Bain & Co. is one of the Big Three management consulting firms. Thousands of aspiring consultants apply to this prestigious organization, however, only those who can efficiently articulate their thoughts and demonstrate sound logic are deemed best suited for the job.

Bain Case Interview Facts

Bain utilizes a point system to determine which applicants are eligible for an interview. The key considerations include academic background, work experience, and extracurricular activities. If you were able to pass this initial screen, you need to start preparing for the infamous case interview.

Generally, there is no significant difference between the Bain interview and that of the other firms, particularly with regard to content or what they are looking for. What Bain and any esteemed consultancy firms want is basically the same: an applicant who possesses the analytical and logical skills to solve any type of business challenge. In addition, top-tier firms are looking for people with excellent communication skills and professionalism.

Therefore, in preparing for your Bain interview, your goal is to demonstrate your skills in realistic client situations.

How to Ace Bain Case Interviews

So what should you expect from a Bain case interview and how can you ace it? Bain typically provides 20 to 30 PowerPoint slides that describe a company’s situation. You will then be given approximately 50 minutes to review the slides before the actual interview begins. In order to impress recruiters, you will need to:

Showcase Your Analytical Skills

Remember, whether or not you get the right answer, you need to be able to efficiently demonstrate your thought process. Don’t feel overwhelmed if the answer isn’t obvious— you are not expected to know everything. However, the interviewer wants to know about your approach to solving business challenges. You will be evaluated based on your ability to structure a practical and effective approach to resolving a problem. You must be able to clearly communicate your logic and fundamental assumptions.

Don’t Hesitate to Ask Questions

Interviewers don’t always reveal all the necessary information unless it is requested. You may ask questions to elicit information you feel is needed to solve the case. It is essential that you determine which analytics are required for you to craft a recommendation. Remember, the case interview also evaluates your questioning skills.

Master Consulting Frameworks

In addition to logical thinking skills, you will need to master consulting frameworks in order to guide you in structuring your answer. You must know which approach to apply to different situations. Understanding these frameworks will help you identify contributing factors and generate pragmatic recommendations.

Improve Your Mental Math

Case interviews involve a lot of graphs and numerical calculations. It is therefore critical that you enhance your mental math. Take the time to practice this skill. It is best to simulate actual case interviews in order to improve your speed in performing calculations.

Practice Consulting Cases with a Friend or Professional

It is strongly recommended to practice consulting cases with someone, preferably a professional. Having someone to discuss your recommendations with or challenge your assumptions and interpretation of the data will significantly help you hone your analysis and comprehension skills.

Don’t Be Defensive

If your interviewer challenges your recommendations, don’t get defensive. Acknowledge the possibility that the interviewer may have brought up a relevant viewpoint that you have not considered. As there are many potential solutions, your goal is to be able to present a persuasive proposal best suited to the client’s situation. Trust your instincts and be open-minded.

Project Positive Energy

Top-tier consulting firms want applicants to be enthusiastic and energetic. Remember to be confident. Maintain eye contact with your interviewer and always have a pleasant expression on your face. However, do not overdo it. Project a calm, yet confident energy.

Whether you will be interviewing with Bain or another top-tier consulting firm, it is important to devote ample time to preparation. A management consulting job interview can be a nerve-racking experience, but with proper training, you can definitely come out on top.

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Management consultants are known as problem solvers. Their job is to help organizations maximize growth, improve business performance, and find solutions to their clients’ challenges by providing objective advice based on their expertise and skills.

Management consultants focus on analyzing and examining the structure, management, and operations of their clients. It is the duty of a consultant to formulate recommendations for positive change. Consultants cover a wide variety of services including business strategy, financial and management control, human resources, information technology, marketing, and operations. The business consulting industry is also known to generate a good amount of money and consultants are among the highest paid professionals.

There is no specific formula to becoming a successful business consultant, but utilizing the tips below will help get you started:

Know Your Strengths and Market Them

If you are new to management consulting, you need to step it up and market your expertise to your colleagues, former employers, and other contacts. Look at these people as potential employers who can refer you to businesses that require the services of a consultant.

Improve Your Social and Communication Skills

In addition to conducting a thorough analysis of the company’s overall business operations, you must have the ability to clearly communicate your thought process. Hone this important skill so you can express your brilliant recommendations and evaluations successfully. As you will be dealing with diverse people, including managers and employees, you need to project confidence when communicating. If you are not that confident about your interpersonal skills, attend seminars and workshops to improve this particular skill.

Monitor Your Client as Well as Its Competitors

If you already have a client, make it a habit to stay updated on the company, its top competitors, and recent industry developments. You can set up Google Alerts using related keywords. It is crucial to stay current if you want to remain on top of your game. By doing this, you are equipping yourself with powerful information that can lead to successful projects.

Know Your Client CEO and Senior Management

You do not want to have a casual conversation with an employee only to later realize that you were talking to the company CEO or the Executive VP—that can be very  embarrassing. Many newbie consultants have had this experience. Do your homework and visit your client’s website to familiarize yourself with the names and faces of senior management.

Find a Few Good Places for Team Dinners

Giving attention to this small detail is also important as it demonstrates your diligence. As a new consultant, the chore of planning and organizing team dinners and other team-bonding activities may fall on you, so it is best to be prepared. You can ask some friends for recommendations or search the Internet.

Organize Project-Related Documents

If the company has not implemented a shared hub for storing project-related documents, take the initiative and construct one. You can upload documents such as the annual reports of clients and competitors, briefings on the industry, and other client-related work. Reviewing work you conducted for your clients can provide you with ideas and help your team avoid previous mistakes. This will be a valuable resource to your team if you  organize it properly. Remember to frequently update the files as the project progresses.

Maintain a Healthy Working Relationship with Team Assistants

As the new consultant, you need to earn the respect of your team members. Earning their respect will enable you and the team to be more productive. Exert yourself and make an effort to get to know the team assistants on a personal level. After all, these people also have busy schedules and you want your requests to take top priority.

There is no sure formula to success, but it won’t hurt to follow these basic and practical tips for becoming an efficient and sought-after business consultant.

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Vying for a position at any management consulting firm is not an easy job. The recruitment process is tough and your competitors are highly qualified. When you feel that the odds of being invited to an interview are against you, take a breather and look for some inspiration on the web.

Here are some websites that can provide you with a daily dose of inspiration and motivation, and some nuggets of wisdom that can encourage you to manage your challenges optimistically.

TED

At TED.com, you will find a collection of talks given by influential people such as Bill Gates, Larry Page, Al Gore, Malcolm Gladwell, and other Nobel Prize winners. Each video contains innovative ideas on technology, design, entertainment, science, global issues, and business, among others. In addition, you will hear stories about how professionals succeed in their careers, ideas that you may use once you become a consultant, and simple tips on how to live life to the fullest.

Let’s Talk About Work

Founded by Mary-Frances Winters, letstalkaboutwork.tv offers practical advice, motivation, and guidance for personal and professional development. It posts daily inspirational quotes that can get your work day started on a positive note. It also publishes work-related blog posts that help  employees resolve issues with their boss or colleagues and conducts polls where you can share your ideas on relevant issues.

Marie Forleo

Marieforleo.com is the personal blog of Marie Forleo, a marketing and lifestyle expert who helps everyone live rich, happy, and hot. Most of her blogs contain a video of her interviewing an influential or successful person. At times, she provides practical advice for questions raised by her viewers or readers. In her posts, she encourages reader interaction by asking a question  about your career, preferences, business, or life in general.

Goins Writer

Goinswriter.com is the personal blog of Jeff Goins, a writer, speaker, creative coach, and consultant. He writes about dreams, art, careers, decisions, business, and other topics that will help you become an effective person. What you’ll love about his ideas is the fact that they are presented in a very simple manner. Readers remember his tips because they are easy to apply.

Careershifters

Careershifters.org is a website for professionals who want a change in their career. Its authors aim to help readers escape from their dead-end or unfulfilling jobs by gathering expert ideas on how to find a new profession that brings you to life. It explores the reasons that keep you from following your calling and provides you with tools on how to land your dream job. It also features the stories of professionals who successfully shifted from one career to another.

Zenhabits

On zenhabits.net, Leo Babauta proves that less is more. He believes there is happiness and productivity in finding simplicity and clearing the clutter. Each week, he features a few articles on motivation and inspiration, frugality, goals, health and fitness, among others. This uncopyrighted blog may have no images, but the simple yet powerful content is more than enough.

