MC_BITSoM_Rohan Aggarwal_23Aug2022

1. Career conversation on Management Consulting
An IIMB NSRCEL & Goldman Sachs Supported Firm

2. Agenda
• About Me
• Why look at management consulting ?
• Roles at Big 3 – What they expect?
• Why Organizations hire consultants?
• Challenges Faced in Consulting
• How companies shortlist resumes and Interview
• Key Success Factors during placement
• Q&A

3. About me
• What I do ?
• My Journey – Before and after MBA
• My MBA experience

4. Some common terms and consulting recruiters
• Consulting Big 3 – MBB (Mckinsey, BCG and Bain)
• Accounting Big 4 – EY, KPMG, PwC, Deloitte
• Big 4 (Strategy Consulting firms) - Strategy& (PwC), Monitor (Deloitte),
Parthenon(EY)
• Operations - A T Kearney, Accenture
• Technology – IBM, Accenture, Cognizant
• HR – Gallup, Aon Hewitt, Mercer
• Specialized - Olivery Wymann (Finance) , Alvarez and Marsal (Turnaround /
Performance Improvement) , LEK, ZS (Healthcare)

5. Why Organizations hire consultants
• They Want an Outside Eye
• They Need Extra Horsepower
• They Want Specialized Skills
• They Want a Safe Zone
• To Bring about Change
• To Provide Validation

6. Why look at management consulting ?
• Brand name and credibility
• Work on important problems that impact the enterprise
• Learn to solve problems in a creative way
• Make connections at CXO levels
• Work on a new problems every few months
• Fast growth; Can become a partner in 7-8 years (Consultant -> Manager ->
Principal -> Partner)
• Excellent exit options; Alumni network ; can fit into any industry; high demand
from start-ups

7. Roles at Big 3 – What they expect?
• Start as a consultant (previous experience is discounted)
• Start with Project Scoping, Data Gathering, Excel model creation, taking notes and
making a PPT
• How to Analyze and break down a problem in smaller parts; Structured thinking ;
(Interview Skill)
• Focus on 80/20 and Answer first (Interview Skill)
• Communication and people skill (Interview Skill)
• Good team player – The Fit question (Airport test)
• Ideal consultants are Smart, Aware and Eager

8. Challenges Faced in Consulting
• Extensive travel
• Work life balance and Stress ; 50% will leave in 3 years
• Breath but not depth for a subject; taking things to conclusion?
• Hard Work may not always be recognized
• Extreme meritocracy; Up and Out; Review every 15 days; Reporting to your junior

9. How companies shortlist resumes and Interview
• Spikes
• Academic (IQ)
• Professional (transferable skills learned, such as data analysis, presentation
skills, team work etc.)
• Personal (Aptitude for cracking tough problems, developing strong
relationships and being a part of high performing teams)
• Part of committees/ organizing important events (Speaks to leadership)
• Relevant competencies
• Relevant industry/ functional expertise (Commercial Awareness)
• Digital / Emerging tech (Hot topics across a variety of industries)
• Diversity
• Case Interview – My experience

10. Key Success Factors during placement
• Communication Skills is key (Clear, concise, enthusiasm)
• Ability to demonstrate growth, flexibility to learn from mistakes and an all round
personality
• Confidence and presentation
• Be open to options, don't restrict on industry, role , salary or location
• Use the process to your advantage; companies need to close quickly ; trying to
hire rather then eliminate

11. Resources for Case Interview
• Victor Cheng – YouTube + LOMS
• Case in Point
• Consulting Case books (Darden, Wharton, etc.)
• Business Context – Finshots, The Ken, The Morning Context, ET Prime