- 1. July 7, 2000Kellogg TMPRecruiting Experience and Advice
- 2. AgendaIntroduction
TMP and the Recruiting Process today
The Recruiting Process checklist
Perform an honest self-inventory
Get to know the different firms
Develop a targeted resume
Prepare (prepare, prepare) for your interviews
Resume Review
Final Thoughts
Questions and Answers
- 3. Consulting interviews — are you ready?Get ready for a wild roller coaster ride!
- 4. Personal LifeInterviewsJobTMP CoursesCommunity ServiceThis fall will be an exasperating juggling act
- 5. TMP and the Recruiting Process todayThe good
More firms are starting to recognize the TMP program as fertile recruiting ground
Kellogg is supportive of TMP participation in the placement process
You tend to have more work experience than your full-time counterparts
You have demonstrated the ability to successfully manage a demanding schedule
The New Economy has made talented people harder to recruit, so most firms are looking more closely at “non-traditional” hires
The bad
You do not have the advantage of a summer internship
You do not have as ready access to information as full-time students
You will not have as much free time to engage in recruiting as full-time students
You do not have the same network as the full-time students
The ugly
Many recruiters still go on campus looking for full-time students. Some are not even aware of the TMP program
Be positive. TMP Recruiting is getting better all the time
- 6. Be honest with yourself, consulting may not be right for youThe Recruiting Process checklistPerform an honest self-inventory: When I grow up, I want to be…
What characteristics are you looking for in a job?
What characteristics do you want to avoid in a job?
What special requirements do you have?
Geographic location
Travel versus non-travel
Office environment versus industrial setting
How does my family factor into the equation?
Do your desires fit with your abilities?
What are your strengths?
What are your weaknesses?
How will all of the above change in 5 years? 10 years?
- 7. The Recruiting Process checklistGet to know the different firms
Identify resources and collect information
Company literature
Web pages
Wet Feet Press
Harvard Business School guide to Management Consultants
The Directory of Consultants and Consulting Organizations
Periodical searches
Your peers/fellow students
Do not forget about the consultants! Remember: Kellogg Alumni help Kellogg students
Create your own list of key requirements
Measure all the firms against your key requirements
Rank and segment the firms that most interest you
Develop a plan to talk to every firm on your shortlist. You will need this for your bid strategy
Remember, work is a four letter word: do not get caught up in the hype!Make an educated decision about your next employer
- 8. The Recruiting Process checklistDevelop a targeted resume
Use an “action, results” format (i.e., do not tell me what you are responsible for, tell me the success youhave had)
“I did this, leading to that”
Make sure that the results stated are important to your targeted firms
Quantify your achievements where possible, but do not ignore nonquantifiable results
Speak in the vernacular of your targeted audience
Use consulting buzzwords where appropriate
Sanitize your resume of phrases that an outsider will not understand
Does your resume pass the “Mom test?”
Do the obvious
Show promotions
Italicize key words
Make sure dates are consistent
Spell check!
Use high quality, white paper
Tell me something about yourself
Differentiate yourself but be professionalDo you know how many resumes we see? Spend the time to give yours a chance
- 9. The Recruiting Process checklistPrepare (prepare, prepare) for your interview
The General Interview
Anticipate all questions
Work up responses to anticipated questions (be as honest as you can!)
Draw upon your past experiences to create stories and show depth
Rehearse not sounding rehearsed! (We know you practice, but do not overdo it)
Preparation does not mean leaving your personality at home
Show me your human side
Remember, the interview goes two ways
Have at least three intelligent questions prepared
Do not be afraid to ask the difficult questions
Take a good, hard look at the people you are interviewing with and their surroundingsBe yourself. If you cannot get an offer as yourself, you do not want the job!
- 10. The Recruiting Process checklistPrepare (prepare, prepare) for your interview
The Case Interview
Practice makes perfect
Consider the types of cases and what preparation might help you
Profit and loss: “The Mind of the Strategist,” Chapter One, by Kenichi Ohmae
Strategy and Industry analysis: Porter’s Five Forces model
Organizational Design
Operational Efficiency
I am sure you can think of others
Given the above comment, do not try to force fit every case into some pre-established structure!
If it helps, develop a standard introduction
Understand the end state where you want to be when you have finished the case
Next, start at a fairly high level and think through what you need to do to get to your desired end state
Explain the methodology you will use to solve the case
Understand and organize what information you have been given up front and what else you will need
Start asking questionsHumble pie does not taste good, but do not take the rejection personally
- 11. The Recruiting Process checklistPrepare (prepare, prepare) for your interview
The Case Interview (continued)
During the interview
Listen, Listen, Listen. Most information is given to you for a reason
Think transparently (this is not, however, a license to babble)
If the interviewer does not understand where you are going, he/she cannot help you
Ask questions. Help the interviewer help you
Drive to a conclusion and state it (within your time limit)
Double back if necessary to make sure you have not missed something, or left something undoneHumble pie does not taste good, but do not take the rejection personally
- 12. A.T. Kearney Resume Review E-mail Resumes to Jeff Chang
jeff.chang@atkearney.com
Deadline to Submit Resumes for Review
July 21, 2000
Contact Number
(312) 223-7543
- 13. Final ThoughtsTime is short, get started now
Develop a game plan for
Learning about firms/obtaining interviews
Succeeding in case interviews
Dealing with the worst
Develop your support network to deal with the stress of it all
Family and friends
Non-Kellogg career mentors
Be yourself and have fun
Never say never!Best of luck. Oh, by the way, did I mention that A.T. Kearney is the consulting firm of the 21st century?
- 14. Appendix 1 — Common Mistakes
- 15. Common mistakes during the consulting interview processMost importantly, be courteous to your fellow students. The alumni bridge is a bad one to burn!Self-Inventory
Not being honest about what you want for your future and which career path is right for you
Failing to realize that the Kellogg degree opens many doors — there is more to life than consulting
The firms
Getting caught up in the name/image of a given firm and ignoring their personality and/or practice specialty
Falling for the recruiting “sales pitch” and not asking enough questions
Ignoring/snubbing the Big 5
Resume
Chronologically listing daily responsibilities and not emphasizing accomplishments or leadership abilities
Ignoring the CMC format (e.g., more than one page, grammatically correct sentences)
Interview/closed list
Being too pushy about getting on closed lists
Taking the interview process too lightly
Failing to practice a full repertoire of cases
Taking rejection personally