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What is the best job to get after graduation in terms of pay and the ability to leverage that work experience in the future for career advancement??
I am a junior in college right now and given that senior year is coming, I have to recruit soon. I am interested in business, innovation, and marketing. I am considering consulting, but I was wondering are there other good options aside from consulting. #career #business
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15 answers
Updated
Tara’s Answer
Hi Lydia,
It very much depends on what type of consulting you want to do. Consulting fields require varying levels of education and professional experience. Some companies or types of consulting might place more importance on regional expertise and desire candidates that have experience in several different industries, while other companies or types of consulting will prefer candidates with a particular specialization.
An example:
I've worked in geopolitical risk consulting, which requires experience in a range of fields like geopolitical analysis, the energy industry, economics, international security, and international trade. Most companies will hire based on regional expertise, recruiting people based on their language skills and knowledge of, for example, East Asia or the Middle East, with a preference for candidates who have worked in several different industries and can be moved around to many different types of companies' projects.
There are also plenty of other types of consulting opportunities where the employer is looking for someone with a specific business or financial skill set, such as an operations or financial risk consultant who addresses very specific issues within their own business. Take a look at some of the many consulting companies out there and get a sense of what the job descriptions are and what they're looking for in a candidate. That will probably help you get a sense of what type of consulting you might want to do eventually. And some consulting is very industry-specific, so if you find that you really love, for example, the oil and gas industry or gender equality issues, you could become a consultant in that one specific area.
In general, the best thing you can do early in your career to become a good consultant later on is to get yourself as much experience in as many different types of professional roles as you can. Operations experience is highly valuable in any kind of consulting, as is project management. Any time you get a chance to learn about different types of industries or business models, take it! Personally, I've found that jobs where I've been able to really learn the logistics of any business, be it shipping, trucking, or pipeline operations, has taught me very broadly applicable skills. Understanding how people and goods move around and all of the moving parts, risks, costs, and legal requirements involved in that process is one of the most important aspects of consulting for any company in any field.
Good consulting jobs take time to work up to, so be patient, work hard, and learn as much as you can along the way. Find a company that you're interested in and pursue an entry-level job there, then work your way up. If an intriguing opportunity opens up somewhere along the way, don't be afraid to pursue it. Volunteering also turned out to be a great way for me to gain additional experience and connections that I never expected. Non-profit organizations are often hungry for people willing to donate their time, so if you want more responsibility and exposure than you're getting at your day job, consider donating some extra hours with a civil rights organization or a local charity.
These are a few consulting firms you can look at to get a sense of the wide range of jobs and requirements out there:
Wood Mackenzie
McKinsey
Veracity Worldwide
Deloitte
Booz Allen Hamilton
The World Bank
PWC
Lockheed Martin
Eurasia Group
It very much depends on what type of consulting you want to do. Consulting fields require varying levels of education and professional experience. Some companies or types of consulting might place more importance on regional expertise and desire candidates that have experience in several different industries, while other companies or types of consulting will prefer candidates with a particular specialization.
An example:
I've worked in geopolitical risk consulting, which requires experience in a range of fields like geopolitical analysis, the energy industry, economics, international security, and international trade. Most companies will hire based on regional expertise, recruiting people based on their language skills and knowledge of, for example, East Asia or the Middle East, with a preference for candidates who have worked in several different industries and can be moved around to many different types of companies' projects.
There are also plenty of other types of consulting opportunities where the employer is looking for someone with a specific business or financial skill set, such as an operations or financial risk consultant who addresses very specific issues within their own business. Take a look at some of the many consulting companies out there and get a sense of what the job descriptions are and what they're looking for in a candidate. That will probably help you get a sense of what type of consulting you might want to do eventually. And some consulting is very industry-specific, so if you find that you really love, for example, the oil and gas industry or gender equality issues, you could become a consultant in that one specific area.
In general, the best thing you can do early in your career to become a good consultant later on is to get yourself as much experience in as many different types of professional roles as you can. Operations experience is highly valuable in any kind of consulting, as is project management. Any time you get a chance to learn about different types of industries or business models, take it! Personally, I've found that jobs where I've been able to really learn the logistics of any business, be it shipping, trucking, or pipeline operations, has taught me very broadly applicable skills. Understanding how people and goods move around and all of the moving parts, risks, costs, and legal requirements involved in that process is one of the most important aspects of consulting for any company in any field.
Good consulting jobs take time to work up to, so be patient, work hard, and learn as much as you can along the way. Find a company that you're interested in and pursue an entry-level job there, then work your way up. If an intriguing opportunity opens up somewhere along the way, don't be afraid to pursue it. Volunteering also turned out to be a great way for me to gain additional experience and connections that I never expected. Non-profit organizations are often hungry for people willing to donate their time, so if you want more responsibility and exposure than you're getting at your day job, consider donating some extra hours with a civil rights organization or a local charity.
