Job hunting strategy - how to apply to the right firm efficiently / effectively?

Question

Hi all, I am trying to find a position in either in house strategy role or strategy consulting firm - would like to seek advice on job application strategy. I've tried networking, talking to hunters, applying on websites, but the bottleneck is that there isn't much position opening in my region (China & HK).

On the in house strategy role side, the opening position is quite limited (I prefer MNC companies in my specialized sector), and some of the position doesn't match seniority. On consulting side, checked with friends and hunters, seem that there's no opening position for tier 1&2 firms at this point, and there is layoffs going on.

Possible solutions I can think of:

1) Apply to broader regions: I'm open to switch to locations as long as it's a good opportunity, such as the country where I did my MBA / other adjacent APAC countries. However, I'm not sure how efficiently / effectively explore this path, as switching to a brand new location may seem “odd” to recruiters.

2) Apply to strategy roles in other industries: I used to specialize in a specific sector in consulting, although I have done projects in a few other sectors. So the more logical step is to apply to this industry I specialize in. For other sectors, it's a bit more challenging because hunters tell me that they want people who are experienced in these industries. Although some companies may be more open minded and value the overall consultant skillset instead of industry specialization (thus would be more acceptable for Generalist Consultants), but I haven't managed to connect with such company yet.

Long thread…but hope you can provide me some advice! Thank you!

Answer 1

Hi there,

I agree with both of your solutions! You should expand your geographic search and your role search.

You also have to remember that the world is bigger than it might seem right now. There are going to be hundreds and hundreds of positions ready to be filled (yes, even in a downtown).

Figure this out through effective networking as well as scouring linkedin for related roles/postings.

Here's some reading to help (Full time and internship tactics are the same): https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/how-to-get-a-consulting-internship-tips-and-tricks

Answer 2

Hi!

You're asking all the right questions. I like the approach.

Indeed, the reality is what it is. Consulting firms are not taking in as many people, there are fewer job openings. The only thing you can change is your own strategy.

Indeed, I would recommend that you branch out across both of the dimensions I would recommend you wrote about. It's also a numbers game at the end of the day.

I wrote a guide that shows how best to approach the recruitment process under the current market situation. I'll paste it below - I hope you'll find it helpful:

Maximising your chances of getting a consulting job during an economic downturn

Best,
Cristian

Answer 3

Hi there,

Q: Would like to seek advice on job application strategy.

The two options you described (other countries or industry roles) are not mutually exclusive, so you could do both.

If you prefer to work in strategy consulting, option #1 would be better (the country where you did your MBA could be the best bet assuming you speak the local language and can get working rights there).

Good luck!

Francesco

Answer 4

Hi there,

both strategies, beyond improving your local networking efforts, are good levers to expand your option space. Do note that current macro situation complicates international demand, but there are still openings, esp. in higher-growth regions.

Feel free to reach out via DM for a quick chat - I have Consulting experienced in your location (China / HK) and adjacent regions (SEA, ANZ), so should be able to give a few useful pointers.

Regards, Andi