Recruitment strategy for corporate strategy roles

Question

Hi all,

I would like to hear about your experience with recruiting for strategy roles.

A bit of background: I will be leaving my current company (in-house consulting) soon and will be in full-time job search mode. On one hand, time is not on my side, so I cannot be too picky. On the other hand, I have worked in both corporate roles (in various capacities aside from consulting) and external consulting (covering projects across four different industries), and I do not have a specific focus area.

My questions:

I feel that internal strategy roles are quite limited, and the responsibilities can vary significantly (some are not strategy-related at all). For job recruitment purpose, is it better to focus specifically on an industry, or explore a diverse range of industries? (The answer will of course be linked to my career goal, but as a generalist background I have wider interest)
For corporate strategy roles, I have noticed that many prefer sector-specific experience. As a generalist covering multiple sectors, it is challenging for me to position myself since my exposure to each specific industry is limited. How did you overcome this issue if you had a similar background? How did you target companies that value generalists over sector-specific expertise?

Thank you for your insights!

Answer 1

Hello, I think I can give you some advice.

!. If you have a genuine interest or strong experience in a particular industry, focusing on that sector can leverage your expertise and network connections. This can make your transition smoother and increase your chances of securing a role quickly.

2. Leverage your professional network to explore opportunities and seek guidance from individuals in the industry. Referrals and recommendations can open doors and help you overcome the barrier of sector-specific experience.
Regarding to target companies, you should research and target organizations that value a broad perspective and diverse experience in their strategy teams. Look for companies with diverse portfolios or those operating across multiple industries and geometry dash lite where your background can be seen as an advantage.

Answer 2

From my experience, it would be best if you can apply early if you can already do your case prep. If you start now yo... (read entire answer)

From my experience, it would be best if you can apply early if you can already do your case prep. If you start now you could be ready by the time they invite you to interviews.B... (read entire answer)

Answer 3

Great question — this comes up often, especially when a firm is known for one area but you're applying to a different... (read entire answer)

Great question — this comes up often, especially when a firm is known for one area but you're applying to a different team or program. The key is to show that you’ve looked beyo... (read entire answer)