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What are the chances of getting into Deloitte/Accenture
 

skyblueseven's picture
CO
 
Points)
 on 11/20/12 at 11:59pm

Hi guys,

Just wondering what are the chances of getting into Deloitte/Accenture technology consulting with a Canadian GPA of 3.54 for engineering master program. I know it's a bit low..but what is the reality? My undergrad cgpa was even lower so I don't even put it in my application.

I have done internships (hardware engineering, not relevant), some IT experience, and was also involved in university student associations in a target school in Toronto.

I have been facing rejections...I am not sure is it because of my GPA or I need more work on my cover letter /resume. I am targeting Toronto consulting firms.

Thanks guys, I would really appreciate some help.

Tags:
BCGDreamer's picture

I'm sorry, man, but with this

CO
(Monkey, 50
 
Points)
 on 11/21/12 at 5:56pm

I'm sorry, man, but with this GPA, unless you are a Canadian Rhodes Scholar, your chance of getting even an interview is quite low.

Hsp70's picture

I dont think his GPA is low

(Chimp, 10
 
Points)
 on 11/26/12 at 3:23am

I dont think his GPA is low

JackDevlin's picture

What was your major field of

(Monkey, 44
 
Points)
 on 11/26/12 at 2:39pm

What was your major field of study? Your GPA isn't low enough to ding you out of the gate. You're looking at the right firms - may I make a suggestion? IBM might be in your wheel house as well. It'll really help if you had an advocate at one of these places as well. I think your experience is good enough to get a call. Network, boss.

pnb2002's picture

BCGDreamer: I'm sorry, man,

CO
(Baboon, 145
 
Points)
 on 11/27/12 at 12:33am
BCGDreamer:

I'm sorry, man, but with this GPA, unless you are a Canadian Rhodes Scholar, your chance of getting even an interview is quite low.

What's with your obsession with the Rhodes? Seriously...

To the OP, your GPA isn't too low for Deloitte BTA or Accenture tech consulting. I'd say you just need to network more.

Steveisnotmyname's picture

I've tried and failed with

 
Points)
 on 11/27/12 at 12:45am

I've tried and failed with the Accenture route (despite thinking I did quite well), any other suggestions besides Deloitte?

MBACFApending's picture

Steveisnotmyname: I've tried

(Baboon, 115
 
Points)
 on 11/27/12 at 4:55pm
Steveisnotmyname:

I've tried and failed with the Accenture route (despite thinking I did quite well), any other suggestions besides Deloitte?

How far did you get in the process with Accenture?

skyblueseven's picture

JackDevlin: What was your

CO
 
Points)
 on 11/27/12 at 5:01pm
JackDevlin:

What was your major field of study? Your GPA isn't low enough to ding you out of the gate. You're looking at the right firms - may I make a suggestion? IBM might be in your wheel house as well. It'll really help if you had an advocate at one of these places as well. I think your experience is good enough to get a call. Network, boss.

Thank you for your reply JackDevlin! I studied in Electrical Engineering. In fact I did send in an application for the consulting by degree program.
Most of my applications are without referrals, I guess I have to network more for the up coming Jan cycle.

In terms of IT consulting, how much do the manager weigh on extra curricular work like "case competition" or student association. Should I place more emphasis on work experience or technical skills? I feel like my resume/cover letter
is missing the spark that would get my foot into the door.

Thanks!

JackDevlin's picture

skyblueseven: JackDevlin: W

(Monkey, 44
 
Points)
 on 11/28/12 at 9:30am
skyblueseven:
JackDevlin:

What was your major field of study? Your GPA isn't low enough to ding you out of the gate. You're looking at the right firms - may I make a suggestion? IBM might be in your wheel house as well. It'll really help if you had an advocate at one of these places as well. I think your experience is good enough to get a call. Network, boss.

Thank you for your reply JackDevlin! I studied in Electrical Engineering. In fact I did send in an application for the consulting by degree program.
Most of my applications are without referrals, I guess I have to network more for the up coming Jan cycle.

In terms of IT consulting, how much do the manager weigh on extra curricular work like "case competition" or student association. Should I place more emphasis on work experience or technical skills? I feel like my resume/cover letter
is missing the spark that would get my foot into the door.

Thanks!

As expected, your undergrad degree is quant heavy. I would imagine you would be given some leeway with your GPA as your degree is an engineering BS (or CA equiv.). Speak to your technical skills on how your classes helped you evolve a deductive way of thinking. Consultants love RESULTS. In your cover letter and CV, make sure you make them aware of what you did and how it made the project better. Also important to speak about your ability to work well with a team, etc from your past experiences. Most all of this could be considered moot if you're going in cold (no networking). Keep us posted.

