4 Things you can do before your full-time consulting start

As Fall approaches and many are going to be starting their full-time opportunities in consulting, it's good to take the time to enjoy the summer and rest up. But there are a few simple things you can do to help you prepare for the start:

1. Get to know people in the office. You can reach out to current consultants you know and ask them to put you in touch with others in the office. It's a good time to have quick 15 minute phone calls or video calls and introduce yourself. You can learn about the experience of others and get their story and their advice on navigating the first year of consulting. From my own experience, I know consultants are usually happy to share.

2. Think about what pathways you're interested in. It's hard to know up front, but it's good to start asking yourself if you're interested in a particular industries or practice areas. You don't have to specialize or commit to it right away of course, but it will help you be more intentional about what you want to learn and experience during your first year or two at any firm.

3. Consider quick tutorials on any skill area you're concerned about. For example, if you've never used excel or powerpoint before, it may be helpful to find some quick online tutorials and at least learn the basics. If you want to get more advanced with this and if it will make you feel more confident about day 1 that's works too (but I'm not necessarily advocating for this).

4. Stay up to date on current events. You may already be doing this, but it's good to keep up with what's happening, particularly if you're interested in a specific industry area. It can also help in your conversations with consultants (#1 above) if you want to talk about the latest events or get their take on what may be happening in a certain industry.