This post about Yale SOM and management consulting is part of a series of interviews of top MBA programs called “MBA Career Goals and the B-Schools that Support Them." Please subscribe to our blog to ensure that you receive all the interviews exploring the elements at each school that support career goals in finance, consulting, general management, entrepreneurship, marketing and more.
Here is the interview with the Admissions Office and Career Development Office at Yale SOM.
What kind of background and skills do you like to see in applicants expressing interest in a career in management consulting?
The backgrounds for prospective management consultants can vary widely from analyst positions at consulting companies to work experience as part of Teach for America. The generalist model consulting companies are looking for the “best and brightest” regardless of industry background, so strong analytical skills and communication skills (for example, as demonstrated by high GMAT scores) are essential. The interview process is extensive and is focused on “casing,” which requires candidates to demonstrate business acumen, problem framing and solution development while engaging in a collaborative discussion with the interviewer.
The generalist consulting companies do value to some degree prior experiences in consulting, finance, operations, or marketing; however those experiences are not essential.
More specialized firms expect undergraduate education and prior experiences in related fields. For example, healthcare consulting companies consider more candidates that have scientific undergraduate degrees and have worked in the healthcare industry prior to Yale SOM and finance consulting companies consider more candidates with a related financial work experience.
What aspects of your curriculum are best suited to students who want to eventually pursue a career in management consulting?
The “core” course for the strategy curriculum is Competitive Strategy. Students can pursue an ‘emphasis’ in strategy; for those students or students interested in consulting/general management, the second “core” course of the strategy curriculum is Internal Competitive Strategy and the Internal Organization of the Firm. Students considering a career in strategy are also recommended to take Statistical Modeling. Other courses to consider include Technology Strategy, Behavioral Economics and Strategy, and Developing Winning Strategies.
Which school clubs and extra-curricular events are most relevant to people interested in management consulting?
Membership in the Consulting Club is essential for prospective consultants. The club conducts a curriculum that is focused on case interviewing, enabling students to develop essential techniques and offering an environment for practicing case interviewing in groups and one-on-one. Additionally, the Club holds case competitions in conjunction with prospective employers, which both sharpen skills and build professional contacts for networking. Club leads and 2nd year members act as coaches to help students sharpen their resumes, prepare for interviews, and navigate employer opportunities.
Since “management consulting” is a very broad term, can you break down some of the some of the sub-categories in the field that Yale SOM excels in?
A wide variety of consulting firms recruit Yale SOM students, including strategic consulting firms, operational consulting, human capital, financial consulting, healthcare consulting, and innovation consulting.
Which management consulting firms recruit at Yale SOM? How many graduates of your 2010 class received offers from each of these firms?
Many consulting firms recruit at Yale SOM. A sampling of them includes Bain, BCG, McKinsey, Deloitte, PwC, Booz Allen Hamilton, Arthur D. Little, Charles River Associates, PA Consulting, Casey, Quirk and Associates, CCS Fund Raising, Chartis Group, Frankel Group, The Hay Group, Innosight, Mars Consulting, The Parthenon Group, and Putnam Associates. Additionally there are many firms that recruit Yale SOM graduates through other channels such as diversity programs. Approximately 20% of our 2011 students have taken full-time positions at companies within the consulting sector.
Thanks to the Yale SOM Admissions Office and Career Development Office for granting us this interview.
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