consulting application bootcamp...3 keys of a great consulting cover letter why you will be a great...

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P E P P E R D I N E G R A Z I A D I OF E B R UA RY 2 0 2 0

P R E S E N T E D BYJ E N N Y R A E L E R O U X

CONSULTING APPLICATION BOOTCAMP

MANAGEMENT CONSULTED

Come say hello!

We’re excited to be

here!

Check out our YouTube

channel

Have a question? Come ask!

Sit with a partner

Finish emails/Insta- it’s a no-tech day

Thank you to our hosts!

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PRE-TEST

Speed Round Elevator Pitches


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QUESTION


What is one thing you hope to get out of today?

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AGENDA

� Insider‘s Consulting Overview� Networking for Consulting� World Class Cover Letters� Tailoring your Resume for Consulting


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CLIENTS RECEIVE OFFERS FROM:


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WHAT WE DO

www.managementconsulted.com


MCFree

content

On-site bootcamps

Self-study training

materials

1:1 editing/training

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MC COVERS THE FULL PROCESS

Resumes & Cover Letters

Networking

Fit Interview PrepCase Interview Prep

On-the-Job Skills Training

JOB OFFERS!


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CONSULTING OVERVIEW


Get the real story from an insider.

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WHAT IS CONSULTING?


Providing research, analysis, and business advice

Classified by project owner

Average projects of 3-6 months

Training for business leadership

Accelerated career path

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BACKGROUND –Jenny Rae


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WHAT FIRMS’ PICTURES SAY YOU DO ALL DAY

Travel first class

Go to offsites

and happy hours

Write on white

boards and

windows

Make “impact”

on clients


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WHAT YOU REALLY DO ALL DAY

Research (10%)

Excel (60%)

PowerPoint (20%)

Meetings (10%)


Plus….

RecruitingTravel

Sleep (sometimes)

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IS CONSULTING RIGHT FOR YOU?

Short, focused projects

High impact work

Solve quant problems

Work for profit-driven

orgs

Heavy teamwork


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Results-oriented Analytical

Business acumen

Big-picture oriented

“My work results in clear profit for the client.”

“My work uses data and presents it to

others well.”

“My work is grounded in current business affairs.”

“My work supports the client’s

overall strategy.”

ARE YOU RIGHT FOR CONSULTING?

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9 COMMON BUSINESS PROBLEMS

Profitability

Revenue growth

Process/ops m apping

Cost best practices

Tech integration

Competitive landscape

review

M arket sizing

M arket share

decline

M arket entry

M&A

Due diligence

PM I


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WHY PEOPLE GO INTO CONSULTING


Professional development

Skill building

Resume-maker

• Heavy teamwork• No boss• Extensive feedback

• Excel/data analytics• PowerPoint• Executive presence

• Small, tight-knit network

• Highly credible brand

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WHY CONSULTANTS LEAVE CONSULTING


Better Pay

Better Lifestyle

More Power

Industry Focus

Send Off

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NETWORKING

The biggest asset of any consulting firm is its people.


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QUESTION

Raise your hand if you have more than 3 contacts in consulting.

(I want to see if we should focus more on warm or cold networking today)


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WHY NETWORK?

3 Key Reasons• Answer ”why the firm?” to the firm• Answer “why the firm?” for yourself• Get a referral

Tailor your application• Name drop in cover letter• Have an advocate in the room


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WHAT MATTERS TO CONSULTANTS?

Education

• Pedigree• Quantitative• Performance

(GPA, Honors)

Experience

• Brand Name• Analytical

Ability• Business

Understanding• Distinction

Leadership

• People• Budgets• Impact• "Professional"


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QUESTION

Which of the three areas will you lead with?


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KEYS TO NETWORK FOR CONSULTING

2 PARTS OF NETWORKING

1) Getting in the door

2) Conducting research


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THE 5 RULES OF NETWORKING

You need to be talking to…

the right person at the right time at the right firm

in the right location for the right position


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WHO COUNTS WHEN NETWORKING?

Pre-MBA Post-MBA

Manager Partner

Recruiting


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WHEN TO CONTACT – YEAR ROUND


Summer "Love and peace"

• Interns in office

• Long, happy days

• Slow client work

• Aug. 1 -hiring targets

Fall "Git 'er done"

• Insanity• Peak

recruiting season

• Heaviest client period

• Rapid execution

Winter "Sleeping luck"

• "Dead of winter"

• End of year hiring

• Mid-January return

Spring "Second chances"

• Backfill hiring

• Growth-oriented hiring

• Season of productivity

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WHEN TO CONTACT - STANDARD


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FIRMS TO KNOW

Top 3

Big 4

Boutique


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OFFICE SELECTION

Place with strongest sponsor should go first on list

Where you have a right to

work

Where you want to

live

Where you have been


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KNOW YOUR ROLE

Pre-MBA Post-MBA

Manager Partner

Admin


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APPLICATION REVIEW TYPES

MANAGEMENT CONSULTED, INC.

Computer Screen

• Keyword-based• Position-specific• Data-driven• Follow up with

screening call

Recruiter Screen

• Skills-specific• Impression• Scan• Follow up with

screening call

Professional Review

• Potential-based• Individual

numerical ranking

• Review/discussion session

• Follow up with interview

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WHAT HAPPENS TO THE APPLICATION?

