […]
One of my biggest fears when I first gained an interest in consulting was that I was simply ineligible as a non-business student. Fortunately, this is not the case. Breaking into the consulting industry with a non-business degree can be challenging as a sizeable portion of hires are from top business schools, but non-business hires […]
Are you considering a career in people advisory consulting? If so, you’ve chosen a field that can be both rewarding and challenging. In this blog post, I’ll provide an overview of what people advisory consulting is, what people advisory consultants do, and how to break into the industry. What is People Advisory? People advisory consulting […]
Acing the Fit Interview: Strategy and Approach Motivation Questions Effective Storytelling Finessing Negative Stories In the last article of this series, you will learn about complex questions designed to trip up even the best of candidates. Negative Stories Questions that enquire about a weakness or failure can be a point of discomfort. After all, who […]
As Marcel M. Robles once said, “soft skills have more to do with who you are than what you know”. We have machines to deal with hard skills that are physical, repetitive, and require basic cognition. Learning hard skills will prepare you to work with these machine-like abilities. However, building up your soft skills will […]
Acing the Fit Interview: Strategy and Approach Motivation Questions Effective Storytelling Finessing Negative Stories In the third article of this series, you will learn about personal experience questions that demand a different approach from motivation questions. The START Framework Many interviewing guides out there espouse the STAR framework (Situation, Task, Action, Result) that purportedly outlines […]
Product design is more creative than engineering, more practical than art, and more hands-on than graphic design Product design is a field that involves the creation and development of new products or product improvements. Product designers work with a team of engineers and other professionals to design and create products that are functional, aesthetically pleasing, […]
Acing the Fit Interview: Strategy and Approach Motivation Questions Effective Storytelling Finessing Negative Stories In the second article of this series, you will learn about the often-underestimated motivation questions like “why consulting?” and “why this firm?”. “Why” Questions Innocuous as they might seem, it’s important to answer them well because they contribute significantly to your […]
“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 […]
Interviews at consulting firms are often broken down into 3 segments: Fit Interview (~10 mins) Case Interview (~30 mins) Questions and Answers (~5 mins) While the vast majority of content out there focuses on the case interview, it is worth pointing out that the fit interview should not be overlooked. Anecdotally, some candidates with poor […]
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 […]
Consulting is one of the most prestigious careers you can pursue upon graduation. Every year thousands flock to apply to top consulting firms such as McKinsey and Company, Bain and Company, and Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Without a doubt, a career in the management consulting industry comes with many short- and long-term benefits. However, many […]
Networking during college can be a daunting task, but it is also an incredibly valuable opportunity to connect with others and establish relationships that can benefit you in your future career. Whether you’re looking for internships, job opportunities, or simply want to expand your professional network, there are a number of ways you can go […]
MBA programs typically have an orientation day. Some have an entire week dedicated to orientation. This program is meant to help students get to know each other before the official start of the program. In addition, that crucial week will give you time to set up your apartment, learn the transportation system, open a bank […]
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 […]
Networking is a key part of obtaining your first job after graduation. You connect with company recruiters, university alumni, and your peers and classmates to build a vast community of connections. You exchange business cards, connect on LinkedIn, and fill your phone with contacts so that you can reach out to any person at any […]
“Data is a precious thing and will last longer than the systems themselves”, Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web “The ability to take data – to be able to understand it, to process it, to extract value from it, to visualize it, to communicate it – is going to be a hugely important […]
Live for the moment, seize the day, carpie diem. These well cited cliches for stress management are based on the logic that by focusing intently on the present moment we can set aside past regrets and future anxieties. Doing so can provide us with a greater capacity to perform and succeed. Interestingly, such mottos directly […]
You did it! You successfully interviewed for a position at your dream consulting firm, and you have received and accepted an offer. However, you have multiple months before you begin. Maybe you received this offer after a summer internship and must return to school for a final year. Maybe you interviewed in the fall but […]
In June 2021 at the annual G7 summit in Cornwall, major western powers committed themselves to the idea of a global minimum corporate tax. This shift is part of a longer-standing endeavour by the OECD to prevent international tax avoidance called the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) initiative. The BEPS initiative has two main […]
The first time I attended a large financial institution’s information session at my university, I showed up in casual clothing and stood in the back of a sea of blue and black suits. After an introduction speech all the employees spread around the room and crowds of students formed around them. The room became remarkably […]
This article was inspired by a recent conversation with an IT prodigy who specializes in building virtual games used for recruitment purposes. Online assessments, aptitude tests, and gamified problem-solving tasks have become ubiquitous in the recruitment processes of top companies, with consulting firms being some of the earliest adopters. However, the scope of these tests […]
If you have the privilege of attending university and are excited about problem solving, you may be interested in building software solutions. Being a student at university is a great time to build products that serve as a solution to problems the world may face. As a student you have access to incredible resources such […]
Whether it be a personal website or your client’s e-commerce platform, understanding website analytics can help you to uncover critical data that leads to success. In this article I will explain a few key analytics that you should look for, and quick fixes to improve website engagement. What are analytics? Website analytics involves tracking and […]
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 […]
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, […]
Although virtual meetings have become a norm of working life post COVID-19, there is much that still feels strange about them. Be it physiological difficulties caused by staring at a screen for hours at a time or psychological troubles resulting from the knowledge that your face is being projected onto other people’s screens, there is […]
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 […]
Whether you are in school or working full time, the goal is to eventually make enough money to become financially free. While many consulting blogs help you land a lucrative main job and career, this specific article will suggest some side hustles to bring in extra cash. Since there are different opportunities at the various […]
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 […]
The concept of virtual meetings is fairly simple. You host a meeting that would otherwise be held physically via an online platform, most probably Teams. One may assume that the etiquette that applies to in-person meetings would also apply to virtual meetings. This would not be completely incorrect. All of the basic rules of etiquette […]
Marketing is an incredibly important function of any growing business. Marketing is generally the initial point of contact in a customer’s purchasing journey. It is where the company connects with customers. In this article, I would like to share a few tangible pieces of advice that may benefit you if you are planning to jump […]
Has your manager ever said, “Could you build the team slide deck?” Have you felt unsure where to begin? Communicating through PowerPoint, also known as a “slide deck”, is an important part of any consulting, strategy, or analyst role. These materials serve multiple purposes including as a visual presentation aid, material that can be shared […]
Time is like currency. You spend time completing tasks, eating meals, working out, and hanging out with friends. When you spend your time, it is not lost, but rather exchanged for something else. You may receive a salary, full belly, stronger muscles, or simply an enjoyable time. This basic transaction occurs every day of your […]
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 […]
As part of a consulting engagement or broader enterprise strategy alignment, you can expect to plan and run an offsite at one point of your career. While an offsite can provide a great environment for team building and alignment, planning and running one could be stressful and time-consuming as it involves multiple executive-level stakeholders and […]
There are many steps to take in preparing to apply and interview for a consulting position. If you are just starting out, you will find yourself editing your resume, preparing answers for experiential questions, and practicing business frameworks to use in the case interview. However, there is another hurdle that you must keep in mind […]
When applying to consulting companies, you will encounter a questionnaire that asks you to select your office(s) of interest. This process is unique to consulting, compared to some other industries. For example, if you are an engineer or a scientist, you might be limited to a specific location that performs the work you are trained […]
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Investigating Career Journeys
A career is as unique as the individual. Most people I talk to, regardless of what stage they are at in their career, can connect the dots as to how they arrived at their current position. However, if you asked them to predict their current job 5 years ago, most of them wouldn’t have been […]