| Topic Name: |
Advice for undergrad / breaking into consulting |
| Message Name: |
Ivy Degree |
| Date Posted: |
03/08/2001 |
| In Reply To: |
I studied a really 'non-traditional' major in school (graduated with high honors from UCB in 2000) but have had the hardest time breaking into consulting. I minored in business though.
I got to final round with McK, Monitor, Accenture, but no offers. That was regrettable.
So I then worked a year in software.
Now the market is even tighter. Arggghh... I love business problem solving and research, and feel I would *really enjoy* working at a strat firm ideally, though I'd go for almost anything by now.
Trouble is, I can't get interviews now (despite calling my contacts from last year).
Does anyone have any advice on how to break in to consulting (eg: search firms, search strategies, etc.?)
Thanks in advance!
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| Message: |
If you don't have an Ivy degree, then it's hard to get into the straight "strat" firms (Bain, BCG, McK) direct from undergraduate studies.
Accenture, like PWC, DC, etc. is an integrated, "multi-service" consulting firm that does IT, Change Management, Process and HR in addition to Strat (they also do some outsourcing and have a VC subsidiary). However, more than the other firms in its market, Accenture is catching up fast in the Strat marketplace, particularly due to it's ability to both do the strat work as well as implement it. Nevertheless, Accenture has a ways to go before they attain the prestige level that the big 3 strat firms have. Therefore, Accenture is getting more particular about who they hire for strat. They have increased their focus on MBAs, particularly from top 20 B-schools.
The best plan would be to go back to school, get into a top 20 B-School (top 10 if you can get in), then apply to Bain, McK, BCG and Accenture again -- also try BAH and Mercer.
Pedigree (read "what school did you go to") is a big factor in getting an offer.
Plan B would be to try the Strat practice at one of the lessor, but still pretty good firms such as CGEY, PwC or KMPG.
Plan C would be to try one of the smaller firms, like Mars in CT or LaBue in NJ.
Good luck.
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