I understand your concern about the emphasis on undergraduate GPAs by certain companies, especially in the consulting field. While a lower undergraduate GPA can present a challenge, there are several steps you can take to improve your chances and make yourself a competitive candidate:

Highlight Your Master's Degree: Since you've pursued a MSBA and have achieved a strong GPA in this program, make sure to emphasize this on your resume and in your interviews. Highlight relevant coursework, projects, and skills you've acquired during your MSBA program. Showcase how this education has prepared you for the consulting role.

Gain Practical Experience: Beyond academic achievements, practical experience can greatly enhance your candidacy. Consider internships, co-op programs, or part-time roles related to consulting, data analytics, or business strategy. These experiences can demonstrate your skills and commitment to the field.

Networking & Referrals: Networking is a powerful tool in the consulting industry. Attend industry-specific events, career fairs, and company information sessions. Connect with professionals from the firms you're interested in on platforms like LinkedIn. Personal connections and referrals can sometimes offset GPA considerations.

Prepare a Strong Case for Yourself: During interviews, be prepared to address your undergraduate GPA. Explain the factors that contributed to your lower GPA, but also focus on your academic growth and achievements during your MSBA program. Highlight any relevant achievements, leadership roles, or extracurricular activities.

Case Interviews: Consulting firms often use case interviews to assess problem-solving skills. Practice extensively for these interviews to showcase your analytical and strategic thinking abilities. Join case interview prep groups or seek guidance from career services at your university.

Additional Skills: Develop additional skills that are highly valued in the consulting industry, such as data analysis, programming, or proficiency with relevant tools and software. These skills can set you apart from other candidates.

Target Firms Carefully: While certain firms may prioritize undergraduate GPAs more than others, not all consulting firms have the same hiring criteria. Research and target firms that have a more holistic approach to recruitment and consider a wider range of qualifications.

If you would like more personalized advice or have specific questions, please feel free to contact me directly through direct messaging. I'd be happy to provide further guidance.

Warm regards, Frederic

Hi there!

They tend to prioritize the GPA as a criteria because it's an easy and transparent way of comparing candidates. 

What you can do is make it less easy to compare. 

For instance, you don't have to share your GPA in the CV. You can instead put the focus on your positioning in the cohort (if good), or about you being distinctive in one particular course (instead of the overall degree). 

Then make sure you find other things that emphasize your value proposition - generally, examples of you being at the absolute peak in one group or another. 

If you're struggling with this, consider also getting a professional assessment, somebody to help you with telling your story in the most convincing way. 

But in short, the GPA shouldn't stand in your way of getting an offer and I've seen plenty of examples of candidates with low GPAs that have passed screening and got offers at top firms. 

Sharing also a guide that explains how to put together an application strategy:

• Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

Best,
Cristian
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Practicing for interviews? Check out my latest case based on a first-round MBB interview >>> SoyTechnologies  

Certainly, a low undergraduate GPA can present challenges in certain job markets, but it's not the only factor that employers consider. Here are some strategies you can consider to improve your chances in the job market despite your low undergraduate GPA:

1. Skill Development:

• Focus on developing practical skills related to your field. Companies often value hands-on experience and expertise over academic performance.
• Engage in internships, co-op programs, or research projects to gain real-world experience and demonstrate your abilities.

2. Networking:

• Network extensively. Attend career fairs, conferences, and seminars related to your field. Personal connections can often open doors that might be closed due to a low GPA.
• Utilize platforms like LinkedIn to connect with professionals in your industry. Engage in meaningful conversations and seek advice.

3. Projects and Portfolios:

• Build a strong portfolio showcasing your skills. Include projects, assignments, or personal initiatives that demonstrate your abilities and passion for your field.
• Consider contributing to open-source projects or creating your own projects. This not only hones your skills but also provides evidence of your abilities to potential employers.

4. Certifications and Further Education:

• Consider getting relevant certifications. Certifications can sometimes compensate for a lower GPA, showcasing your expertise in specific areas.
• If possible, continue your education with specialized courses or workshops related to your field. Continuous learning demonstrates your commitment to staying updated in your industry.

5. Work Experience:

• Gain work experience even if it's not in your ideal job initially. Sometimes, having a track record of employment can offset a low GPA, especially if you excel in your work.

