I can break into consulting: AM I A COCKY F*CK or do I have a chance??
Alright guys (and gals) thanks for reading my first post --newb I know-- I'll TRY to keep it short!
Background: December '16 grad (off time for recruiting I know). Non target State School, econ-based major pretty low (~2.9) cum GPA. Pretty Solid (~3.5) Major GPA. Intership at fortune 500 News Corp. subsidiary. While I was here I got bored with my work and ended up presenting a strategy to get into the digital payments space to the executive board. Very well received but ith very minor implimentation. I also cofounded a management consulting student org at my school with the help of some alumni at MBB. through this I was able to work alongside some MBB guys on projects and a lot of our reccomendations were implimented. Finally I began summer '15 as an intern for a tech startup based at an incubator at HBS. This blossomed into me joining the management team and directing biz dev and general strategy where I was able to drive a bottom line revenue increase of ~$300K (this was a result of my work alone the company itself is on pace for $1MM in FY1).
Fast forward to today and I've officially been a college grad for 3 months and ended my involvement with the HBS startup in Dec. I've been exploring the job market and have interviewed with Google and made it through 3-rounds before eing denied. I've also been able to get a PPD (partner referral) for Deloitte's Commercial S/O however their Analyst class closed months ago and can't make room. I've turned down a few job offers but am seriously considering one I got yesterday from a startup. It's for a cold calling position, which is not ideal, but I was able to talk to the lead VC who invested in it and he said it's the best company in his portfolio. It's also all over forbes, business insider silicon valley journal etc.
Now that I've vomited out all of this information (hopefully your still reading) I'd like to end with a few questions. Having gotten pretty far in the process at Google and having gotten a PPD refferal at Deloitte S/O (Despite the poor timing) I feel somewhat validated that I'm smart enough and have a good enough background to at least get my foot n the door at some of these blue chip firms am I being a bit overly optimistic and how much will my non target grades and school haunt me? Also because the timing is such that entry level recruiting is off the table for MBB and the likes I'm thinking about taking this cold calling position. I need to get a job and this one's pretty solid in terms of comp (~80k) but has nothing to do with consulting. My thought is to take it for a few months to pay the bills and then apply for what I really want when things open up in august. Will this hurt my story/chances???
Appreciate any and all feedback. Shoot me straight!
I think your timing is really bad. As you said, MBB and the Tier 2 already have their analyst classes set.
I would advise you to take that job that pays 80K, stay there for at least a year, build up experience and then see if you still have interest in consulting. There's a chance you could like the company and if you do good work, you may be able to lateral into a more strategic role there. If the startup takes off, you may find that company to be a more attractive employer than most consulting firms.
Consulting will always be there and you could position yourself better after getting your MBA if it still interests you in a couple years.
If you didn't get the Deloitte S&O offer, chances don't look good for MBB right now.
What do you WANT to do, really? There's absolutely nothing wrong with a roundabout career path if you have an end goal, but I just can't tell what that really is from your post to give more advice. You say consulting, but what type? You are a college graduate who didn't have a job at graduation and is still unemployed three months later. Whether it's true or not, that will be perceived a certain way on applications. Focus on getting "a job" that can get you where you want to be. Preferably "a job" sooner rather than later.
By the way, if I was you I would try to leverage the knowledge and strategic thinking the payments space to land a role. That's pretty specialized knowledge and a growth industry. You may want to contact Payments and Cards Network to see if they are recruiting for any analyst/associate level roles that you might be a fit for. They're a well-respected recruiter in that very niche industry. You have demonstrated vision and that you can get meetings with senior people - perhaps some sort of entry level biz development or portfolio ownership type gig would be up your alley. If they think that your experience counts as enough to present to their clients they seem to have access to some plum opportunities in the payments space.
You can always keep applying to those consulting position, but I would imagine the longer time goes on the more unattractive you will look to them. Get the cold calling position and pay your bills. Figure out the job, but go above and beyond. Learn the business. Learn the industry. Figure out how to make something more lean, or faster, there could be an opportunity to move into a strategy role if the team likes your attitude and they realize they have you in the wrong position. I'll never say never, but you should definitely focus on moving your career. You can still do pro bono consulting on the side if you really feel the need to be "consulting" and using your brain. And an MBA will definitely provide you with the opportunity to pivot into a consulting role and give you a platform to recruit.
You have a 2.9 GPA and are unemployed, so I don't see anything to be 'cocky' about. Stop turning down jobs.
You mentioned that you turned down job offers -- what were those offers for?
Cocky, and I would not say you have a shot. Take a job offer and see how things look in a few year.
And please proofread your resume and any cover letters.
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