The Top 10 Career Events You Don't Want to Miss This Spring

Welcome back to campus! The Career Center has plenty of exciting events planned for the semester. Check the calendar for workshops, networking events, career fairs, employer visits and more.  

The Career Center advertises hundreds of events each academic year, and we know it's hard to narrow it down.  Here's a list of ten events that will appeal to most Tufts students.



1. Tufts Career Fair: Weds, February 10, 11:30 am-2:30 pm, Gantcher

More than 160 organizations are registered!  The Tufts Career Fair Plus mobile app on both android and apple is a quick and easy way to identify full time positions and internships.  Filters and favorites allow you to narrow down your options and save.  A map of where organizations will be in Gantcher will further assist you in your action plan.

2. Prepare for the Fair: Thurs, February 4, 6:30 pm, Dowling 745A

If you plan to attend the fair, then this workshop is a no brainer.  An employer from Genscape (Genscape is the leading global provider of real-time data & intelligence for commodity & energy markets, driven to improve market transparency & efficiency.) will discuss what they expect from students at a career fair.  Whether you've been to a career fair or this is your first time, this workshop always delivers an effective and relevant message for job and internship seekers.

3. Internship Grant Information Sessions: 1/26, 2/1, 2/12, 2/29 (see the calendar for times and locations)

Last summer the Career Center distributed more than 50 $3500 grants to students who conducted full-time, unpaid internships in the U.S. and abroad.  There are two deadlines for applying in 2016: March 11 for international internships and April 13 for U.S. internships.  Attend an info session to learn more!

4.  Bookbuilders of Boston: Weds, March 9, 6:00-8:00 pm, Milmore Room, Dowling

Bookbuilders is the largest publishing professional organization in Boston related to publishing, editing, design, production, manufacturing and marketing.  At this event, you'll connect with members working in the industry.  This is a new event this year!

5. Consulting Career Forum: Sat, February 6, 9am-3pm, Cabot

What, exactly, is consulting?  If you've ever asked yourself this question, then this is the event for you.  Co-sponsored by Tufts Consulting Collective and 180 Degrees Consulting, sessions include Getting Started as a Consultant, Boutique Consulting, Management/Strategic Consulting, Consultant to MBA and Back, and Landing a Job or Internship in Consulting.  They'll be networking with alumni during lunch.  The day will start with a keynote and end with a case study led by real consultants!  Registration is required.

6. Presentation Skills Seminar: Fri, February 12, 1-4pm, Cabot

Jonny Goldstein on Flickr

This highly practical, interactive session will immediately boost your public speaking and presentation skills in interviewing, networking and other contexts.  Registration is required.

7. Law Day on the Hill: Thurs, March 3, 6-8pm, Alumnae Lounge

This annual event coordinated by Tufts Pre-Law Advising always aims to please.  A look at the legal profession, law school and careers for lawyers followed by networking with alumni. Registration is required.

8. MIT European Career Fair 2016: Sat, February 6, 9am-4pm, Johnson Athletic Center, MIT, Cambridge, MA

We list lots of off campus career events, and the MIT European Career Fair is an excellent example. Organized by the MIT European Club, ECF continues to serve Boston area universities and colleges by providing opportunities for students at all levels to connect with European employers. This fair hosts some of the brightest candidates who are interested in a career in Europe and increases awareness in the US about the exciting career opportunities that Europe has to offer.

9. The Professional-in-Residence Series: 

Schedule an individual meeting to ask the P-I-R about their experience and get advice for your own career pursuits.  Watch your Career eNews for registration details.

Gillian Galen A01, Friday, February 26, 10am-3pm, Career Center, Dowling

Clinical Psychologist,  Harvard  Faculty, and Program Director of 3East Adolescent DBT Residential Program.  Join Ms. Galen, a Clinical Psychologist, Harvard Faculty Member and Program Director of 3East Adolescent DBT Residential Program, for individual meetings and a Lunch & Learn session. 

