Consulting Job, NYC, Unusual career path

Hi all, first time poster. I'm looking to get into consulting in NYC, preferably with MBB. My academic/work experience is probably a little unusual, so I'll lay it out for you guys, and hopefully you can let me know what you think.

Undergrad GPA of 3.8/4.0 at little-known liberal arts college on West Coast.
Lots of extracurriculars while in UG.
Out of school for 4 years.
Two years working as a Peace Corps Volunteer in East Africa.
Two years teaching English in Japan.

I have almost zero experience working in finance/accounting, but consulting is something that has always appealed to me, especially in the last few years as I've starting to think of where I'd like to be long-term.

The recruiting pages of the big firms seem to outline a couple basic career paths based on past experience/education, but I don't really fit into any of these. However, they all seem to emphasize that they value unique life experiences and generally interesting people.

Do I have a chance at an entry-level position in one of these firms in NYC? Advice? Thanks in advance!

It sounds like you'd have a pretty strong profile for a good MBA program. The firms you mentioned (MBB) generally have set recruiting timelines and very rarely hire outside of their set classes (I wouldn't say never, just highly unlikely). Their interest in life experiences, etc. come more at a manager/principal level than associate consultant levels. Moreover, being a lateral hire (as you would be) generally requires some experience.

I think if you went to a top b-school, you'd be a great candidate for one of these firms down the road.

 

Agree with the previous poster that your only real bet (although I'm sure there are some very rare exceptions) is to get your MBA -- at one of the top 8 programs -- and get into consulting that way. If I were you, I'd also try to get some experience in the corporate world before going back to business school.

 

Perspiciatis inventore facere corrupti quis et dolor ea voluptas. Qui ducimus dolorem enim cupiditate voluptatibus alias. Est labore repellendus at eum aut. Aut enim dicta incidunt. Rerum sed non velit praesentium. Nostrum sunt harum eos corporis ratione quam.

Rem rerum aspernatur ut sapiente voluptatum nulla rerum. Facilis quod cupiditate in repellat consequatur et aperiam.

Illum porro mollitia totam sed quis quos. Consequatur laudantium vitae quia. A fuga quos ipsa dolores. Quia quia eligendi quia.

Sed ipsum possimus voluptatum dolores autem beatae. Et temporibus voluptatibus illum consectetur. Sunt quae praesentium nobis. Accusamus dolorum recusandae voluptates aut. Molestias qui provident sit.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Consulting

  • Bain & Company 99.4%
  • McKinsey and Co 98.9%
  • Boston Consulting Group (BCG) 98.3%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.7%
  • LEK Consulting 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Consulting

  • Bain & Company 99.4%
  • Cornerstone Research 98.9%
  • Boston Consulting Group (BCG) 98.3%
  • McKinsey and Co 97.7%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Consulting

  • Bain & Company 99.4%
  • McKinsey and Co 98.9%
  • Boston Consulting Group (BCG) 98.3%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.7%
  • LEK Consulting 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Consulting

  • Partner (4) $368
  • Principal (25) $277
  • Director/MD (55) $270
  • Vice President (47) $246
  • Engagement Manager (100) $226
  • Manager (152) $170
  • 2nd Year Associate (158) $140
  • Senior Consultant (331) $130
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (108) $130
  • Consultant (587) $119
  • 1st Year Associate (538) $119
  • NA (15) $119
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (146) $115
  • Engineer (6) $114
  • 2nd Year Analyst (344) $103
  • Associate Consultant (166) $98
  • 1st Year Analyst (1048) $87
  • Intern/Summer Associate (188) $84
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (552) $67
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”