Starting date | January/February vs September | Entry-level

Hi there,

Congratulations on the offer!

I would say it depends on the opportunity cost you have. Starting earlier could give you some time to adapt to the new job, but you won’t have time for much else.

Some possible skills/activities you may want to learn/do before joining are:

1. Improve your skills with Excel and PowerPoint
2. Freelance based on a skill you know/want to learn
3. Do an internship in a position that can help you long term (eg sales)
4. Learn a new language
5. Launch a website you can easily automate
6. Start a blog on a topic you know well
7. Support a local no-profit
8. Prepare for the GMAT (in case you want to go to B school in the future)
9. Travel to a top destination where you always wanted to go

Best,

Francesco

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the offer!

This is indeed an interesting question which is probably relevant for quite a lot of users, so I'm happy to give you my perspective on that:

• While I agree with what other coaches said about approaching the question from the perspective of opportunity costs, I would like to point out that several of those activities listed can be equally or even better performed on-the-job (e.g. improving skills in powerpoint/ excel, supporting a non-profit organization).
• Moreover, you will get valuable, paid work experience both beneficial for the entry-level program (e.g. overall readiness, building up your network in the company) and potential future employers (i.e. it is still another 1-7 months you worked on projects).
• I would advise you to approach the question with a list of potential activities you would like to do, and assess how important and how urgent it is for you to perform them (i.e. Eisenhower matrix).
  • For important and urgent activities, you should make space to perform them before joining your company.
  • For important but not urgent activities, think about the best possible time you would like to do them (e.g. the weather for some sought-after travel destinations might not be ideal Feb-Aug anyways). Keep in mind that you will also have the possibility to perform those acitivities on your vacation/ unpaid leave.
  • For unimportant but urgent activities, think about if you could delegate them.
  • For unimportant and not urgent activities, think about dropping them.

In case you want a more detailed discussion on the two options and the possible activities you would like to perform before your career entry, please feel free to contact me directly.

I hope this helps,

Hagen

Congrats! My advice will be to start early if you can. Given you are starting your career, clock some time & experience sooner rather than later. 

You will learn plenty on the job anyway!

All the best.

Congrats on the offer!

I'll keep it simple for you:

• If you don't have other alternative things to spend your time on, why not start early? You will get additional “mileage” to improve your core consulting skills. Your CV will also benefit from additional months of experience 
• If you have other important things to do (e.g., studying for GMAT, traveling etc.), you could start later of course

Hi!

The other coaches already gave you interesting insights.

I would focus on your priorities for those months. You might prepare for the GMAT… but also relax for some time :)

Best,

Anto

Hi there,

I honestly think you're missing the biggest point here: Joining with a cohort.

I cannot emphasize the important of starting with a group of people. You're “green” together. You're going through bootcamp and fighting in the trenches together. 

The “hit rate” on deep/strong personal connections is no higher than in your starting cohort, and they are critical to your success (survival) in the first 6-18 months.

My honest opinion is you should prioritize starting in a cohort above all else.