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JUMPSTART YOUR CAREER IN CONSULTING Introduction and Career Center Overview

JUMPSTART YOUR CAREER IN CONSULTING Introduction and Career Center Overview Tips on Applying & Case Interviewing Break Consultant Panel Network with Consultants. What is Consulting?.

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JUMPSTART YOUR CAREER IN CONSULTING Introduction and Career Center Overview

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  1. JUMPSTART YOUR CAREER IN CONSULTING Introduction and Career Center Overview Tips on Applying & Case Interviewing Break Consultant Panel Network with Consultants

  2. What is Consulting? • Consultants provide advice to corporations and institutions on almost every issue that relates to their business strategy • Firms that specialize in Management or Strategy Consulting often advise clients on core operations or long-term planning

  3. Areas Consultants Address Strategy: Think of a company’s EXTERNAL focus and how a company shapes its destination. Work with Very High Level Corporate Executives who direct the future of the company Operations/Process: Think of a company’s INTERNAL focus (procedures, analytical tools, organization, productivity and costs Work with HR, Marketing, Logistics, etc.

  4. Areas of Consulting Information Technology/Systems : Find ways to apply technology to achieve a client’s business goals Work with Information systems departments or senior financial or operating officers Create technology strategy Develop and design custom software

  5. Consultants Are: Trained to solve problems, devise strategies, and improve the general “well being” of their clients in a variety of industries Hired for their problem solving skills and objectivity Research, analyze, prepare reports and present findings, and propose a plan of action to the client Some consulting firms/consultants are involved in the implementation of the plan with the client

  6. Types of Consultants Management: Work on specific problems (focused on the short term) with managers Strategy: Researches and develops strategies for improvement of long-term goals for the company Finance: Provide financial advice to corporations and money managers Health-Care: Work with managed care solutions, reengineering, IT projects, strategy and program evaluations

  7. Types of Consultants Litigation: Provide support to law firms by working with attorneys to map out case strategies, courtroom exhibits, and tactics and provide economic analysis IT/Systems: Find ways to apply technology to solve the client’s business goals HR Consulting: Work to maximize the value of the employees who work with in the client’s company. Look at benefits, relationship management, building competencies, counseling, etc)

  8. Skills to Highlight Academic Excellence, GRE, Honors, Awards Initiative, Leadership, Team player, Project Management Analytical, quantitative, research Interpersonal, problem solving, mediation Excellent verbal, presentation, and writing skills Innovative, creativity, ability to explore individual ideas and bring them to fruition Impact, integrity, ethical standards “Business sense”

  9. Selected for Interviews?Offered a Position? Utilize Drop-In hours for quick questions Schedule Mock Consulting interview sessions Dress for success Prepare and practice for individual and group case interviews Utilize Career and Web resources to prepare Research Companies and Firms for which you were selected Attend any and all events by employer Send thank you notes Evaluate the offer given thoroughly Learn Negotiation Skills Learn how to juggle multiple offers and interviews

  10. What Are Case Interviews? Interactive process to analyze a business question Employer presents a scenario and may give limited information Candidate asks logical questions as basis for detailed recommendations Interviewer focused on your analytical and creative thinking Specific answer is often less important than your thinking process

  11. Why Firms Rely on Case Interviews Thinking on your feet reflects consultants’ actual work environment. Consultants required to work with incomplete data, interview clients, research, analyze, present Employers want to observe candidates in a variety of situations

  12. Some Types of Case Interviews Business or ‘Traditional’ Case Presentation Case Guesstimates Brainteasers

  13. Business Case Interviews * Source: vault.com “Management & Strategy Consulting: News & Research “(2007) Interviewer presents a scenario for your recommendations Example: “Our client has engaged us to assist them in reorganizing their sales force. They want to cut $50 million in costs from this area over the next two years.” * Case may or may not have a specific “right” answer Employers often look for logical but “out of the box” thinking

  14. Presentation Case Interview Source: vault.com “Management & Strategy Consulting: News & Research “(2007) Candidate is asked to present and discuss a topic, often to group of interviewers at the 2nd or 3rd round. You may receive data and be required to produce a PowerPoint in a limited time Some firms ask you to prepare a presentation before the interview. The presentation case is often a group interview, where you work and present as a team.

  15. Guesstimates Source: vault.com “Management & Strategy Consulting: News & Research “(2007) Candidates make “ballpark” calculations with very limited data Expected that you will arrive at conclusions by thinking out loud Logical thought process and poise are key Employer may move to the next question before you deliver an answer

  16. Brainteasers Source: wetfeet.com Often a logic game, puzzle or riddle to test your poise under time pressure. Example: “From a drawer filled with eight white socks and 13 black socks, what is the smallest number you would have to pull out without looking in order to be sure of one matching pair?“ Example: “List all the ways you could find a needle in a haystack.

  17. Career Center Resources Career library guides to consulting firms, case interviews, resumes and more BruinViewTM job & internship listings BruinViewTM campus interview services Study abroad and work abroad opportunities

  18. Career Center Resources Drop-In Advising (Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm) 50 minute Career counseling appointments Career planning workshops Mock interviews by appointment Employer information sessions Career fairs in fall, winter and spring

  19. Ethics and Effectiveness in Your Job Search Review and Follow UCLA BruinViewTM Polices and Procedures Research company to be sure you are interested Call in advance to cancel interviews Do not accept more than one job offer at a time; Negotiate for more time to interview Do not falsify information on your resume and interviews (GPA, major, coursework, experience) Do not copy/plagiarize resumes, company information, etc. Send thank you notes to employers Show up on time for your interviews and first day on the job Highly Recommended! Meet with a counselor to critique resumes and ask questions about anything in the process

  20. Your exclusive access to this session’s materials can be found at: career.ucla.edu/JumpStart/Handouts.asp. However, you must log on with your username & password to gain access (the username and password you used to register for Job Search Jump Start).

  21. JUMPSTART YOUR CAREER IN CONSULTING Introduction and Career Center Overview Career Center Library Resources Tips on Applying & Case Interviewing Break Consultant Panel Network with Consultants

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