These are a few consulting firms you can look at to get a sense of the wide range of jobs and requirements out there:
Wood Mackenzie
McKinsey
Veracity Worldwide
Deloitte
Booz Allen Hamilton
The World Bank
PWC
Lockheed Martin
Eurasia Group
Updated
Cedric’s Answer
Hi Lydia, I would say find something that you are passionate about. That is going to be the key into turning it into something that you could turn into consulting. A lot of times we all are looking for the opportunity for growth but true growth comes when you are able to develop your passion. I know quite a few people who have started off in one field only to find their passion is really in another. The good things is right now you are in a position to really do some research and take some career assessments to find where you should look first. Good Luck in all of your Future Endeavors.
Updated
Kevin’s Answer
The best job to get will always differ, depending on who you ask; that's something that YOU get to decide. However, I think a few things that will really help you decide what path you want to go down in your career. First, in my personal opinion, never decide a job based on pay as a priority. If you end up choosing a career that has great pay, but you've no personal passion toward, you most likely will not end up staying in that career long.
Second, business and marketing itself is broad, but in a good way. There are so many different niches of business, and in marketing. Lucky for you, because it can be so broad, that means there are many different types of jobs from sales, to strategy, to account management, to product marketing, and so much more. Find where you are passionate at! And if you don't know, that's okay! Your next best bet is to network with professionals in these fields and ask them why they chose those careers; they will always give some solid advice.
Lastly, have you looked into internships yet? They are usually a great way for students to not only get experience in the field, but to also learn and understand if that field is something you want to stick around in.
Hope this helps!
Second, business and marketing itself is broad, but in a good way. There are so many different niches of business, and in marketing. Lucky for you, because it can be so broad, that means there are many different types of jobs from sales, to strategy, to account management, to product marketing, and so much more. Find where you are passionate at! And if you don't know, that's okay! Your next best bet is to network with professionals in these fields and ask them why they chose those careers; they will always give some solid advice.
Lastly, have you looked into internships yet? They are usually a great way for students to not only get experience in the field, but to also learn and understand if that field is something you want to stick around in.
Hope this helps!
Updated
Syed’s Answer
Hi Lydia,
Consulting offers great flexibility in terms of career growth and exit opportunities.
Outside of consulting, you can also consider corporate rotation programs at top companies that allow you to rotate into different functions and pick one at the end.
Another option is Business Development or Business Operations at a well-funded, renowned startup. These companies usually have very successful alumni and investors looking to hire people after they leave the startup.
Consulting offers great flexibility in terms of career growth and exit opportunities.
Outside of consulting, you can also consider corporate rotation programs at top companies that allow you to rotate into different functions and pick one at the end.
Another option is Business Development or Business Operations at a well-funded, renowned startup. These companies usually have very successful alumni and investors looking to hire people after they leave the startup.
Updated
Mark’s Answer
I highly recommend taking on either a sales or customer/account service type of role with a reputable company. This will allow you to learn so much about the business world while earning a solid salary.
Any type of customer facing assignment provides the opportunity to work on communication skills, time management, service delivery, critical thinking, etc. I always tell my employees that there is no better place to learn about an industry or a solution than being in front of customers and listening to their needs and thoughts. From there, you will be able to interface with various departments in the company that you are working at in order to meet the needs of those customers. For example, you would work with operations, finance, marketing and more which were other areas of interest listed in your question.
This type of role would also give you the opportunity to build strong and meaningful relationships both internally and externally. These relationships will help you to be successful in all that you do and will also help you from a career building perspective down the road. Most companies desire employees who have customer facing field experience.
Best of luck to you as you embark on your career journey, have an open mind!
Start to inquire about internships for the upcoming summer prior to your senior year
Any type of customer facing assignment provides the opportunity to work on communication skills, time management, service delivery, critical thinking, etc. I always tell my employees that there is no better place to learn about an industry or a solution than being in front of customers and listening to their needs and thoughts. From there, you will be able to interface with various departments in the company that you are working at in order to meet the needs of those customers. For example, you would work with operations, finance, marketing and more which were other areas of interest listed in your question.
This type of role would also give you the opportunity to build strong and meaningful relationships both internally and externally. These relationships will help you to be successful in all that you do and will also help you from a career building perspective down the road. Most companies desire employees who have customer facing field experience.
Best of luck to you as you embark on your career journey, have an open mind!
Mark recommends the following next steps:
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Jonathan’s Answer
"They" say find something you love to do and you'll never work a day in your life - Easier said than done. I see you are based in NYC so you have quite a few options close by. I recommend considering consulting companies like what Tara mentioned above, private equity, investment banking, business development (sales), finance (broadly speaking), fin-tech, etc. As a rule of thumb - generally speaking, you have greater opportunity to be highly compensated when you are in a position that is connected to or closer to a revenue generating business / role at the company. Happy to chat more. Best of luck!
