Life Sciences PhD looking to break into consultancy: Where should I start?

Question

Hello,

I am a recent PhD graduate looking to pivot my career into consulting. Before completing my PhD, I spent over five years working as a scientist at a start-up, so I have experience in both research and a fast-paced commercial environment.

I would now like to move away from lab-based work and build a career in consulting, with the longer-term goal of eventually moving into venture capital. I understand that I do not have much direct consulting experience, so I would really appreciate some advice on how I can position my background and start preparing for and applying to consulting roles.

I am comfortable applying for scientific roles, as that is where most of my experience lies, but I am keen to make a career transition and develop towards more strategic and commercial roles. I am just unsure where to begin, particularly in terms of preparing for applications, developing the right skills, and identifying the types of consulting roles that would be a good fit for my background.

I would really appreciate any guidance on how to approach this transition and what steps I should take to improve my chances of breaking into consulting.

Thank you very much for your time and advice.

Answer 1

Hi,

On preparing for applications, start with your CV. Translate your research and start-up work into the language of business (what you changed, what you decided, what it was worth...) rather than the technical version of the same story. Then chase a referral for each company you plan to apply to (on this I'd be quite open, not targeting just MBB). For the fit part of the interview, get a few solid stories ready from both your research and start-up years, apart from structured answers to why consulting and why this company.

On developing the right skills, I'd focus first on building a light business foundation and then let practice take over. As a scientist you already have the quant and the structured thinking. What you lack is commercial feel: how a company actually earns money and where profit leaks. Read a case prep guide, learn to read a P&L, get familiar with the basic levers, without getting stuck in the theory. Then start casing, ideally live with people as early as you can rather than alone on paper.

On the types of roles, your science and start-up mix fits healthcare and life-sciences teams at MBB and Tier-2 firms particularly well, and that path also positions you nicely for a later move into VC. You would come in as an experienced or advanced-degree hire.

Hope it helps and feel free to DM me if you want to discuss how you could best pivot to consulting more in depth.

Federico

Answer 2

Hi,

Happy to help, and good on you for making the move! The good news is that your PhD back ground / years in at a start-up are relevant for kind of Advanced Professional Degree (APD) candidates that McKinsey, BCG, Bain and others actively recruit. You don't need an MBA to get in. Some thought-starters / pointers:

Don't be apologetic! There is a home at MBB for every kind of profile - from teachers, to fire fighters to scientists to politicians to doctors to name a few! Frame your PhD as structured problem-solving under ambiguity, and the start-up years as commercial, get-stuff-done exposure. That mix is an asset, not a gap.
Target the right doors: (a) MBB and Tier-2 firms via the APD / experienced-hire track, and (b) life-sciences and healthcare practices or boutiques, where your domain knowledge is an immediate edge. This also sets you up nicely for the biotech/healthcare VC path down the line.
Prep is mostly cases + fit: The case bar is identical for APD candidates, so start early — structuring, hypothesis-driven thinking, and market-sizing/quant comfort. Pair that with a tight set of PEI/fit stories (leadership, drive, impact) drawn from your research and start-up work.
Signal "commercial" on paper: Small things go a long way — a case competition or simply reframing your achievements in business terms (impact, stakeholders, decisions) rather than purely scientific ones.

You can get started by practicing cases with fellow candidates on Prep Lounge to get a lay of the land. Outside of that of course, networking and crafting your application etc.

Happy to go deeper on positioning or map out a prep roadmap — feel free to drop me a line.

Cheers,
Jimmy

Answer 3

Hi,

Consulting can definitely be a rewarding and fulfilling career - and definitely no regrets to spend a couple of years at a top tier consulting firm.

The entire approach can be overwhelming, but at the same time there is a ton of free information available on the web.

In addition to what the others have mentioned, I would encourage you to work with the end in mind: what do you need to achieve/demonstrate and therefore how would you get there?

I share some articles that could be helpful for you:

Breaking into Consulting from a non-traditional background
5 Reasons Why Experienced Hires Fail the Interview
Using AI for Case Preparation

All the best!

Answer 4

hey there :)

You actually have a strong story for the transition. A PhD plus five years in a startup gives you both deep scientific expertise and exposure to a commercial environment, which can be very valuable for Life Sciences consulting.

I’d target Life Sciences strategy, commercial strategy, due diligence, market access and healthcare consulting roles rather than trying to compete only for generalist positions. On your CV, emphasize business impact, problem solving, ownership and collaboration rather than the technical details of your research.

I’d also start case preparation now and apply in parallel rather than waiting until you feel fully prepared. Your scientific background is the differentiator, while the consulting skills can be built through practice.

For your longer term VC goal, Life Sciences consulting can be a very good stepping stone, particularly if you get exposure to commercial due diligence and strategy projects.

Good luck, and feel free to reach out if you’d like to discuss how to position your CV or prepare for cases. Best, Alessa :)

Answer 5

Hi there,

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your situation:

First of all, your profile is a good fit for consulting, so do not see the missing consulting experience as a blocker. Consulting firms hire PhDs directly through their advanced degree tracks, and there is also a whole segment of life sciences strategy boutiques where your background is a real advantage.
Moreover, work on your positioning. Rewrite your resume in business language: impact, numbers and stakeholders instead of methods and publications, and use your start-up years to show commercial awareness. In parallel, I would strongly advise you to reach out to current consultants in your target consulting firms and offices, since referrals raise your chances a lot more than cold applications.
Lastly, I would advise you to start the case study interview preparation early, since it takes most candidates several months. Learn the case interview basics and practice live cases, at best with peers or an experienced coach like me.

You can find more on this topic here: Boutique consulting firms.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare your application files, for your upcoming pre-interview assessments and/or interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Answer 6

Hi there,

I worked with people that were previously professional violinists, flautists, dentists, etc. Trust me, you can get into MBB!

However, there are a few things you need to do to improve your odds:

1. Get some consulting related experience

2. Network

3. Adjust your resume and make it a 10/10 (change your wording etc. to change the way it's pitched)

Your scientific background and startup experience can support both life sciences specialist applications and generalist applications. The key is to translate your experience into business impact, leadership, problem solving, and commercial judgment.

Given that you are starting from applications and need to build through to interview readiness, I would recommend my 360° Consulting Recruiting Course Bundle.

Answer 7

Have you already considered which area of consulting interests you most—strategy, healthcare/life sciences, or perhaps due diligence for investors? Also, are you planning to target large consulting firms or smaller specialist consultancies?