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How do I get into management consulting with a Big 4 Firm?
Hi! I hope you’re all well and safe. I just wanted to know what I could do now as a second semester sophomore to improve my chances of working in management consulting for a Big 4 accounting firm. Thank you!!
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15 answers
Updated
Jeremy’s Answer
Hi, current rising jr in PwC Start program. U should apply!
Hey it's Max from PwC, testing out the site to see how it works.
Max
Updated
Marcos’s Answer
Hello,
If you are seeking an opportunity, specifically into management consulting, you should focus on the following;
1. Make sure you have your grades, GPA, LinkedIn, resume, etc ready incase you come across any opportunity that requires you to have your documents ready in order to apply.
2. Network - I work at PwC and could not be happier. Many times you may need to attend school events, career fairs, networking events, or simply reach out to professors, faculty and staff that may be able to connect you with a former graduate that can guide you in the right direction.
3. Learn more about the company that you are trying to work for, don't be afraid to reach out via Linked in and ask questions etc.
In order to improve you changes of getting into a Big 4, you need to do the following;
1. Apply to the opportunities that are listed well in advance. If you are looking for an internship and it is your Senior year in college, it is highly unlikely you will be selected since many employers scout the next wave of interns a year in advance.
2. Reach out to a current employee. I am more than happy to provide any guidance, tips and tricks in order to apply and get selected as an intern for PwC. I have attended recruiting events, and the most important thing we ask for students is to apply and have their resume ready and talk to us about their questions or concerns. We want to hear from you as well and make sure that we are able to match you with a position that meets both your professional and personal goals. I work in Tax and particularly ask students if they would be interested in a Tax role vs. Audit. Many say they don't like taxes and therefore I provide them with a bit more guidance on Audit services. If I tailor my conversation and focus on what the student is interested in, this will allow the student to be more engaged, but we need to have that same energy reciprocated from the students in order to find out what they are seeking.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Best of luck!
If you are seeking an opportunity, specifically into management consulting, you should focus on the following;
1. Make sure you have your grades, GPA, LinkedIn, resume, etc ready incase you come across any opportunity that requires you to have your documents ready in order to apply.
2. Network - I work at PwC and could not be happier. Many times you may need to attend school events, career fairs, networking events, or simply reach out to professors, faculty and staff that may be able to connect you with a former graduate that can guide you in the right direction.
3. Learn more about the company that you are trying to work for, don't be afraid to reach out via Linked in and ask questions etc.
In order to improve you changes of getting into a Big 4, you need to do the following;
1. Apply to the opportunities that are listed well in advance. If you are looking for an internship and it is your Senior year in college, it is highly unlikely you will be selected since many employers scout the next wave of interns a year in advance.
2. Reach out to a current employee. I am more than happy to provide any guidance, tips and tricks in order to apply and get selected as an intern for PwC. I have attended recruiting events, and the most important thing we ask for students is to apply and have their resume ready and talk to us about their questions or concerns. We want to hear from you as well and make sure that we are able to match you with a position that meets both your professional and personal goals. I work in Tax and particularly ask students if they would be interested in a Tax role vs. Audit. Many say they don't like taxes and therefore I provide them with a bit more guidance on Audit services. If I tailor my conversation and focus on what the student is interested in, this will allow the student to be more engaged, but we need to have that same energy reciprocated from the students in order to find out what they are seeking.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Best of luck!
Updated
David J.’s Answer
Hi Max! That's a great question! There are various steps you can take, but for simplicity, I'll discuss about 3: 1) Research 2) Development 3) Practice
1) Research: Each Big 4 Firm has various consulting roles. For example...
Deloitte: Deloitte has Monitor Deloitte (which is the Strategy Consulting of Deloitte) and Deloitte Consulting. Within Deloitte Consulting, there are 6 different Operating Portfolios: 1) Strategy & Analytics 2) Customer & Marketing 3) Mergers & Acquisition 4) Human Capital 5) Core Business Operations 6) Enterprise Performance
EY: EY has EY-Parthenon (which is the Strategy Consulting of EY) and regular consulting at EY. If you're looking for MBB type of consulting, you'd want to apply to EY-Parthenon.
PwC: PwC has Strategy& (which is its Strategy Consulting) but also Management Consulting within PwC. If you're looking for MBB type of consulting, you'd want to apply to Strategy&.
KPMG: KPMG has its own consulting.
Make sure you do your due-diligence and gain knowledge on what types of consulting roles you want to apply to.
2) Development: When I was a college student, I was a part of business organizations (i.e. consulting clubs, finance/accounting clubs, etc.) and those clubs helped me gain experience to put on my resume (i.e. in my consulting club, we were working with real clients). I encourage you to join a consulting club if your school has it.
3) Practice: A big part of getting an internship at a Big 4 is how you do on case interviews. There are a lot of resources online for you to practice (I personally used MBA casebooks), and I recommend you find a buddy to practice with out loud.
Best of Luck!
David
1) Research: Each Big 4 Firm has various consulting roles. For example...