Erin Allweiss A05, Thursday, March 10, 10am-3pm, Career Center, Dowling

Strategic Communications, Public Relations and Co-founder of No. 29 Communications. Erin Alllweiss has worked in strategic communcations, public relations, and is the Co-founder of No. 29 Communications. Please check the career center website for more details for scheduling an individual meeting to ask the P-I-R about her experience and get advice for your own career pursuits.  

10. LinkedIn Lab: Thurs, February 18, 12-1pm & Weds, March 2, 12-1pm, Dowling 745

A hands-on introduction to creating a LinkedIn profile and learning to network with Tufts alumni.  There are more than 300 million members, including 6100 Tufts alumni who are willing to provide career advice. Registration is required.

Don't forget to read the weekly Career Center eNews to stay on top of spring 2016 events!

Take care,

Nicole M. Anderson

Assistant Director/Career Advisor

Tufts Career Center

 

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A Crash Course on Case Interviews for Consulting Jobs

Preface: What do consultants actually do?

Consultants are experts hired to help organizations decide on new strategies or improve efficiency in ways that might not be visible from inside. An outside consultant provides a fresh perspective, unhindered by biases or an entrenched way of thinking regarding how things “should” be done. Some of the more widely known consulting firms, like McKinsey and Bain, are generalists who help with strategy and management in any industry or department (IT, operations, financial services). But there are also tons of smaller consulting firms that specialize in particular fields. For example Putnam Associates - whose employees presented our Case Interview Tips event last Tuesday - focuses on pharmaceutical and biotech companies. If you want to learn more about consulting and whether it’s a good fit for you, check out the Career Center’s page on consulting resources and industry information.

Why do consulting firms use case interviews? What are they looking for?

When we interview for a new job, we’re accustomed to interviews questions like “What’s your greatest weakness?” “Tell me about a time when you…”, or “If you strongly disagreed with your boss, what would you do?” They’ve already seen your qualifications based on your resume, and now they’re looking at your character/fit.

But in the consulting industry, case interviews often make up almost half of the “score” that determines whether you get an offer. Usually, consulting companies are not hiring based on expertise in a particular industry, but rather for your ability to think critically and innovate in any industry. And that’s a skill set difficult to prove on paper. Case interviews are an entirely different style of interview, built to show the interviewer how you think. The questions aren’t about you - they’re logic and strategy problems involving math, analysis, and business sense. (That being said, you don’t have to come from a business or quant-heavy background to get into consulting. Firms actually like liberal arts candidates who can bring a different perspective. At least year’s Careers in Consulting Networking event, I met a Tufts alumna who’d majored in Spanish and Community Health.)

Case questions are simplified, miniature versions of the kind of project you would actually work on as a consultant, so it’s directly relevant to how you’d perform with a client. You need to do more than get the right answer - you have to present it well. If you can’t confidently and effectively communicate your analysis to the interviewer, you won’t be able to convince a client either. The Tufts alumni from Putnam Associates gave a list of assessment criteria that sums this up - in other words, here’s how the consultants evaluate you in a case interview:

Assessment Criteria

• Analytical skill - think logically; determine what’s relevant and ask probing questions
• Adaptability - take cues from the interviewer, and if he/she challenges your reasoning then show you can think on your feet
• Communication skills - confident, engaging; make it a conversation not a monologue
• Organization - easy to understand, clear thought process
• Business sense - good grasp of business strategy; creative solutions
• Personal traits - self-motivated, creative, diligent, poised, trusted, curious, people person/team player (solo projects are pretty much nonexistent)

Types of case questions

Basic (aka “back of the envelope”)

• Estimation scenarios and market sizing questions that rely on quantitative abilities and logic to estimate a numeric answer
• Ex: What is the size of the disposable diaper market in the US? (answer here)

Strategy scenarios

• How will you enter a new market, develop a new product, create a pricing or growth strategy, or acquire a business?
• Ex: Our client purchased a popcorn manufacturing plant that packages popcorn for two mid-sized brands. Once he saw the margins, he decided to manufacture under his own brand. What does he need to do? (answer here)

That’s a very basic breakdown - honestly, going through an example is really the only way to understand what a case interview entails. It would take too much space to go through an example case here, but luckily, there are plenty of resources to help you do that.

