Category: management consulting

Are thank you letters necessary?

While in finance, they can be optional - I'd strongly recommend writing one in consulting. Why? Because decision-making timeframes are typically longer in consulting; consultants have blackberries and continuous access to email; most interviewers appreciate the gesture and at the very least, it'll keep your name in their minds for longer.

After several years in finance, I’ve decided to transition into consulting. How do I start?

No direct experience here, but the parallel/experienced hire process is similar across professions. It's best to have "internal champions" - those within your target firm that forward your resume to recruiters internally, write positive recommendations, help get the ball rolling. Headhunters play a role - but less so in management consulting than in private equity/hedge…

I’m still too young to apply for management consulting jobs but want to get a head start. What types of jobs teach you the skills that will be helpful in consulting?

Anything business-oriented where you can show the following things: ability to manage people and teams; capacity to learn sophisticated concepts; ability to drive measurable impact in your team/group/division. The firm's brand-equity is important (eg, Goldman Sachs is more valued than Wachovia).

I missed the summer recruiting cycle here at my university. What can I do now?

The short answer is that you've missed out on your best shot at consulting internships. Its worthwhile now to initiate contact with your school recruiting office, recruiters at consulting firms that come to campus, etc - and explain your situation in brief with a resume attached. At the same time, I'd look into alternative summer…

For companies like McKinsey, Bain, Booz, and BCG – are certain offices “easier” to recruit for?

This myth is partly true, partly false. It's partly true because selectivity varies by office at GMCs. Smaller offices may prefer a weaker candidate who ranks them #1 and has a rationale for that ranking (eg, it's their hometown, they're interested in the region's dominant industries) to a stronger candidate who doesn't rank them at…

Since graduating from college/graduate school, I’ve worked in several jobs and have built a strong work resume. Unfortunately, my educational background is weak – I didn’t go to a “target school” and had a low GPA in my time. How much will this affect my chances?

I've received many people asking variations of this theme. Here's my advice: If you have strong work experience - world-class firms, multiple promotions, a record of accomplishment, leadership, and risk-taking - the most important thing for you now is not your undergraduate GPA, but how you can get your resume in front of recruiters and…

I’m a senior in college and applying to consulting firms fulltime. Unfortunately, I have a really low SAT score from high school. Will this hurt my chances? Should I retake the SAT?

If your SAT score is below 1300, it could hurt depending on the firm. I would strongly recommend against retaking the SAT. There are better uses of your time. However, if you believe you can take it right now with no practice and score a 1500, no one will stop you. If you have a…

Why did you start this blog?

I've been helping prospective management consultants (friends, colleagues) for years with their resumes, cover letters, interviews, and recruiting questions. It's personally and professionally fulfilling for me. Given that experience (and the experience inside McKinsey helping recruit new employees and seeing how the hiring process worked), I decided to start Management Consulted to share the knowledge…

Can you tell me more about your background and how you broke into management consulting?

See the About page for background info. I became a management consultant through the traditional recruiting process - extensive rounds of resume submissions and countless phone and in-person interviews. McKinsey was my top choice - it was a straightforward decision once I received the offer to join their New York office. Prior to McKinsey, I'd…

How should I rank my office preferences?

Some applicants like to "game" the recruiting process, applying to less popular offices in thinking that the interview process will be easier. My answer: it depends on which consulting firm, which office, which year. It's a risky move because you automatically limit your upside (assuming the less popular office is not your first office choice).