The world of consulting can feel daunting, especially to those from a non-STEM background. It’s often impenetrable flurries of business jargon and mysterious systems of highly competitive spring weeks, internships, and grad schemes can be confusing, if not alienating to humanities students.
However, firms such as McKinsey, Bain, BCG and the Big Four all actively seek out students from all disciplines – be it English, Modern Languages or History – and a recruitment process that may seem opaque at first glance is in fact accessible to a wide range of applicants.
Let’s break down 5 practical tips for breaking into the industry.
1. Capitalise on existing skills
There’s a reason consulting firms are looking to hire from a humanities background. Whilst technical skills are essential for analysing and interpreting data, consulting at its core is about simplifying complex information, effective communication, and critical thinking. Who better to shine in these areas than humanities students?
In your applications, make sure to capitalise on skills you have developed in your degree and translate them into business language: essay writing, research and projects can be examples of synthesising jargon and data, presenting it in a concise way, and using critical reasoning and evaluation skills.
Don’t forget to make the most of any non-consulting work experience too: societies such as debating or student journalism illustrate proficiency in public speaking and communication. When applying, research firms’ core values and illustrate how your existing experience exhibits what they are looking for.
2. Immerse yourself in the world of consulting
One of the best ways of catching a firm’s attention is by showing a keen interest in the world of consulting. Make the most of your university careers service, any consulting societies, careers fairs, and events or talks led by firms to get the chance to gain experience and talk face-to-face with consultants and graduates. This is doubly beneficial: you’ll learn a lot about what companies are looking for and how the application process works, as well as the differences between various types of consulting firms.
It’s important to know about the application timeline – applying early is always recommended, and internships are often only open to students in their second year.
Online, you’ll find the Bright Network, a great resource for insight events, training and general information. You’ll also find SEO London, which offers mentoring, application prep, and fast-track opportunities for students from underrepresented backgrounds.
Connecting with people on LinkedIn and dropping them a message is often fruitful – you’d be surprised how many people are happy to answer questions and offer advice. Of course, this blog is another invaluable resource when it comes to learning about consulting trends and career tips!
3. Build commercial awareness
‘Commercial awareness’ is one of those terms that firms and recruiters love, but to many humanities students it seems shrouded in mystery. To put it simply, commercial awareness is a knowledge of how businesses operate combined with an understanding of current news and business trends.
It’s not a skill that can be built overnight, but incorporate habits into your daily routine such as reading top stories on the Financial Times, the Economist, and Consultancy.uk. This will help you stay up-to-date and learn the language of business.
I personally love listening to the FT Daily Briefing podcast – it’s only ten minutes and gives an easy-to-understand overview of what’s going on in the business world. When it comes to getting to grips with how businesses actually operate, Christopher Stoakes’ book Commercial Awareness is a really helpful guide.
4. Develop technical skills
Whilst the skills you are already equipped with as a humanities student are valuable to consulting firms, they’ll also want to see that you have the quantitative skills they require for gathering and interpreting data.
The internet is full of free resources to teach yourself how to use Excel and build quantitative models, and your university might offer similar skills workshops through their careers services. The London School of Economics offers an online data analytics course open to all. However, Forage is my top recommendation for building on these skills. It offers free virtual job simulations designed by consulting firms such as BCG, EY, KPMG and PWC in which you can learn, practice and apply working with numbers and financial modelling. This is an accredited resource connected to top firms which shows enthusiasm and tangible experience to employers.
5. Perfect your skills for the application process
Once you’ve applied to the consulting firms that seem right for you, there are often several steps involved in securing an internship or a grad scheme.
Psychometric tests and case studies are two stages in which practice makes perfect. JobTestPrep is an invaluable way of practising for firm-specific tests (some universities offer free membership).
The much-feared case study interview is a unique skill, but books such as Max Serrano and Jonathon Yarde’s Cracking Case Interviews, Marc Consentino’s Case in Point and Victor Cheng’s Case Interview Secrets break down how to approach them in constructive ways.
YouTube is also full of tips, with PrepLounge and CaseCoach both offering mock interviews and useful frameworks.
Takeaway
Hopefully these tips are a useful guide for getting you started on your consulting journey.
Remember, firms want humanities students – don’t be deterred!
India Jordan Jones is a final-year undergraduate student at the University of Oxford, reading English Language and Literature. She is interested in a career in consulting or commercial law and passionate about sustainability and energy matters in business.
Image: DALL-E
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