How to practice

With real people:

• Career Center group case interview prep - If you haven’t done a mock case interview before, this is the place to start. It’s informal and geared toward beginners. I did one on Monday with no preparation and it was really helpful. Now I actually understand case interviews.
• Career Center one-on-one mock case interviews - If you’ve already practiced on your own and attended a group session, make an appointment for an hour-long mock interview.
• With friends or family who are willing to help!

Online:

• Many companies have practice cases and interview tips on their websites
• BCG, McKinsey, and Bain have interactive practice cases
• Deloitte has interactive cases divided by type
• A full guide from Wharton, sample questions from Ace the Case (a book guide), look around and you’ll find more.

In print:

• Case in Point, by Marc Cosentino - known as the aspiring consultant’s Bible
• 4 copies in Tisch Library, 1 in Dowling Resource Library
• But, our Putnam alumni also cautioned that you shouldn’t feel like you have to stick to Case In Point’s rules. Here’s a blog post from Vault (a career guide publisher) on the dangers of practicing too much for case interviews.
• The Dowling Resource Library (adjacent to the Career Center) has the Vault Career Guide to Consulting, the Vault Guide to the Top 50 Consulting Firms, and a directory of consulting organizations

Advanced tips for preparing, from Putnam Associates:

• Research the firm and interviewer as much as possible - context will help you figure out where the case is going and what kinds of knowledge and analysis will impress
• Read business articles from publications like the Economist, WSJ, and Businessweek to hone your business sense and provide business analogs you can reference in interviews
• Practice makes a huge difference, so it’s clear when you haven’t practiced and that shows you’re not serious about consulting. Make sure you practice with people who will give you brutally honest feedback, and you can also practice on your own with anything that comes to mind. For example, figure out how to calculate how many hours student spend in the Reading Room each week.

If you have more questions, you can make an appointment with a career counselor. You can also go straight to the source by talking to employers from consulting organizations at the Career Fair this Friday (Sept. 27). Check out the Career Fair Guide (consulting companies are listed on page 40) to learn who’s coming, a little about them, and what they’re looking for. And you can find out more about specific companies by coming to their on campus info sessions - look on Jumbo Jobs to find out when they’re here.

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Careers in Consulting Event 10/11

What’s an ‘un-panel’? Find out on Thursday evening, October 11th, when we immerse you in the world of consulting without the formal structure that characterizes many career presentations. Instead, you can chat with consultants, ask what’s on your mind, and gain first-hand perspective to complement what you’ve learned from Vault, Spotlight on Careers, and other helpful resources. Register by tomorrow to join more than 40 consultants and recruiters from 18 organizations, many of them hiring at Tufts right now.  Tips to succeed in the consulting job search.
 
Consulting is a broad term. Many students think it means strategy or management consulting; however, the industry is far more diverse. You’ll see this diversity when you study the backgrounds of the alumni and the firms who are coming to Careers in Consulting. Be open to this breadth, rather than limiting yourself. This advice comes directly from consultants themselves. Consulting firms have distinctly different practice areas and clients. Do you enjoy quantitative work but have no interest in Wall Street? Take a look at Cambridge Associates which offers investment consulting for a range of clients from nonprofits to government agencies. Putnam Associates has branded itself as “consultants to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.” For technology types, Exeter Group specializes in IT consulting (though the Recruiting Director, also stipulates that they’re open to liberal arts students and encourages all majors to review their postings).

 There are dozens of opportunities posted on Jumbo Jobs. For a quick search, click on Campus Interviews and Resume Drops. Many students have a basic knowledge of marketing and the “marketing mix” or 4Ps (product, price, promotion/distribution, and place). Whether or not you’re interested in marketing as a career, this model offers a useful framework for your job search and, in particular, the networking aspect. Promotion is the P we’re talking about here; it represents all the communications and channels that a marketer engages to create positive awareness of a product. Think broadly of “product.” It means more than a tangible entity like clothes or technology. Consider that marketing is used to promote services, ideas, and even people (a political campaign, for example). Recognize a connection between marketing and job search? It’s all about what happens leading up to the deal itself.