Deloitte: Deloitte has Monitor Deloitte (which is the Strategy Consulting of Deloitte) and Deloitte Consulting. Within Deloitte Consulting, there are 6 different Operating Portfolios: 1) Strategy & Analytics 2) Customer & Marketing 3) Mergers & Acquisition 4) Human Capital 5) Core Business Operations 6) Enterprise Performance
EY: EY has EY-Parthenon (which is the Strategy Consulting of EY) and regular consulting at EY. If you're looking for MBB type of consulting, you'd want to apply to EY-Parthenon.
PwC: PwC has Strategy& (which is its Strategy Consulting) but also Management Consulting within PwC. If you're looking for MBB type of consulting, you'd want to apply to Strategy&.
KPMG: KPMG has its own consulting.
Make sure you do your due-diligence and gain knowledge on what types of consulting roles you want to apply to.
2) Development: When I was a college student, I was a part of business organizations (i.e. consulting clubs, finance/accounting clubs, etc.) and those clubs helped me gain experience to put on my resume (i.e. in my consulting club, we were working with real clients). I encourage you to join a consulting club if your school has it.
3) Practice: A big part of getting an internship at a Big 4 is how you do on case interviews. There are a lot of resources online for you to practice (I personally used MBA casebooks), and I recommend you find a buddy to practice with out loud.
Best of Luck!
David
Updated
Vincent’s Answer
Hi! Assuming you are part of your school's business program, I would go to the career center to see if they have a complied list of internships for consulting companies. Then you can filter out which one applies to you. Since you are a sophomore, I don't think there are much internship positions available since they are usually reserved for juniors. I do know Deloitte has a discovery program for sophomores you can consider. Right now, I would continue to focus on getting a good gpa, do extracurriculars, spend this summer doing other internships that showcase your leadership, teaming, communication, etc. I think this would give you a good foundation when you start applying and interviewing for junior year internship positions.
Updated
R.’s Answer
Great question! Get out there when the firms come to your campus and network with them and make sure you research the company well beforehand. If they do not come to your campus, try to reach out to people from your school who have worked there and ask to pick their brain and if they can refer you or put you in contact with the right people. LinkedIn could also help. I would keep your GPA too! Good luck! Very exciting!
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Scott’s Answer
If any of the big4 firms have a presence on campus, network with them! Look for any internship programs offered through your school.
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Gianni’s Answer
Keep going! Internships offer fantastic chances, and I was actually hired via a recruitment agency. Some of these agencies work with the Big 4 as their clients. Additionally, make an effort to network with professionals on LinkedIn to spread your name around!
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ANTONIO’s Answer
Max, I recommend to follow the consulting firms, that you are interested in, on all social media channels to be up to date regarding the latest events that they offer. Often, they organize networking events for students for which you can apply and that is a great opportunity to speak with consultants from the firms directly. Apply for an internship during summer, keep close attention to the firms publications and case studies from the firm Good luck!!
Updated
Akshit’s Answer
Hi there - overall there are three pathways to get into management consulting firms.
1. Business analyst (entry level, typically pre-MBA candidate pool)
2. Associate (typically post-MBA grads)
3. Expert (typically significant work experience in a particular function or industry)
As a second semester sophomore, your best bet is to apply to BA positions across general management consulting firms.
The first step is to work on your CV so it stands out. Typically what they are looking for is a well rounded candidates with spikes in few areas in their CV. Think academic curriculum (your grades, GPA etc.), extra-academic pursuits in your field of study (e.g. research projects, or other pursuits that demonstrate depth), and extra-curricular (sports, culture, theater, etc.). Being well rounded across all these areas, and having one area where you stand out helps in getting your CV shortlisted for interviews.
Make sure you prepare well for interviews: Go through case studies - there are tons of books & e-books available that help you work through business cases. Identify peers who are also interested in management consulting and practice cases with them. You want to develop the confidence of being able to navigate and work through complex business questions in a live interview setting, so practice as much as possible.
Good luck and hope this helps!
1. Business analyst (entry level, typically pre-MBA candidate pool)
2. Associate (typically post-MBA grads)
3. Expert (typically significant work experience in a particular function or industry)
As a second semester sophomore, your best bet is to apply to BA positions across general management consulting firms.
The first step is to work on your CV so it stands out. Typically what they are looking for is a well rounded candidates with spikes in few areas in their CV. Think academic curriculum (your grades, GPA etc.), extra-academic pursuits in your field of study (e.g. research projects, or other pursuits that demonstrate depth), and extra-curricular (sports, culture, theater, etc.). Being well rounded across all these areas, and having one area where you stand out helps in getting your CV shortlisted for interviews.
Make sure you prepare well for interviews: Go through case studies - there are tons of books & e-books available that help you work through business cases. Identify peers who are also interested in management consulting and practice cases with them. You want to develop the confidence of being able to navigate and work through complex business questions in a live interview setting, so practice as much as possible.
Good luck and hope this helps!
Agreed with Akshit - Preparation is a key part of feeling/being ready. Good luck!
