| Topic Name: |
Shift to Strategy Consulting |
| Message Name: |
Thanks |
| Date Posted: |
04/08/2002 |
| In Reply To: |
This will be tough.
(a) First, note that "associate" at most firms is the entry level MBA title ... so you would not typically qualify as an "associate." More likely, you'd be a "business analyst" or "analyst" or "research analyst," dependiong on the firm.
(b) Chances are that if you were at a school where the Big 5 recruited for entry level IT consultants (often large state universities), you are not in the typical profile of a stragey-house analyst ... not that you would not necessarily be a good stragegy BA, but it would be a harder sell if you are not from one of the traditional schools & majors at which such firms recruit.
(c) Chances are, given that you have been doing Big 5 IT consulting, that you have not had a chance to hone your business and analytical insights to the point that you would do well in a case interview ... again, not saying that you could not do it ... just that 2 years in IT consulting does not build the skills that make success more likely.
(d) As you know, the market is outright lousy, with firms still occasionally laying off associates and BAs, and with an overhang of "derferred" offerees from last year ... it would be hard to get an offer even if you had the right eductional and analytical profile & aced a case interview.
Your best chance is to stick it out at your current firm, *or* move to another well-known form (could be Big 5 consulting or a traditional firm well known for selectivive hiring and good training), then go to a top 5-10 or even top 15 business school after 4 years total experience ... coming out of such a program with 4 years pre experience will tend to get you into the recruiting pipelines of the major firms ... whereas trying to make the jump now, both given your position and the state of the market, will tend to be ike beating your head against a wall ... frustrating and bloody.
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| Message: |
Thanks for your feedback.Could I try to get into one of the boutique consultancies?What is the best resource to find out about those.ie which firm does what etc?
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