How​ ​To​ ​Start​ ​Your​ ​Career​ ​In​ ​Consulting

Human Resources ​ ​Consulting​ ​is​ ​a​ ​lucrative​ ​and​ ​prestigious​ ​career.​ ​Often​ ​recruited​ ​out​ ​of​ ​Ivy​ ​League institutions,​ ​candidates​ ​must​ ​still​ ​undergo​ ​a​ ​rigorous​ ​interview​ ​process​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​land​ ​an​ ​offer.​ ​There​ ​are a​ ​myriad​ ​of​ ​consulting​ ​jobs,​ ​but​ ​those​ ​who​ ​advance​ ​to​ ​land​ ​strategy​ ​roles​ ​have​ ​analytical​ ​horsepower​ ​and C-suite​ ​level​ ​communication​ ​skills.
While​ ​there​ ​are​ ​many​ ​different​ ​careers​ ​in​ ​the​ ​consulting​ ​world,​ ​the​ ​bottom​ ​line​ ​is​ ​that​ ​consultants​ ​are​ ​hired to​ ​either​ ​help​ ​companies​ ​cut​ ​costs​ ​or​ ​increase​ ​revenues.​ ​This​ ​may​ ​require​ ​changing​ ​a​ ​company’s​ ​entire strategic​ ​direction,​ ​adding​ ​IT​ ​services,​ ​marketing,​ ​financial​ ​analysis,​ ​or​ ​cutting​ ​excesses​ ​that​ ​drain​ ​the bottom​ ​line​ ​(i.e.​ ​outsourcing).​ ​While​ ​consultants​ ​must​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​see​ ​the​ ​overall​ ​big​ ​picture​ ​as​ ​it​ ​pertains to​ ​a​ ​company,​ ​strategy​ ​projects​ ​are​ ​short​ ​(3-6​ ​months)​ ​and​ ​narrowly​ ​defined.

Landing​ ​a​ ​job​ ​in​ ​this​ ​field​ ​requires​ ​more​ ​than​ ​an​ ​esteemed​ ​education.​ ​Management​ ​consulting​ ​hopefuls must​ ​pass​ ​the​ ​.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​this​ ​stringent​ ​set​ ​of​ ​interview​ ​rounds​ ​that​ ​make​ ​or​ ​break​ ​the​ ​individual.​ ​The​ ​candidate must​ ​possess​ ​a​ ​specific​ ​set​ ​of​ ​skills​ ​that​ ​will​ ​be​ ​uncovered​ ​during​ ​the​ ​process. To​ ​prepare​ ​for​ ​the​ ​interview​ ​process,​ ​many​ ​aspirants​ ​look​ ​for​ ​expert​ ​guidance​ ​to​ ​take​ ​them​ ​through​ ​the entire​ ​process​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​make​ ​the​ ​actual​ ​task​ ​less​ ​intimidating.​ ​The​ ​consulting​ ​review​ ​process​ ​is​ ​typically industry​ ​standard,​ ​and​ ​as​ ​such​ ​there​ ​are​ ​a​ ​great​ ​many​ ​areas​ ​that​ ​recruits​ ​are​ ​able​ ​to​ ​refine​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to shine​ ​in​ ​the​ ​interview​ ​process.

Leaders​ ​in​ ​the​ ​industry​ ​recommend​ ​that​ ​candidates​ ​hone​ ​their​ ​resume​ ​and​ ​cover​ ​letters.​ ​Knowing​ ​what​ ​to include​ ​(and​ ​what​ ​not​ ​to​ ​include!),​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​understanding​ ​what​ ​the​ ​firm​ ​is​ ​really​ ​asking​ ​for,​ ​are imperative​ ​to​ ​a​ ​candidate​ ​putting​ ​his​ ​or​ ​her​ ​best​ ​foot​ ​forward.​ ​While​ ​some​ HR Consulting ​firms​ ​are​ ​moving​ ​away​ ​from requiring​ ​a​ ​cover​ ​letter,​ ​why​ ​miss​ ​out​ ​on​ ​an​ ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​impress?
An​ ​often​ ​overlooked​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​process​ ​is​ ​the​ ​fit​ ​interview.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​where​ ​the​ ​firm​ ​assesses​ ​if​ ​you​ ​are​ ​a good​ ​fit​ ​for​ ​the​ ​culture​ ​they’ve​ ​built.​ ​Don’t​ ​go​ ​into​ ​this​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​process​ ​blind!​ ​Be​ ​sure​ ​to​ ​understand what​ ​the​ ​firm​ ​is​ ​really​ ​looking​ ​for​ ​when​ ​asking​ ​its​ ​questions,​ ​and​ ​if​ ​you​ ​are​ ​a​ ​good​ ​fit​ ​for​ ​that​ ​particular place.
The​ ​most​ ​daunting​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​interview​ ​process​ ​is​ ​the​ ​case​ ​interview.​ ​This​ ​requires​ ​quick​ ​thinking, excellent​ ​communication,​ ​and​ ​mental​ ​math​ ​skills​ ​that​ ​must​ ​shine​ ​under​ ​pressure.​ ​Management consultants​ ​must​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​analyze​ ​a​ ​situation​ ​and​ ​brainstorm​ ​potential​ ​solutions​ ​in​ ​a​ ​small​ ​amount​ ​of time.​ ​Practicing​ ​this​ ​skill​ ​is​ ​imperative​ ​to​ ​landing​ ​the​ ​job.​ ​There​ ​are​ ​companies​ ​that​ ​help​ ​hone​ ​this​ ​skill​ ​and enable​ ​contenders​ ​to​ ​put​ ​their​ ​best​ ​self​ ​forward.
A​ ​management​ ​consulting​ ​career​ ​is​ ​highly​ ​prized​ ​in​ ​industry​ ​for​ ​the​ ​analytical​ ​skills​ ​that​ ​are​ ​developed.​ ​It broadens​ ​an​ ​individual’s​ ​cognitive​ ​abilities​ ​and​ ​trains​ ​them​ ​to​ ​think​ ​clearly​ ​and​ ​work​ ​well​ ​as​ ​part​ ​of​ ​a​ ​team in​ ​pursuit​ ​of​ ​a​ ​defined​ ​scope.​ ​Pursuing​ ​this​ ​as​ ​a​ ​career​ ​is​ ​a​ ​recommended​ ​move​ ​that​ ​will​ ​not​ ​only​ ​pay​ ​you well​ ​now,​ ​but​ ​have​ ​a​ ​lasting​ ​financial​ ​impact.

Please follow and like us: