management consultant?

Question

lately i have been asking questions about careers and am interested in consultancy, i was wondering what qualifications are needed for a management consultant and if there is a "direct" path to becoming one.

thanks

Answer 1

I'm a consultant ... for 12 years now. There are basically three ways to do this. One is to get a job with a traditional consulting firm like KPMG. To do this, you will need a business degree, preferably an MBA.

Another way is to get a job with a non-traditional consulting business like the George S. May company (http://www.georgesmay.com). They will hire almost anyone with good personal skills and give them some basic training. But, their employees burn out quickly.

A third way is to work for several years in management with a company (like a manufacturing company) and then go into consulting for yourself. This is the approach I took.

Answer 2

Management consulting firms do lots of hiring and recruiting both out of undergrad programs and MBA programs. These are highly competitive and tend to revolve around the Ivy Leagues, major well ranked universities with business programs and some other colleges and universities. Check with your school's career center on the timing of presentations and recruiting sessions.

Otherwise, if you are out of school, you may want to consider an MBA. If you already have an MBA and had been pursuing other careers, management consultant firms tend to hire more experienced professionals with specific skills - forensic accounting, treasury and management, strategic / corporate development etc.

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 3

MBA in the top of the class at a top ranked school are frequently recruited by consulting firms.

Consider calling the placement office of schools that you are considering and ask them what management consulting firms recruit there. Then call the representative and ask them what they are looking for. Or call some company that you might want to work for after graduation and ask them what they are looking for.