As you transition from intern to full-time consultant, the depth and breadth of your analytical skills become increasingly important. While interns often focus on data gathering and initial analysis, full-time consultants are expected to conduct more complex analyses, derive deeper insights, and translate these into actionable recommendations.
As an intern, you likely had a basic understanding of common consulting skillset. Your toolkit was probably limited to what you learned in training sessions or picked up during your internship projects. As you transition to a full-time consultant, it's crucial to significantly expand and refine your consulting toolkit to handle more complex projects and responsibilities.
💡 Pro Tip: While the list below focuses on transition from intern to full-time, you should also have a look at a broader piece of work around essential hard skills in consulting.
Remember, developing your consulting toolkit is an ongoing process. Stay curious, always be on the lookout for new tools and approaches, and don't hesitate to experiment. Your unique combination of tools and skills will become a key differentiator as you progress in your consulting career.
As an intern, you likely had basic proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint, using them for simple data analysis and creating straightforward slides. Your work in these tools was probably closely supervised and often refined by more senior team members before being finalized.
As a full-time consultant, your proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint needs to be significantly higher. You will have less supervision, and more independence as we have already seen in earlier sections of this article. Combining this with the higher expectations from you - requires you to be on the leading edge in leveraging these tools to the best extent offered by the tools. Your ability to leverage these tools effectively can dramatically impact your efficiency, the depth of your analysis, and the impact of your presentations.
The small list below highlights some of the key aspects of Excel where skill development will pay big dividends for interns moving into a full-time role.
💡 For a more comprehensive outlook on Excel skills required for consultants, have a look at this article: Excel for Consultants
PowerPoint is the most essential of tools in the consultant’s arsenal. Moving into a full-time role - you must master absolutely everything there is to the software. Every single piece of knowledge you add to your skillset - will help you become 1% better and more efficient at doing your job. And all those 1%s will soon add-up and make you a stellar consultant.
💡 Now while some of the points below are the key focus areas for moving into a full-time role, you must be fully prepared on all aspects as can be found in this article: PowerPoint for Consultants
The transition from intern to full-time consultant requires a deepening of analytical skills and extensive development in the use of Excel and PowerPoint. Mastery of advanced presentation and facilitation techniques, along with the continuous expansion of your consulting toolkit, is essential for success in your new role.
Explore the other articles in our content series "From Intern to Full-Time Consultant.":
👉 Article 1: Changed Expectations and Responsibilities
Understand how the expectations of you will change and what new responsibilities you will take on.
👉 Article 3: Strengthen Your Business Acumen
Discover how to develop a deeper, practical understanding of industries and business models.
👉 Article 4: Enhance Your Communication Skills
Develop your abilities to communicate effectively with clients, team members, and leaders.
👉 Article 5: Develop Your Executive Presence
Learn how to present yourself as a competent leader.
👉 Article 6: Cultivate Client Relationships
Understand how to build and maintain strong, trusting relationships with clients.
👉 Article 7: Manage Work-Life Balance
Get tips and strategies for finding a healthy balance between work and personal life.
BCG Dubai Project Leader | 6 years in Consulting | Elite Prep to dominate interviews | Free personalised prep plan
Languages: English
Location: United Arab Emirates (UTC +4)
Agrim is a former Project Leader at BCG Dubai with nine years of consulting experience. Since 2017, he has mentored over 400 students and consultants on topics like case interviews, personal development, and consulting skills. His mentorship goes beyond interview prep, focusing on building lasting skills for career success, inspired by the guidance he once received from his own mentors.
BCG Dubai Project Leader | 6 years in Consulting | Elite Prep to dominate interviews | Free personalised prep plan
Languages: English
Location: United Arab Emirates (UTC +4)
Agrim is a former Project Leader at BCG Dubai with nine years of consulting experience. Since 2017, he has mentored over 400 students and consultants on topics like case interviews, personal development, and consulting skills. His mentorship goes beyond interview prep, focusing on building lasting skills for career success, inspired by the guidance he once received from his own mentors.