Steveisnotmyname's picture

Hey MBACFApending, sorry for

 
Points)
 on 12/2/12 at 9:20am

Hey MBACFApending, sorry for the delayed response. I got through the first interview of the first round (which I feel like we could just call the first) and then got dinged after the second interview of the first round (which I feel like we could just call the second). Thought I did horrible on the first, and great on the second, so not sure why one passed me and the other dinged me...

static's picture

I have a Canadian GPA lower

(Monkey, 35
 
Points)
 on 12/4/12 at 3:51pm

I have a Canadian GPA lower than yours but have an offer for IT consulting. I did have more than "normal" amount of internships at big companies and did as much networking as possible. I lined up most of my interviews that way and that networking helped me get offers, too. So, I would not dwell on your GPA but work on networking and building a fantastic resume. Good luck!!

skyblueseven's picture

Thanks JackDevlin and static!

CO
 
Points)
 on 12/4/12 at 4:21pm

Thanks JackDevlin and static! I will certainly network as much as I can before the next recruiting cycle.

I do try to do networking, I do find people and some of them are willing to refer me for the application. However,
I am wondering what other objectives do you guys suggest when I am doing networking? To be blunt, can networking with a VP or director in a big firm get me an interview at a big firm? I have always thought the
recruiting processes are standard in big firms, unlike the old days...?

static's picture

I have heard from more than

(Monkey, 35
 
Points)
 on 12/4/12 at 4:42pm

I have heard from more than one senior reps that (And maybe it's a Canadian thing so it may not be the case for our American friends here) partners/seniors are more than willing to go for coffee with aspiring consultants. I think the biggest thing for me was that i didn't ask for a job or ask for an interview. I just genuinely wanted to learn about consulting and asked questions about how they got to where they are.. and i guess they took sympathy?! haha I dont know - but they offered first to pass off my resume to their colleagues to skip the structured recruitment process.

I've never tried the cold calling thing (asking out to coffee) so I can't tell you how successful that would be.. but I find 1:1 networking is so much easier and personal!

blah23's picture

Odds are pretty good, not

O
(Monkey, 50
 
Points)
 on 12/4/12 at 5:01pm

Odds are pretty good, not sure where they would try to place you (analyst vs consultant)

MBACFApending's picture

skyblueseven: Thanks

(Baboon, 115
 
Points)
 on 12/5/12 at 8:08am
skyblueseven:

Thanks JackDevlin and static! I will certainly network as much as I can before the next recruiting cycle.

I do try to do networking, I do find people and some of them are willing to refer me for the application. However,
I am wondering what other objectives do you guys suggest when I am doing networking? To be blunt, can networking with a VP or director in a big firm get me an interview at a big firm? I have always thought the
recruiting processes are standard in big firms, unlike the old days...?

I def think it helps. Once a VP or Senior Manager reads over your resume and deems you a good candidate or "interesting background" he or she will def forward your resume over to HR, which is apart of the firm's overal regular recruiting process. Once that HR rep or manager sees a resume coming from a VP or higher, its more incentive for them to include you in the process and give you the time of day. Its a paper trail if you will. Down the line, they dont want that same VP to come back to them and ask what ever happened to that candidate w/o proof of actively recruiting them.

FinalRoundPrep's picture

It's difficult to give you

(Monkey, 50
 
Points)
 on 12/5/12 at 2:53pm

It's difficult to give you proper feedback without seeing your resume, but I can offer my thoughts based on what you have said.

First off, you're not in a target academic program - so that works against you. The firms have just recently started actively recruiting "Advanced Degree" candidates. Accenture and Deloitte (and most Consulting firms in the GTA) are largely recruiting for their Tech practices in the business schools (Ivey, Queen's, Rotman.) This brings up a question - how did you apply for these positions? Directly through the website? I ask because, as has been mentioned, networking is critical. You should not be applying for these jobs unless you have first made contact with people at your target firms.

Next, your GPA is important, but it's just one of the criteria the firms are using to evaluate you. I have worked with a number of students who have high GPA's, high GMAT scores, but who do not land Consulting interviews. On the other hand, one of my most successful MBA students ever, who received offers from BCG, McKinsey, Bain and others (the student signed with BCG) had a GMAT score of 640 (which is not 700+!)

Your overall profile is what matters - so in addition to your grades, what is the nature of your work experience? Highly technical / project oriented? Did you deliver strong results / impact throughout your career? Did you work at a top brand-name company? Did you exhibit leadership in your extra-curricular activities? These are just some of the considerations recruiters make. As you guessed, your resume is very important in communicating your value proposition. If I were you I would take a hard look at your application.

Drop me a PM if you would like more info / help

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