Now, let’s think of you attending Careers in Consulting on Thursday evening. Here we have a phenomenal marketing forum. Employers are marketing their brand to you, and vice versa. Think of this evening as a time to create positive awareness of yourself as a potential candidate. One of the most common and grievous errors that job searchers make is to mistake a marketing opportunity for a sales pitch. Sales is more transactional; it happens only after an individual has been convinced to put money on the table or cast a vote in the polling booth or support a charity. To move into sales mode when the situation calls for marketing is akin to a high school junior touring Tufts and trying to get a commitment from admissions. The timing’s not right. Remember this when you’re networking and focus instead on how to begin differentiating yourself (again, borrowing marketing techniques to build a “unique selling proposition”). Employ multiple channels. Dress so you look like you’d easily fit into a corporate environment. Modulate your speech and adjust your language, from dorm quality to workplace. Most importantly, take a cue from consultants coming to campus who have offered their advice to you. Over and over, they offer you the key to your own differentiation. “Do your homework,” they say. Think of your own skills, knowledge, and experience and how it would be useful in a particular job and company. Then, set yourself apart with intelligent, well researched questions that demonstrate how thoroughly you’ve studied position requirements and a specific organization, from culture to practice areas. Good luck with your marketing campaign. See you Thursday night!

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Employer Perspectives: OC&C Strategy Consultants

Interested in a career in consulting? I spoke with two decision makers at OC&C Strategy Consultants, Director of HR and Recruiting Danielle McColgan and Consultant Jason Majane E08, who gave me a inside look into the recruiting and hiring process at one of Boston’s top management consulting firms.

1.Why did you decide to recruit at Tufts?

Danielle: This was our first year partnering with Tufts. We had wanted to expand our undergraduate recruiting program. Jason [Majane E08] is one of our consultants, and he came from Tufts and is familiar with the program and we have always held it in high regard.

Jason: I have been at OC&C for two and a half years. I graduated in 2008. We have historically recruited from a few other schools in the Boston area. It’s easier to focus on a couple of places, and there are a lot of really smart people in this area. Now that the office is at an even greater size, we thought it was time to break in more. Consulting is not as well known a career at Tufts yet. We thought it was a good idea to break in and be a first mover in the Tufts consultant movement.

2. Would you briefly describe your experience working with and recruiting at Tufts?

Danielle: I found it to be a really great and successful year. It was wonderful working with the staff at Tufts Career Services, all of who were very welcoming and accommodating. We were able to get early exposure to students through the Tufts Career Fair and the Careers in Consulting event. The Careers in Consulting event was an especially great experience for me because it was a more concentrated program. I met with some really strong students really early on, and I was able to closely work with them throughout the introductory practice phases. I interviewed and met with a large number of talented students, which translated into some hires for us.

3. What advice can you give undergraduates?

Danielle: I advise them to be conscientious and targeted in the companies they talk to. At the Career Fair, I met with a few students who I had met with earlier on. Throughout the entire progress, we had a chance to see students continuously show up to events. For us as an employer, this shows a level of dedication and interest on the student’s behalf.

Additionally, I found the students we met with at the consulting night to be much more targeted in their search. They typically had very targeted questions and knew we did strategy work, so they already had the flavor of OC&C. This allowed for more meaningful dialogue, rather than a 30 second elevator pitch.

Jason: As a student, I always went to the Career Fair. It was great to have such a large number of employers there. I also enjoyed the Consulting Networking night, mainly because it’s a little more informal than other networking events. Students came and asked really good questions, and I liked the setup of it. There was a group of students asking someone questions, as opposed to students waiting in line and talking one-by-one. The event stimulated group discussion, which allowed people to hear each other’s questions and see what other students were looking for.

5. What are some strengths you see in Tufts students?

Danielle: Tufts students were incredibly engaging and quite a good fit for us personality-wise. We have a very open, collaborative, sort of young culture here, and I feel that a lot of Tufts students definitely had the right energy level and will really thrive in our environment. When I spoke with them, I could easily see them working here tomorrow. There is obviously a strong emphasis on being able to do the work and having the right analytical background. Once we have that, we really do care about fit. Tufts is a great match in that regard.

