| Topic Name: |
Career Change Advice |
| Message Name: |
Some points with lots of thnx! |
| Date Posted: |
10/20/2003 |
| In Reply To: |
It is not necessarily a disadvantage to have your job-hopping or BE/MS program change. In fact the latter could be an advantage, as generally it is harder to jump into a new field in grad school than to continue in the same field.
The biggest problem is getting into a tier 1 or tier 2 consulting firm, assuming you define those the way people om this board would, is that you don't seem to have the right character. You describe your self as "not overtly intelligent" and "above average" ... in teh first place, I'm not sure those are even mutally consistent ... but viewing one's self as simply "above" average is not sufficient to be credible and successful in a tier 1 or tier 2 firm. That is wehy they typically do not interview at top "50" mba programs.
Frankly, one has to generally have the confidence that you are likely amonmg the best candidates in the world at whatever your "spike" is, and a fast follower / fast learner on many other things to be credible as someone a tier 1 or 2 firm would hire. The reason is that tier 1/2 firms really do advise C-level execs and C-levels and their direct reports in better companmies really do tend to be whip-smart. They don't need average people on the teams they work with, they need kick-ass innovative and bright people.
Somewhat above average works in mid-tier IT consulting, because at the mid-tier that is largely a staff augmentation role. However it does not work in management consulting with real managerial clients at the division leadership level and above. It is also insufficient in IT consultancy where the role is serious innovation, or even in process change,. e.g. help me transform an IT shop to CMM level 3-4 ... when you get to real tier 1/2 consulting, whether it be in management (M/B/B/B) or tech (IBM, ACN), you've got to exude tier 1 personna and capabilities yourself.
By the way, I am not saying you don't have that level of capability ... jus that it's not apparent from your original posting, and hence you should reflect on whether you do or do not have the chops.
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| Message: |
Thnx, for your interesting answer.
I agree:
*My background may not be a problem.I have heard recruiters tell me that.
*I agree about the persona,character,confidence thing!
Real problems:
*Its difficult to market yourself when you are a Software Engineer(QA & Software Releases)in R&D in the Business Process Management space doing a part time MBA and telling the recruiter that you want to get into strategy consulting.How do I do it?Most peole tell me that though I am good; I am real techo & the problem is if I take techo out of my resume, Its gonna be stark naked.
*How can I advertise myself better and made heard to recruiters in the management consulting space?
*I can exude my confidence/enthu only when I can get to an interview with a tier 1/2 organisation. What challenges do I face in this?
Situational Issues:
* I brand myself as above avg but not too intelligent because I dont wish to overrate myself(I dont tell it to anyone else other than on msg boards:)). I would say I am above avg cos I have had an upward curve in my carrer until now though I had to change a lot of jobs beacuse of market and economic conditions. Now I have the "fear of stagnation" with the IT industry dwindling.
*I feel that until now I have had my ups and down and have survived scary market situations and now I need to sit down and chart out a plan and stick to it.
Final questions:
*As far as the character,persona/fit thing, wut is your opinion on the **right fit**. Is it that you have to have a blue eyed boy of **academia America** to get into the best consulting firms or simple people from simple schools with lots of good experience and confidence can also get into them?
*What is it that the consulting firms look for in resumes?
thnx..
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