Consulting

Welcome to your essential guide to a career in consulting! Designed for college students, this resource will equip you with the key skills needed to thrive in this dynamic field. Consulting is all about problem-solving, analytical thinking, and effective communication, and it offers a unique opportunity to impact organizations across various industries. Discover how to sharpen your analytical skills, master client engagement, and develop strategic solutions.

Timeline

For Postgraduate Education

STRATEGY

January to June of application year

Research business schools to figure out the ones that align with goals, begin GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) or GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) preparation

June to August of application year

Take the GMAT or GRE, create list of business schools to apply to, enhance resume and draft essays, reach out to recommenders (likely direct supervisor and/or other higher-ups in place of employment)

September to October of application year (Round 1)

Finalize essays, fill out and submit applications to business schools (likely Round 1), prepare for interviews

October to November of application year

Take business school interviews

November to December of application year

Notification date for round 1 applicants

For Postgraduate Employment

STRATEGY

Sophomore Year

Engage in relevant extracurricular activities, such as consulting clubs. Early in the fall, apply for sophomore summer internships. Attend networking events and information sessions happening on campus and online. Throughout the year, connect with professionals in consulting—preferably alumni from your college—who can later refer you during the application process. Use this time to learn more about consulting and its paths.

Junior Year

The summer leading into junior year and early in junior fall, apply for internships for your junior summer. Continue to network and attend relevant events. During junior summer internship, focus on performance and development of relevant skills, with the goal of securing a full-time return offer.

Senior Year

Network with professionals in consulting. If needed, apply for full-time positions in the fall.

Industry Description

The field of consulting is a rapidly evolving, multi-faceted industry with the evolving and changing internet. Hired to advise corporations, consultants tackle various business problems and provide viable solutions for their clients. They must be skilled at conducting research, collecting raw data from various sources, and analyzing it.

Depending on the specific focus of one’s study, consulting students may get hands-on experience working with various companies. For instance, summer internships offer a chance for consulting majors to hone specific skill sets, such as problem solving.

To further enhance learning beyond a classroom setting, consulting students also often partake in extracurriculars designed to enhance and apply their skills in real-life situations. By participating in organizations such as college newspapers and publications in addition to consulting clubs, consulting students strengthen their communication skills in real life work settings to build an impressive resumé.

Business school allows consulting students to further enhance their skill set and network with potential future employers. Some business schools use case studies to give students practice in real-world business situations. Additionally, communication and problem solving skills—both essential to work in consulting—are taught in these schools.

Career Possibilities

Strategy Consulting

Strategic is the most broad form of consulting, looking to provide high-level and longer-term recommendations and solutions to businesses of various industries. Strategic consultants may examine the corporate strategy of a business and incorporate economic and governmental policy in their decision making. They address a business’s complex challenges and optimize its long-term performance. For this reason, strategic consultants usually work with the c-suite or management of a business.

Marketing Consulting

Marketing consultants help companies develop, implement, and optimize strategies to more effectively advertise and sell their products and services. These types of consultants take into account the company’s target audience to specialize their recommendations and can specialize in various areas of marketing such as digital marketing, brand strategy, market research, and public relations.

Financial Consulting

Financial consultants specialize in analyzing a company’s financials and assists in its financial planning. These consultants may assist in a variety of work, including mergers and acquisitions, risk management, tax advisory, and restructuring. Ultimately, the goal of a financial consultant is to ensure the long-term financial success and profitability of their client.

Human Resource Consulting

Human resource (HR) consultants assist with questions regarding the workforce of an organization or its HR codes. Their work primarily focuses on structural recommendations, talent management, professional development, and conflict resolution.

Information Technology Consulting

IT consultants help clients manage and develop their technology. They judge the productivity of a company’s software and suggest improvements and make changes to keep systems running properly. They may specialize in areas including infrastructure, cybersecurity, and data management.

Sustainability Consulting

Sustainability consultants help organizations develop and implement strategies to minimize their environmental impact while enhancing social responsibility. In this role, you would assess a company's practices related to energy use, waste management, and resource conservation. You might also guide clients in achieving sustainability certifications, improving supply chain sustainability, or creating corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs.