Applying to consulting without any network - is it even worth it?
Title sums it up pretty well. I'm a PhD student and in my department, there's not a lot of airtime given to non-academic careers. So in my own research, I've just stumbled across two consulting diversity programs that I'm eligible for, but applications close soon.
But there's a catch - I've done no networking. No reaching out on LinkedIn, no on-campus recruitment (PhD students don't get included in any messaging about these opportunities, and I'm kicking myself for not finding out sooner), no friends of friends in the offices I would apply for. Nada.
At this point, is it even worth applying? I've been on the other side of the recruiting table, and I felt like some of my coworkers knew who they wanted to hire before applications even opened.
I'm not completely inexperienced - I've worked in front office at two BBs. I networked a ton for those though. I went to a top undergraduate program and my stats are generally high (perfect GREs, 4.0 etc), so my resume isn't awful. But I've literally done no networking in consulting, and I won't have time to before applications shut down.
Broadly speaking, you should apply no matter what. I'm not sure what "consulting diversity programs" are or why their "applications close soon", but companies are always hiring.
If you have practical skills, or even some basic brainpower and the motivation to slog, you should be a good candidate for a great many companies. Mgmt consulting companies are all somewhat different and no HR/recruiting dept is perfect, so you may strike out at random even if you would be a good fit.
You should of course do all that networking you describe, but don't let it stop you from applying. But I would focus on applying the regular way, not some weird programs.
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