Jason: In general, students at Tufts are very good at having an open dialogue. I think this is in large part because discussion in the classroom is a very important part of the curriculum. I think this translates well into people being naturally curious and open with their questions.

6. How important are information sessions to your hiring process?

Danielle: As an employer, I feel that information sessions really help students become more prepared and targeted in their search. They help them figure out exactly what they’re looking for upon graduation, which I think goes a long way. It is absolutely okay to be looking at different industries, but it is also important to be targeted and know about the firm you’re talking to.

7. What about the case interview?

Danielle: [The case interview] is the crux of the interview at a consulting firm, and I think it would benefit students to have more preparation there. We offer students the opportunity to come into the office and practice, regardless of whether they have interviewed with us.

8. What is your recruiting schedule for next year?

Danielle: In terms of undergraduate programs, we recruit at Tufts, Williams, Harvard, MIT, and Dartmouth College. We certainly have students from other programs and do hire out of these schools, but this is where we focus our interests. Next year, we plan to continue this same trend. We plan to have the same hiring timeline and recruit from these same schools. It’s been very successful for us. We had a very successful campaign at Tufts and we are looking forward to partnering with Tufts again next year.

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Crash Course in Marketing - To Prep You for Careers in Consulting

Many students have a basic knowledge of marketing and the “marketing mix” or 4Ps (product, price, promotion/distribution, and place). Whether or not you’re interested in marketing as a career, this model offers a useful framework for your job search and, in particular, the networking aspect.

Promotion is the P we’re talking about here; it represents all the communications and channels that a marketer engages to create positive awareness of a product. Think broadly of “product.” It means more than a tangible entity like clothes or technology. Consider that marketing is used to promote services, ideas, and even people (a political campaign, for example).

Recognize a connection between marketing and job search? It’s all about what happens leading up to the deal itself.

Now, let’s think of you attending Careers in Consulting on Monday evening. Here we have a phenomenal marketing forum. Employers are marketing their brand to you, and vice versa. Think of this evening as a time to create positive awareness of yourself as a potential candidate.

One of the most common and grievous errors that job searchers make is to mistake a marketing opportunity for a sales pitch. Sales is more transactional; it happens only after an individual has been convinced to put money on the table or cast a vote in the polling booth or support a charity.

To move into sales mode when the situation calls for marketing is akin to a high school junior touring Tufts and trying to get a commitment from admissions. The timing’s not right. Remember this when you’re networking and focus instead on how to begin differentiating yourself (again, borrowing marketing techniques to build a “unique selling proposition”).

Employ multiple channels. Dress so you look like you’d easily fit into a corporate environment. Modulate your speech and adjust your language, from dorm quality to workplace. Most importantly, take a cue from consultants coming to campus who have offered their advice to you. Over and over, they offer you the key to your own differentiation.

“Do your homework,” they say.

Think of your own skills, knowledge, and experience and how it would be useful in a particular job and company. Then, set yourself apart with intelligent, well researched questions that demonstrate how thoroughly you’ve studied position requirements and a specific organization, from culture to practice areas.

Listen to Constantin von Wentzel, Director at Navigant and a Tufts alumnus: “Whatever job you’re pursuing, research it! “

And from Swati Shaw, an Analyst at Putnam Associates who graduated this past May: “Take your consulting firm research up a notch. Read through the company’s casework samples, research the CVs of the management team, understand how broader industry trends may impact their casework strategy, and research their type of clients to gain deeper understanding of the nature and value of the firm’s work.”

Good luck with your marketing campaign. See you Monday night.

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Interested in Consulting? Learn More at a Lively “Un-Panel”

What’s an ‘un-panel’? Find out on Monday evening, Sept. 26, when we immerse you in the world of consulting without the formal structure that characterizes many career presentations. Instead, you can chat with consultants, ask what’s on your mind, and gain first-hand perspective to complement what you’ve learned from Vault, Spotlight on Careers, and other helpful resources. Some of our invited guests graduated in 2011 and 2010, so they understand where you are right now.

