Consulting
What is Consulting?
Consulting is the practice of providing expertise to organizations to help them maximize their profitability or effectiveness. Consultants are master problem-solvers. Often hired by companies who need their expertise, outside perspective, or additional staffing assistance, consultants analyze existing organizational structures and propose recommendations.
Some management consulting firms specialize in general business strategy, while others are known as technology, marketing, finance, operations or human resources specialists.
Types of Consulting
The four most popular consulting specialties are management/strategy, financial, information technology, and human resources/staffing. Large one-stop shops offer advisory services in these and other specialties. Boutique firms specialize in a single area.
Read the Vault Guide to the Top 50 Management and Strategy Consulting Firms
Consulting specializations:
- Management / Strategy
- Financial
- Informational Technology
- Human Resources / Staffing
- Healthcare
- Political
- Marketing
Skills for Consulting
Many candidates obtain an MBA to become a consultant, especially at top-tier firms such as McKinsey, Bain, and The Boston Consulting Group. However, undergraduate-level internships and full-time opportunities are available at many firms, including the "Big 4" firms: Deloitte, Ernst & Young (EY), KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
Important skills to secure a consulting position include:
- Problem-solving, analytical, and reasoning
- Ability to organize and present information
- Clear and persuasive communication
- Self-confidence and professionalism
- Leadership and teamwork
- Ability to work under pressure
- Understanding of basic business principles
Case Style Interviewing
Similar to other industries, part of the interview process will include fit and behavioral questions that assess overall fit with the organization and "soft skills" such as how the candidate deals with conflict and handles adversity.
What makes consulting unique from other industries is its use of the case interview to assess the candidate's ability to think critically, communicate clearly, and demonstrate strong quantitative skills (usually a significant amount of mental math) under pressure. Very few individuals are naturally good at it, so a substantial amount of preparation is required.
Types of Case Questions
Business case (most common) | A scenario to gauge logical application of business knowledge (e.g., profitability optimization, market entry, M&A). | "The company would like to know if integrating a new software infrastructure will be profitable." |
|---|---|---|
Market Sizing | Questions that require logical deduction and general statistical information to estimate some number or size. | "How many diapers are purchased in the U.S. annually?" |
Brainteasers | Puzzles or logic questions to gauge creativity, quantitative, and problem-solving skills. | "What is the ratio of the weight of an elephant to the weight of an ant?" |
Case Interview Approach
Vault recommends a 5-step approach to tackle a case:
- Pinpoint the Issue
Listen, ask clarifying questions, and summarize the problem to ensure understanding. - Break It Down
Take notes, pause to think, and explain logical thought process aloud. - Pick An Approach
Pick a framework to structure the problem and identify key issues to explore. - Analyze the Data
Think creatively and talk through your hypotheses. Make quick and accurate calculations. - Make A Recommendation
Summarize key findings and stand by your conclusion.
Case Interview Preparation
To master case interviewing, you must conduct practice cases. The general consensus from experts in case interviewing is that a minimum of 30 practice cases are required to develop proficiency. Practicing a case correctly does not mean just reading through the case; it consists of working through it with a partner who will challenge you and provide meaningful feedback.
You should also spend time practicing problem identification (structure) and sharpening your math skills, including familiarizing yourself with basic population statistics.
Case preparation is quite grueling and can take 60-100 hours. Luckily, there are an abundance of free resources. In addition to reviewing the online tools listed below, meet with a Career Advisor to learn of additional interview guides and case books our office can provide.
Online Resources
- Wall Street Oasis Consulting Interview Prep Course (contact Heather Doering for free access)
- Mastering the Case Interview Webinar
- Management Consulted (comprehensive consulting prep & firm directory)
- CaseInterview.com (training videos, articles & practice)
- MConsulting Prep (comprehensive consulting prep, founded by former McKinsey consultant)
Sample Cases
- Management Consulting Case Interviews (organized by type, industry & employer)
- Case Interview Examples (organized by company)
- BCG Interactive Case Library
- McKinsey Practice Cases and Tests
- Oliver Wyman Interactive Practice Cases
- PrepLounge (free case library and self-study tools)
- Career in Consulting (market sizing questions and sample cases)
Forage Internship Simulation Courses
Forage internship simulations help students develop transferable skills for workplace readiness. Each micro-internship is 3-6 hours of industry-specific tasks and culminates in a certificate that can be add to your resume and LinkedIn profile. These are free, self-paced courses that are great for discernment and standing out from the crowd when applying in the industry.
Student Clubs
Professional Organizations
O*Net Online Resources
Candid Career Videos
Management Consultant
Consultant
