Hi there!

With 1 yr in big 4 firm is not really experienced hire yet :-) but you have the advantage of having consulting experience. 

Overall I would recommend:

You may start by selecting what consulting firm, what role, where… once you know I would recommend you:

1. Understand well the recruiting process of each firm, https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles

2. prepare a true winner CV (the lowest chances to pass step is the CV, 95% CV are really bad)

3. familiar yourself with the type of cases you can get https://www.preplounge.com/en/bootcamp.php and check cases published on PrepLounge

4. Practice math!

5. Dont learn any framework by hard, understand rather how to structure a problem and form a hypothesis to prove/disprove with an analysis

6. Practice with peers and take a few sessions with a coach, eventually do one diagnostic session to tell you where you stand and what your next steps should be

Feel free to reach out if you need a coach to support you, I am rewarded as a top BCG trainer, training new hires all the consulting skills (including how we create frameworks), as well as experienced coach. 

Good luck!

Lucie

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(edited)

All of your written application documents need to be as strong as if you were applying right out of school. You “only” have 1 year of experience so your GPA and your school still matter a lot. You will also most likely only be considered for an entry level position since 1 year at a non-MBB firm is not enough to elevate you in any meaningful way. Referrals definitely help.

Now in contrast to other applicants straight out of school, there might be somewhat of an expectation that you will perform better during the actual interviews since you are an “experienced consulting hire”. This doesn't mean that your interviews will be harder or fundamentally different than for other candidates, but it will be important that you can back up your positioning as an experienced consultant with a solid case performance. You want to showcase that you have a good understanding of how this business works and what the key success factors are. So make sure you allow yourself enough time to prepare for your applications where needed.

So you need to have the same qualities as everyone else applying to consulting. You need to demonstrate:

• That you've excelled for people who are a similar age / been in similar circumstance to those that you have been
• That you have been able to lead teams - whether formally or informally
• That you've gone above and beyond what has been expected of you in your roles
• That you are analytically strong

Then for experienced hires I recommend that you try to network and meet people in the organisations that you hope to join. That way you can understand the expertise that they're looking for and whether you can meet them. 

Good luck!

Hi,

I would look for:

1. Excellence (ideally a series of fast-track promotions)
2. Personal impact (e.g., launching new initiative, heading teams)
3. Relevant experience (i.e., industry experience that matches local MBB focus, strategy-focused projects)

Best regards,
Jorn
 

Hi there,

Same as for any other hire type!

1) Have as strong a resume as you can

2) Have as strong a Cover Letter as you can

3) Network extensively (ideally getting a referral)

4) Case prep early so as to be as good as possible come interview day: https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/how-to-shift-your-mindset-to-ace-the-case

There are three areas where you can find a way to stand out:

1. CV
2. Case interviews
3. Fit

On CV, rigor in your education, tier-1 schools, and work experience at consulting firms or innovative firms are always a plus. Volunteering and other extracurricular activities (sports or music, in particular, if at a professional level) are other great pluses.

on case interviews, there are many great answers on how to ace a case from Florian, Ian, Francesco, me, and some other coaches. My two cents here is that you have to prove that you are exceptional at

• Structured communication
• Showing business acumen
• Top-down communication

On fit, it varies from one firm to the other and you can find great answers from other coaches (e.g., Clara, Florian). 
My two cents here are that, regardless of the firm, it is key to show that you have an entrepreneurial mindset, you are able to collaborate with others, you have energy, and you really enjoy the idea of being part of that specific firm.

Enjoy your prep.