Lifehack

Many consider lifehack.org as one of the premier productivity and lifestyle blogs on the Internet. It provides advice, resources, and tips to help you perform tasks efficiently and effectively. It contains sensible articles and provides quotes on communication, lifestyle, money, technology, work, productivity, and relationships.

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Management consulting is a popular industry that helps business organizations improve their performance. Many businesses seek the services of consultants as external advisors. A management consultant’s main role is to assess a company’s areas of opportunity, recommend strategic plans, and implement change to achieve desired growth and development.

Consultant’s approach problems with a different perspective than other professionals. They are hired to find the answers to seemingly unsolvable problems. So how do they do it? What goes on in a consultant’s mind?

Data is Useless Unless it Tells a Story

Data that can’t convey a story is irrelevant. That’s why consulting firms spend a generous amount of time researching and analyzing documents. Consultants are obsessed with finding valuable information from data that can be used to transform their client’s current situation. A good consultant has a natural instinct for discovering the story behind any given data. He or she recognizes that facts and statistics are not just numbers, but represent various outcomes to different situations.

Everything is Much Simpler Broken Down

Consultants perceive business operations as a series of steps, which can be broken down into subcomponents. They use diagrams and flowcharts to define the subcomponents and solve the problem.

Listening Skills are Vital

Consulting skills include more than knowledge and experience. To be successful, learning to be an active listener is a must. Consultants recognize that listening skills are vital in accumulating useful information. It is through effective listening that one can encourage others to talk freely. And the information shared by different people can contribute to more productive results.

The ability to hear and genuinely understand concerns and connect with people on a personal level is a powerful tool. A good listener knows how to present an idea in a way that will lead to successful project implementation.

Team Effort Leads to Desired Results

Ideally, a consultant has a thorough knowledge about the industry upon which to base decisions that will benefit a company. However, this does not mean that an expert should not be referred to for additional ideas. Consultants know that team effort is a vital element of any successful project. Establishing a collaborative relationship with team members is key to achieving the end goal. Good consultants are open to learning from their peers; they value the input and expertise of other professionals. Engaging and involving employees makes the consulting process much easier.

“I Don’t Know” Should Never be the Answer

Management consultants are expected to possess a high level of knowledge about various industries and never answer a question with, “I don’t know.” Those three words could harm their reputation and the prestige of their firm. Their minds are trained to find solutions. That’s why consultants continually expand their knowledge through informative materials and networking with colleagues.

However, it is also true that no one knows everything—even the most experienced consultant. “I don’t know” is still not an acceptable answer. Instead, a good consultant will say “I don’t know, but I know someone who does.” This conveys a genuine intention to find a solution to the problem.

Logic Has Nothing to Do with Numbers

Management consulting is known to attract analytical thinkers. But consultants recognize that logic does not mean solving quantitative problems. Aspiring consultants need not  have a degree in science, economics, or other quantitative subjects. While these backgrounds can serve as an advantage, they do not guarantee success.

Logic is all about thought processes—how to approach and solve a problem. Other professionals like lawyers, linguists, and historians are analytical thinkers as well, but their ideas and hypotheses are not grounded merely on quantitative elements.

Analytical thinkers can process any piece of information; however, consultants must be able to analyze a large amount of data and develop viable solutions to complicated problems.

Management consultants are an invaluable asset to any organization. Their deep insights and revolutionary solutions play a big role in the success of a business. Management consulting has definitely pushed the business sector and the economy to greater heights.

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Crafting a great management consultant resume is probably one of the biggest challenges applicants face. As the consultancy employment market is extremely competitive, most aspiring consultants are qualified for the vacant position. With such steep competition, your job application must reflect outstanding professional experience, skills, and achievements.

Most aspiring consultants dream of working at global management consulting firms such as Bain & Co. And like other world renowned firms, Bain utilizes a rigorous and competitive screening process. Candidates who wish to work at this reputable company must be able to devise an interesting and relevant application.

This means you have to submit a customized resume in order to pass Bain’s initial screening process. When crafting your application, keep in mind that only a small percentage of applicants get an interview at Bain.

