How to enter corporate strategy role without related industry experience?

Lots of good questions. 

If I were you, to short-circuit this entire process, I'd basically look for people with a similar background to your who then went into corporate strategy roles. 

You can basically use linkedin filtering for this. 

Then reach out to a bunch of them. In the guide below you can find a template message that you can use:

• Expert Guide: How To Get Referrals Via LinkedIn? 

Not all of them will answer, obviously, but those who do can teach you what you can specifically do in order to increase your chances of entering the industry. 

Try to also figure out from them what are the specific steps and qualifications they got before joining. 

If the conversation goes well you might even get a referral and help with the process from them.

Best,

Cristian

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Hello!

I don´t see this very clear as a back-up plan.

Usually, they want people from:

• Business school -MBA for instance-.
• Ex-MBBs -normally they have been even clients before-.
• People who had been doing corp. strategy in similar corporations in the past

Hence, you see that this is more a follow-up plan than a back-up plan.

Hope it helps!

Cheers,
Clara

Hi there,

If you don't have prior consulting background or tech industry experience, another route is to see if you can get a corp strategy role in an industry that you have experience in. That could be an easier way to get you into the door first, then after a few years you can move across industry. For example I have colleague moving from corp strategy team in tranditional business into corp strategy in my current employer (a tech unicorn in SEA).

Best,

Emily

Hi there,

I would recommend to check the background of the people working in the companies you are targeting. Most likely they have a consulting background, however some companies may hire from other companies as well – you may want to check if it is possible to target the latter if you cannot find a way to get an invitation directly.

Besides working on the previous point, you can look for a referral from alumni you may connect to in your target companies, you can find more on referrals at the following link:

https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/hey-everyonehope-all-is-well-3176

Best,

Francesco

Hi,

The three paths to the corporate strategy roles are:

• Consulting
• MBA
• Previous roles in a similar industry
• Relevant roles in the other industries (e.g. PMO)

It will be really hard to get a corp strategy role without one of these

Best

Hi!

In my experience from having worked in a corporate strategy team, these are usually very dominated by ex-consultants. Typically the corporate strategy function will be headed up by an ex-consultant who brings in other consultants (quite often from their previous firm) to round out the team.

You could also try to break into the strategy team through an internal transfer or by getting industry experience at another firm and then apply but in my experience, this is more unusual and will be a less certain route.

Without any industry or consulting skills, I am afraid this will be a hard sell. Do you have any other skills or educational background that you can break into the industry with and then try to transfer after a few years?

Dear A,
You either need previous experience in consulting, industry or in the strategy role in the other industry. If you have none of these prerequisite, then just try to change your priorities and firstly get relevant experience in at least one of these three I mentioned. Afterwards you can apply to the desired corporate Strategy role in the tech industry.

Hope it helps,

Best,

André

Hi, you can totally do it. Of course, an MBA or strong experience in consulting will help, but with good relationships, industry passion and motivation you could do it if there are some open positions

Best,
Antonello