Hi,

Congrats on the offer! Sharing a couple of points based on my own experience (also assuming you are joining at the entry level AND at a global type, generalist firm e.g. MBB)

1. Nobody expects you to be an expert in any topic/skill at the entry level
   • As a Project Leader/Principal, I don't expect my fresh Associates to be an expert in powerpoint or excel or in any specific topic - and the way I delegate the workstreams to my team would account for this
2. Much of what will make you successful is a combination of a couple of things
   • In fact, your mindset and attitude is the foundation for your success → because in consulting you will always be challenged/stretched, this means that you will be tasked to do things that are out of your comfort zone and highly likey things you may not actually have prior knowledge on or are weak areas
   • Of course, there is also your actual abilities (based on formal evaluation criteria) which will determine your success, but many of these again are best learnt on the job through the apprenticeship model
3. The ‘technical’ skills that you will actually end up needed will vary alot and is something you cant really predict
   • You mention specific things like financial models, diligence, carveouts → but in most global firms, there are too many variables that affect your staffing to make anything predictable, especially at the entry level
   • What this means is that you might be staffed on an implementation case, or you might be staffed on a diligence, or you might be staffed on an operational improvement case… you really never know and therefore you will never master all of these topics enough within the span of a month (and thats assuming you even ‘guess’ the right topics to focus on)
   • Of course, things like powerpoint and excel are bread and butter, but outside of the job it is really hard to find good simulations of this
4. There will be ample resources within your firm to leverage once you start 
   • At most global firms - there will be a plethora of related resources for the relevant task that you have at hand → when you are staffed on your first project, then go and seek out and learn what is relevant then
   • More than just knowledge - your peers and colleagues will be an important source of support and guidance to do better on the job

So, what I'm trying to say is that its good to have ambition and want to prepare for the job, but if you are 80/20 about it, it is probably better to spend your time now doing things that will be much more difficult to do once you start the job → spending time with your family, friends, travelling, hobbies, sleeping etc.

I speak from experience - I studied History in college and had done zero internships during college, and no idea about the ‘business world' and had never touched excel or powerpoint until I was staffed on my first project. I applied to consulting only after I graduated, and had 4 months between receiving the offer and my start date. I spent that time doing what I enjoyed the most (scuba diving and travelling) and it was completely worth it. 

All the best!

(edited)

Hi there,

congrats to landing an offer!

Adding on to the valuable advice some other coaches already provided..

1. Don't overdo it - most of your consulting toolkit you'll simply learn on the job. Most consulting firms have excellent trainings / L&D programs which will teach you all the concepts you will need. Front-running will help you to an extent, but you will see diminishing returns, as the nuances on the job can only be picked up… on the job.  
2. Focus on foundations - it will be definitely helpful to have gained some (practical!) experience in the main tools consulting firms use nowadays. Spending time upfront on Excel, PowerPoint and to a lesser extent advanced analytics tools like Alteryx, MS BI and Tableau become very handy, as it will save you a lot of time from your first project onwards → you will simply be more productive. Nowadays, a skill that I wouldn't understimate also is to learn how to write effective chatpot prompts → with the tooling on the market now, will save you hours of work, if used correctly.
3. Get some rest - the first 12-18 months in consulting tend to be quite intense and the learning curve is steep. Make sure you also use the weeks ahead of starting the job to re-charge your batteries. In a few months you'll see why I say that ;)

If need any specific pointers towards resources, feel free to reach out via DM.

Wish you all the best!

Regards, Andi

Hi there,

MOST IMPORTANTLY: Know that no-one can perfectly prepare for the job and that's the point: You will mess up, you will learn, you will be trained and supported. That's OK!

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First: Read the 25 tips in my consulting handbook

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Second: In terms of things you can learn/do to prepare beforehand:

1) Daily Reading

• The Economist, The Financial Times, BCG/Mskinsey Insights

2) Industry deep-dives

• Learn, in-depth, how the industries/companies your office advises, work. (PM me for an industry overview template)

3) Analytics tools

• Alteryx, Tableau, etc.

4) Excel

5) Powerpoint

• Best practices/standards
• Different layouts
• Quickly editing/updating slides
• Thinking in PowerPoint

6) Presentation skills / sharp communication

• There are some online/virtual classes for this

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Third: In terms of doing well in your role when you're there:

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)

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Fourth: Here are some great prior Q&As for you!

https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/what-makes-a-good-consultant-how-to-get-a-good-review-6790

https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/how-hard-is-it-to-excel-in-top-consulting-firms-6762

https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/how-to-become-an-engagement-manager-and-partner-quickly-6722

https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/need-to-learn-skills-in-the-ample-free-time-before-starting-at-an-mbb-what-should-i-do-6774

There are many resources available online that can help you prepare for your new role. Here are a few that I found:

- HubSpot offers a variety of free consulting templates that you might find useful, including a consulting planning template, a presentation template, and an onboarding checklist.
- Right People has a helpful checklist for successful consultant onboarding that covers topics such as an introduction to culture and values, an overview of the assignment, and an explanation of policies and internal processes.
- Leland Library has compiled a list of the top 30 free resources to help you prepare for consulting applications, interviews, and jobs. This includes free event featuring Ben L., Brent S., and Marissa (Missy) P., and 1 more + 1 FREE Management Consulting Week (July 31 to Aug 3) - 15+ Sessions Monday, July 31 5:00 PM PDT · 60 minutes Enroll for free 30 Free Resources to Break into Management Consulting Management Consulting is one of the most highly sought-after roles since it offers a lot of perks: high salary, travel opportunities, and excellent exit opportunities. However, it’s also a competitive application process, with tens of thousands of students competing to land one of the coveted internship or full-time offers. Here are some free resources you can use as you prepare for interviews, case studies, or related activities: Management Consulting Interview and Case Study Prep: Case Coach’s Free interview prep material.
- Gallagher USA provides human resources consulting services that cover areas such as general human resources administration, recruiting, onboarding and employment practices.