What Bain Looks For

To determine which candidates are eligible to move on to the interview stage, Bain developed a points system to evaluate their applicants’ educational attainment, work experience, and related extracurricular activities. Recruiters look for individuals who possess the following:

Bain recruits talented and experienced professionals to fill their Associate Consultant positions from a variety of places—from colleges and universities and top graduate schools to meet-ups and networking events.

Know Your Target Firm

Before you start creating your consulting resume, allot some time to researching your target firm. Acquiring knowledge about Bain will guide you in writing your application. As your resume has to be targeted to the company and the position, obtaining information will help you build a connection with them as a potential employer. You can find relevant information on their company website including their goals, values, and other essential details.

You can also follow their social media accounts in order to stay updated on recent activities and events. You won’t be able to include all the information you find on your resume, but you will definitely benefit from the knowledge, particularly if you are selected to be interviewed.

Moreover, seek the advice of colleagues who have worked or are currently working for Bain. You may just learn relevant information about what the company is currently looking for, preferred methodology, skills, etc.

Crafting Your Bain Resume

In general, the format of a resume includes the following categories:

• Header with personal information
• Summary and objective
• Work experience and achievements
• Educational background
• Interests/activities

However, most consulting resumes do not include a summary or objectives section. This is because as an aspiring consultant, your summary and career objectives must be clearly demonstrated through your achievements. Besides, recruiters at top-tier consulting firms like Bain are busy people; they don’t want to see any irrelevant information.

Also, remember to structure your resume to address the needs of the recruitment consultant. Place your name at the top of the page and mention your employment history in reverse chronological order, or starting with the most recent position.

Personal Information Section

In this section, mention all relevant personal details: your name, home address, email address, and contact numbers. To convey a more professional feel you can add the URL to your online portfolio or website. It is also recommended to use a larger font for your name.

In addition, make sure you provide a simple and professional email address. Using a funny  email address will not help you get a job at Bain. In fact, according to a survey titled “Confession of the Recruitment Agency,” 76% of applications that contain an unprofessional email address are rejected. It is recommended to use your first and last name when setting up an email account for business and professional use as in the example below. Lastly, ensure the contact numbers you provide are accurate and functional.

Professional Experience and Achievements

When developing this section of your Bain resume, remember to include your accomplishments in addition to your responsibilities. Under each job heading, you may use bullet points to detail your achievements; make sure you mention the most impressive ones first.

Simply listing your previous position titles and role descriptions will not suffice. Bain wants to know about your tangible contributions. You can also include major projects that you’ve worked on in which you demonstrated key skills. Top-tier firms are interested in quantifiable achievements, not responsibilities.

When conveying your accomplishments, use numbers and statistics. Your prospective firm will translate these numbers into a solid record of quantifiable success.

Educational Background

If you are a fresh graduate, this section should follow your personal details. Your educational training will help Bain assess how equipped you are for the available consulting role. If you already have relevant working experience, it is suggested to place  this section after your work experience.

Some of the most vital information to include is the name of your college/university, your degree, the years attended, and relevant coursework. Moreover, you may include your GPA, LSAT scores, and other relevant tests you have taken. It is also recommended to list any awards you received either for academic excellence or social involvement. If you feel you have an impressive transcript, you can attach it to your application.

Extracurricular Activities

It is also recommended to include this section if you recently graduated as it can effectively demonstrate the qualities Bain looks for in applicants. However, if you already have plenty of professional experience, this section may be unnecessary.

In this section of you can highlight any of the following:

Additional Skills and Interests

If you have other relevant qualifications, you may include them in this section of your Bain resume. For example, you could include the following credentials: foreign languages, software expertise, professional group involvement, and certificates and licenses.

Common Consulting Resume Mistakes

To ensure that your Bain resume is impeccably written, avoid committing the following mistakes:

Landing a job at Bain can be a painstaking process. However, if you are thoroughly prepared for their application and screening process, you’ll have a better chance of landing a job at this prestigious firm.

References

• How Long Do Recruiters Spend Reading Your CV?
• Resume Falsification Statistics

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“Tell me about yourself. Tell me about your experience and strengths. Why do you feel you are the right person for this position?” 

