Which firms should I look at for a Consumer Insights Consultant role?

Question

Hi All,

I left a Big 4 and in hopes to join Consulting. I am mainly interested in doing Consulting for CPG and Retail. I had an interview with BCG, one month ago and unfortunately got the Norovirus that has been going around and didn't have enough time to prep for the case interview. Not sure which other firms I should consider. Also does anyone know how many months I would have to wait to reapply?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Sorry to hear the interview didn't go well.

Getting sick is a perfectly fine reason to postpone an interview. So next time, do ask for an extension if you're not ready. I haven't had any candidates bullied into interviewing when they were sick.

Then, in terms of other firms, actually most top firms have a CPG arm.

If I were you, I'd look at the top 20 then get in touch with the recruiter from your target office to understand whether they are accepting applications.

Then start building an application strategy from there. This article might help:

Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

Regarding reapplying, typically the freeze is in place for 12 months.

Best,
Cristian

Answer 2

You got the norovirus…which lasts 1-2 days.

What you're really saying is you didn't plan properly and weren't ready because you had not been prepping like you should for 2-3 months.

^sorry to be direct, but you need to stop making excuses in order to change!

There are dozens and dozens of other firms. Hit google. Hit LinkedIn. Hit your network. Have calls. Ask people on the calls. Look at related companies.

You should be networking extensively and applying to 40+ firms during any recruiting push/job hunt!

How to Get a Consulting Internship - Tips and Tricks

Application Tracker – Keep Track With This Free Template

The Most Common Pitfalls in Case Interview Preparation

Answer 3

Hi there,

1) I am mainly interested in doing Consulting for CPG and Retail. Not sure which other firms I should consider.

Most consulting firms cover CPG and Retail. You can find a list of the top consulting firms by revenue below, most likely they cover them.

▶ Top 15 Consulting Firms by Revenues and Prestige

2) Also does anyone know how many months I would have to wait to reapply?

Normally the ban is 12-18 months. Sometimes if you have a strong interview performance they might offer a ban of 6 months (they should let you know if that's the case).

Good luck!

Francesco

Answer 4

You'll have to wait 12 months. Regarding other companies… it's a long list between MBB; Tier 2, Specialized Boutiques, etc., and that would depend on location.

Answer 5

Hi there,

Ian is spot on.

Nothing to add except the fact that you would usually be banned from re-applying for 12-24 months, which depends on the office location.

You can shorten it through a strong referral and increase your chances of getting a new invitation by improving your work experience, academia, and extracurriculars on your resume.

All the best,

Florian

Answer 6

Hi there, The timeline you've outlined for the application process at firms like McK, BCG, and Bain is quite accurate... (read entire answer)

Hi there, The timeline you've outlined for the application process at firms like McK, BCG, and Bain is quite accurate. Typically, the recruitment process from submitting your re... (read entire answer)

Answer 7

Hi there, I would say a typical timeline from submitting your application to ultimately receiving an offer (if that w... (read entire answer)

Hi there, I would say a typical timeline from submitting your application to ultimately receiving an offer (if that were to happen) is often between 6-8 weeks. If you apply in... (read entire answer)

Answer 8

Hi there, First, remember that you might not have control over scheduling. For the most part, they get to decide when... (read entire answer)

Hi there, First, remember that you might not have control over scheduling. For the most part, they get to decide when they take place. Ultimately, I would apply (or have applied... (read entire answer)