Comments on: How To Break Into Management Consulting By Pursuing An MBA

By: Traveler

Traveler — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 19:54:00 +0000

Hi Kevin,

I worked at intel for 4 years, now joining duke fuqua MBA. Two questions:
1. which consulting firms serve the semiconductor industry?
2. Is duke MBA a good route for me to enter these firms?

By: Mag

Mag — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 19:24:00 +0000

I’m a second year law student at a top 6 law school (think Columbia, NYU, Chicago) interested in consulting. I took a year off after college (top 15 non-target undergrad) to help my family start a successful small side business, which I’ve helped to manage since. I’ve been accepted into my school’s MBA program for a joint degree, which would take one extra year, and I’m deciding between doing the MBA, or gunning for a consulting position straight out of law school.

McKinsey recruits directly on my law school campus and has taken several JDs over the past few years. I’ve heard that some other consulting firms, such as BCG, are amenable to hiring JDs, although I haven’t yet talked to any JD consultants other than at McKinsey. Do you know which consulting firms have been willing to interview JDs (top tier or second tier), and do they usually start them at the MBA-level as they do at McKinsey? I’d much rather go into consulting without getting the MBA, even if it means a small pay-cut, but I’m concerned that I may not be able to create enough interview opportunities with just the JD.

There are a few more reasons why I’d rather not do the MBA right now. One, my school is traditionally known for placing into finance, rather than consulting, and doesn’t have the same “prestige” as does my law school (this probably gives my school away..). Two, I’m concerned that if recruiting as an MBA I’ll be up against individuals with lots of work experience and may not be able to even get my foot in the door for an interview. Three, I’d like to preserve the MBA option for the future if possible, as my non work-experience stats make me a viable candidate for better schools and I may want to career-switch as some point.

Given all this, do you think looking for a consulting position straight out of the JD is a viable option, and how many more opportunities, if any, might the MBA give me?

By: Kevin

Kevin — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 20:55:00 +0000

Nitin, the short answer is yes, it is possible. However, it is definitely NOT easy and would require you to have a strong network/contacts at firms that you’re interested in. That is probably your best chance of landing an interview since you no longer have access to standard recruiting channels. To start doing that, consider leveraging alumni networks, past employer networks, friends/family, and beyond. Good luck!

By: Nitin Rajan

Nitin Rajan — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:10:22 +0000

I have done MBA from one of the tier 3 institute in India. After that i have worked for various research companies focusing on secondary research. Now after spending some 5 years in the industry in secondary research i am looking for a career in Management consultancy. Is it possible to change and shift to a new industry.

By: ELISE SAN VILLA

ELISE SAN VILLA — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 21:59:19 +0000

HELLO,
I NEED YOUR FEEDBACK ON SOMEONE LIKE ME WHO HAS THE FOLLOWING BACKGROUND:
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT:
-BSC-MANAGEMENT MAJOR(ASIAN COUNTRY)BUT SCHOOL ACCREDITED IN USA)
-MASTERS DEGREE(INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS) SMALL SCHOOL IN CALIFORNIA AND NOT ACCREDITED
-GPA 3.78
-LED GROUPS IN CASE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION AND OTHER WAYS OF PRESENTATION (NEWSCASTING,TV HOSTING TYPE) TO AVOID THE USUAL WAY OF PRESENTING THE CASE TO THE INSTRUCTORS
TRAVELLED THE WORLD(ALMOST)
-20 SOLID YEARS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE
4 YEARS MARKETING EXPERIENCE(EVENTS,AD CAMPAIGN)

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS MY HOPE IN MANAGEMENT CONSULTING?

THANKS,
ELISE