Applying to work in Consulting from a non-traditional degree

[theq0]

Hi Mumsnet Community!

I am looking to get into managment consulting (audit/digital transformation/risk) in either a Big 4 or Tier 1 firm (or even a more boutique firm to start off with), while completing a BSc in Media and Communications next year. I'm already working on tailoring my existing work experiences/extra-curriculars to fit the identities these companies look for, and listing grad schemes/internships I can apply for next year.

What other things can I do this summer to better prepare myself for when it comes to applying to these companies? Would you reccomend I take any courses (I was thinking like one of those short MBA courses, or something that gives me some business accumen)? How do I begin networking with professionals in the industry who can provide me with the right opportunities to get my foot in the door? How can I pick which sector of consulting I want to go into?

Coming from a non-traditional background, I have a lot of questions. Would love if someone could answer them!

Hi, OP. We've moved your thread to our Work topic now - hopefully you might get a few more responses there.

Are you sure about your degree choice? Comms is going to be a bit too Mickey Mouse for consultancy.

I work in the kind of firm you mention. What do you mean by getting into it “while” you complete a degree?
Generally you can have an unrelated degree and then apply to the grad scheme (you normally need a 2:1). Most big 4 grad schemes do an accountancy qualification (audit and risk assurance). This is a hardcore qualification with 15 exams.

Thanks for the question @LibertyDuck . With my course being a BSc in M&C, I'm expecting the 'social science' aspect of it to slightly negate the 'mickey mouse' connotation of it. I have modules in social research methods, corporate comms, and other STEM modules.

@FudgeSundae sorry, reading my original post back the placement of the 'while' is incorrect. I meant that I'm completing my degree now, after which I'm looking to work in consulting.

Regarding the qualifications, is this something they do after they employ you, or is this something they expect you to complete before applying?

Have you thought of attending any Insight days? all the big companies hold them every yr for undergrads and postgrads. They're a brilliant starter to networking and just finding out generally about the industry and the recruitment process. It will also be imperative for you to try and get onto a Spring week.

If you do an accountancy qualification with the Big 4 (or another accountancy practice) you’d do it on the job. But I don’t believe the consultancy wing of the firm I was with did the qualification…

@LadeOde I was looking at attending some insight days. I haven't heard about spring weeks, so I'll look into those!

@DelurkingAJ ahh right I see. Would you still reccomend I do some sort of an MBA/any other courses to gain some business/economic accumen?

Audit, risk and digital transformation are all quite different and they will look for different things.
I'd say to work out what area you want to be in first. Digital transformation for example often goes alongside business change and comms to land the altered ways of working with the workforce - you could go for that angle for example.

Regarding the qualifications, is this something they do after they employ you, or is this something they expect you to complete before applying?

I hate to be that person, but this is a pretty basic question that 30 seconds on google, or an appointment with your uni careers service (highly recommend), could have answered. Grad schemes, esp for big 4 type employers, are hugely competitive. You need to take the initiative, do a shitload of research,

You're also looking a year too late. Grad schemes open in autumn for entry the following autumn. On the other hand you now have a full year. Use it sensibly - get a job, any job, will help and use your uni careers service. And lots of practice on the (many) different types of assessment you'll face when applying. Apply for as many schemes as you can. Even ones you dont want, for the practice.

The Grad schemes have very formulaic application processes about what we are and aren’t allowed to take into account. As long as you meet the ucas point requirement and/or degree requirement, it’s a matter of passing the tests they give you. I do the very final stage and I’m not allowed to know anything about the applicant except their name. So I wouldn’t waste time with an MBA, do insight days and internships and practice interviews.

In September the application processes open for grad schemes. Have you even read the recruitment pages of the Big4 because it sounds like you are are trying to formulate a plan without having even have read their own processes? It really isn't a case of networking your way in anymore but passing the various stages of the application including the online testing.

I agree with @titchy and @Spirallingdownwards . Why do you want to work in the Big 4, possibly audit, when you clearly have no idea what that entails? How did you make your decision and what is it you're hoping to achieve?

The fact that you're proposing to work in audit without knowing anything about the training pathway or qualifications involved is slightly scary. Did you purely make this decision based on perceived prestige?

She isn't looking at audit though. She is looking at their management consultant roles but appears not to have even read their careers website to see what she needs to do to apply.

Actually she wrote "management consulting (audit/digital transformation/risk)" but it sounds like she has done so little research that she doesn't even realise that there's a difference between the consulting practices and accounting firms of the Big 4. Same logo, different everything else pretty much.

It's concerning. The OP has zero chance with any of the big names if this is how she operates. Hopefully the OP will actually go and do some research now and come back with some sensible questions.

Ah had concentrated on the consulting part as she mentioned that later. Yes, it seems like she may have seen that with a 2.1 any degree they are options without understanding what they actually are.

I think I'd look at what permanent jobs are out there and apply . The market in consulting is not good at the moment and although you'd be a cheaper option , there are hundreds of experienced people chasing these roles. Doesn't your uni have careers advice? Use that if you can and get advice on interviews etc. maybe look to apply for next years intake of grad recruitment and take lower paid job in good firm in the area you want until then .