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STRATEGYCONSULTING
CASESTUDIES
N U M E R I C A L R E A S O N I N G T E S T
E C O N O M I C C O N
S U L T I N G
ETRAYEXERCISE
H U M A N R E S O U R C E S
C O N S U L T I N G
B O U T I Q U E F I R M S
R E S E A R C H
V E R B A L
R E A S O N I N G T E S T
O P E R A T I O N S C O N S U L T I N G
A S S E S M
E N T C E N T R E S
I N T E R V I E W S
A
N A L Y S I S
L O G I C A L R E A
S O N I N G T E S T
M A N A G E M E N T C O
N S U L T I N G
P R O
B L E M - S O L V I N G
S I T
U A T I O N A L J U D G E M E N T
C A R E E R
M O T I V A T I O N
S T R A T E G Y C O N S U L T I N G
C A S E S T U D I E S
N U M E R I C A L R E A S O N I N G T E S T
E C O N O M I C C O N
S U L T I N G
E - T R A Y E X E R C I S E
H U M A N R E S O U R C E S
C O N S U L T I N G
B O U T I Q U E F I R M S
R E S E A R C H
V E R B A L
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O P E R A T I O N S C O N S U L T I N G
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M A N A G E M E N T C O
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S I T
U A T I O N A L J U D G E M E N T
C A R E E R
M O T I V A T I O N
S T R A T E G Y C O N S U L T I N G
C A S E S T U D I E S
N U M E R I C A L R E A S O N I N G T E S T
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S U L T I N G
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H U M A N R E S O U R C E S
C O N S U L T I N G
B O U T I Q U E F I R M S
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V E R B A L
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O P E R A T I O N S C O N S U L T I N G
A S S E S M
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M A N A G E M E N T C O
N S U L T I N G
P R O
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S I T
U A T I O N A L J U D G E M E N T
C A R E E R
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S T R A T E G Y C O N S U L T I N G
C A S E S T U D I E S
N U M E R I C A L R E A S O N I N G T E S T
E C O N O M I C C O N
S U L T I N G
E - T R A Y E X E R C I S E
H U M A N R E S O U R C E S
C O N S U L T I N G
B O U T I Q U E F I R M S
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V E R B A L
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}
UCL Guide to
CONSULTING
2013
The denitive guide to the Consulting industry
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© 2013 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. All rights reserved.
Opportunities with the UK’s number one graduate employer
Ofces across the UK » Join spring, summer or autumn
Your career is just that; yours. You choose it. You live it. You make it
happen. To get the best from it, you need the best opportunities. That ’s whyopportunities are at the heart of a career with us. Opportunities to growas an individual, to build lasting relationships and make an impact in aplace where people, quality and value mean everything. For Science
graduate Layo, that meant exploring the business world on our TaxSummer Internship – she did so well she was offered a job with us at theend. Now she works on major tax projects, helping t he employees of some
of the world’s biggest companies manage their complex tax affairs.Join PwC – we’re focused on helping you reach your full potential.
Take the opportunity of a lifetime
www.pwc.com/uk/careers
www.facebook.com/PwCCareersUK
The experiencestays with you
Layo at PwC’s Mor e London ofce
Diverse people make us stronger
Assurance
Actuarial
Consulting
Deals
Tax
Technology
All degree subjects
Voted employer of
choice by studentsin The Times Top 100Graduate Employers survey for ten
years running.
UCLU Business Society | 2
Introduction and
Acknowledgements
It’s a no-nonsense guide to the opportunities available,
with practical advice on applications and interviews and
exclusive insights into consulting rms. This guide will
help you be a step ahead and kick-start your career inconsulting.
Following the success of the last year’s edition of the
UCL Guide to Consulting, we are proud to present to
you a revised and updated version, including even more
application tips and advice.
We would like to say a big thank you to the recruitment
ofcers and interviewed representatives from our
sponsoring and partnering rms for their coordination and
valued insights, and Karina Jayawant for her work on
formatting and design.
EDITED BY: Alexandra Vedernikova,
Karina Jayawant,
Preena Kakad,
Lukas Stieger
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UCLU Business Society | 4UCLU Business Society | 3
ABOUT THE UCLU
BUSINESS SOCIETY
(CONSULTING DIVISION)
The Consulting Division of the UCLU Business Society is a division
for all students interested in learning more about different types of
consulting. The goal of this division is to create opportunities for career
exploration and development in all elds of consulting through on-campusnetworking events, consulting skills sessions, informative industry and rm
presentations. Alongside this, we encourage participation in the annual
DECA Competition which hones the necessary skills that consulting rms
look for in an employee. The aim for our division is to make UCL a target
university for all consulting rms and increase the general employability of
UCL students in the diverse eld of consulting.
WHAT WE DO
» Educate our members about various types of consulting through
corporate presentations. We cover Strategy, Operations, Financial,
Economics, Human Resource, Technology and Industry-specic
consulting.
» Connect our members to employers through various networking events.
» Strengthen interview skills of our members through intensive case study
practice sessions in our new ‘Case Club’, interview skills workshops
with recruiters and the opportunity to participate in the annual DECA
challenge.
CONTENTS
6 | WHAT IS CONSULTING?
9 | WHAT ARE THE TYPES OFCONSULTING?
COMPANY PROFILES
15 | PwC
18 | Simon Kucher & Partners
21 | EY
25 | Management Solutions
27 | L.E.K
31 | Mercer
35 | The Social Investment Consultancy
39 | Integration
APPLICATION PROCESS
44 | Before applying
45 | CV and and cover letter
48 | Online tests
50 | E-tray / virtual ofce
54 | Competency interview
57 | Case study interview
63 | Application deadlines
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To put it simply, consulting is the business of giving advice.
