You have studied hard case interview. You bought a nice suit for the occasion. But you ask yourself if you will actually get an interview. Often time, people ask this question a little too late. Below are the major ways of getting interviews and a couple serious mistakes candidates usually make during the hunting process:
1) Apply on the company's site. Sounds simple enough. This is the easiest way that anyone, with basic internet knowledge, can apply. The problem is it's too easy so the method becomes ineffective. I've tried around 50 online applications and received only half responses. It is also time-consuming. Each company has its own online system so you have to fill in your basic info and learn new interface for every single application. This should be your last option and you should only do this if time is on your side. 2) University tunnel. Most schools have a pretty decent job portal. Please make sure you use this tool since you have already paid for it with your tuition. School systems are also usually less complicated so you can save your precious time. Both acceptance rate and response rate are much higher than typical online applications. 3) Word of mouth. Referral is powerful in any situation, especially in consulting. You usually can skip the first round interview. You tend to have easier case to work on the next rounds. Everything is just simply better. The only catch is a huge amount of time input and a good practice of people skills. Be ware that career fairs are usually disasters because of the chaotic context. Coffee hour is much better way to ask for a follow-up meet-up. I got to know many consultants from all top three consulting firms via coffee hours. You can also try office tours or even LinkedIn. The secret to this method is your creativity, grit, and sincerity. Need personal guidance? Talk to The Kid now at your convenience! Happy Hunting, The Kid
0 Comments
It did not make any sense. My resume looked so good; high GPA, nice school name, pretty decent experiences. So why the heck I barely heard back from employers, especially the top ones.
It took me roughly 6 months to read, investigate, and talk to tens of current consultants as well as HR personnel. I asked all of them if I missed some sort of element that determine life and death, or in other word, an interview or trash can. Based on the insight I collected, the answer is simply official test score, preferably SAT/GRE or GMAT. WHAT? It does not make any sense! I left my high school's past behind, I am not a graduate student, why would I should include my score, especially if it was bad. Then, the interviewees explained to me, including SAT/GRE or GMAT in my resume signals a special language; a sign showing I knew what the industry was looking for. Consulting firms use standard test score to access candidate's problem-solving skills since GPA is determined differently across schools (for example Harvard vs. UVA). Usually, scores with at least 90% is ideal (you should have 1400-1500 in total of reading and math in SAT). Anything below would reduce chances to get into prestigious firms. If you messed up your SAT score, no worries! Simply study for GMAT, it will be your second chance. Plus, most big consulting firms expect you to go for your MBA in the future anyway. Now you know how to utilize your past SAT/GRE if it was strong, and make your resume stand out from other competitors. It is okay to messed up in high school, go study GMAT, don't wait until you see the application deadline and then start. Happy Hunting, The Kid It is understandable that you love consulting; you know how to prep for interview; you know pretty much everything. But do you know which employer is right for you? This question gave me a nightmare or rather an illusion a year ago. Now I will share with you the information that could save my life:
1) "Elite Three". These firms are Bain, BCG (Boston Consulting Group), and McK (McKinsey). Since they are top three, they are very selective too. In the past, they only recruit from top schools (Ivy League or Standford like). But now, they have opened their door to welcome a small portion from tier-2 schools (my school UW for example). They typically expect top 5-10% in anything (school personal ranking, GMAT/SAT, etc.). Elite Three usually has a formal culture, where they work with medium-large scaled clients. Also, Elite Three offers generous pay, usually 70-80k for new grads. 2) "Middle Men". These includes firms like Deloitte, Accenture, Booz, etc. They recruit pretty much all schools with good-enough candidates. Many of these firms work heavily in public sector (government), so they offer a good balance between commercial vs. public. Their culture is mixed and salary varies based on location (50-60k for new grads). 3) "The Other Guys". From local to boutique consulting firms, these firms are relatively small. Their recruiting policy is up and down (some are very selective, some do mass hire). If you are selected for an interview/job, make sure you research the firm very well before saying yes. I was selected for 5-7 interviews with some local firms and rejected most of them after I looked them up on LinkedIn/Glassdoor or talked to their current/ex-employees. Typical salary base is from 40-50k for new grads. Now you are aimed with an insider's knowledge. I hope you have found your desired destination. Happy Hunting, The Kid Ever heard about consulting? Most people think of consulting as an upper-class career with nice perks. I've interviewed with many consulting firms including Boston Consulting Group, Grant Thornton, Deloitte, Accenture, McKinsey, PWC, EY, etc. The best part is that I've failed ALL of them, which is still hard (easier than passing all, I know). Think of this as a multiple-choice test with 100 questions. If you can miss all the questions, then you should be an tier-2 genius. I might not know all the do's, but surely I know all the dont's:
1) Competitive. Consulting is surely a prestigious job title. It usually comes with high pay (unless you work for a local firm). Only 1% of US GDP is from consulting. 2) Well-Rounded. Consulting is probably one of many jobs requires heavy human interaction. If you hate seeing people, this is not for you. Also, you need to have a sharp mind with numbers and common reasons. Free tip: Employers expects to see your SAT or GMAT score in your resume. 3) Intense. This not a 9-5 job, but rather 9-9. In most cases, you will be traveling 70%+. Also, most top 10 firms expect you to earn your MBA within 2 years of joining. Otherwise, you may not be able to move up to management level. 4) Unique interview process. Most firms prioritize case interview, in which you are given a scenario and construct your answer in a logical way. Most people have to prepare very ahead of time (3-6 months). To study, you may start with the book "Case In Point", then later move deeper in Victor Cheng's materials (just google his name). I have been through all materials from both Case In Point and Victor Cheng. They both charge around $100 to $200 per session. But I offer unlimited sections plus extra benefits for a competitive rate. Check out "Results Coaching" tab for more info. By the way, upper photo is Victor and below is Marc (author of Case In Point). Happy Hunting, The Kid |
Free ToolsAll-in-One Résumé
Under-Cover Letter Interview Mastery Business Career Paths Accounting Finance Consulting |
Blog |
Result Coaching |
Let's Work Together!© COPYRIGHT 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
|