What Is the Best Consulting Firm for Me?

Every consulting firm is unique. If you are interested in working in consulting, the available options include working for the typical strategy consultancies , more specialized boutique consulting firms, or for the so-called inhouse consultancies which are basically internal consulting firms of big companies. The big players in strategy consulting know how to set the tone by means of branding, demanding projects, internationality, and last but not least through attractive salaries. Boutique consultancies have the advantage that consultants may work in their favorite field in order to evolve into specialists. Inhouse consultancies are becoming more and more important for the job market, since employees are looking for more promising work-life-balance properties in their employers. Moreover, you'll be able to do your own networking in a big firm, and therefore lay a solid foundation for the transition into the later stages of your career.

What Are Necessary Skills for Me as a Consultant?

You'll have to bring certain abilities to the table, but it's about more than what's on your resume. Despite an excellent academic education, your future employer will also look for working experience, especially if acquired abroad. Particularly if you studied business/economics, you'll be expected to have at least two internships on your record when being interviewed.

Do I Need an MBA to Apply for a Job in Consulting?

While an MBA can be beneficial, it's not a strict requirement to apply for a consulting job. Consulting firms often seek candidates with diverse educational backgrounds, including natural sciences, medicine, and pharmacy. They highly value organized and analytical working behavior. Beyond educational qualifications, firms also emphasize soft skills such as communication abilities, self-confidence, and analytical skills. Even without significant practical experience, if you demonstrate these qualities, you could potentially be considered for consulting roles. Some firms may also offer workshops and mini-MBA programs to further develop your skills once hired.

What Are the Benefits While Working as a Consultant?

Working as a consultant offers several benefits. While the role often requires long working hours, especially for those starting their careers, it compensates with high salaries. Additionally, the experience you gain as a consultant can lead to promising career advancements and opportunities for personal development, extending beyond the realm of consulting. Many consultants leverage their experience to transition into roles in large industrial companies, smaller boutique consultancies, or startups, which can offer diverse career paths.

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H&Z

Boutique Consultancy

>130 employees

H&Z stands for consulting with brain, heart and hand – since 1997. With locations in Munich, Dusseldorf, Vienna and Zurich, our company belongs to the leading consultancies for Business Excellence and Business Transformation in Europe. 25 out of the DAX 30 companies as well as numerous medium-sized businesses are already our clients – 95% of them work with us on a regular basis. H&Z is part of the Transformation Alliance – a European network of independent consultancies with 420 consultants in 12 locations worldwide. All the consultants of the Transformation Alliance are united by the common conviction that industry and functional expertise in combination with a transformational consulting approach lead to sustainable project success.

And…we are a great place to work. As consequently as we focus on our clients, we do it with our employees as well. For us, deep functional know-how is the basis of successful projects in consulting. However, what makes us special is the sincere, personal and individual collaboration not only within the H&Z team, but also with our clients and partners. Consulting means primarily one thing for us: Teamwork. A respectful and fair interaction complements our professional work. That’s what makes the difference in our work and corporate culture and was repeatedly rewarded with the Great-Place-to-Work-Award for Germany’s best employers.

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Application & Career

Career at H&Z

What to Expect in the Application Process at H&Z

Discover Your Career Opportunities at H&Z

A career has many faces. We do not offer just one career path. A fascinating workplace, for example, also includes attractive career opportunities, personalized offers for further education or aspects of work/life balance. No sooner said than done!

Based on their respective life phase, we help our employees find and design their own personal way – for example with flexible work hour models, leave times, maternity/paternity leave and individual vacation regulations. There is no “up or out” with us. Our employees are free to pursue their career at their own speed and with their own goals. With our well thought-out offers, we consider the situation of our future employees, which sets us apart from other consultancies.