This document provides an overview of a career conversation on management consulting. It discusses: 1) The agenda which includes an introduction, why pursue management consulting, roles at top firms, challenges, interview processes, success factors, leveraging an MBA, and takeaways. 2) Common management consulting firms include the "Big 3" (McKinsey, BCG, Bain), "Big 4" accounting firms, and specialized boutique firms. 3) Benefits of management consulting include brand name, working on important problems, learning new skills, networking, and exit opportunities into any industry.

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

2. Agenda
• About Me
• Why look at management consulting ?
• Roles at Big 3 – What they expect?
• Challenges Faced in Consulting
• How companies shortlist resumes and
Interview
• Key Success Factors during placement
• Leveraging 1-Year for a Career
• My Biggest takeaways from MBA
• 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 rms) - Strategy& (PwC), Monitor
(Deloitte), Parthenon(EY)
 Operations - A T Kearney, Accenture
 Technology – IBM, Accenture
 Specialized - Olivery Wymann, Alvarez and Marsal, LEK

5. 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

6. Roles at Big 3 – What they expect?
 Start as a consultant (previous experience is discounted)
 Start with Project Scoping, Data Gathering, 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
 Leadership, Drive and enthusiasm

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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
 Past experience counts for a lot ; have a lot of confidence
 Use your network, connections on LinkedIn are best if you come from
specialized field

10. Leveraging 1-Year for a Career
 Last chance to change your function, domain
 Will only be the first job, most people have changed in first 3 years
 Difficult for people who are coming from traditional industries to
change ; easier for Tech, Analytics, Consulting and BD background
 Electives, Clubs and CGPA don't play a role in hiring unlike PGP

11. My Biggest takeaways from MBA
 Brand recognition, resume to be looked seriously by recruiters
 Network for friends and mentors
 Learning from International immersion and other international
courses
 Option to change industry and change career trajectory
 Open mind to other industries and subjects