From supply chain to consulting

Hi Anonymous, yes, it’s absolutely possible — your profile is actually quite relevant.

Coming from Centrale Lyon with a strong GPA is already a very solid base. On top of that, your internships in supply chain are not a weakness — if anything, they can be a strength, especially for:

• operations consulting
• transformation projects
• even strategy roles with an operational angle

What matters is how you position them.

Right now, you shouldn’t think:
“I didn’t do consulting internships”

But rather:
“I’ve worked on real business problems (planning, demand, operations) in top companies”

That’s valuable.

A couple of things to focus on:

1. Position your experience in a consulting way
In your CV and interviews, highlight:

• problem solving (what was the issue?)
• impact (what did you improve?)
• ownership

Even in supply chain roles, there are always elements like:

• optimizing processes
• improving forecasts
• reducing inefficiencies

That’s very close to consulting work.

2. Be clear on your story
You’ll need a strong answer to:
“Why consulting now?”

Something like:

• you’ve seen operations from the inside
• you now want broader exposure and more strategic impact

3. Prepare interviews properly
At your level, this is often the real differentiator.

Good candidates get rejected because of:

• weak structure
• lack of case practice

So make sure you:

• practice cases consistently
• get comfortable with math and structuring

4. Be realistic but ambitious
MBB is competitive, but your profile is definitely in range.
Also apply to Tier 2 — they’re great options and often a very good entry point.

Overall, you’re in a good position.
You don’t need a “perfect consulting background” — you just need to present your experience well and perform in interviews.

If you want, happy to help you refine your CV or practice cases.

Hi there!

First of all, don't worry, breaking into consulting is absolutely possible. To give you some perspective, in my experience at McKinsey, at least 30% of my colleagues came from an engineering background.

Here is generally how it works. Candidates entering straight out of an undergrad or Master of Science program are typically hired for generalist roles. Sometimes they are brought in as digital profiles, but even then, they still do a significant amount of generalist work. Experienced hires with 4+ YOE, instead, are the ones brought in with specific functional or industry expertise. 

The main issue is really how you manage to pass the initial screening, because MBB candidates are constantly increasing. In this case, getting a referral can definitely help you secure an interview. Then, regarding the case preparation, that is where you truly have the opportunity to make a difference if you make it to the interviews.

Best,

Tom
 

Hi there,

You have a great background! Strong school, strong GPA, and real industry experience at recognizable names. Absolutely possible to break in.

What you should do is apply to as many firms as possible. When applying, get your resume professionally reviewed by a coach, and get networking templates + tips from a coach as well.

Start here first: Applications Course

Here's some reading to help: How to Get a Consulting Internship

How do I pinpoint what I'm missing and correct it? Get COACHING. Just like anything in life, it's so difficult to self assess. Get a professional to figure it out and help!

And avoid these mistakes! Most Common Pitfalls in Case Interview Preparation

Hi,

Short answer: yes, it’s definitely possible — and your profile is actually quite relevant.

I’ve seen candidates from engineering schools like move into consulting without prior consulting internships. Firms (including MBB) hire a lot of engineers — what they care about is how you think, not whether you’ve “done consulting before.”

Your internships in supply chain are not a weakness. If anything, they’re useful — especially for operations and transformation work, which is a big part of what many consulting firms do.

The only issue is how it might sound on paper.

If your experience is described in a very operational way (e.g., “demand planner”, “supply planner”), it can feel a bit narrow. But if you frame it properly, it becomes much stronger:
you’ve worked on forecasting, managing supply-demand complexity, improving processes — these are real business problems.

So it’s less about changing your background, and more about how you present it.

A couple of things I’d focus on:

• Make your CV results-oriented (what did you improve, what was the impact?)
• Be very clear on your story: why consulting after supply chain
• Start case prep early — this is what will really make the difference
• Do some networking to increase your chances of getting interviews

In terms of realism:
Tier 2 firms are very achievable with your profile. MBB is also possible, but more competitive — so execution (CV + interviews) really matters.

If I put it simply: you don’t lack the “right background.” You just need to position it in a way that shows you’ve already been solving the kind of problems consultants work on.

If you want, happy to take a look at your CV or help you shape your story — profiles like yours can work very well with a few adjustments.

Best,

Soheil

Yes it is possible. Your profile is stronger than you think.

Centrale Lyon, applied math, 3.8 GPA, and three internships at Airbus, SEB, and L'Oreal. That is a solid base. MBB and tier 2 firms hire engineers from top French schools every year, and operations is a natural fit for you.

A few things.

No consulting internship is not a dealbreaker. What matters is the story. You have real supply chain experience at two big brands. Frame yourself as someone who understands how supply chains actually run, and now wants to solve these problems across industries at a more strategic level. That is a clean narrative.

For your end of studies internship, target operations practices. McKinsey Operations, BCG Ops, Bain Performance Improvement, Kearney, Roland Berger, Oliver Wyman. Tier 2 is often more open to internship conversions than MBB.

Start case prep now. Engineers from Centrale are expected to be sharp on structure and math, so the bar is high.

Use your school network. Centrale alumni at MBB and tier 2 are your fastest path to referrals and coffee chats.

Good luck.

hi! 

yes, it’s absolutely possible, your profile is actually very relevant for consulting. schools like École Centrale de Lyon are strong targets, and your internships at Airbus suppliers, Groupe SEB, and L'Oréal give you a clear operations angle that firms value a lot.

the key is positioning: don’t apologize for not having consulting experience. instead, frame your story as “I’ve built strong analytical and operational problem-solving skills in complex environments, and now want to apply them to broader, high-impact business problems in consulting.”

for MBB and tier 2, focus on three things now: strong case prep, a clear personal story (why consulting, why now), and referrals if possible. if you get those right, your chances are very solid.

if you want, I can help you refine your story or do a quick mock.

best,
Alessa :)

Hi there, 

Yes, with the right approach. 

Most importantly, you should prioritise entering the industry over entering a specific firm. 

You might find this guide useful:

• Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

If you need any help, reach out.

Best,
Cristian