Backup plan if failing to get an offer in consulting - corporate strategy

Hello there,

A number of corporate strategy roles, particularly on F500, are being filled with ex-consultants, hence they would appreciate your familiarity and preparation for case interviews.

Also, they will do case interviews in this case, similar to consulting firms.
more and more CS department on industries have this traits nowadays.

In terms of story, focus on applying industry expertise you got and your aspiration on complementing your strategic thinking / management skillset to aim for CS executives in the long-term, even if you got into consulting firm, you wish to exit one day and get into the CS dept in industry, where you got the opportunity now (when you are interviewing with the CS dept).

Hope it helps.

Kind regards,
Nathan

Hello,

Would you hire a person that is applying for your company just because other companies rejected him? Probably not.

Do not mention your previous experience, there is no need to do it. Regarding the interview, it depends on the role and on the company, but case interview are becoming more and more used also by non consulting companies.

Best,
Luca

You have amazing answers here but let me share a counterintuitive approach that I learnt from Micheal Boricki, an Ex-Mckinsey Partner who became a director in his 20s, he is one of the very few people to do so. Amazing guy! (You can google Micheal Boricki FirmsConsulting, to learn more about him and the work he does now). 

To the approach: It is never advisable to quit your job to prepare for case interviews. You place enormous pressure on yourself that messes with your self-confidence in front of a partner. And partners can smell desperation a mile away. And if there is one thing I have learnt from experience and conversations, MBBs don't hire desperate people. A desperate person is a terrorist waiting to happen. They can ditch ethics to achieve their goal, a big no-no in consulting.

The implication for you is this: get another job before you go for your MBB interview. Approach the other corporate strategy jobs as if MBBs does not exist!  And then go to your MBB case interview with an offer in hand, you will do amazingly well in the interview.

Why do I think so? What is the worse that can happen to your career with an offer in hand? A job that pays you while you figure out what next step to take if you are dinged! With that understanding, you will speak confidently, stay calm, poised and composed during the interview - attributes those draw partners in.

If not, you will have to rely on positive confession not to sweat when you make one silly mistake in front of the partner. 

I hope this helps!

Hello!

In parts: 

1. I would not be totally transparent with the companies, since none likes to be the 2nd choice. However, you can perfectly work on a good story for them. 

2. Your profile would be highly appreciated, as outlined in other posts. Even your preparation for management consulting can be an asset for this kind of companies. 

Hope it helps!

Cheers, 

Clara

Adding to the answers here.

There is no harm in interviewing for internal strategy roles and there is a good chance you will do well given your practice. However, given my experience in these roles and interviewing others for them I have the following viewpoints

1. It is much better to come into internal consulting after spending some time in a consulting firm. There is a strong bias against non-consultants as there is a perception that you haven't had the training and skill set development without it. That matters because internal consulting teams are not set up to train and mentor you the way MBB or other firms are

2. Have a clear view on what you bring to the role - think about how your past experience has prepared you for the role despire not going to a consulting firm before

3. Be clear about why you have mastery of the consulting toolkit - you will have to convince most teams that you have all the skills a traditional consultant has

All the best!

Udayan