Which Consulting Firm Should You Apply To?

While management consulting may be one of the top careers to go into in order to beat the economic downturn and recession, choosing the right firm to work for can be challenging. It is important to understand which company you fit with and which firm fits with you. Gathering as much information about the firm prior to initiating the application process is beneficial to both you and the firm.

There are several key strategies that can be used in choosing the best management consulting firm to apply to. Firms like McKinsey, Booz and A.T. Kearney offer orientation sessions for potential applicants throughout the year to provide information about the company. Applicants can discuss, ask questions and engage to find out what they need to know about the firm. These firms do their best to offer information about their culture, employee relations and even the challenges faced by their management consulting teams.

The information sessions are a great way to learn about the consulting firm. Through the interactive sessions you may meet several management consultants who work for the firm. A Bain information session, for example, might yield you the opportunity to network with four or five different management consultants. Through networking you are able to gain rapport with possible future references while gaining insightful information about the company that you would otherwise be hard-pressed to locate. Information shared by current employees is often more credible and concrete than the data offered on the company website.

There are opportunities to gain valuable information prior to your undergoing the application process, such as firm information sessions and networking events, all of which can help you decide whether the firm's culture fits your style. Don't be afraid to ask solid questions of the management consultants, after all, you may be working there soon. Find out what challenges the company faces in light of the economic downturn, what have been the most difficult issues faced as a management consultant for the firm - such as BCG, and what a typical day in the life of a management consultant is. Be sure to listen to the answers offered by the recruiters or management consultants to establish how you could fit into working there.

After attending two or more information sessions offered by various management consulting firms, it is wise to write down the details you discovered. Comparing pros and cons of each firm is a good way to start in determining which firm you should apply to. Just because a management consulting firm wants you does not necessarily mean you would be a good fit or vice versa. It pays to do your homework ahead of time and detail the reasons why the firm would be a good place for you to work.

After attending an information session, think about the discussions you had with current employees of the firm. Were you able to establish an overall good rapport with each recruiter or management consultant you spoke to? If so, you may see a commonality between the types of personalities that are hired by the company. Instinct is often one of the most powerful tools at your disposal in deciding whether a firm is the right one for you to target.

The application process can be lengthy and grueling at times when pursuing a career with a management consulting firm. Doing your homework ahead of time is a great way to determine if you should pursue one firm over another. The efforts required to pursue a career in management consulting can take a lot of time, so investigate, research and network your way into the information needed to make a decision on the firm or firms you should apply to.


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Finding your way in management consulting territory can be challenging. Get some help by downloading our free guide, "How to Land a Consulting Job". ConsultingFact.com offers resources to help you get the information you need to start a management consulting career.