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David’s Answer
Main thing is have you do some internship and co-op on the field you are studying and some consulting work. If you did then that is good because you are 1 step in becoming knowing what you want to do and the area or company you would like to be in. The best job is about your passion, interest and enjoy. I only could recommend about what you like to do and consulting there is a lot of company and if you have the experiences and the network you will be all set to for what you chose you do. Like, I said as long as you did your internship, co-op and gain experience you will be good set and ready for a job or career in the field
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Brittany’s Answer
Hi Lydia,
Great question! It is a great start that you already know what sort of field you may be interested in. What has helped me in my own career path was to connect with the guidance counselors in the school of business, attend career fairs and other in-person events on campus, and talk to your peers! Talking to others can open up opportunities that you may not have been aware of before, and doing your own research on what you have learned can help you as well.
Hope this helps!
Great question! It is a great start that you already know what sort of field you may be interested in. What has helped me in my own career path was to connect with the guidance counselors in the school of business, attend career fairs and other in-person events on campus, and talk to your peers! Talking to others can open up opportunities that you may not have been aware of before, and doing your own research on what you have learned can help you as well.
Hope this helps!
Molly Thornton
Seasoned HR Professional with a strong background in corporate, volunteer engagement and DE&I activities!
22
Answers
Updated
Molly’s Answer
All good advice given below. Narrow your search to a couple of companies that you find really interesting. Be sure to check out Glassdoor for the companies you research but take that advice with the knowledge that some ex-employees use Glassdoor to post negative feedback.
Tara is spot on for consulting work. You'll need some tactical experience in the field as you tap into that role.
You certainly could start looking for companies that offer a paid summer internship.
Tara is spot on for consulting work. You'll need some tactical experience in the field as you tap into that role.
Molly recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Fabio’s Answer
Hi Lydia,
Two careers that will open endless doors for you are management consulting and investment banking. Both fields are extremely competitive and require employees to work very long hours but after three years of experience you will virtually be employable at any company.
What kind of internships have you enjoyed so far?
How can you leverage these experiences into a future role?
What skills do you currently possess and what are some of the gaps you'll need to fill from now until graduation to become a more desirable candidate?
Are you involved with any clubs at your university? If so, can you create a compelling story that will help you stand out throughout the interview process?
These are just some of the questions you can start considering as you plan for your next step. Best of luck with the process!
Two careers that will open endless doors for you are management consulting and investment banking. Both fields are extremely competitive and require employees to work very long hours but after three years of experience you will virtually be employable at any company.
What kind of internships have you enjoyed so far?
How can you leverage these experiences into a future role?
What skills do you currently possess and what are some of the gaps you'll need to fill from now until graduation to become a more desirable candidate?
Are you involved with any clubs at your university? If so, can you create a compelling story that will help you stand out throughout the interview process?
These are just some of the questions you can start considering as you plan for your next step. Best of luck with the process!
Updated
Jamie’s Answer
Hi Lydia
After college i began a career in customer service. This set the groundwork on how to find answers and help people. I later found a role in sales which taught me relationship building and negotiating. I am now in an a sales operations role supporting a sales channel. Having a good ground work and building upon that is key. You can shoot for the stars but remember you have to start somewhere. Its okay to start at an entry level position and work your way up.
After college i began a career in customer service. This set the groundwork on how to find answers and help people. I later found a role in sales which taught me relationship building and negotiating. I am now in an a sales operations role supporting a sales channel. Having a good ground work and building upon that is key. You can shoot for the stars but remember you have to start somewhere. Its okay to start at an entry level position and work your way up.
Updated
Miyoshee’s Answer
That is a great question and all the answers provided are WONDERFUL! Going through companies such as indeed or Glassdoor maybe very helpful. Don't underestimate starting off in customer service to get your foot in the door so you may learn about the company that you are wanting to grow with. Make sure to look into companies that offer tuition assistance in case you want to further your education. Good luck to you!
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Kim’s Answer
My best advise would be to find something that you enjoy. Something that you are excited about. This is so important when you consider it is something that you are going to do 5 days a week (sometimes more). The company you work for is also important. It’s so much healthier and easier when you work for a company that truly appreciates you as an employee. If you find something you are passionate about and a company you are passionate about, than work isn’t really work.
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Elana’s Answer
I would stay open-minded. The economy is in crisis because of the covid-19 pandemic. Very unclear when things will look better. So there may not be a very active hiring season.
I recommend connecting with a pro in your college's career office. And tapping into the formal alumni network. Often graduates are willing to mentor. give advice on the phone, circulate your resume, etc.
Good luck.
I recommend connecting with a pro in your college's career office. And tapping into the formal alumni network. Often graduates are willing to mentor. give advice on the phone, circulate your resume, etc.
Good luck.
Updated
Milton’s Answer
As mentioned in some other responses if you are looking to become a consultant there are levels of experience that is needed in the field before you can become a consultant. If you are looking and at strictly what is the role that will give you the most money that can vary from the region you live in, education and experience. I would research which fields in business you are interested in and then see if its something you enjoy. I have help positions that pay higher then the one I am in now but I would not go back to that old role because I enjoy what I am doing now with less stress in my life.