Register today to join more than 20 consultants and recruiters from 13 organizations, most of them hiring at Tufts right now. See list of participants.

Careers in Consulting: An Evening of Networking
Monday, Sept. 26. 6:30-8:30pm, Alumnae Lounge
Join employers and alumni for small group discussion about applying for jobs, interviewing, and consulting career paths.
Networking Workshop: 6-6:30pm, Remis Sculpture Court.
Get last-minute tips to help you make a great impression.

When we’ve offered consulting events in the past, we often heard from students that they didn’t get an opportunity to speak with someone in particular or couldn’t ask a specific question. That’s why we’ve created an un-panel for you: an evening of networking where you’re in control of your own agenda ~ who’s on it and what to address.

Eager? Curious? Intimidated? Wherever you are on the spectrum, Career Services can help. Please review our “must-do” steps to prepare and come early to get networking tips before the event.

Consulting is a broad term. Many students think it means strategy or management consulting; however, the industry is far more diverse. You’ll see this diversity when you study the backgrounds of the alumni and the firms who are coming to Careers in Consulting. Be open to this breadth, rather than limiting yourself. This advice comes directly from consultants themselves.

Consulting firms have distinctly different practice areas and clients. Do you enjoy quantitative work but have no interest in Wall Street? Take a look at Cambridge Associates which offers investment consulting for a range of clients from nonprofits to government agencies. Putnam Associates has branded itself as “consultants to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.” For technology types, Exeter Group specializes in IT consulting (Pam Tarro, Recruiting Director, also stipulates that they’re open to liberal arts students and encourages all majors to review their postings).

There are dozens of opportunities posted at Tufts Career Connect. For a quick search, click on Campus Interviews and Resume Drops.

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Student Spotlight - Tufts senior Aaron talks about his successful job search

I’ve had the opportunity to speak with senior Aaron Cannon, who landed a full-time consulting position at Monitor Group following his internship this past summer. Read on for his first-hand perspective on the not-that-scary search process--the steps he took to impressively wheedle his way into a top-notch profession in the field.

1. How did you first develop an interest in consulting?

My sophomore year of college, I decided that I wanted to go into the business world. I started looking at finance and consulting internships--the two fields go hand in hand in a lot of ways. I started reaching out to whoever I could in both of these fields. I quickly realized I would not enjoy finance. The more I talked to contacts about consulting, the more I realized I would love it. I love taking on a “zoomed-out” perspective to solving big problems, a crucial part of the consulting world. I also did research myself and looked at whatever resources I could find online. But narrowing down my interests really came down to talking to people.

2. What steps did you take to assure yourself professional experience in the field?

I used every network I possibly could. I contacted personal networks in consulting, which included family, family friends, and friends’ parents. I also used the Tufts alumni database. I wrote down alumni that worked at a company I cared about, put each name into a spreadsheet, and sent out emails to each contact expressing my interest. I talked to three or four different people [at Monitor] before I even ended up interviewing. The more people you talk to, the more will be your advocates. I talk extensively to two Tufts alumni at the firm, who advocated for me and helped me out however they could. As for the interviews, you just do your best. I prepared a lot for my consulting interview.

3. In what ways did you use Career Services and Tufts resources in your job search?

I’ve been meeting with my career counselor for the last year and a half. Career Services was a great way to get advice and find helpful resources. The alumni database the office provides was an essential part of contacting and establishing networks. I also utilized the office to practice case interviews--distinctive to the consulting field.

4. What was your internship experience at Monitor Group like? What kinds of tasks were you responsible for?

The Monitor internship in particular is a very awesome program. The professionals there really treat you well and are supportive in every way. They are a very connected, tight group of people. As for the work itself, as an intern I worked on a pretty big case study with a total of 15-20 consultants. We took on supporting roles for our managing directors, which felt like we were starting employees. I had the chance to go to higher-level meetings, where I got new insight into consulting ideas, perspectives, and strategies. I even got to travel to Chicago for an internal meeting. You could really tell that they are investing in you.

