How To Become A Consultant In One Day

By Author: Olena Petrosyuk
Total Articles: 8
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Have you ever dreamed of becoming a consultant? Many students imagine themselves pursuing a consultant career. But the selection process is extremely tough, with graduates being evaluated on their academic performance, leadership potential, analytic and communication skills and various factors. Only a few graduates in the end are selected for entry-level positions. How can you prepare yourself for the interview and maximize your chances for the job offer? The answer is simple: participate in consulting events, such as strategy contests, consulting challenges and business courses.

Each major consultancy organizes its own strategy contest, usually a few times per year. Bain & Company arranges Strategy Contest in their Amsterdam office, McKinsey invites students for a week at Alpine University in Austria, Boston Consulting Group holds World Food Program Business Course in Rome and Accenture organizes Boot Camp four times per year offering their participants a 48 hour challenge that allows to try them out in the consulting position. Similar events are organized by Booz & Company, Roland Berger, OC&C Consultants ...
... around the world and they extremely helpful if you want to get yourself noticed, develop crucial contacts within the company and maximize your chances for the job offer.

You have to be prepared for the fact that strategy contests are very much different from the traditional student competitions. Contrary to photography or essay contests, you rarely are required to do any preparation. Consulting firms want to test your skills, ability to work in a team and perform under pressure. Your event experience will be closely connected to the real consulting work you are likely to do: work in small teams to solve real cases in a limited time.

How make sure you will get accepted? Firstly, prepare your resume carefully. Go to the company website to see what kind of people the firm is looking for. Highlight your skills and achievements, as well as relevant previous academic and work experiences. Secondly, make sure to write a good cover letter. Make clear why you would add value to event and why you want to participate. Never send standardized motivation or resume – this will immediately diminish your chances for acceptance. Finally, although you rarely get instructions on how to get prepared for the strategy contest, make sure to practice consulting cases. Surf the web to find examples of the cases you are likely to have, and pay close attention to how you should structure the problem, develop your analysis, present the findings etc. Your performance, ideas, leadership and analytic skills will to the large extent determine whether you will get a job offer.

Article by Olena Petrosyuk. To read more on strategy contest, student conference or for student events 2011 visit: http://www.studentevents.com/