These are the most common job interview questions. Most candidates have prepared and rehearsed their answers to such questions, making it hard for recruiters to truly assess their skills. That’s why more and more employers are using not-so-standard methods to filter  applicants. Brain teasers and logic puzzles are two of these unconventional and innovative strategies.

Brain teasers and logic puzzles may sound the same but there’s a significant difference between the two. Brain teasers involve unusual questions that you have to answer based on your assumptions of the problem. The goal of this test is to determine whether a  candidate has the ability to solve tough problems and to some extent, it can demonstrate a candidate’s confidence in thinking outside the box. In most cases, you are not expected to come up with the correct answer. In fact, the interviewer might not know the right answer either. Employers that utilize brain teasers are more interested in how you process your thoughts, how creative you can be, and your capability and audacity to present innovative ideas.

Logic puzzles, on the other hand, do have a concrete answer that can be deduced rationally. Usually, these puzzles have various valid solutions but you are expected to come up with the optimal resolution.

Basically, companies use these mind-boggling tools to discover the following:

How Do You Think?

Can you structure your thinking processes? Can you establish your assumptions before doing something? If you can effectively explain how you arrived at your recommendation,  you will most likely do well during the brain teasers and logic puzzles interview.

How Do You Identify Relevant Details?

Can you quickly distinguish which information is relevant to the solution? If you have a strong ability to spot superfluous materials, then you won’t have a problem with brain teasers and logic puzzles.

How Do You Deal with Ambiguity?

Can you handle vague and unfamiliar scenarios? More often than not, the subject of these tests are foreign to the candidate. Recruiters want to know how you cope with peculiar situations and if you have the grace and composure to handle them.

How Confident Are You?

How well do you cope with stress? Employers are looking for people who can exude confidence and who they can trust to represent them in a reliable manner.

How Do You Communicate?

Can you clearly and confidently express your thoughts? Can you convey your opinions using the right tone and volume to persuade clients? Recruiters want to find out if you are articulate enough to answer uncommon questions.

Remember, preparing for a job interview not only requires you to research the company’s profile, you also have to sharpen your cognitive skills, flexibility, and grace. Rehearsed answers will not impress your target employer. Take the time to practice brain teasers and logic puzzles.

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Management consulting is a highly sought-after career by both fresh graduates and experienced professionals. This industry offers intellectually stimulating challenges,  generous compensation, and a strong sense of fulfillment. Thousands of applicants submit their applications to top-tier management consulting firms each year. Because the recruiting process is so competitive, you need to work hard and spend time preparing if you truly want to land a job in this lucrative industry.

First, you have to create a great resume and cover letter that are tailored to the goals of  your target firm and requirements of the position. Be sure to structure your relevant details in the most comprehensible manner. After submitting you excellent resume and cover letter,  you need to start preparing for the most crucial and, for some applicants, the most nerve-racking part of the recruitment process—the interview.

Evaluate Your Competencies

Before recruiters actually call you for an interview, evaluate your suitability for the job. Take the time to thoroughly read the job description and determine if you possess the competencies to meet the requirements of the position. Are you capable of analyzing and solving problems? Do you have the skills to clearly communicate your ideas to supervisors and colleagues? Are you genuinely interested in business operations? These are some of the questions that can help you assess your competencies. Remember, if don’t think you  you are ready for a consulting position, don’t waste your time applying. Develop  your skills and when you feel you have honed your abilities, you will be more confident during the interview.

Research the Company

If you really feel that you are properly equipped with the right credentials, then it’s time to conduct some research on your prospective firm. The information you can get by visiting their website, following their social accounts, and connecting with people who are associated with the firm will serve as your guide in preparing for the interview. To successfully get through the selection process, you should learn the names of key people at the firm, their preferred methodologies, and the types of cases they work on.

Reading press releases in the newspaper or online will provide you with the current status and projects of the company. Determine how you can contribute to the growth of the company and practice answering questions related to organizational improvement.

Practice as Many Case Studies as You Can

Case studies are an indispensable part of management consulting interviews. If you have chosen this field, you should know by now that the recruiting process involves more than the standard job interview. Recruiters in this industry greatly rely on case descriptions and  hypothetical and theoretical problems. Learning how to handle this type of interview will greatly improve your chance of landing a job at a top management consulting agency.

