Can workshops or volunteer programs be effective to break into consulting? How to bridge the gap if you don't have pure consulting experience (limited)?
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Hi,
A very broad question, so here's a few general pointers:
- Consulting firms don't just hire people with ‘consulting experience’
- A strong application (CV & cover letter) and a strong referral are the most effective ways to break into consulting
- The traits/skills consulting firms are looking for are pretty consistent across top firms - having and demonstrating these will help you pass the interview
- Workshops and/or volunteer programs can help you understand better the interview/job, and might show that you are interested in consulting, but by far do not constitute the key factors in a strong application
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Hi there,
Yes, they are helpful! anything that gets your face in front of current consultants at the firm is helpful.
If you want to bridge the gap you need to:
- Make your resume as good as possible (get a coach to get it tailored to consulting)
- Network as extensively as possible
- Get consulting related experience (lots of free pro-bono programs!)
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Hi there,
1) Can workshops or volunteer programs be effective to break into consulting?
Workshop from consulting companies could help as sometimes they allow to network to get a referral or get access to more opportunities to interview.
2) How to bridge the gap if you don't have pure consulting experience (limited)?
You don’t need to have previous consulting experience to get into consulting. However if you have experience related to:
- Banking
- Strategy roles in big brands
- Strategy roles in growing startups
- Own entrepreneurial experience
- PE/VC
or similar roles showing problem solving / strategy skills / work ethic, this could make your CV more attractive.
How you structure your CV and, if required, the Cover is also important. Besides that, a referral is very useful to compensate for a lack of experience or a low GPA.
You can find more on referrals below:
▶ How to Get an MBB Invitation
▶ The Exact Steps to Get a Referral
Good luck!
Francesco
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Hi there,
Here my thoughts..
Can workshops / volunteer programs be effective?
Absolutely - any additional visibility to consulting firms helps and many of them use workshops, events etc as effective tools to generate leads and pre-screen candidates. That said, to get invited, your profile will still need to meet the standards that the firm expects.
How to bridge the gap?
Consulting firms, while of course it helps, don't require prior consulting experience to be considered. What's more important is that you're able to show relevant skills & work experience (analytical problem-solving, comms, drive etc etc), strong academics, extracurriculars and international exposure. Whether you acquired that in prior consulting roles or not becomes secondary.
Hope this helps.
Feel free to reach out with more context via DM, if you'd like to see, where your profile stands vs what firms are looking for and whether a consulting job is realistic. Happy to take a quick look.
Regards, Andi
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Hi there,
anything that helps you get in touch with consulting firms can be helpful for you to land a job there. Consulting sponsored workshops usually also have at least a written application process included to select the attendees. So if you get invited, that's a good sign and it's worth the experience.
I did not have any real consulting experience either (other than a few workshops) before I started a full time position in consulting. So it is not a requirement. It might just make it easier for you to adjust to the pace and the workload if you did let's say a prior internship.
Good luck
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Hi there,
I think this is an interesting question that may be relevant for many people. I would be happy to share my thoughts on it:
- Yes, and I would highly advise you to take any opportunity you might have to talk to and present yourself to current employees of your target strategy consulting companies. You might even consider adding these experiences to your resume to demonstrate that your profile is highly sought-after.
- Moreover, you are not necessarily required to have proper consulting experience, yet you are required to have relevant work experience in any form. This might include internships in corporates, IB, PE/VC, or startups, or volunteer consulting work, such as with 180 Degrees Consulting.
If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to address your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.
Best,
Hagen
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Hello A,
Yes, workshops or volunteer programs can be effective to break into consulting if they provide relevant skills and experiences that are valued in the consulting industry.
- Look for workshops or volunteer programs that offer opportunities to develop skills such as data analysis, problem-solving, strategic thinking, and project management.
- Seek out volunteer opportunities or pro bono consulting projects that allow you to work on real-world problems and gain hands-on experience.
- Consider pursuing additional education, such as a master's degree or certificate program, to develop specialized knowledge and skills that are in demand in the consulting industry.
- Networking is also important to bridge the gap if you don't have pure consulting experience. Attend industry events, connect with professionals on LinkedIn, and seek out informational interviews to learn more about the consulting industry and make connections.
Best of luck!!
Victoria
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