Consulting 101 Resource

What is consulting?

Consulting is “the business of giving expert advice to people working in a professional or technical field.”

“Consulting allows you to learn quickly about business problems across different functions and industries. Consulting will stretch you and often feel challenging – a good challenge – because you will learn how to ramp up fast and problem-solve across sectors.” – McKinsey & Co. Recruiter

My Consulting Offer describes consulting as a term loosely applied to the act of providing business advice on various topics, including: marketing, information technology, operational improvement, and corporate strategy. The article outlines how consultants are essentially the doctors of our business world: assessing symptoms and providing follow-up care for organizations.

Management consulting firms include top strategy firms such as Bain, BCG, and McKinsey. These firms hire business-savvy problem-solvers to help their clients:

  1. Define the problems or opportunities their businesses face
  2. Collect and analyze data to better understand the problem/opportunity and identify a recommended course of action
  3. Plan the implementation of that solution across the company

Throughout our document, we provide resources that can help you assess if consulting is right for you, and what to expect as a candidate in this industry.

Where can I work as a consultant?

While big names like Bain, Deloitte, and McKinsey are often associated with consulting, there are many professional services and organizations that range in size that need consultants. The diagram below provides context on how many mid-size, small, and freelance firms make up the consulting market with segments including: strategy, management, operations, human resources, financial advisory, and technology.

Although certain industries utilize consulting services more than others, it is important to remember that consultants are needed in many industries. The picture below demonstrates the range of industries that interact with consulting organizations. Consultancy.org allows you to search for firms that service the industry that interests you most and find out more about them. The Consulting Bench is another resource that provides a complete list of consulting firms by service line or location.

*provided by consultancy.org*

Characteristics of Consulting Organizations

Often organizations who provide consulting to clients use a proprietary, structured approach to approach a problem or business case scenario. You can frequently find information on an organization’s approach or philosophy in the “About Us” section of their website.

Many organizations also differentiate themselves by the services they provide and their industry or sector of focus. A few examples from organizations who recruit at Dartmouth: Altman Solon provides consulting services exclusively to Telecommunications, Media and Technology companies. Health Advances operates at the “intersection of science, technology and business strategy.” AlphaSights focuses on “knowledge search” – helping their clients connect with subject matter experts.

As you apply to opportunities, take the time to read a little about each organization’s focus and approach. Many organization websites provide sample case studies and “insight” reports. You can also find general organization information through the databases available in the Dartmouth Undergraduate Job Hunting Guide. IBISWorld provides market research reports on Management Consulting, Environmental Consulting, and Healthcare Consulting.

Articles on Consulting

Podcasts on Consulting

  • The Strategy Skills Podcast – The Strategy Skills Podcast is the channel where strategy partners teach you the tools and techniques to solve mankind’s greatest problems. The podcast teaches both technical analyses and soft skills like communication.
  • Consulting Success Podcast – Trusted by tens of thousands of consultants, the weekly conversations shine the spotlight on valuable business tips. Episodes support you in understanding how to navigate the market. 
  • The Harvard Business Review – The HBR Podcast discusses a variety of business and consulting related topics. 

Finding a Consulting Job/Internship

Dartmouth-Specific Consulting Firm Resources

Some consulting firms have specific websites designed for Dartmouth students, providing information on opportunities, events and resources as well as the contact information for the recruiting team. These employers will also post opportunities and events in Handshake. 

Examples include:

For many consulting firms, a summer internship after junior year is highly encouraged. It’s possible that a full-time offer can be given to interns upon the completion of their summer internship. Most firms begin recruiting for junior summer internships during the spring and summer term of sophomore year.  Deadlines will vary and interviews are conducted on a rolling basis throughout the summer. 

Connect with Alumni

Dartmouth alumni who work in consulting can be a good resource to speak with about their career path. Consider using  LinkedIn, Handshake, and/or Dartmouth Connect to connect with alumni who currently, or in the past, worked in consulting. Questions you might ask include:

  • What made you decide to pursue consulting? What kept you in the field?
  •  How can I best prepare for a job in consulting while at Dartmouth?
  • What skills does a successful consultant possess? 

Use Handshake to Explore Your Interest in Consulting

In Handshake, you can search for consulting opportunities by clicking the Jobs tab and using the search bar. Click the bookmark button to save opportunities:

Follow employers to get automatic notifications about job and internship opportunities, as well as events employers are posting throughout the year. Click on an organization name for the option to “Follow”:

The Case Interview

The majority of consulting firms use case interviews as part of their candidate screening process. Caseinterview.com describes these interviews as “a hypothetical business situation that is presented… to determine how a candidate thinks about a particular problem and how they would solve it.” 

To prepare for these interviews, read the CPD’s Guidelines on Case Interviews. Our career coaches provide one-on-one Mock Case Interview sessions and will provide feedback to assist your preparation. Make an appointment on Handshake!

Interactive Case Studies 

The following sites provide sample interactive cases that can help prepare you for interviews:

How the CPD can help
The CPD is here to help you through the process from start to finish. Whether it’s assistance with an internship search, feedback on your resume, or participating in a mock interview, you can schedule an appointment with a coach on Handshake to talk about the specific questions you have regarding the opportunities that are available for you.