Get mentored – Answers to your Queries – Volume 4

Featured | sulbha.rai | March 18, 2010 at 3:59 pm

Name: Nick Wolff
Subject: Construction Engineer to Strategy Consulting
Message: Hello Ms. Rai,
For many years, it has been a dream of mine to obtain a position at a major consulting firm in strategy consulting, preferably at one of the major firms. I would like 1) an assessment of my background and 2) your advice on the best strategy I should employ to secure a position. I may be a little older than many of the traditional 1st time consultants, but I have tried my best to prepare myself for the role. I am versatile, ambitious and eager for the intellectual challenge of the work.

Education: I have earned 3 masters degrees in Civil Engineering (from a top 5 university-GPA 3.6), Organizational Development (from a top 5 university-GPA 4.0) and an MBA (from the same university as the OD program-which was unranked-GPA 4.0).

Engineering Experience: I have been in construction engineering consulting for about 10 years. I have worked at 2 firms on the list of Top 100 Design Firms according to Engineering News Record. Our work concerns evaluating the ground conditions for new building construction and monitoring construction activities to ensure the work conforms to project specifications. During my career, I have worked on thousands of projects, in all aspects of the projects from developing project scope, executing the scope, managing staff, preparing deliverables and performing under aggressive deadlines. I have managed engineering departments of up to 4 engineers. I have improved business processes, developed marketing plans and tracked group performance. Under my leadership my group experienced a growth in sales of approximately 20 percent and had made a previously unprofitable department profitable. Marketing regularly, I have managed up to 300 client relationships. A trained presenter, I have provided technical content training to clients.

Business Consulting Experience: While working in engineering, I have obtained consulting engagements either alone or on a consulting team working with a couple of local non-profits, a subsidiary of the Chevron Corporation and at Motorola. The work ranged from developing formal business plans, evaluating and improving systems and processes and performing qualitative and quantitative assessments of firm morale and culture.

Other Professional Experience: I have also worked closely in the local real estate investment community. I have partnered on deals with asset value up to 1.4 Million dollars. I have made and recovered private loans up to $70,000. I have prepared income tax returns for myself and others as well as businesses. I have provided personal financial planning to several colleagues. I have formally mediated disputes among colleagues.

Volunteer Experience: I have provided leadership development training to hundreds of college students. I have developed curriculum on diverse topics ranging from financial literacy, mediation, conflict management and resolution and influencing skills. I have served in numerous leadership roles and have presented at locations throughout the country.

Awards/Activities: I am an Eagle Scout, and honoree of a Distinguished Service Key from my volunteer organization and I applying for membership to Mensa.

Dear Nick,
You have very impressive educational qualification and extensive experience. With respect to assessment of your background you have utilized your educational qualification in the right direction to attain in-depth experience in the engineering consulting. You have managed not only technical experience but have also worked in business plans, process improvement and quality assessment which are key functional areas in the field of consulting. Another very impressive aspect of your experience is that you have been involved in imparting training/ mentoring/ mediating etc which are very useful at leadership roles.

To answer your second question, I would suggest that you develop your network of professional that are currently working in this domain as they will be better able to help you look for an opening in strategy consulting. Due to your extensive experience in the field of construction engineering you should look for opportunities in Infrastructure industry sector of the consulting firm. As then only the firm will be better able to leverage your experience and expertise. Apart from this you should also get in touch with consultants specializing in sourcing for consulting firms.

While you gather external support to seek out opportunities you should also work toward preparing yourself for the role. Do a reassessment of your goals and aspirations. How a particular job is more suitable for you, how consulting job will contribute to your professional and personal growth, where you want to see yourself 2/5/10 years down the line. Also do a self assessment how you can contribute to a different organization and what are your strengths and development needs that need to be addressed to achieve success in the new domain. A consultant must have flexibility and a strong work ethic, should possess excellent communication and analytical skills – do consider these while doing your self assessment.
All the best.
Sulbha

Your Name: Anuj Gupta
Subject:help…
Message: Hello,

I am presently working in telecom domain for last 3 years. I am into telecom planning role.I need your guidance.
Below, I have mentioned my queries.

1. Can I enter into consulting role, as I am not an MBA and exp of only telecom domain.

2. Big quest: How to start?

3. Are there some trainings available for this?Is Zenesys nline training useful?
Kindly guide me.
Thanks for your time.

Rgds
Anuj

Dear Anuj,
It will be nice if you can elaborate on the kind of role you currently have and what is your area of interest in terms of consulting. A person can be a part of consulting even without MBA but then entry is at a junior level. But incase you have relevant experience in your industry where you are involved in advising your client on various aspects of business, it will be considered as relevant experience and then level can vary. But without prior relevant experience or MBA one would need to start career from the scratch, generally as an analyst/associate level.

