Schedule mock interviews on the Meeting Board, join the latest community discussions in our Consulting Q&A and find like-minded Interview Partners to connect and practice with!
Back to overview

Is numerical data analysis a relevant business consulting skill?

I have a PhD in physics and a lot of my current academic work involves "number crunching" - statistics, modelling, regression, etc.

Is that a relevant skill for a business consultant that I should strongly emphasize in my application?

On the one hand, it seems quite useful to me that when you receive a load of numerical data from your client, you are able to quickly process and draw meaningful conclusions from it on your own.

On the other hand, that might be an analyst's job and stressing my expertise on that field only shows the recruiter that I am applying for the wrong role?

Your comments on that matter would be extremely helpful to me.

3
3.8k
18
Be the first to answer!
Nobody has responded to this question yet.
Top answer
Deleted user
on Jan 31, 2018

It is a very relevant skill and would emphasize you ability to gain insights from numbers and to use different methodologies to gain those insights (multivariate analysis, montecarlo simulation, forecasting methodologies, etc). However what is also important is to highlight the fact that you will be able to use standard tools (xls, VBA, SQL, tableau, etc) to do the things above mentioned vs. using tools that are not widespread in a business environment.

Hope it helps,

Andrea

4
Vlad
Coach
on Jan 31, 2018
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

Several points:

  1. It's a relevant skill for any position
  2. Fram it a bit differently. Either "Problem Solving" or something related to digital, eg Data Science, Business Intelligence, Big Data
  3. Make sure you have a mix of technical and soft skills

Best

Anonymous A
on Feb 01, 2018

Thank you both for your comments, they were very helpful! They put me in the right track of thinking and I have a much better idea now on how to embed/frame these skills in my CV/cover letter. 

0
Similar Questions
Consulting
Visa sponsorship after post INSEAD MBA
on Sep 17, 2024
Global
4
1.5k
64
4 Answers
1.5k Views
Consulting
POST Consulting rejections
on Oct 02, 2024
Global
5
900+
54
5 Answers
900+ Views
Consulting
Bain CV Screen Rejection
on Oct 09, 2024
UK
6
1.8k
90
6 Answers
1.8k Views
Consulting
CV Review for Strategy Consulting Roles
on Oct 15, 2024
Middle East
10
1.4k
69
10 Answers
1.4k Views
Consulting
Rounding up GPA
on Nov 13, 2024
Global
6
1.2k
41
6 Answers
1.2k Views
Show more