What things can a medical student do to build a stellar application to consulting?

Hi there,

I assume you have thought about that before: Some Consulting expertise. It helps trying to land offers at less selective firms to build experience in the industry before you apply to MBB and similar companies.

That way, you will have a higher likelihood of getting the interview as well as a compelling story about your Consulting fit and some experience on real life cases for passing the interviews.

To network and find opportunities such as events that you can utilize, I would encourage you to check out what your consulting club and further network (for referals) can offer you.

Hope that helps!

Best,

Gero

Hi Anonymous A,

I can already see a lot of good suggestions here, and I agree that it seems you already have some relevant experience. 

Let me add some extra points here. Remember that your background is irrelevant regarding the "performance" you are expected to deliver, and that MBBs are NOT interested in any business knowledge. They are only interested in your raw analytical horsepower, your communication strength, and your personality traits. If this is given, the relevant knowledge will come very swiftly "on the job". When I recruited for BCG and McKinsey, I always (jokingly) said "I don't hire topic experts, I hire talent!".

And of course, the obvious:

When applying to consulting firms, you should ensure you are well-prepared, meaning you have practiced cases, polished your CV and cover letter, and have a good understanding of the firm's values and the requirements of the role you're applying for.

As a general rule, it's wise to start preparing for your application well before you wish to start your new job, to ensure you present the best version of yourself to potential employers. 

Furthermore, it can be beneficial to reach out to your network and try to connect with someone already working at the firm to inquire about their experience and ask for a future referral.

Cheers, Sidi

___________________

Dr. Sidi S. Koné

Former Senior Engagement Manager & Interviewer at McKinsey | Former Senior Consultant at BCG | Co-Founder of The MBB Offer Machine™

One other thing beyond the excellent suggestions above is to look for case competition challenges. 

Consulting companies sometimes organize them, but it can also be companies from the medical field for example. Participation is typically restricted to students, but not a particular field of study as they want to attract diverse talent. 

This could be a low-risk / easy entry way to get a bit of consulting experience, have a good story to tell in your CV and cover letter and ultimately prove your interest for consulting. 

Good luck, 

Ariadna 

Having an internship in Consulting or within a Corporate Strategy department would be the most obvious choices.

Beyond the well known consulting firms, you should search for consulting boutiques in your area (you have to use Google, LinkedIn, and ask around for that). The best way to search is to look for strategy consulting firms (boutiques) specializing in a specific industry.

Given that you are based in London… it's one of the largest consulting hubs in the world, you have tons of boutiques.

For Corporate Strategy roles you need to consider large companies with headquarters in London (or in the UK), and check if they have a corporate strategy department (once again, LinkedIn is best for this). You may need to network a bit (one by one) to figure out if they have internships and how to apply. 

I worked with several med students transferring into consulting so happy to provide a perspective. 

First of all, it sounds like you already have lots of relevant work experience and I'd double down on some of that - such as the consulting club at your university.

Second, I'd find an area of overlap between your medical knowledge and your consulting applications to do some probono consulting for a hospital or practice or an NGO in this space. 

This would also further sharpen your value proposition if, for instance, you choose to apply to life science firms later on. 

Aside from this, I would get going on applying for consulting internships for your last summer before graduation. These could also convert into full time offers so they would be a great opportunity for you. 

Do reach out if you have additional questions. 

Best,
Cristian

Hi there,

Think of 2 levers:

1. Your resume

• Make sure your grades are top-notch
• Try to get some relevant work experience (smaller consulting, F500 internships, start something yourself)
• Extracurriculars → take on some leadership positions
• Potentially go abroad for a bit (studies or work)

2. Networking

• Identify people with a similar background in target firms
• Reach out and get discussions going

Love the proactive approach you are taking!

All the best,

Florian