Consultant (post mba role) vs. associate (pre mba role)

Hi there,

Great question.

In essence, remember that they excel at the firm-specific stuff. As in, they will know how to do powerpoint, excel, operate with the daily cadences/company-speak more easily.

However, you will have life experience, judgement/decision-making, and client management skills.

You are both valuable and need each other! Importantly, be ok with them being better than you at certain things. Leverage what they're good at, learn from them, AND teach them what you're good at.

1) Leverage the skills you do have...i.e. judgement, insights, client management, etc. etc. You are generally more mature....leverage this

2) As mentioned above, be comfortable with what they're good at. Take their guidance/advice and learn from them. Be secure (not insecure) about what you need to improve on

3) Exactly. This is how it "should" be. Don't fight this. This is your job. You are supposed to be strong in the soft skills/intangibles...

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Now, here are some general tips for consulting

Read the 25 tips in my consulting handbook here: https://www.spencertom.com/2018/01/14/consulting-survival-guide/

What to expect in the first 90 days (and how to thrive) - https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/first-90-days-as-associate-business-analyst-consultant-7185

What to prepare/learn beforehand - https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/how-to-best-preppare-for-a-consulting-position-if-you-have-a-couple-of-months-of-free-time-7164

How to improve your ability to remember details - https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/how-to-improve-ability-to-remember-details-is-it-important-in-consulting-6998

How to be confident - https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/how-to-build-up-confidence-and-look-smart-and-sharp-in-a-consultant-role-6955

Notetaking effectively - https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/note-taking-7215

Finally, Think about consulting like casing:

Think about your job as you do a case (hey, they weren't created for nothing)

1) Understand the context/prompt (what role are you in, what company, who's watching, etc.)

2) Understand the objective (what, specifically, is expected from you...both day to day, and in your overall career progression)

3) Quickly process information, and focus on what's important - Take a lot of information and the unknown, find the most logical path, and focus on that.

4) Be comfortable with the unknown, and learn to brainstorm - think/speak like an expert without being one

In summary, there will always be a flood of information, expectations, competition etc. and not enough time. Find out which ones matter when. (i.e. be visibile and focus efforts on the things that people care about)

(edited)