Application submitted (Weds)

HR compiles book (Thurs)

Individual scoring (Fri-Weds)

HR creates prelim buckets (Thurs)


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THE PROFESSIONAL REVIEW

A-list

• Partner networking

• High ranking candidates

• Pre-selected candidates

• Pro-list

The Abyss

• Con-list• Low ranking

candidates

To Discuss

• Medium ranking candidates

• Rescues from The Abyss


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3 STEPS OF NETWORKING

Email

Request for referral

Informational interview


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KILLER NETWORKING EMAIL


Subject

Name

First line

3 fun facts

Specific ask

Closing

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INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW AGENDA


My background

Your background

3-4 questions

about your experience

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ELEVATOR PITCH


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ELEVATOR PITCH BASICS

When should you use it?

Tell me about yourself (but not in formal interview)

“Just to give you a bit of background…” – to precede a

question

“Let me tell you where I’m coming from…” – to precede a request

What does it entail?

4 areas - personal roots, education, experience, and what’s next

Chronological

Selective history

Infer - don’t be too aggressive


Ideal length: 30 seconds

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5 KEY TIPS FOR NETWORKING

Have the resume ready

Use LinkedIn for research,

email for communication

Drive to an informational

interviewSet an agenda Follow through


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COVER LETTERS

You have a powerful story – now tell it


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RESUME & COVER LETTER BEST PRACTICES

You really only need one best-

practice resume

Cover letter should be tailored to the

firm through networking

The two go together as a

package

Goal is not only to land interview, but

also the job!


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3 KEYS OF A GREAT CONSULTING COVER LETTER

Why you will be a great consultant

Wording

ContentFormat


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COVER LETTER FORMATTING TIPS

� Margins¡ 0.8” at a minimum

� Font size¡ 11-12 point font.

� Spacing¡ Single spaced¡ 4-6 paragraphs with 4 headings (your address, date, subject, to:)

� Color¡ B&W

� Font¡ Sans Serif - Arial, Arial Narrow, Calibri, etc.¡ Serif - Times New Roman, Palatino Linotype, Garamond, etc.


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COVER LETTER WORKSHOP

Live edit


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HOW TO TELL A COVER LETTER STORY

� How to tell a story¡ Get to the point (your address vs. firm address)¡ Tell 1-2 stories, not a recap of the resume¡ Focus on you, not the firm¡ Personalize 1 paragraph based on networking¡ Remove weak language (I feel/I believe)¡ Include specific keywords

� 2 types of cover letters¡ Chronological¡ Bullets


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6 KEY COVER LETTER STRUCTURE REMINDERS

� Length¡ 1-pagers

� Format¡ Chronological (education, leadership, experience, why the firm)¡ Bullets (intro, why the firm, bullets, conclusion)

� Level of detail¡ 4-6 paragraphs¡ 3-4 bullets, 4-5 lines max for each bullet

� Story deep-dives¡ 1-2 illustrations¡ Describe context, actions and results – ideally from 2 different experiences

� Why the firm?¡ Keep it to 1 paragraph¡ Be specific, and personalize

� Consistency¡ Vary word choice (maximum 2X/letter)


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Live edit


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COVER LETTER WORD (AND NUMBER) CHOICES

� Context¡ Company, group or team¡ Numbers ($XM or X-member), write out anything below 10

� Action word¡ 1/sentence¡ Vary them – no more than 2X/letter¡ Try not to lead with “I” too much¡ Don’t use “I feel”, “I believe”

� Achievements¡ Outcomes¡ Awards¡ Projections

� Quantification¡ Pages¡ Team members¡ Months¡ Monetary value¡ %


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Live edit


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CONSULTING RESUMES

Do you just want an interview – or do you want an offer?


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CONSULTING RESUME OVERVIEW

Do you just want an interview – or do you want an offer?


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KEY SPECIFICS CONSULTANTS LOOK FOR

1-2 Diverse experiences

Excel skills

1-2 substantial leadership roles

Employee or Academic Awards

Top Scores


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KEY THINGS CONSULTANTS SAY THEY LOOK FOR…

…but don’t really care about.

Your Entrepreneurial experienceNon-relevant Leadership

Case or Consulting-related activitiesLots of ActivitiesGeneral Awards

Industry Certifications


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3 ELEMENTS OF A GREAT CONSULTING RESUME

Why you will be a great consultant

Wording

ContentFormat


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CONSULTING RESUME FORMATTING

How the resume looks is as important as what you say


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RESUME FORMATTING TIPS

� Margins¡ 0.5” at a minimum

� Font size¡ 10-11.5 point font

� Spacing¡ Single spaced¡ At least ½ line between each entry

� Color¡ B&W

� Font¡ Sans Serif - Arial, Arial Narrow, Calibri, etc.¡ Serif - Times New Roman, Palatino Linotype, Garamond, etc.


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CONSULTING RESUMEWORKSHOP

Live edit


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CONSULTING RESUMECONTENT

What story are you telling?


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RESUME/CV ANATOMY

• Heading (Name and Contact Info)

• Overview

• Education

• Experience

• Leadership

• Publications/Presentations

• Personal


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6 KEY RESUME STRUCTURE REMINDERS

� Length¡ 1-pagers¡ 2-pagers

� Format¡ Chronological¡ Skills-based

� Level of detail¡ 3-5 bullets¡ 2 total levels of bullet points

� Double-entries¡ Double degrees ¡ Promotions¡ Return offers

� Irrelevant experience� Consistency


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Live edit


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CONSULTING RESUMEWORDING

Every word matters


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WORD (AND NUMBER) CHOICES

� Context¡ Company, group or team¡ Numbers ($XM or X-member)

� Action word¡ 1/line

� Achievements¡ Outcomes¡ Awards¡ Projections

� Quantification¡ Pages¡ Team members¡ Months¡ Monetary value¡ %


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Live edit


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HANG OUT WITH US!

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@MCONSULTED

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consulting application bootcamp...3 keys of a great consulting cover letter why you will be a great...

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