Consulting

CAREER TRACKS

UM students have taken a variety of paths to pursue their interest in consulting.  There are several types of consulting or practice areas and common paths for UM students have included management, strategy, human resources or IT consulting.  Energy, finance, pharmaceutical and health care consulting are examples of other practice areas. 

Many UofM students are drawn to consulting because it is a fast-paced, interdisciplinary and intellectually challenging field.  It is also a competitive work environment.  Pursuing this industry requires a great deal of preparation including an understanding of the field and an ability to articulate what you can offer the firm and its clients

Necessary skills

Consultants work across industries and projects will vary based on client needs. This means consultants need a high tolerance for ambiguity, need to adapt quickly to change, and should be curious and observant. Other important skills include:

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

  • Ability to break down complex issues, identify root causes, and develop logical solutions.

Communication (Written & Verbal)

  • Clear, concise, and persuasive communication is essential for client interactions, reports, and presentations.

Data Analysis

  • Proficiency in analyzing and interpreting data using tools like Excel, SQL, or Python to support recommendations.

Client Relationship Management

  • Ability to build rapport, listen actively, and respond to client needs professionally and respectfully.

 Business Acumen

  • Understanding how businesses operate, including financials, strategy, marketing, and operations.

 Presentation Skills

  • Creating and delivering engaging PowerPoint presentations that tell a compelling story to clients and stakeholders.

Time Management & Prioritization

  • Managing multiple tasks and deadlines in fast-paced, high-pressure environments.

Teamwork & Collaboration

  • Consulting is team-based, so being a supportive and flexible team member is essential.

Research & Information Gathering

  • Conducting qualitative and quantitative research to support client projects and recommendations.

Technical Proficiency

  • Familiarity with tools like:
    • Microsoft Excel (advanced)
    • PowerPoint
    • Tableau/Power BI (data visualization)
    • SQL, Python, or R (for more technical roles)

Project Management

  • Understanding how to scope, structure, and track project milestones and deliverables

Adaptability & Learning Agility

  • Consultants must quickly get up to speed in new industries or with unfamiliar problems

Global & Cultural Awareness

  • Especially in large firms, working across regions or with diverse teams is common.

Influencing & Persuasion

  • Ability to advocate for ideas and recommendations—even when there’s pushback.

Strategic Thinking

  • Looking beyond the short-term fix to align solutions with a client’s broader goals and long-term vision.

Article:  Is consulting right for you? (The Muse)

Article:  Is consulting the right career for you? (Harvard Business Review)

What To Do Now to Prepare

Starting to network, build skills, and gain experience are some things you could be doing now! 

Network

Connecting with professionals is both an important way to explore if consulting is a fit for you AND an important part of the consulting recruitment process. Connect with industry professionals (especially alumni) to learn about their career paths and get answers to your specific questions.

  • UCAN (University Career Alumni Network) -- Search and connect with U-M who have volunteered to chat with U-M students about all things career-related!
  • LinkedIn-- Connect with industry professionals, especially alum, to set up networking calls.
  • Student Organizations and Clubs: Check out Maize Pages to see what consulting clubs are on campus! There organizations are a great way to network, learn more about the consulting industry, and get consulting experience
  • LinkedIn Groups
    • Beyond just joining LinkedIn, groups are a great way to expand your network, contribute to a community, and get questions answered.  Checkout these groups geared toward consulting.  See what the members are doing, participate in discussions, uncover resources, and even ask your questions.
    • Article:  Top 7 LinkedIn Groups for Business Consultants
  • Info sessions: A number of consulting firms recruit through the University Career Center each fall and host information sessions as part of their visit.  Info sessions are an excellent opportunity to explore the career and connect with professionals right here on campus!  Check the “Events” section of your Handshake account for dates/times and locations

Build Skills

Start building skills that will help you to land that first internship. Below are some great sites that will help you gain skills!

  • Forage: Complete job simulations from top firms to see what a day in the life of a consultant is like while building skills necessary for the job!
  • LinkedIn Learning: Get free access to all of LinkedIn Learning through Michigan! Log in and complete courses geared towards building skills necessary for consultants! Try a course in PowerPoint, Excel, SQL, client management, Case Interviews, data analytics or more!
  • Google Certifications: Earn a Google Certificate in areas that firms may be looking for experience in such as Data Analytics or Project Management!  

You can also gain skills through class projects, research experience, and in different student organizations, especially consulting clubs.

Gain Experience

Consulting early-talent programs are structured opportunities designed to help undergraduate students, recent graduates, or early-career professionals break into the consulting industry. They’re essentially pipelines that give you exposure, training, mentorship, and often a fast-track to full-time roles.These programs introduce you to the consulting world through:

  • Firm overviews

  • Case interview workshops

  • Meet-and-greets with consultants

  • Shadowing client work or project simulations

Typical Entry-Level Jobs

Entry level consulting job titles will vary by firm.  In general, entry-level undergraduate titles include business analyst, fellow, or associate. Recent undergraduates may enter as a junior analyst/consultant. 

Internship job titles examples: 

  • Consulting Intern
  • Strategy Intern
  • Business Analyst Intern
  • Management Consulting Intern
  • Advisory Intern
    Summer Associate (typically MBA-level, but sometimes used broadly)
  • Client Services Intern
  • IT Consulting Intern
  • Transformation Intern
  • Insights Intern

Entry Level Job Roles for Recent Graduates

  • General Titles

    • Analyst
    • Associate Consultant
    • Consulting Analyst
    • Junior Consultant
    • Business Analyst
    • Advisory Associate
    • Strategy Analyst
    • Consultant (Entry-Level) – some firms use this title right away

 Specialized Titles (by consulting focus)

  • Technology Consultant / Tech Analyst
  • Healthcare Analyst / Healthcare Consultant
  • Data & Analytics Consultant
  • Operations Analyst
  • HR or People Consultant
  • Risk Advisory Associate
  • Change Management Analyst
  • Financial Advisory Analyst
Job and Internship Search Essentials

When job searching it’s important to understand the hiring process from the organizational perspective.  It directs your job search efforts, identify timelines and best job search strategies.  Consulting Job/Internship Essentials include:

  • Competitive recruiting process:  Securing a consulting position is an extremely competitive process. Applicants must be fully prepared at the start of the job search process.  This includes understanding the field of consulting, the recruiting process and what you bring to the firm and its clients
    • Early Talent Programs:
  • Early on-campus recruiting: Recruiting timelines vary by organization, but you can expect a few of the most competitive applications to be due in the summer (think McKinsey, Bain, BCG). Many other organizations will have applications due in September and early fall. Consulting information sessions start early- prior to application deadlines. If you are interested in consulting this means you should be on the lookout over the summer on organization websites and on Handshake. Already past that time? Don't fret smaller organizations often hire later. In addition, many organizations hire interanl analysts, and these deadlines are not usually as early.
  • Case interviews: Along with behavioral interviews, consulting firms use the case interview format to assess applicants knowledge, ability to think critically (and quickly) and team skills
  • Firm Websites:  Much of what you need to know about the consulting job search process is thoroughly outlined on firm websites.  Implementing the tips provided in the “Careers” section will  help you stand out in the process.
  • A well-written resume connects your skills and experiences to the needs of the organization.  The articles below (combined with the “Necessary Skills” outlined in this track),will help you develop a strong resume
Industry Trends

Get in the habit of reading about industry trends daily. Depending on your intended area of consulting, you may have industry-specific periodicals to subscribe to. Those with more general interests, could consider publications like:

Many firms also publish insight reports and industry trend reports on their websites. Some popular ones are:

 

 

 

 

Photo Credit: Tiago Gerken