Hey All,
I'm in the beginning stages of researching MBA programs to apply to and have some questions. (Currently, in a tech strategy consulting role). I'm planning on pursuing an Internal Consulting/Strategic Planning/Corp Strategy role, post-MBA, and I'm trying to figure out the best schools to target. Ideally, I would like to attend a top 10-15 program.
3 Questions:
What schools or tiers of schools present the best opportunity for these roles?
Is it safe to assume that the schools with the best consulting recruiting also have solid internal consulting/strategic planning/corp strategy recruitment opportunities as well?
Would it be a good idea to target General Management rotational programs if I'm interested in consulting/strategic planning/corp strategy recruitment opportunities?
Thanks!
internal corp strat likes ex-consultants.
That's what I've gathered. I've also heard that they value industry experience as well.
Much harder to match Industry expertise and it may require longer tenure
What schools or tiers of schools present the best opportunity for these roles? Depending on the prestige and compensation of the internal role, the same schools that place well at top consulting firms. If you're targeting established, well-known strategy departments than they target top schools.
Is it safe to assume that the schools with the best consulting recruiting also have solid internal consulting/strategic planning/corp strategy recruitment opportunities as well? Yes, and vice versa.
Would it be a good idea to target General Management rotational programs if I'm interested in consulting/strategic planning/corp strategy recruitment opportunities?
It's not a terrible idea, but generally strategic planning/corp strategy roles value consulting experience at a top 10 consulting firm and/or relevant industry experience. So taking a general management program at JP Morgan isn't going to help you get into strategy at a tech firm.
If you're looking for a strategy role in your current industry and you have a good, relevant resume than you should be fine. Expect that you'll have to show industry specific knowledge in your interview and an understanding of the issues currently impacting their business. Ex-consultants recruiting for the same role will not be expected to have the same knowledge, so you'll have to be better than them. The consulting background is more attractive so you need to really blow it out of the park as an industry hire. You can do it (I did for a few roles in recruiting before deciding on a consulting offer) but the expectations are different. Very few people that I know of at Booth were able to change industries in strategy without prior consulting experience. Most people with corp strat in mind recruit for both or just for consulting (to make a transition in 2-4 years).
Thanks for the insightful response! It is very helpful BreakingOutOfPWM
As a follow-up to your response on my "Would it be a good idea to target General Management rotational programs if I'm interested in consulting/strategic planning/corp strategy recruitment opportunities?" question, I was more so asking if it would be good to recruit for General Management/LDP post-MBA positions. I've heard that oftentimes those roles have some overlap with strategic planning/corporate strategy roles.
Depends on what you consider overlap. If you want to be a division head at a firm with a LDP division, take the LDP, you'll get P&L responsibility much sooner. Consultants usually exit to strategy roles at corporates and rarely are given responsibility for a P&L right away, so it's a longer route if you know now what firm you want to be at. Consulting is attractive to many because it doesn't require you to know now, it's easier to pivot industries later; while going direct corporate will more pigeonhole you, this can be a career booster if you feel comfortable in the direction you're headed.
In terms of LDP vs Corp Strategy, as a post-MBA, it depends on if you want to focus on seeing broad companywide issues and how consultants think about solving those problems (because most of the dept will be ex consultants) or if you're more interested in managing people, projects etc.
Gotcha, that's understandable. BreakingOutOfPWM
Thank you!
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