What is Consulting?
According to the Oxford Dictionary, the definition of consulting is giving expert advice to people working in a specific field. But consultants rarely use set definitions.
Marc P. Cosentino, author of "Case in Point: Complete Case Interview Preparation" summarizes consulting as the following:
“…Consulting firms are in the business of renting out brains. Consultants get paid to synthesize massive quantities of foreign data, toss out the irrelevant information, structure an approach to a given client issue, and hypothesize logically and creatively before people of power and influence…”
— Marc P. Cosentino
What Traits Does a Consultant Have?
Working in consulting can be compared to studying in a university, as a consultant is continuously learning something new. A consultant needs strong functional skills to be able to solve problems in all different industries while working with various companies with different corporate cultures.
Most of the time consultants work within a team, and the ability to be a team player is vital for success. Drive, aspirations, energy, and strong interpersonal skills help consultants thrive in their field.
Key skills and traits of a good consultant include:
Strong communication & interpersonal skills
Leadership abilities
Drive & initiative
A team player
What Makes Consulting Interviews Different?
Interviews for consulting firms usually consist of a behavioral interview and a case interview. A case interview is when you are given a business problem and asked to solve it. Although it may sound simple, case interviews often intimidate people as they can be intense and sometimes unpredictable. We believe that they shouldn’t be scary, below are some tips to help you “ace the case”.
How to Ace Case Interviews
Always ask questions
The interviewer will give you the most important information about the case, but they will also give you the opportunity to get more. By asking questions. Make the most out of it!
Structure your answer
While there’s usually more than one approach to solving a case, you will need to show your way of thinking. Gather your thoughts, drop down some notes, and start outlining the logical structure of your solution.
Learn your case types
While there is an infinite number of cases that you could potentially be given on a case interview, there are certain case “types” that are recognizable if…you practice!
Practice your cases
Reading through cases, practicing with a friend, doing case competitions - are just some of the ways you can become more comfortable with case interviews.
Join a consulting club on campus!
Knowing people who have a similar mindset to yours is extremely valuable. Working with them towards the same goal is priceless. At PurdueTHINK, we are a team of eager, ambitious people, who are passionate about consulting and giving back to the community. We are fascinated by the world around us, and as a team, we work every day to try and make it better.