How do you enter the consulting industry when you're 27 years old and have no MBA?

Hi guys, basically my situation is that I graduated from Purdue with an electrical engineering degree and went into a power engineering field. Here, I did technical consulting for one of BP's largest oil refineries for roughly 3 years.

If I wanted to enter the consulting industry (such as management consulting), would I be able to get in at the entry level and work my way up? Would I have to start with something such as Systems Integration and then make a move to it?

Am I limited with options since I have spent four years out of undergrad already?

An MBA is simply not an option due to current student loan debt as well as grades.

Thanks!

 
anonymouse393:

Why do you want to do consulting? What is the draw for you? Where do you want your career to be in 5-10 years?

These are my reasons:

  • Very interested in learning about varying aspects of the corporate business world
  • Opportunity to meet and network with people from varying backgrounds during my entire career
  • Travel, although I prefer not to travel much after 3-4 years
  • Dynamic nature of work, I really enjoy doing something different every day
  • Opportunity for true personal and career development, this is something I don't have now
  • Fast paced nature of work - I thrive on strict deadlines
  • Opportunity to take my career in any direction I choose

As for where I want to be, that's a very tough question that I cannot answer yet. Need some industry experience before I can say for sure.

 

It depends on the firm you decide to enter. Moving from engineering to management consulting is fairly common at my firm. It all depends on how well you can relate your experience to what you may be doing as a consultant. With three years of experience, you may be able to come in at one level higher than entry-level but again, it depends on how well can you relate your experience.

If the work you have done relates more closely with Systems Integration, then that may have to be your foot in the door and you may have to make an internal move.

 

Do you know anyone in the business?

I only have a bachelor's degree (finance) and have only been doing FP&A for 2.5 years. I have a friend that I've known closer to let's say 7 years now in MC. I reached out to him to learn more. Gave him my rés one night, HR contacted me the next day. I had 1 phone interview, an excel assessment, and I'm scheduled for another phone interview this week.

Point being is I do not have an MBA (yet) just like you, and I would even argue that you have a better transferable skillset than me.

I would definitely keep trying if you are sincerely interested. Anything is possible. You should know that after reading some threads on this site.

Good luck.

edit: I'm also 27.

 
ChicagoCT:

Do you know anyone in the business?

I only have a bachelor's degree (finance) and have only been doing FP&A for 2.5 years. I have a friend that I've known closer to let's say 7 years now in MC. I reached out to him to learn more. Gave him my rés one night, HR contacted me the next day. I had 1 phone interview, an excel assessment, and I'm scheduled for another phone interview this week.

Point being is I do not have an MBA (yet) just like you, and I would even argue that you have a better transferable skillset than me.

I would definitely keep trying if you are sincerely interested. Anything is possible. You should know that after reading some threads on this site.

Good luck.

edit: I'm also 27.

I have many friends in MC. My closest friend has done MC at Accenture and now does MC at Deloitte, he's a consultant. His brother, also my friend, is a senior consultant at Deloitte, ex manager at Accenture.

For me, getting an interview is not a problem, the concern is whether I am qualified for MC, which I highly doubt, simy due to lack of leadership experience, industry experience, and honestly, confidence. I need to start lower on the food chain before considering something like MC.

I have thought about SI, but apparently a common misconception is tht people move into MC from SI - although a friend of mine did this at Accenture, I think this is contrary to the norm.

I do not want a role in software development, but something more along the lines of MC, but on a tamer level.

 
MyrenJobrah:
I have many friends in MC. My closest friend has done MC at Accenture and now does MC at Deloitte, he's a consultant. His brother, also my friend, is a senior consultant at Deloitte, ex manager at Accenture.

For me, getting an interview is not a problem, the concern is whether I am qualified for MC, which I highly doubt, simy due to lack of leadership experience, industry experience, and honestly, confidence. I need to start lower on the food chain before considering something like MC.

I have thought about SI, but apparently a common misconception is tht people move into MC from SI - although a friend of mine did this at Accenture, I think this is contrary to the norm.

I do not want a role in software development, but something more along the lines of MC, but on a tamer level.

To say that you aren't 'qualified' for management consulting is ridiculous. Management Consulting firms are structured around their ability to take undergrads with zero work experience, and make them into reasonably productive consultants in a few months.

If you don't have the baseline capabilities that enable this (business judgment, intelligence, work ethic, interpersonal skills) by now, you never will.

The reasons that you mentioned for looking into Management Consulting are all totally valid. Unfortunately, without an MBA or highly relevant work experience, you would likely be slotted into a Business Analyst type role. After doing 2-3 years in consulting, your 'business strategy' exit opportunities will be roughly those available to most 25-year-olds.

If you don't mind taking a step back in your career, then the path is relatively simple (but not easy): get introduced and endorsed by a current employee, go through interviews, and get hired. Best of luck!

 
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