Will attending a top business school make it much easier to get into management consulting?

Definitely. Target business schools provide a level of access that you don’t get anywhere else. Given how selective the recruiting process is, your best chances of breaking into consulting happen in-school.

If you don’t have that luxury but want to break into consulting, consider the following two elements when debating career paths: prestige and skill-development. Consulting firms respect brand-name companies, and they respect jobs where you learn a broad set of business skills.

We offer resume editing and interview prep. Through one-on-one sessions, we’ll help you stand out from 1000′s of other applicants and land consulting jobs now!

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  • Fyn

    Hello Kevin,

    I have been reading your website intensively for the last couple of days, always browsing for new interesting stuff. I am currently still in a junior college (or High School) in Singapore to do my Cambridge A-Levels. I am originally from Germany, where I will most probably continue university studies after my A-Levels. Is there still a chance to become a business consultant? Can you suggest any University in Germany, or do you know any source where I can gather information on that issue?
    Thank you in advance, Fyn

  • Dan

    Hi, you mention that most consulting companies recruit from “target business schools.” I assume this means Harvard, Chicago, Northwestern, but can you be more specific about what this means? The top 10? The top 25?

  • Adam

    Hi Kevin,

    Yes Dan raised a question i’m also wondering about. I’m thinking about applying to an MBA thats hovering around the 20th best (UT, McCombs). Is this considered a target school for MBB etc? I dont want a 100K loan without knowing my chances of landing a job at a top 5 MC firm.

    Any info greatly appreciated!
    Thanks

  • Suzie

    Hello,
    I am interested in a career in management consulting. I am currently a part-time MBA at a well-recognized Canadian business school. I also hold a doctorate (non-MD) and have been practicing as a healthcare provider for over 4 years, and also started my own business 2 years ago focusing on management services in the healthcare sector. Although I have valuable healthcare and entrepreneurial experience, and will soon hold an MBA, I come from an unconventional background. Will my background work against me or is there a certain way I should “market” myself in the eyes of the top dogs like McK, Bain, etc..
    With these firms typically hiring the Harvard/stanford/Yale prototype, I’m not sure how well recieved my education/background will be in the eyes of the recruiter.

    Thanks,

    S.

  • TA

    Adam, 
    I go to school at UT and am getting a dual degree in Operations Research and an MBA at Mccombs.
    The problem is firms like bcg and bain recruit about 80% of their annual intake at 5 schools – Harvard Stanford Kellog Wharton and INSEAD for global operations(i.e : singapore, dubai and london)
    From Mccombs if you are in the top 10-20% of your class you may get recruited at the local office (i.e: the Dallas Office) . Local offices are smaller and tougher to break into than say an NYC or a Chicago office.
    Mckinsey is a little more lenient. Their numbers are a little higher but so are the applicants and they have been known to give employees an option of a local or world city office.
    The other firms like Booz,the boutiques  hire in very small numbers( maybe 1 candidate a year). THough HUron has recruited atlesat 5 in recent memory
    So even though Mccombs is a target school and they do have annual corporate events its  a numbers game and unless you are in the top 10% of the graduating batch, you’re chances are low.
    A word on recent BCG recruiting :
    Of late(since I am in the engineering school as well) I have noticed BCG is aggresively pursuing engineers for analyst positions(by holding case competitions and start up idea competitions)
    and PHD’s for higher positions.
     I remember reading somewhere that BCG has to double its workforce within the next 4-5 years and I think they are trying to ffind a good balance of Phds, non- MBA majors and MBA grads as opposed to Mckinsey which built its 15000 strong workforce primarily on MBA graduates.( This might have something to do with the 2008 recession and the sheer effect of ivy league egos  on society in general as they assume positions of power)