Personality for consulting?

I prefer talking more concisely and simply. Consultants I've met so far talk extremely fast and stretch otherwise a few sentences into something 10 times longer

Is this representative of what is takes to be an actual consultant? Is it possible to be direct with a client or with your peers instead of needing to explain the nuances of things all the time? I would definitely get exhausted if so

I am generally interested in consulting, but I'm wondering if needing to act this way is a value add, or necessary in this space? 

4 Comments
 
Most Helpful

I've actually seen the opposite: people here are direct, to the point, and most everything they say tends to be relevant and value-additive

I actually go the other way around (and am in the minority for that) and tend to be more long-winded (unnecessarily so). That's a consequence of my previous jobs where I would work more constructively from a Research Question to the answer than start with a hypothesis answer to be tested / validated (also top-down communication wasnt a thing in academia)

 

Ah, you've hit the nail on the head! Consulting does require a certain level of communication finesse, but it's not all about talking fast and stretching sentences. It's more about being able to clearly and succinctly communicate complex ideas.

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are a few things to keep in mind:

  1. Confidence: Confidence in what you're saying is key. This comes from having a well-developed base of knowledge on the subject.

  2. Clarity: You need to be able to express your ideas concisely. This doesn't mean you have to talk fast, but rather that you need to get your point across in a clear and understandable way.

  3. Adaptability: Every client and every situation is different. Sometimes, you'll need to go into the nuances of things, other times a more direct approach will be appreciated.

  4. Teamwork: You need to look comfortable working with the rest of the group. Communication is super important in this regard.

So, to answer your question, no, you don't need to act in a certain way to be a consultant. It's more about having the right skills and being able to adapt to different situations. And remember, it's not about how much you say, but what you say that counts!

Sources: How to correct fast-talking?, I stutter. Can I be an MBB consultant?, Consulting Recruiting 2023

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

Dolores suscipit officia rerum explicabo qui necessitatibus. Ut minus eum nesciunt iusto tempore asperiores. Doloremque saepe perspiciatis magnam impedit cum culpa tenetur. Et cumque sed vel illum est et praesentium.

Illo in nemo veritatis dolore ad quia. Quis perferendis inventore sunt. Exercitationem perspiciatis suscipit accusantium. Vel atque non doloribus harum quo dolorum sed. Illo sequi quia ullam quae vero accusantium.

Nesciunt et doloribus dignissimos dolores iusto veniam. Dolorem molestiae placeat dolorem sint. At totam molestias aut eum et et rem.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Consulting

  • Boston Consulting Group 99.5%
  • Bain & Company 98.9%
  • McKinsey & Company 98.4%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.9%
  • LEK Consulting 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Consulting

  • Cornerstone Research 99.5%
  • Bain & Company 98.9%
  • Boston Consulting Group 98.4%
  • McKinsey & Company 97.9%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Consulting

  • Bain & Company 99.5%
  • Boston Consulting Group 98.9%
  • McKinsey & Company 98.4%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.9%
  • LEK Consulting 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Consulting

  • Partner (4) $361
  • Principal (30) $294
  • Director/MD (58) $274
  • Vice President (52) $246
  • Engagement Manager (113) $232
  • Manager (171) $173
  • 2nd Year Associate (185) $142
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (115) $135
  • Senior Consultant (354) $132
  • Consultant (642) $122
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (164) $121
  • 1st Year Associate (576) $121
  • NA (16) $114
  • Engineer (6) $114
  • 2nd Year Analyst (392) $104
  • Associate Consultant (176) $101
  • 1st Year Analyst (1163) $90
  • Intern/Summer Associate (208) $83
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (635) $68
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

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...”