5/20/2014 Careers in Consulting

Job Searching
Careers in Consulting
By Alison Doyle

According to the Fuqua School of Business Consulting Club "Consulting is the business of providing advice to firms in trouble, on the move, or trying to
do what they do better, faster, and more cheaply. It is one of the fastest growing industries in today's corporate world and one of the most popular
career choices for new MBA's."

Application Process

Consulting firms often focus their recruiting early in the academic year with the bulk of activity during the fall and winter months. Deadlines for
applicants can be as early as the later part of November. There are also some firms who will still be screening candidates in the Spring. Start as early
as possible to maximize your chances of getting hired in this competitive field. Contact employers to identify deadlines and the optimal time to begin
submitting resumes.

Consulting firms often require other documents in addition to your resume and cover letter. Many firms will ask for items such as GPA, transcript,
standardized test scores (GRE or SAT) and writing samples. Make sure you check with employers regarding the materials which they require in order to
screen candidates.

Typical Job Titles

Research Assistant, Research Associate, Analyst, Business Analyst, Research Analyst, Associate Consultant

Role

Graduates with BA or BS degrees are often employed in 2 -3 year entry level positions. After this time many employees go on to Business school, other
graduate/professional school or positions with client companies. The activity of a first year analyst will often be focused on background research or
number crunching (if the area of consulting is quantitatively oriented). During the second year analysts are more likely to take a responsible role with
problem solving and client contact.

Daily activities of an analyst might include:

Creating financial models in Excel

Interviewing clients for case information
Locating data needed for cases through library and internet resources
Sharing information with other team members on client cases
Researching client-related industries
Performing competitor benchmarking analysis and identifying savings opportunities or possible product/service enhancements
Conducting activity-based analysis of key business processes, identifying quick hits that resulted in 15 percent efficiency gains, and writing and
presenting final recommendations to management
Creating Powerpoint slides for client presentations

Qualifications

The following qualities and skills are often valued by recruiters in consulting. The priorities and requirements of individual employers will vary
significantly given the focus of their consulting activity. It is not necessary for candidates to be highly qualified in each of these areas. Check with
targeted employers to determine the specific requirements for their positions.

record of academic achievement

problem solving skills
logical reasoning
business acumen
team orientation
writing skills
presentation skills
ability to cultivate relationships
facility with computer software
quantitative and statistical skills
energy/stamina
pattern of leadership

Interviewing

The process typically involves a series of rigorous interviews and forms of questioning which are not common when interviewing in other industries.
Candidates are often required to analyze cases and /or respond to analytical questions regarding hypothetical situations (How many rolls of paper
towels would it take to span the state of New Jersey?).

How to Get a Job as a Consultant1

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5/20/2014 Careers in Consulting
Interested in working as a consultant? Here's information on education and experience requirements, where to find job listings, how consulting firms
recruit and tips for acing an interview.

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