Firms like Bain and McKinsey offer practice case studies as well as interview preparation advice on their websites. The skills that you will use during a case study interview are the same set of skills needed to be an effective management consultant. Make sure you have a good grasp of basic business concepts such as market structure and financials. Convey  your value by demonstrating that you have the requisite knowledge and skills to perform the core activities of the firm.

There’s a plethora of case study practice guides available today. You need not purchase every study guide published; select three or four reputable ones. Remember, the more exposure you have to case questions, the more prepared and competent you will be during your interview.

Master Consulting Frameworks

Your ability to think logically is not enough to land a job in the consulting industry. You must be able to structure your answer within a specified time. Sometimes, knowing where and how to start is the biggest problem. This challenge can be overcome by applying different business frameworks to different situations. These frameworks will help you identify the possible contributing factors of the problem, generate sound recommendations, and build your confidence.

Practice with Someone

It’s recommended that you practice with somebody who can walk you through the cases. Ask a friend, trusted colleague, or family member. There are some materials available to guide those who are helping you in how to ask questions or reveal other parts of the problem.

Network with Industry Professionals

Networking is another powerful tool that can help you prepare for the interview. Having experts in your circle of contacts can definitely help you break into this industry. You can ask for more tips and advice from these professionals. In addition, referral strategy is known as an effective way to land a job. Expand your network of professionals by joining organizations, LinkedIn, and other popular networking sites.

Wear Appropriate Attire

Present yourself in a neat and professional manner. Wearing appropriate clothing during your interview will make you feel more confident. If you want to be a reputable management consultant, you have to dress like one. Appearance always matters.

Breaking into the industry of management consulting can be quite challenging. Dedicate enough time and effort to preparing for the interview so that you can prove to the recruiter that you have what it takes to be the next sought-after consultant.

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The cover letter may be a basic requirement for the management consulting application process, but writing one poses difficulties for most applicants. To address this problem, we have provided a consulting cover letter outline below that can serve as a reference when crafting this document.

Header

Place your and the consulting firm’s contact information at the top of the page. Ensure that the details are accurate; otherwise, you’ll never be contacted for further assessment. If you’re sending your application via email, include your contact info at the bottom of the letter, below your signature. To eliminate confusion, the contact details should be the same as what’s provided in  your resume.

Salutation

As much as possible, don’t use “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Hiring Manager.” Take a step further and include the addressee’s complete name and position to indicate your sincerity and interest in working for the company.

Introduction

The first paragraph of an ideal consulting cover letter outline starts with an explanation about how you heard about the vacant position. Were you informed by a person who’s currently working for the firm? Did you read about the opportunity on LinkedIn or other online job board? Also, briefly describe how your qualifications match the vacant position’s requirements in order to give the recruiter an understanding about your candidacy.

Middle Paragraphs

Expound on your knowledge, skills, and abilities by summarizing your work experience and education. Emphasize one or two qualifications that make you suitable for the job. If possible, focus on experience or accomplishments that showcase your logical, analytical, decision-making, and communication skills—the vital attributes of a consultant. If you’re a recent graduate, you can do this by discussing your extra-curricular activities, thesis, or relevant coursework and elaborate on how they have prepared you for the role.

Closing Paragraph

In the last paragraph of the consulting cover letter outline, reiterate your skills that make you the right applicant for the job and state your enthusiasm about being invited for an interview to discuss the opportunity further. Finally, thank the recruiter for taking the time to read your job application.

Signature

To end your letter, use a professional, complimentary closing such as the following:

• Sincerely yours,
• Very truly yours,
• Kind regards,
• Best regards,
• Respectfully,

Don’t forget to attach your signature as it adds more integrity to your application. If you’re sending your cover letter via email, scan your signature, adjust the size, and insert it into your letter. This reveals your technological savvy, which can be an edge nowadays.

Additional Cover Letter Tips

Regardless of the consulting cover letter outline you use, here are two additional tips to remember:

Insert Keywords

Recruiters review hundreds of job applications for a single position. Without the luxury of time, they quickly move from one section to another. If they come across familiar words, they’ll easily be able to match your skills to the position. Given this explanation, carefully read the job advertisement and the firm’s website to identify what they look for in candidates and insert the appropriate terms in your cover letter.

