| Topic Name: |
Will this experience matter? |
| Message Name: |
(continued bc of character limit) |
| Date Posted: |
08/15/2008 |
| In Reply To: |
Like many other aspiring consultants around here, I too am attempting to break into the ranks of the largely exclusive consulting community. I believe I have excellent related work experience and am well-informed about the field via personal research. The case studies don't concern me in the least bit, as I've reviewed them and they're geared directly towards my way of thinking. So everything seems to click, right?
Unfortunately, my academic pedigree isn't very impressive. I'm not going to hide behind excuses, but suffice to say my 3.1/4.0 in political science from the University of Florida could have been much higher. So I need to know if there is any way to get around being automatically screened out because of that marginal gpa. Can my strong experience compensate?
My background:
As I said, I graduated with a 3.1gpa in political science from the University of Florida (Fall 2006). During college, I worked 3 summers with an image management company in Chicago. As an associate consultant there, I gathered, prioritized, and interpreted data within target consumer sectors, brainstormed and applied initiatives to develop the image of clients, and discussed progression alternatives in a team environment. My experience with that company was invaluable, but the primary client field was entertainment and upon graduation, I felt I should look into a more steady economic sector. So I began working on the financial side of a regional hospital. To make a long story shorter, I was hired on in the refunds department to just work refunds, but once I began troubleshooting operational inefficiencies in that department, they loaned me out to other departments to do the same. Basically, I became their all-purpose on-site consultant. Eventually, the pool of problems I could fix there began to dry though and I was expected to go back to the (comparatively) menial task of working refunds again. I've learned that my true calling is to work with companies to better their business processes and increase efficiency, so I'm ready to make the jump to an industry where I can do that full-time. |
| Message: |
So that's the lowdown and here come all the questions...
Most importantly, can my experience overcome my low gpa or am I doomed by it? I'd like to get an MBA in the near future, but I want to have some more specialized work experience first.
Also, I'm looking into operational consulting, but I want to make sure that's the right sector for me since concrete definitions/descriptions are hard to come by. Are there positions within operational consulting that aren't just for techies? Don't get me wrong, I'm good with computers, but I don't have any formal training with programming, etc. My ideal role (and the one I carried out for the hospital) was identifying problems, then acting as a liaison between the department and our IT people. Are there positions like that in operational consulting or do I need to already have significant technical skills? My other option would be marketing since my experience with the image management company was more up that alley. Thoughts?
If I did indeed pursue operational consulting, I was looking at larger companies such as Accenture. Would I have a better chance with a boutique sans an MBA and with my questionable gpa? If the latter is the case, is there a good way to locate smaller companies? If I'd be alright applying with larger companies, how do I know what level to apply at? Do I just apply low and hope that my impression makes them consider me for a higher tier? Or do I apply for a higher position and just assume I'll be considered for analyst too?
Also, I know larger companies typically have hiring seasons. Did I already miss the Fall hiring season? And does that mean I'll have to wait until ~January?
Finally, should I mention to the company that I'd like to get an MBA in the future? I've received mixed recommendations on that. If not, how else can I find out which companies pay for additional schooling?
Thanks in advance for any and all advice that you can offer. I have thick skin and just want to find out realistically where I stand, so please don't hold anything back!
-Joel
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