To be a good consultant, the important thing you need to have is the ability to see the bigger picture; ability to analyze situations and present solutions; ability to diagnose the problem and not just the symptoms. And before you really start you need to do an assessment of your skills and ability. Your career choice should be based on rational and aspiration and not just because of stream being a popular choice amongst professional. Once you have made your choice start applying directly to the consultancy firms or through consultants or through personal contacts that can help you get a chance to present yourself.

On your third questions, to be very frank I am not aware of the content of the online training you have mentioned. Though these can be motivational and may give you some sought of understanding of consulting environment but more than these training, people learn things on their jobs.
All the best
Regards,
Sulbha

Your Name: Rahul Gupta
Subject: Consulting carer in Information Security
Message: I have a masters degree from the US in computer networking and currently I am working for IBM,India, as a Network security specialist.I have few certifications like CCNA, CCSP and CISSP. What do I need to do to shift to Information security consulting.My experience(2 years) is in Network security and not consulting, will it be possible to change the field. To which companies should I apply and how?

Please suggest.
Rahul Gupta
–
Dear Rahul,
These days there are openings for key technical experts where they are required to advice clients on critical problems they may be facing or that may arise if not addressed. But only certain qualification will not be enough for growth this field. You also need to have good understanding of issues, have analytical bend of mind to suggest reliable solutions and also excellent communication skills. These are core qualities that are essential to any consultant.
You can apply to any of the Big 4s who have division of IT risk advisory or IT advisory where technical skills come handy and engineers are hired for the position.

Your Name: Malu
Subject: Query
Message: Hi,

I am a MBA Finance with 3+ years of experience in the field of Business re-engineering, business reporting , data analysis and dashboard designing in the financial services sector.

i wish to make a switch over and want a career in management consulting…

alongside i am also enrolled into CFA.

Pls tell me whether it is feasible to get into management consultancy field at this point of time.

thanks
–
Dear Malu,
You have the requisite qualification but experience of business reengineering or business reporting can’t be directly attributed to as relevant experience. Nonetheless if you have consulting bend of mind where you are good with analyzing situations and can think creatively, have excellent communications skills both written and verbal, if can work in a dynamic environment with tight timelines and commitment, you can certainly apply for consulting firms. Also once you have CFA degree in your hand you will find it easier to get placed. But even now you can start preparing and applying in consulting firms.

Your Name: Da Enigma
Subject: Plan to move from Sales to Business Consulting
Message: Dear Sulbha ,

Greetings ..

I am right now with an MNC working as a Senior Sales Executive. My Current Employer is an FMCG Giant. and I have about 5 years of experience with IT.

I have taken a decision to move into Business Consulting – to be specific the Strategic and Marketing side of it.

I would require your assistance in the following :
1) Since My CV would talk about ONLY ”sales” Achievements and Experiences- How best can I ”modify” that , to be able to better project myself as a Consultant Prospective

2) I have visited some of the Top Consulting Firms’ websites, like BCG, McKinsey, Bain all of them say they recruit from the Top B-Schools – Now am not from a Top B-School – Where do I stand ?
3.) It would be great If I can have a List of Consulting Firms who more into Strategic and Marketing (M&A would be great too

4) I would be greatful If You can help modify my CV.Let me know in case you would want me to send my CV.

Thanks again ,

Cheers & God Bless
–
Dear Enigma,
It would be nice if you could tell me more about your specialization in MBA also the kind of experience you have had in IT. But from whatever I can gather from your mail, response to your questions are mentioned below.
(i) Yes your CV will talk more about sales experience but try to put points like – how good u have been in meeting target, what innovative ways you used to address the needs of the market things, how you benefited your employer (if possible in terms of revenue or cost saving etc)
(ii) You are certainly right the big consulting firms pick up fresher from top B schools, however experienced person with proven track record from a second run B school can also get placed. So if you are able to convince the employer about your ability as a consultant, a MBA degree not from top B school will not become an impediment for you.
(iii) To get into strategic consulting or lead advisory without prior relevant experience is tough. This is a very competitive field and it is not easy to penetrate. It will be difficult to get direct client facing work in this field. You can look out for the backend work that is required to be done for M&A etc. which would require data crunching, analysis wrt various dimensions and reporting etc. I am not sure if that work will interest you, therefore I would rather suggest that you should probably look for providing consultancy in the area of your experience i.e. marketing consultancy where you can be involved in advising client wrt all aspects of marketing like product, price, place etc. This work will also give you leverage of your previous experience.
(iv) You can build your CV and forward it to me. I will see how best I can help you but can’t really assure you as modifying it needs insight on exact kind of experience and expertise that the person has to make it an authentic resume.

Views expressed by Authors/Users/Subscribers etc on this website are completely their personal views and in no way reflect the views of their employers or any connected parties. Please view our detailed Terms & Conditions.

Aspiring Consultants can seek free & valuable advise by Clicking Here