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Common Pitfalls to avoid on the job

Hello,

Would like to ask from your personal experience (and perhaps by looking at the past), would there be any advice you would give candidates beginning in MBB or Big 4 consulting? Perhaps analytical advice that would save us hours in the future, anything would be of help.

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Top answer
Sol
Coach
on Oct 24, 2024
FREE 15 MINUTE INTRO | 3 years experience |100+ coached case studies | Oliver Wyman, S& and SKP (London)

Hi there,

I just left Oliver Wyman and started my consulting journey 2 years ago and here are the main things to nail from day 1:

  • Ability to Learn – You won't be perfect at the start but they will want to see that you are excited to learn. Ask for weekly feedback on key skills like Excel and demonstrate improvement over time.
  • Eagerness – Be enthusiastic and proactive. Dive into project work, participate in firm activities, and network as much as possible.
  • Competence – Prove you have the foundation for analyst work. You can hit the ground running by doing the following:
    • PowerPoint - take some youtube PPT trainings. Type in powerpoint for consultants and any video on that is great. Focus on presentation and conveying messages
    • Excel - similar process. Pivot tables and shortcuts would be my focus
    • Read up on industries - if your company is specialised in certain industries then brush up on your knowledge in that area. I remember my knowledge of recent news in the asset management sector really helped me in one of my projects and got some great feedback from a manager.

Most importantly, enjoy it! Any more questions let me know!

Hagen
Coach
edited on Oct 31, 2024
#1 recommended coach | >95% success rate | most experience in consulting, interviewing, and coaching

Hi there,

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:

  • Of course, there is an infinite number of mistakes you can make, so instead I would like to share with you what you might want to focus on in the beginning.
  • First of all, I would advise you to focus on the immediate tasks in front of you and try to excel at them as much as possible. Being visible and a helping hand on the team is also something that is highly sought after.
  • Moreover, I would advise you to focus on learning common MS Excel functions as well as MS Excel and PowerPoint shortcuts. There is an almost infinite number of free resources to help you with these applications.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your (presumed) upcoming consulting career start, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Ian
Coach
on Oct 25, 2024
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate
Dennis
Coach
on Oct 25, 2024
Roland Berger|Project Manager and Recruiter|7+ years of consulting experience in USA and Europe

Hi there,

to add to what has already been shared here:

Proactive communication is key:

  • Make sure you clarify with your manager (team member or client) if you don't fully understand what it is they want from you
  • Let people know when they can expect to receive deliverables from you - and more importantly, let them know in advance in case you are unable to meet a deadline
  • Don't be afraid to ask for help - you are not expected to know everything from the start but you are expected to visibly and continuously improve
  • Don't forget to be a human - sometimes a big workload and tight deadlines can cause tunnel vision and make you forget that what matters most in this job is how you are being perceived by the people around you

Best

Florian
Coach
on Oct 25, 2024
1400 5-star reviews across platforms | 500+ offers | Highest-rated case book on Amazon | Uni lecturer in US, Asia, EU

Hi there,

Congrats!

I would tackle this problem from an 80/20 perspective.

I have never seen a consultant fail because their Excel or PowerPoint skills were not up to par.

Why?

a. The knowledge you need for both is very basic

b. These are technical skills and can easily be learned

The main reason why consultants fail is that they are not present/visible enough.

  • Be present in the team room and team meetings (speak up, synthesize, summarize, build on others points, present your insights and implications,…)
  • Be visible in front of clients (get to know them, small-talk, include them in the problem-solving process)
  • Be visible in front of leadership (reaching out to partners, sharing insights, demonstrating ownership of your work)

Consulting is not for shy people. 

You can work on the most accurate mind-blowing analyses and visualize them with a killer slide. If you fail to show your presence and influence people through your demeanor and communication, you will not remain in the role for long.

Reach out if you want to learn more! 

I coach people on getting the entry right and have also written a book about the topic called Consulting Career Secrets. It's on Amazon.

All the best on your journey!

Cheers,

Florian

Alberto
Coach
on Oct 28, 2024
Ex-McKinsey Partner | Most experienced coach (15 years exp, +2.000 real interviews) | 95% success rate

Network, network and network.

Each company, region and office has its own particularities. The best way to learn, adapt and improve is with the help of others. Invest time in building your network at all levels. Learn from everybody. Ask for feedback to everybody.

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