Industry Insights Panel: Consulting

This was a virtual event held for career services professionals (and others interested) interested in learning more about recruiting trends in the consulting industry. It included a panel format with time for Q&A with audience members:

• Panelists: Alex Lawver (Career Coach in the Wisconsin School of Business), Vanessa Mariscal (UW Alum at Bain & Company), Katie Matias (Recruiter at PWC, focusing on consulting roles)
• Recording of this session not available due to company restrictions

Themes, Advice, and Resources for Career Services Professionals Working with Students Interested in Consulting

• Consulting is broad and focus on just about any industry/field (tech, management, accounting, agriculture, nonprofits, STEM…), so major usually does not matter. It is, however, competitive, so students should maintain a 3.5+ GPA.
• Consulting is great for students who enjoy problem solving.
• Hiring timelines are really early! For example, the “big 3” consulting firms (McKinsey, Bain, and Boston Consulting Group) post and close postings the summer before. So if a sophomore is looking for a consulting internship for Summer 2024, the postings likely have already closed. Other “boutique” consulting roles will open later in the summer into  early fall.
• That said, students should start exploring and preparing EARLY!
• The interview process includes behavioral interviews and case interviews (hypothetical business situations)
• Students should prep months in advance for case interviews. They should practice a variety of cases and practice with peers.
  • Free case prep:
    • CaseCoach (BBA and Consulting Certificate students have access to this through the Career Engagement Studio)
    • https://caseinterview.com/
    • https://managementconsulted.com/case-interview/ (they also have a great YouTube channel)
  • Case Interview Prep Contact List (for student to add their names to and to reach out to other students for case interview practice)
• Encourage students to build problem solving, analysis (and Excel), and lots of other soft skills like critical thinking, interpersonal communication, presentations, asking good questions, action orientation, etc.
• Great ways for students to explore/get involved in consulting while on campus:
  • Informational interviews, networking (especially with young alumni at their firms of interest)
  • Student organizations with a consulting focus: Badger Consulting, Wisconsin Consulting Club, ENACTUS, ERBN
  • School of Business Consulting Certificate (13 credits with a brief declaration process)

Contact danielle.marriner@wisc.edu with ideas for future Industry Insights Panels!

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This event is intended for any career services staff who would like to learn more about recruiting trends in consulting.

Panelists will include career services staff, alumni and recruiters working with this industry.

Register for your unique Zoom link: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJclde2hqD0tHdIIA6C4Ifcp-QPkJGnhBg3l