It's great to see your enthusiasm for pursuing a consulting internship despite having a science-based background. Let's address your questions and provide some guidance on crafting a strong consulting CV:

1. Including Academic Achievements:

• You can include your A-Level achievements, especially if they are strong and relevant to the consulting role. However, you don't need to list the specific percentages for each subject unless the application explicitly asks for them. A simple mention of achieving 3 A*s in your CV summary or education section should suffice.

2. UCAT Scores:

• Including UCAT scores, especially the quant section, can highlight your quantitative abilities, which can be beneficial in consulting. However, this is optional, and you should only include it if you believe it strengthens your application.

3. Consulting Experience:

• Running your own successful business is a significant accomplishment and can demonstrate your entrepreneurial skills, problem-solving abilities, and leadership. It's perfectly acceptable to have one prominent role on your CV, especially if it showcases relevant skills.

4. Research and Presentations:

• You can title the section "Research and Presentations" to include your abstract presented at the international conference. While it's not a publication, it's still a valuable achievement that showcases your research and presentation skills.

5. Extracurricular Activities:

• Organizing MissingMaps sessions, mentoring med students, and playing 1st XI Hockey demonstrate leadership, teamwork, and commitment. You can keep these under an "Extracurricular Activities" or "Volunteering" section, depending on how you want to organize your CV. Consulting firms often appreciate well-rounded candidates with diverse experiences.

6. Timing of Application:

• Applying early can demonstrate your enthusiasm and commitment to securing a consulting internship. However, applying closer to the deadline can also be effective. The key is to ensure that your application materials, including your CV and cover letter, are polished and well-prepared. It can be beneficial to gain some pro-bono consulting experience at university if it enhances your qualifications.

7. Case Interview Prep:

• It's a good idea to start case interview preparation early. Familiarizing yourself with case interview frameworks, practicing with peers, and solving cases can help you feel more confident when it's time for interviews. Similarly, preparing for the personal experience interview (PEI) is crucial, as it often involves discussing your past experiences and skills.

8. Tableau/Alteryx:

• Including Tableau and Alteryx in your skills section can be valuable, especially if you have experience with data analytics and visualization. Basic courses in these tools can be beneficial, as they are commonly used in consulting for data analysis and visualization.

9. Networking and Referrals:

• Reaching out to ex-doctors who have transitioned into consulting is a great idea. While a referral from a partner can carry more weight, a referral from a base-level consultant can still be valuable. The key is to establish meaningful connections and demonstrate your genuine interest in consulting.

Remember to tailor your CV and cover letter to each consulting firm you apply to, highlighting the skills and experiences most relevant to their specific requirements. Good luck with your consulting internship applications!

Hello,

Respectfully, you are asking a bit too much here.
Many coaches provide CV preparation / review services (not myself).

We all need to respect each others' time and effort.

Good luck with your transition,
Nick

(edited)

Hi,

You have alot of good questions that need to be answered, although I'm not sure this Q&A is the best format to get them answered robustly. 

There are plenty of resources out there already that talk about what makes a strong application. If I were you, I'd do the following

• Research and read information on what makes a strong application
• Apply some critical thinking and judgment on the information you received and also on your own background and craft a draft resume
• Send this resume for feedback
  • Most important is that you get quality feedback - and it can come from a coach or a friend who is a consultant or from your schools career services 

Hi there,

I agree with Nikita - this is a huge blob of text and is not only a lot to read/process, but there is so much nuance with many of your questions.

Feel free to hire a coach to help you with this pivot - there's so much to learn out there and it's as much about getting answers to what you know you don't know as it is about having a coach help you realize all the things you don't know you know.

Here, you're asking for an entire resume review/creation, networking plan, and application plan. Happy to cover all of these topics - we could actually get through everything in just 1 session! (I work super efficiently and provide a ton of supporting material before + after each session directly related to what we would work on)

Hi there!

You have lots of useful questions here. Which is good, because it means you're looking at the right things. 

If you don't have the means to get a coach to support you through this, as I see some have already mentioned, consider using networking calls to help you think through these problems (though not all at the same time). Basically, get the perspective of current consultants on these problems. That should already help you significantly. 

Sharing with you two guides that will help in terms of generating these contacts and how to conduct the conversations with them:

• Expert Guide: How To Handle Networking Calls and Get Referrals
• Expert Guide: How To Get Referrals Via LinkedIn? 

Best,
Cristian

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