Proofread Your Cover Letter

Before submitting your cover letter, proofread it to ensure it doesn’t contain embarrassing  punctuation, grammar, and/or spelling errors. Recruiters are very particular about your written communication skills as you will be writing reports if you get hired for the position.

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Many professionals have shifted from consulting to entrepreneurship. Kathryn Minshew,  co-founder of DailyMuse.com, was grateful she had developed her research skills at McKinsey because it helped her conceptualize her career and professional development website. John Tabis, the founder of The Bouqs Co., an online flower shop, used to be a consultant at Bain & Company. He attributes the success of his business to his experience working with senior consultants and clients across various industries.

And perhaps a perfect example is Daniel Stefanac, the founder of this website, ConsultingFact.com. After his two-year stint at McKinsey, he explored the corporate world and then decided to be a full-time entrepreneur.

Why are so many of those who venture from consulting to entrepreneurship successful? Here are some possible reasons:

Exposure to Best Practices

If you are privileged to work for a huge consulting firm such as McKinsey, Bain, and Deloitte, you will be assigned to work on projects in various industries including healthcare, media and entertainment, manufacturing, and aviation, among others. Your role doesn’t stop at understanding the main problem; you are expected to generate the best solutions for the client. In the process, you learn how other companies successfully manage their operations, human resources, technology, and market strategies. When you decide to shift from consulting to entrepreneurship, this knowledge will help you develop efficient processes and procedures.

Market Knowledge

Management consultants understand that no business will flourish if it doesn’t have a specific market. In fact, one of the major services of huge consulting firms focuses on market studies. You examine the needs, buying capability, and behavior of a potential market and then identify market segments to determine which subset matches the requirements of a particular service or product while exploring the competition among suppliers and strategies for product branding. Again, when you venture into business, your extensive, first-hand experience in data collection and analysis will come in handy.

Enhanced Problem-Solving Skills

Consultants are hired for one main purpose—to resolve business dilemmas outside the expertise of top management. In order to serve this purpose effectively, you should approach the problem objectively. You can break the issue into manageable segments to determine all the factors involved in the process. You investigate financial documents, read research studies, and go through other documents for relevant facts. After thorough analysis, you generate solutions that will lead to the growth and profitability of the company. Your enhanced problem-solving skills, when applied to your new startup, will help you make more effective decisions.

Increased Connections

As mentioned above, consultants are usually assigned to various clients. In most cases, you spend your days in the client’s office interviewing rank-and-file employees, conducting focused group discussions with supervisors, and consulting with top management. This exposure   allows for a huge advantage—powerful and diverse connections. If you can maintain a good relationship with your contacts, it will be easy for you to tap their resources, inquire about their expertise, and gain inspiration from their experience. Start being a people-person now, and once you shift from consulting to entrepreneurship, you will receive the assistance you need.

References

• Management Consulting: The Perfect Prep for Entrepreneurship
• The Rise Of The Consultant-Turned-Entrepreneur

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In preparing for your interview, you’ve researched your target consulting firm, networked with some of its employees, and practiced resolving case interviews. However, when you woke up on the actual day, you realized you hadn’t thought about what to wear during the interview.

Being in this situation can cause you some problems. Whether you like it or not, your consulting wear affects the interviewer’s impression of you. This doesn’t mean you have to look like attractive TV stars and models; what’s important is that you convey professionalism and here’s why:

Consulting Wear for Women

The majority of management consulting firms follow a conservative dress code. Below are some suggestions for consulting wear for women which fit the industry’s culture:

Consulting Wear for Men

Men are not exempt from dressing appropriately during the consulting interview. Here are some suggestions for consulting wear for men:

Don’t Wear Uncomfortable Clothes

When you are planning what to wear during the interview, think of the most important thing— comfort. If you go into the interview anxious about the length of your skirt or hairstyle, you won’t be able to focus on analyzing the business case and finding the right solutions. Your consulting wear should boost, not ruin, your candidacy.

Give Yourself Plenty of Time to Prepare

You should get sufficient rest the night before the interview, and wake up early to shower, dress, shave, and fix your hair so you’re not rushing to the interview. Leaving enough time for preparation will keep you calm, lessen your anxiety, and boost your confidence.

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