Breaking into Consulting as an MD

Hi, I just graduated this summer from a top 3 medical school and am interested in breaking into healthcare consulting. The decision to not apply for residency and interest in consulting was a very late development for me, so I realize I am very non-traditional. I was wondering if it is possible to find a consulting position in the short-term (months) rather than applying during the current cycle and waiting for a position next year. If so, I would very much appreciate tips on where to get started.

For a bit more history, I do not have a business background but do have experience in the healthcare system in a variety of roles and with data analysis for medical research. I graduated from a non-prestigious undergraduate institution with a near 4.0 GPA in majors unrelated to business.

Thanks very much for any replies.

 

In your case, it might be best to reach out to headhunters. They hopefully will give you a better chance of coming in as an "experienced hire" or some sort of specialized expert and have better connections for off-cycle hiring. Unfortunately the trade off is an amount of your pay goes to the HH.

 

Although this forum focuses mostly on campus recruiting I would say a larger number of Consultants come from "non-traditional" backgrounds than you would think. I think your best bet is to network your way into meetings / phone calls with people in firms that are able to recommend you for their experienced hire recruiting. GIven the level of your degree you may even be able to compete in the MBA cycle although that would leave you jobless for a while.

The key challenge is going to be explaining your story as most people will assume you didn't get placed. I'm sure you have a great answer so good luck.

 

Start here: http://www.mckinsey.com/careers/create_your_path/career_pathways/career… http://adc.bcg.com/ http://www.joinbain.com/apply-to-bain/other-advanced-degrees/default.asp

If you graduated from a top 3 med school and have some networking skills, you'll get a shot. My perception is that McKinsey hires the most ADC's, followed closely by BCG. I really don't know how robust Bain's program is.

If you want healthcare specifically, add IMS, Huron, and ZS Associates to the list.

Edit: Just realized I replied to a dead thread. Damn you @"bluezebra5"!!

 

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