The YOUinConsulting job test: Do you

REALLY want to become a consultant?

Dear consulting aspirant

Please first watch the instructions in the two videos

 2.1 Will the consultant job meet YOUR expectations? Why you need to take this
test
 2.2 How to take this test

A. Test instructions

On the following two pages, I present to you 24 beliefs/myths that commonly attract
potential applicants to pursue a consulting career. I am rather sure that some of these
“consulting myths” present stronger motivation factors for you than others. Now, take
the following steps:

1. Read the 24 statements on the following two pages. I have grouped them into
four categories, but you can ignore my clustering for the remainder of the test.
2. Print the next two pages and cut the statements into 24 separate paper stripes.
3. Sort the 24 statements into three separate piles:
a. The “3”-pile: The eight motivation factors that attract you the most about a
consulting job
b. The “2”-pile: The second-most important set of motivation factors
c. The “1”-pile: The 8 motivation factors that are the least important to you
4. If you cannot or do not like to print this document, you can also write your
personal weighting factor (3 = very important, 2 = important, 1 = not so important
to you) into the circles in the right column – assign each weighting factor exactly
eight times.
5. Then, watch the following 24 videos – each of them will “demystify” one of these
24 common beliefs about the consulting industry and tell you THE TRUTH about
consulting life... :-)

B. Your test result

At the end of each video, I will evaluate the respective statement with my
YOUinConsulting “truth score” (1 star: totally false - 5 stars: absolutely true!). Eventually,
the combination of your individual weighting factors with my truth scores will show how
well your expectations about a consulting job will meet the reality of consulting life and
answer the question: Do you REALLY want to become a consultant? :-) Though no
worries, we derive your result together in the lecture “How to derive your
YOUinConsulting job test result”. You do not need to take note of my YOUinConsulting
- Confidential - -1-
truth scores – I later offer you an automatized solution! :-) Now, get ready for some
finest edutainment and enjoy the test!
I. Rapid career progress - true or false? Your
ranking:
8x3, 8x2, 8x1
#1 Excellent grades at university and school make you
entitled to safely land a job at a top consulting firm

#2 Steep learning curve: As a consultant, you develop new

business and personal skills extremely fast

#3 Your career progress is determined by strictly

meritocratic1 rules

#4 After staying in your consulting firm for a couple of

years, it is guaranteed that you will become a partner
(shareholder)

#5 "Headhunters will chase you!" — Consulting experience

serves as a perfect career springboard

#6 "Award yourself the consultant title" — Your “fame” as

an ex-consultant benefits you for the rest of your life

II. Fantastic job - true of false?

#7 Prestiguous projects: You contribute to the most

meaningful ventures in history

#8 Have an impact: Your work leads to change ("Impact!")

#9 You work at eye level with corporate boards

(=exposure to senior client leaders)

#10 You get to explore many different industries and

business functions

#11 Your day-to-day tasks are extremly varied

1
I.e. promotions are exclusively based on the evaluation of your work performance, skills, talent, etc.
- Confidential - -2-
 #12 Your work makes the world a better place

III. Unique colleagues: true or false?

#13 "Join a firm with the best in class" — All your colleagues
are top performers

#14 The academic backgrounds of your colleagues are

incredibly diverse

#15 All your colleagues bring extraordinary experiences

#16 Teamwork is key!

#17 Consultants have a brillant network

#18 In the consulting industry, hierarchies are flat

IV. Dazzling lifestyle – true or false?

#19 As a consultant, you earn a higher salary than in other

corporate jobs

#20 You jet between the hippest destinations in the world

#21 You fly business class, enjoy luxury and stay in the top
hotels of this world

#22 Consultants work hard during the week, but the

weekend is sacred

#23 Working as a consultant is perfectly compatible with

having a family

#24 Consultants are (and remain?) fit, resilient and healthy

- Confidential - -3-