Katie Coleman
Updated
Elizabeth’s Answer
Hi,
There are multiple ways to get into management consulting:
1) PwC has on-campus recruiting programs for college students at various stages of their academic career. Students can apply for a wide range of internships, some focusing on underrepresented communities. Reach out to your campus counselor or academic advisor to find out when PwC is coming to your school for recruiting events.
2) Experienced professionals who have worked at smaller consulting firms get the experience first, and then apply to the Big 4 as an experienced hire.
When you are trying to advance your career and distinguish yourself as an elite candidate, ensure that your LinkedIn and resume tell a cohesive story about your brand. Additionally, as you are going through the interview and recruiting process, be clear on your brand. What superpower are you bringing to the process. If you've received an interview invitation, it is a reminder that you deserve the opportunity.
Access Your Potential Overview
Access Your Potential is an ecosystem of learning, support and connections for Black and Hispanic/Latinx college students, across all fields of study, as they explore their future careers. You will have access to mentorship with PwC professionals, paid consulting externships and free curriculums to help you grow and discover what you want for your career. Sign up to have access to these free programs at accessyourpotential on pwc.com
There are multiple ways to get into management consulting:
1) PwC has on-campus recruiting programs for college students at various stages of their academic career. Students can apply for a wide range of internships, some focusing on underrepresented communities. Reach out to your campus counselor or academic advisor to find out when PwC is coming to your school for recruiting events.
2) Experienced professionals who have worked at smaller consulting firms get the experience first, and then apply to the Big 4 as an experienced hire.
When you are trying to advance your career and distinguish yourself as an elite candidate, ensure that your LinkedIn and resume tell a cohesive story about your brand. Additionally, as you are going through the interview and recruiting process, be clear on your brand. What superpower are you bringing to the process. If you've received an interview invitation, it is a reminder that you deserve the opportunity.
Access Your Potential Overview
Access Your Potential is an ecosystem of learning, support and connections for Black and Hispanic/Latinx college students, across all fields of study, as they explore their future careers. You will have access to mentorship with PwC professionals, paid consulting externships and free curriculums to help you grow and discover what you want for your career. Sign up to have access to these free programs at accessyourpotential on pwc.com
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Kathy’s Answer
Numerous prestigious Big 4 consulting companies provide programs for second-year students, which can pave the way for exciting internship opportunities in your third year. It would be beneficial to connect with your university's recruitment officer to find out the deadlines for these programs and learn how you can participate. Don't forget to take advantage of the information sessions your university or school might host - they can be a goldmine of useful insights!
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Stephanie’s Answer
Hi Max! I definitely agree with the statements by others of attending career fairs, building your Big 4 network, and applying for internships. Additionally, I'm sure you already do a lot of this in school, but be sure to brush up on your presentation skills and developing your brand. It can seem tedious, but taking the time to make sure everything on a slide is in the right place can make a tremendous difference in the brand you present to others. Also, learn about project and process management, because those are important skills in the MC world! Best wishes!
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Bailey’s Answer
Hi Max! This is a great question! I would advise you to network as much as possible. For example, look on linked in at job opportunities for the specific firm and reach out to the recruiting resource who posted the job. I would introduce yourself and ask questions about the role! Also reach out to individuals who work at the company currently. Networking creates important relationships that you can leverage when applying for the job. LinkedIn will be your best friend! I would also suggest applying to internships that are available. This is great way to get your foot in the door and show off your skills.
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Hallie’s Answer
Hi Max! As a recent graduate from the business school and big4 audit employee, I have several friends and classmates who took this same route, so I thought I might be able to share a few tips of things I noticed them doing.
1. Focus on your grades - with the competitive nature of this career path, low grades is one of the easiest way to weed out candidates during the post-grad era.
2. Get involved and take on leadership roles - employers like to see that you have and are further developing the important skills needed for the role (time management, social skills, leadership) and joining relevant and well known organizations is one of the best way to develop these skills in college. Bonus points if you happen to be a part of an organization that a recruiter/interviewer was a part of, as it could give you a way to connect with them during the interview process.
3. Do an internship! Almost everyone I know in a big4 consulting role had an internship with the firm the summer after their junior year of college, so if you have the opportunity to apply for an internship, I would strongly encourage it!
Good luck!
1. Focus on your grades - with the competitive nature of this career path, low grades is one of the easiest way to weed out candidates during the post-grad era.
2. Get involved and take on leadership roles - employers like to see that you have and are further developing the important skills needed for the role (time management, social skills, leadership) and joining relevant and well known organizations is one of the best way to develop these skills in college. Bonus points if you happen to be a part of an organization that a recruiter/interviewer was a part of, as it could give you a way to connect with them during the interview process.
3. Do an internship! Almost everyone I know in a big4 consulting role had an internship with the firm the summer after their junior year of college, so if you have the opportunity to apply for an internship, I would strongly encourage it!
Good luck!
Updated
Bryan’s Answer
Look for intern opportunities offered by big 4, especially to your school.