Trying to enter consulting from a completely non-traditional arts background

Hello there!

You have the right idea that networking is a great tool. But i think considering your background there are other things that you can do to ensure you are "speaking" the consulting language when you do connect.

A few things you can start with:
-Read Case in Point which is a great starter book to understand the industry and start case prep.
-Watch tutorial videos on "what is management consulting" and "how to case"
-When you're networking, reach out to people that you have something in common with or are already connected to.
-Rip off the band aide and start casing :)

Of course working with a coach can be a game changer for application strategy, networking strategy, casing insights and building a roadmap of how to achieve your objectives to get into consulting.

Happy to talk more if helpful :)
 

Hi there, 

Annika has shared a few good points of where you can start. 

What I would add on is that given your unique background, you'd need to demonstrate and tell good stories of what are the transferable skills you can bring from your past experience to consulting. E.g., business management, project management, owning P&L, working with partners / clients / vendors, etc. 

Best,

Emily

Hi,

I entered consulting from a non-traditional arts background as well. I studied History in college and had zero internships (as I thought I was going to do a PhD or work for the government initially).

I also helped a friend who used to work in a top talent agency in LA prep for MBB interviews - they eventually joined MBB on the west coast.

Happy to have a chat - just drop me a dm.

I think you will also find this article helpful for you:

Breaking into Consulting from a Non-Traditional Arts Background

All the best!

This is a tough spot, and I completely empathize with the frustration of putting in the networking effort only to hit a wall of silence. The reality of the recruiting machine is that it is fundamentally designed to screen out, and your resume, despite its clear business management strengths, is likely being filtered before anyone actually reads the story.

Here is the mechanics of why you're getting zero replies right now: Recruiters doing the first-pass lateral screen are looking for clean, predictable career narratives (e.g., PE, F500 strategy, Big 4 audit). If the primary keywords are "film," "arts," and "HR operations," the system—or the junior staff reviewing hundreds of applications—will instantly bucket you as non-traditional and non-target, assuming a lack of core analytical skills.

Your pivot strategy must be two-fold: Reframing and Relational Targeting.

First, stop leaning on "unorthodox" as your primary selling point in the résumé; focus on the transferable skills of running your production company. Production management is P&L management, vendor negotiation, tight deadline adherence, budget forecasting, and complex project delivery. That is strategy and operations work. You need to strip "film" from the bullet points and replace it with consulting lexicon: Managed end-to-end delivery of complex cross-functional projects; Led financial forecasting and risk mitigation for a $X portfolio; Responsible for P&L ownership...

Second, you cannot rely on the cold application stream. You need to shift to focused, persistent networking. Target individuals in the specific consulting practices where your media background is actually an asset (Media & Entertainment, Technology Strategy, or perhaps Operational Excellence). Your goal isn't just to talk to a consultant; it is to find a champion—someone who knows the partner group and can internally vouch for your business acumen, getting you past the initial HR screen. Lateral hiring from non-traditional backgrounds is almost always facilitated by an internal referral.

Hope this helps you focus your efforts. All the best.

Hi there,

I recently hired a similar candidate with an arts background. There were three main elements that stood out in the recruitment process, and at least two watch-out areas that you should keep in mind:

Elements that can help you get into consulting:

1) Tailor your non-consulting experience into an asset
Think about the non-consulting experiences and tasks you’ve done in film that are universal and applicable to consulting projects - for example: calculations, problem structuring, team management, communication, slide creation, etc.
Then package these in your CV the right way: list the most relevant elements first, show what actions you took, and highlight the overall impact.

This may even make you a stronger candidate than “another graduate from management or finance.”
Make your experience unique and relevant to consulting.

2) Learn consulting basics
Consulting is very competitive - do your homework by learning “consulting 101”:
(a) Concepts (frameworks, structuring, problem solving, mental math)
(b) Tools (Excel, PowerPoint, ThinkCell, etc.)
(c) Lingo (common consulting terminology: capex, opex, P&L, ROI, etc.)

3) Practice case studies
Once you cover the basics, you need to put it all together with the right rhythm and timing. There’s no better advice than “practice makes perfect.”

But be aware - some people need more time than others, so don’t get discouraged. Instead, find support and guidance from experienced people such as coaches or colleagues already in consulting.

Watch-out areas you need to be aware of:

1) A downgrade is highly possible
Regardless of your years of experience in the film industry, you may be offered a position similar to younger colleagues (entry-level). Don’t be discouraged - if you think long-term, your experience will help you progress faster in the future.

2) You may struggle at the beginning compared to peers
Starting in consulting can be challenging. You will operate in unfamiliar territory with fragmented information, unclear (at first) requirements, a fast work pace, long hours… the list goes on, but you get the point.

Having a financial or managerial background may give your colleagues an advantage in the beginning, meaning you’ll need to push harder and learn faster.

However, the good news is: it’s absolutely doable!

Many people successfully transition into consulting. Find the right people to support you at the start, make a plan, and execute it like a consultant 🙂

Hope you find it useful!

If you or anybody with similar situation is interested I can walk you through the whole "getting into consulting process", setup the right mindset, point-out relevant concepts, lingo, and support with problem structuring.

Best of luck,
Kacper

Hey there :)

Coming from a non-traditional background is totally fine, you just need to translate your film and production experience into skills consulting cares about, like project management, problem solving, budgeting, leadership, and handling stakeholders. Your production company is actually a strong asset if you frame it well. I would focus on a sharp CV, a clear story of why consulting now, and targeted networking with alumni or people in media or HR-related practices. Cold applications without that warm connection often stay unanswered.

If you want, I can help you shape your narrative so it lands better with recruiters.

best, Alessa :)

Hi there,

At this stage, the biggest thing is making sure your resume shows excellence in a very clear way, either strong academics or standout professional impact. It really needs some kind of wow factor to get looked at. In parallel, networking matters a lot, especially building visibility with people in the firm and ideally HR, and trying to secure a referral to maximize your chances of getting invited to Solve. Once you’re through Solve, that’s when you fully switch gears and focus hard on sharpening your casing skills.

Happy to chat further!

Hi there!

Your atypical background shouldn't be a problem.

It sounds like you actually had lots of business and 'consulting-like' work experiences, even if they were in the film industry. That's exactly what they are looking for. 

Sharing here a guide that will get you thinking about how to build your application:

• Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

And here one on how to conduct conversations with people in consulting:

• Expert Guide: How To Handle Networking Calls and Get Referrals

The most important thing re the application is how your write your CV. For somebody like you, you need to make an excellent job at translating your work experiences into ones that are relevant and valuable for a consulting recruiter.

Feel free to reach out directly if you have any further questions.

Best,
Cristian