Comments on: Why you should do engineering or business if you want to break into consulting: return from hiatus plus a slew of reader questions http://managementconsulted.com/business-consulting/why-you-should-do-engineering-or-business-if-you-want-to-break-into-consulting-return-from-hiatus-plus-a-slew-of-reader-questions/ Consulting resumes, interviews, jobs, and case studies Tue, 15 May 2012 01:13:52 +0000 hourly 1 By: Someone http://managementconsulted.com/business-consulting/why-you-should-do-engineering-or-business-if-you-want-to-break-into-consulting-return-from-hiatus-plus-a-slew-of-reader-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-21350 Someone Thu, 16 Sep 2010 20:32:22 +0000 http://managementconsulted.com/?p=1089#comment-21350 Folks, Accenture SITE (or ITS&T) and McKinsey BTO are in the same league. Accenture has a cutting edge strategy practice focused on business technology, but it tends to be forgotten because of their large systems and outsourcing practices. Accenture SITE focuses on Fortune 500 interests, while McKinsey BTO is more government oriented. Also, McKinsey's work is more focused on creating studies, not surprising given that they do zero execution. McKinsey itself is evolving and beginning to offer packaged on-demand solutions, such as their Healthcare practice portal. Bottomline, even at an MBB you can expect only 20-30% of revenue to come from PURE STRATEGY work. The rest is a mix of operational strategy, functional strategy (e.g. IT strategy / BTO) and research / reports. Given that you all want to be consultants, think of your CUSTOMER. These firms' customers are C-suite executives and in order to cater to their interests you need an integrative set of perspectives. The old school pure strategy firm vs. others delineation does not exist in a practical sense. Accenture is a great brand to have, MBB of course are great too. What really matter is WHAT you do for them and the value you create for their clients ... not just the name on the badge. Enjoy! Folks,

Accenture SITE (or ITS&T) and McKinsey BTO are in the same league. Accenture has a cutting edge strategy practice focused on business technology, but it tends to be forgotten because of their large systems and outsourcing practices.

Accenture SITE focuses on Fortune 500 interests, while McKinsey BTO is more government oriented. Also, McKinsey’s work is more focused on creating studies, not surprising given that they do zero execution.

McKinsey itself is evolving and beginning to offer packaged on-demand solutions, such as their Healthcare practice portal.

Bottomline, even at an MBB you can expect only 20-30% of revenue to come from PURE STRATEGY work. The rest is a mix of operational strategy, functional strategy (e.g. IT strategy / BTO) and research / reports.

Given that you all want to be consultants, think of your CUSTOMER. These firms’ customers are C-suite executives and in order to cater to their interests you need an integrative set of perspectives. The old school pure strategy firm vs. others delineation does not exist in a practical sense.

Accenture is a great brand to have, MBB of course are great too. What really matter is WHAT you do for them and the value you create for their clients … not just the name on the badge.

Enjoy!

]]> By: Albert http://managementconsulted.com/business-consulting/why-you-should-do-engineering-or-business-if-you-want-to-break-into-consulting-return-from-hiatus-plus-a-slew-of-reader-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-19003 Albert Fri, 21 May 2010 12:10:12 +0000 http://managementconsulted.com/?p=1089#comment-19003 Just for you to know, I come from Europe. Just for you to know, I come from Europe.

]]> By: Albert http://managementconsulted.com/business-consulting/why-you-should-do-engineering-or-business-if-you-want-to-break-into-consulting-return-from-hiatus-plus-a-slew-of-reader-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-19002 Albert Fri, 21 May 2010 12:09:16 +0000 http://managementconsulted.com/?p=1089#comment-19002 I have no work experience and I am currently taking an MSc in Financial Mathematics. I am in my penultimate year of studies and I applied for summer internships at MBB. I have recently reached the final stage interviews with partners both with McK and BCG but I failed to get further. I have not asked for feedback yet, because I honestly have no idea on how to position myself on the conversation. How much should I stress my disappointment? Should I tell them how I feel the last interviews scheme (through videoconference, although the previous interviews with associates were in-person) affected my performance or will it sound like I am whining? Should I ask them what they recommend me to do to make myself a stronger candidate for the next year graduate positions (i.e. ask for books to read and stuff alike)? Finally, can you please give me some sincere information on how much I may have reduced my chances of getting a full time graduate position at MBB starting in the fall of 2011? PS: I have no clue what I am going to do during the summer. If you can give me suggestions, I will be glad to hearing about them (I have some summer schools in business in mind, but I don't know how much I will benefit from attending any of those). I have no work experience and I am currently taking an MSc in Financial Mathematics. I am in my penultimate year of studies and I applied for summer internships at MBB. I have recently reached the final stage interviews with partners both with McK and BCG but I failed to get further. I have not asked for feedback yet, because I honestly have no idea on how to position myself on the conversation. How much should I stress my disappointment? Should I tell them how I feel the last interviews scheme (through videoconference, although the previous interviews with associates were in-person) affected my performance or will it sound like I am whining? Should I ask them what they recommend me to do to make myself a stronger candidate for the next year graduate positions (i.e. ask for books to read and stuff alike)? Finally, can you please give me some sincere information on how much I may have reduced my chances of getting a full time graduate position at MBB starting in the fall of 2011?

PS: I have no clue what I am going to do during the summer. If you can give me suggestions, I will be glad to hearing about them (I have some summer schools in business in mind, but I don’t know how much I will benefit from attending any of those).

]]> By: Consultant99 http://managementconsulted.com/business-consulting/why-you-should-do-engineering-or-business-if-you-want-to-break-into-consulting-return-from-hiatus-plus-a-slew-of-reader-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-470 Consultant99 Fri, 20 Feb 2009 02:01:58 +0000 http://managementconsulted.com/?p=1089#comment-470 To the last question, I would add that screw-ups are fine in an interview. The key is to recognize the screw-up, especially when questioned on it or challenged. (Stick to your guns when challenged on something that you're sure isn't a screw-up, and never screw-up calculations.) On any given interview day at least 1/3 of the candidates will make no major errors in the case. They also don't say anything particularly interesting. Far better to take some risks, say a few things that seem a bit boneheaded in the clarity of hindsight, and get to a unique and interesting answer than to follow the safe path along with everyone else. To the last question, I would add that screw-ups are fine in an interview. The key is to recognize the screw-up, especially when questioned on it or challenged. (Stick to your guns when challenged on something that you’re sure isn’t a screw-up, and never screw-up calculations.)

On any given interview day at least 1/3 of the candidates will make no major errors in the case. They also don’t say anything particularly interesting. Far better to take some risks, say a few things that seem a bit boneheaded in the clarity of hindsight, and get to a unique and interesting answer than to follow the safe path along with everyone else.

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