If you're interested in doing an internship in consulting, but don't have previous experience, it's key to build on your strengths and demonstrate to employers that you're eager to learn. You can search for consulting internships on Handshake to first get an idea of what internship requirements are usually included. Many consulting employers offer mini “virtual internships”, that is, online courses, usually free for all students in any year. Accenture, for example, offers programs for consultants and developers.
BCG's One Day at BCG, which is free for everyone, is billed as “the perfect opportunity to perform practical tasks similar to those that our own BCGers would do and get a real idea of what it's like to work at BCG as a strategy consultant.”. Sections include market research, data analysis, understanding consumer needs, and project management. Completing one of these courses will demonstrate your motivation and interest for employers, as well as your ability (most courses offer you a digital certificate upon successful completion). They're also a great opportunity for you to get an idea of consulting as a profession and to help you decide if it's right for you.
Not all opportunities are advertised, so consider making a speculative call or writing to an employer to offer your services. Make the most of LinkedIn: it's a great source of contacts and inspiration. Proactive graduates seeking employment actively use LinkedIn to meet people who work in the professions that interest them, get useful career advice and research careers, find jobs and internships, and submit more successful applications. Another way you can go into consulting is as an “experienced employee”.
If you join as an experienced employee, you probably have some work experience that isn't consulting, but rather has some transferable skills. So for that, you would simply have to follow a normal application process and submit your application online. Or if you can establish a connection with someone who works there, set foot in the door. There are also people who will gain a lot of work experience in an industry, get an MBA, and then be hired for a consulting firm.
At other consulting firms, sometimes you'll join as an analyst, then you'll be a senior analyst and then you'll be an associate consultant. A consulting club can help you better understand new trends in the consulting industry, connect you with several consulting firms. In addition, a consulting club can help you prepare for the process of hiring a consulting job. Your consulting network should always be ready when you need it, whether it's to look for work or even to move up your consulting career.
The typical path that people see in consulting is to work in a large consulting firm for two years and then do whatever else they want to do, whether that's working in a startup company or working internally in a large organization and being on the client's side. When it comes to consulting jobs, you must be good at mental mathematics, since you can't grow in consulting until you can demonstrate your sharpness in mathematics. Whether you're new, interested in the consulting industry, or an experienced consultant looking for a full-time opportunity in the consulting industry, getting an internship or a job in the sector can be an overwhelming task. As a new consultant entering the industry, it's important that you know what the professional consulting and job search process is like.
Alex Gordon-Lennox, senior consultant at Newton Europe, worked in the financial sector and spent time managing the operations of a shipyard in Kenya, before starting his consulting role. Claudia Bates, senior consultant at Roland Berger, worked for a market research firm before starting to advise. There are some companies that are in dire need of consultants right now; therefore, you shouldn't wait any longer if you've been thinking about entering the consulting industry. The main purpose of a consulting club is to help students connect with potential employers and learn more about the consulting industry.
These are also large consulting firms that focus more on management consulting, specifically strategy consulting, while the “big four” are accounting firms that also have consultancies. All successful people in the consulting industry agree that it's vital that all new entrants to the industry are equipped with the relevant consulting skills and knowledge. .