6. Soft Skills and Leadership:

• Develop your soft skills. Communication, leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities are highly valued by employers. Volunteer work or extracurricular activities can help you develop these skills.
• Highlight any leadership roles you've had in student organizations, clubs, or community projects. Leadership experience can often compensate for a lower GPA.

7. Personal Projects and Online Presence:

• Create a personal website or blog showcasing your skills, projects, and thoughts on relevant topics. This establishes your online presence and can impress potential employers.
• Contribute to online communities related to your field. Answer questions, participate in discussions, and showcase your knowledge.

8. Seek Feedback:

• If you've had interviews that didn’t lead to job offers, consider seeking feedback. Sometimes, understanding why you weren’t selected can help you address specific areas for improvement.

Remember, your GPA is just one aspect of your profile. Employers are interested in your skills, experiences, and how you can contribute to their organization. Tailor your applications to highlight these strengths, and don’t be discouraged by setbacks. Persistence, continuous learning, and a proactive approach to skill development and networking can significantly improve your prospects in the job market.

Hi there,

Honestly,yes but also no.

The further you get away from your undergrad degree (most degrees, more years work experience, etc.) the better. With a MSBA you can start to “cover up” your undergrad.

What you can do is focus on things you can now control. Get a coach to make sure your resume is 10/10. Get a strong cover letter. Network effectively and efficiently. 

Undergraduate GPA will haunt me ?

It will not. Not forever, at least. Even if some companies prioritise it at the beginning of your career, it becomes less and less relevant as you from more senior.

I suggest you stop worrying about it (as you surely can't travel back in time and change your grades) and think more about the things you can control, such as highlighting more recent achievements and gaining relevant work experience.

Good luck!
Nick

(edited)

Hi there,

Q: From what I am hearing, companies like Kearney for example are highly prioritizing undergrad engineers with high gpa's and not giving so much attention to graduates and their grades, is there anything I can do in this situation.

A low GPA could be a red flag, but keep in mind that GPA is only one factor that consulting firms consider when evaluating your candidacy.

In your particular case, I would not report any GPA in the CV, although they might ask for it during the online application. Sometimes if you apply via referral, you don’t need to apply online as well. If that’s the case, you could avoid emphasizing the red flag.

In order to optimize your chances of securing an interview, I would recommend focusing on three main things to pass the screening: a great CV, a great cover letter, and a referral.

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1) CV

The key elements they will look for and that you should structure correctly are:

• Work experience
• Education (university brand, major, GPA, experience abroad)
• Extracurriculars and volunteer experience

Common red flags include:

• Low GPA
• Bad formatting / typos
• 3-4 pages in length
• Lack of clear action --> results structure for the bullets of the experiences
• Long paragraphs (3-4 lines) for the bullets of the experiences with irrelevant details
• Long time gaps without explanation

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2) COVER LETTER

You can structure a cover with 4 parts:

1. Introduction, mentioning the position you are interested in and a specific element you find attractive for that company
2. Why you are qualified for the job, where you can report 3 skills/stories from your CV
3. Why you are interested in that particular firm, with additional 1-2 specific reasons
4. Final remarks, mentioning again your interest and contacts

In part 2 you can write about experiences that show skills useful in consulting such as drive, problem-solving, leadership, teamwork and influencing others.

It is important that in part 3 you make your cover specific to a particular firm – the rule of thumb is, can you send the exact same cover to another consulting company if you change the name? If that’s the case, your cover is too generic.

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3) REFERRALS

This is probably the most important point and can help to compensate for the low GPA. To find a referral, you should follow three main steps:

1. Identify the people who can help you (most of the time, the best bet is Alumni of your university)
2. Write to them a customized email
3. Have a call and indirectly ask for a referral

As general tips:

• Don’t use LinkedIn for your communication – emails work better. You should target 30% conversion for your messages; if you are not achieving that, there is space for improvement
• When sending emails, your goal should be to organize a call, not to ask questions – you can then use the call for the questions
• You need to close the call with an indirect request for a referral – don’t leave that to chance. There are specific ways to ask for it

You should prepare three main things before the call:

• Your own pitch. 3-4 lines should be enough
• 3-4 questions on the personal experiences of the person. Avoid asking questions about the company only
• A closing question for the referral. It should be an indirect request to avoid being too pushy

You can find more information on networking and referrals here:

▶ How to Get an MBB Invitation 

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Good luck!

Francesco