5. On-the-job, how did you take advantage of the experience? What steps did you take and/or attitude did you have to heighten your chances of getting an offer?

Most of all, it’s important to keep open communication with everyone involved. Always stay excited during your time there; you might be stressed, but don’t let it show. Continue to be happy and supportive. It’s also always important to double-check your work and make sure you’re handing in the best possible product. Never hesitate to ask for feedback--continuously be asking, How can I improve? It’s crucial to be self-aware with what you’re good at and where you might need improvement.

6. What advice do you have for your fellow underclassman currently engaged in the job search process?

1. Talk to as many people as possible.

2. Learn from each person you talk to, and use what you’ve learned in the next conversation you have. The more you talk to people, the more comfortable you get and the more perspective you develop.

3. Always stay excited when you’re talking to people. Act as if it’s the most important thing in your life. The same goes for interviews. Frame yourself as a whole person, whose past experiences and opportunities have all led to this particular company. Whenever talking to someone in consulting, I made sure to prove three qualities about myself: my ability to collaborate, communicate, and analyze--incredibly important in the consulting world. It’s always important to funnel your skills down into what’s important for success in your field.

Overall, while hard work, I really enjoyed the job search process. You are always interacting with new people. It’s fast and it’s moving.

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Interested in Consulting?

Consulting is a competitive arena, requiring diligent preparation for the job search.Get some first-hand advice from alumni and recruiters, who’ll be joining us for Careers in Consulting on September 21. For more information about the program, watch your weekly Career eNews.

Mimic the life of a consultant for a week and see how you feel. Seriously. Set your alarm for 430 on Monday morning, go to Rochester, NY (or some equally depressed city nearby), stay in a budget hotel chain until Thursday afternoon (don't cheat and stay in your room; find an alternate location to work from during the day), and limit communications with the outside world except for short breaks. Evaluate how it would feel to do this every week for at least 39 weeks of the year.

Kimberly Liao
Formerly with PRTM as a Private Equity Consultant
Candidate, Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy, The Fletcher School, 2011

For students entering the interviewing world "do your homework." Do not show up at an interview without thoroughly researching the company, what it does, and what you would be doing if hired. And do not go into an interview and ask how many hours you'll have to work. It's consulting - hours are unpredictable and often long. Asking makes it seem like you are already planning on slacking. A better question would be about work/life balance...but this question may be best in a second round interview rather than a first round interview. I would suggest asking a more junior person this question as well since they will be closer to your position level and are likely in the best position to give you an idea of the company culture. In general, I would focus on questions related to the job you'd be doing and the people you'd be working with.

Lindsey (Bosak) Reynolds, Manager, Economic and Valuation Services, KPMG
Major: Quantitative Economics, 2004
Master’s Degree in Economics, 2005

There are an endless number of directions you can take a career within consulting; specialization can be key and may set you apart from the pack.

Brian Cooperman, Senior Research Analyst, McKinsey & Company
Double major: Classics & History, 2005

To land an entry level position in consulting, understand who the company's clients are. Understand what the company's value proposition is. Understand why you're part of it.

Alex Levy, Principal Consultant, Arcadia Solutions
Double major: Computer Science and Russian Languages & Literature, 2004

Consulting is a broad field that crosses many disciplines and industries; just as you would when selecting a major, look for a role and find firm that aligns with your strengths and interests. It is these roles that you will be most passionate about and likely the most successful in.

Michael Meucci, Senior Consultant, Arcadia Solutions
Major: Economics, 2009

Things that make people successful in consulting: Professional demeanor; Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; Smart yet not a know-it-all; Driven and proactive; Takes initiative; Ability to work well in a team; Strong oral and written communication skills; Ability and desire to learn new things quickly; Organized with an attention to detail.

Pamela Tarro, Director of Recruiting, Exeter Group, Inc.

Before your first interview, practice some case interview questions with friends. Focus on structuring different types of problems and walking someone through your thought process - it will really help you deliver a confident, polished answer during an actual interview.

Lisa Markusson, Senior Associate, Novantus Consulting
University of Pennsylvania, 2007
Major: Systems Science & Engineering, Minor: Mathematics

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