Thinking Outside the Cubicle
By Michael K. Norris
Many think consulting is only for young, energetic college or business school graduates. That's not true. While consulting firms do grab a healthy amount of college students, plus a good 30 percent or so of graduates at most B-schools, people with a few years or more of industry experience can find abundant career opportunities in consulting.
How do you break into consulting if you've been in industry? Here's what recruiting leaders at several top management consulting companies told WetFeet you should emphasize when interviewing for consulting jobs out of industry.
Know Why You Want to Be a Consultant
Among the first questions a recruiter will ask is "Why do you want to be a consultant?" If you're bored or frustrated with your current career, be sure you're ready for the unpredictable nature of consulting.
"Candidates need to convey the message they are interested in getting into consulting and understand what the consulting lifestyle is all about," according to a recruiter at BearingPoint.
Showing flexibility in the resume and interview is also essential. "A two-week project can become a six-month project, and vice versa," says Dana Ellis, an Accenture recruiting leader.
Convey Your Project Management Skills and Industry Expertise
Projects in consulting usually have a starting line and a finish line.
Read article at WetFeet.com