HI There, Bhuvan this side. i'm a masters student in international finance with no prior experience. Is it possible to get into consulting, if yes what are the most important things to look after so that i will be more easy for me to achieve this. THANK YOU

Hi Bhuvan,

Yes, it is possible. Not having professional experience does not rule you out, though it does put you slightly behind candidates with the same profile who also did an internship or two.

To compensate for that, I would give real space in your CV to extracurricular experiences that show impact, problem solving and leadership.

I would also work on getting a referral before you apply. It is not mandatory, but on a profile like yours it makes a real difference.

On timing, work backwards from the application deadlines of your program's recruiting cycle rather than forwards from how prepared you feel.

If you want something more specific to your situation, feel free to write to me, happy to help.

Best,

Franco

Hey Bhuvan :) Absolutely, it is possible to move into consulting without prior work experience. Your finance background can actually be quite relevant, especially for strategy, financial services and transaction related work. I’d focus on building strong case solving skills, mental math, structured communication and a few strong personal impact stories. At the same time, make sure your CV clearly highlights leadership, analytical work and measurable achievements from university or extracurriculars.

You don’t need to wait until you have a perfect profile to start applying. Feel free to reach out if you want to practise cases or discuss how to position your profile.

Best, Alessa :)

Hi there,

So many people have been in your situation! You do not need prior experience to get in - they want smart, capable, driven people that can learn.

Here's what you need to do:

Get exposure/experience in consulting - consulting club, experiential organizations like Impact Consulting, etc.

Network - get on the phone and talk to people

Resume - get it professionally reviewed to make it as good as possible

Good luck in your journey!

Based on what you've posted, my 360° Consulting Recruiting Course Bundle will also be useful because it covers the full journey from application strategy and networking through assessments and interviews.

Yes. Graduate consulting roles are designed for candidates who may not have full-time experience. Your task is to show evidence that you can solve problems, work with people and create results.

Build that evidence through an internship, a serious pro bono project, a case competition, student leadership or research with a clear outcome. Your finance master's can support the analytical story, but the degree alone will not show leadership or client readiness.

Work backwards from application deadlines. Prepare a one-page CV, identify target offices and firms, speak with consultants and alumni, and practise both cases and fit stories. Start with the fundamentals: structured problem solving, mental math, chart interpretation, synthesis and concise communication.

Do not wait for a perfect profile. Apply broadly when you have credible evidence and are interview-ready. If you can still add one experience, choose the option where you will own a real problem and can quantify what changed.