As I’ve mentioned before, I really like it when kids are thinking about career issues this early in the game. I hope my tips were helpful to her.
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KT wrote:
Hello!
I just wanted to start off by saying that I absolutely love your blog and all the articles about consulting. I’m a first year business student hoping to pursue a career in consulting.
I was wondering if there were any particular majors that you would recommend in order for the Big 3 firms to notice me right out of graduation? I’m enrolled in general right now but I know that there is also the major of Management Information Systems that some consultants choose to go into, but would it be better if I did a general major to fit more courses in that are outside of the spectrum?
Also, do you have any tips as to what I can do during school to land either a good summer internship with any consulting firm or to even land a job with the Big 3 right from graduation? I’m planning to pursue an MBA a few years after as well.
Thank you so much,
KT
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My response:
KT,
I hope this message finds you well. I’m sorry for taking so long to respond to your email. Given the rigors of my day job and the volume of emails that I receive, it always takes me a while to hit people back when they email. At least I’ve been able to hit you back before the 6-month mark. 🙂
OK, let’s dive right into your questions. Based on your email, you’re looking for information in the following areas:
Suggested majors to be noticed by Consulting firms
This is a tough question because I’ve met people who became Analysts at top Consulting firms after having earned degrees in several different majors, including Chemical Engineering, International Relations, Politics, and Computer Science. I mention these majors because most people wouldn’t think that those majors would be direct pipelines into Management Consulting.
I’d argue that there isn’t a surefire major that will get Consulting firms to give you an extra look. Similar to MBA applications, one’s candidacy to a Consulting firm is based on a portfolio of factors, including major, academic performance, activities, leadership potential, and cultural fit. In other words, choosing the “right” major is easier said than done. That said, based on the current and former Consultants that I know (myself included) the following characteristics stand out among college majors:
- Undergrad business administration programs are good because they provide a strong foundation in business acumen that could help a person hit the ground running as an Analyst
- Math or hard science majors are a plus because they imply strong quantitative abilities
- Technical/engineering/systems majors can attract attention because those areas require students to solve really hard problems and could mean that a person is a distinctive problem-solver
One thing for you to remember is that many firms use data to differentiate candidates who apply to their firms. The types of data used can include overall GPA, major GPA, and test scores. I mention that because it might play a role as you consider what to choose as your major. If you choose a really difficult major to increase your chances of being noticed, keep in mind that a low GPA in that major could negatively impact your chances of scoring an interview. For example, if you decide to major in Computer Science because you think a top firm will love it and end up graduating with a 2.7 GPA, you’ll pretty much be knocking yourself out of contention for an interview slot. Of course, in this case, if you’re interested in Computer Science or some other tough major, then dive right in and choose it. But, if you’re selecting that major simply to have a shot at a Consulting interview, you might want to reconsider.
Whether you choose a difficult or one that is seen as being less difficult, the key is for you to perform well academically. Analyst positions at Consulting firms are really attractive and the top firms don’t have too many of them, so you’ve got to position yourself as being a distinctive applicant to have a legitimate shot at getting an offer.
Tips for getting a Consulting summer internship or full-time offer
I’ve written several blog entries with tips in this area before, so I won’t go too deep on this one. I’ll just give you a few high-level points here:
- Participate in extracurricular activities, whether they are on-campus or off-campus, and play as important a leadership role as possible. Simply being a member of a club is decent, but taking on a leadership role while performing well academically is a good way for you
- Attend any information sessions that the firms hold on your campus and be sure to ask good questions. This is a great way for you to make an impression on the recruiters or Consultants representing the firms.
- Develop a good story about why a gig in Management Consulting makes sense for you. Will it help you to achieve any specific career goals? Would you plan to stay in Consulting long-term? If I were looking a you as a candidate, I’d expect you to have a good story that covers why you’re interested in joining a firm to start off your career.
- Start learning about how Consulting case interview work and start practicing them now. This is more of a “prepare for the future” thing, but, if you do get a chance to interview, the prior prep work will come in handy.
As mentioned earlier, I’ve gone somewhat high-level here, but I’ve got tons of other insightful content like this in my past bog entries. I suggest that you peruse my archives to see what else I have if you have any additional questions.
I hope this response is helpful as you plot out the next few years of your college career. Good luck!
Marquis
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