When confronted with a problem, professionals, companies and
other institutions hire consultants to solve them. While someconsulting rms focus on general business strategy problems
of their clients, others specialise in technology, marketing,
operations, nance, human resources, etc.
You might question, why would anyone with expert knowledge
of their business like to spend millions of pounds on external
business advice? Well, the most important reason is that
consultants have a unique experience of serving multiple clients
in the same sector and some of which are facing the same
challenges. This allows them to see an individual business issue
as part of ‘the bigger picture’ and apply lessons learnt from
working on other projects. Moreover, consultants are valued
for their analytical vigour and ability to take a fresh, critical and
outside perspective on the issue.
What is CONSULTING?
UCLU Business Society | 6
Teamwork
Creativity
EntrepreneurialDrive
PASSIONM UL T I -T A S KI N
G
COMMUNICATION
PROBLEM-
SOLVING
c ur i o si t y
P a
t h -
f n
d i n g
RE S E AR
C H
An al y si s Leadership
Achievement
personal impact
numerical agility
Organisation
PERSISTENCEP r i or i t i s a t i on
AT T E NT I O
NT O DE T AI L
THE TYPES OF PROBLEMSIN CONSULTING INCLUDE:
Pricing
Marketing
New product strategy
(market access)
IT implementation
Government policy
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PITCHING – this includes conducting secondary research to understand
the clients’ needs and the industry before coming up with a proposal deck
with the consulting rm’s proposed approach to the clients’ problem.KICK-OFF – this is the rst meeting with the client to ensure that their
needs and problem at hand are interpreted correctly, and that they are
agreeable to the consultants’ proposed approach to solve the problem.
This is highly important to ensure that the project is kicked off with both
parties on the same page.
RESEARCH – this phase refers to primary research which is conducted
through eldwork. Generally, primary research can be qualitative
(interviews with several key opinion leaders / industry experts / niche
consumer groups) or quantitative (surveys with a larger group of
stake- holders). Armed with knowledge from prior secondary r esearch,
consultants have to produce surveys and interview guides fr om scratch to
elicit the true opinions of the population that are pertinent in answering the
client’s problem.
ANALYSIS – After consolidating the primary and secondary research
results gathered from the eldwork phase, it is the job of the consultants
to then make sense of these results by giving their insights from these
numerical and qualitative data. Generally the whole team (from partner to
consultants) works together to analyse the big picture and details
and tailor these results to the initial problem that the client wanted insights
for.REPORTING – The consultants will then take the analysis and present
it into a ‘deck’ (PowerPoint slides) which will then be delivered by the
project manager to the client in the nal presentation. Story-boarding of
the different bits of analyses will have to be done to ensure a coherent and
smooth ow of insights by the consulting team. A typical nal presentation
deck also consists of many annexes, which include the results of research
or models that can be used to substantiate the ndings when questioned
by the clients.
A typical consulting
phase includes the
following stages:
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Economic ConsultingEconomic consultants assist clients to understand and project market
trends, to evaluate the effects of new strategies and to persuade key
decision-makers and stakeholders. They often use micro-economic theory
and statistical, econometric and nancial expertise to tackle some of the
complex and challenging business and policy issues. Combining modelling
skills with deep industry knowledge, they provide professional economic
advice to companies, regulators and government.
Examples of typical economics consulting engagements:
» Limiting Potential Regulatory Risk for a Merchant Energy Firm
» Measuring Consumer Credit Risk for a Large UK Retail Bank
» Valuing fuel diversity in power markets
» Cost-Benet Analysis of Rural Post Ofce Branches
LEADING ECONOMIC CONSULTING
FIRMS INCLUDE:» Deloitte Consulting
» FTI Consulting
» Oxera Consulting
» NERA Consulting
Strategy Consulting
Strategy consultants help consultants with their most complex strategic
challenges and build bespoke and tailored solutions in order to achieve
sustainable growth.
They often assist a rm’s senior executives to understand and face the
strategic challenges of running their organisation. It is not surprising that
a young analyst consultant meets a CEO of a big rm in his rst ever client
meeting - that is just how these projects work within strategy consulting.
The common goal of strategic consultants is to drive a business to fulleconomic potential. They identify and discuss strategic needs and
potential pitfalls with their clients and more often assist clients in breaking
into emerging markets; helping them navigate through this unfamiliar
terrain and compete with multinationsl. Ultimately, they work with clients to
make big ideas actionable.
Examples of typical strategy consulting engagements:
» Analysing why an electronics retailer generates lower sales per
square foot than its competitors
» Understanding why West End theaters keep losing money and how
the theaters can reposition themselves to prot most from new
markets
» Positioning a snack manufacturer to enter Brazil, determining types
of snacks most wanted, and assessing the market’s willingness to
pay for snacks
» Determining the value of a hard-drive manufacturer on a stand-
alone basis and suggesting possible acquirers to help divest itself
of non-core businesses
LEADING STRATEGY CONSULTING FIRMS INCLUDE:
» McKinsey & Company
» Bain & Company
» The Boston Consulting Group
» PwC Consulting
What are the TYPES
of Consulting?
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Operations Consulting
Operation consultants often quote that they wish to “do things, not only
do slides.” To put it simply, operational consultants are interested in the
implementation of new recommended strategies.
These days most rms offer both strategic and operational consulting. This
entails advising clients on new strategies and then helping them make the
changes i.e the full package. The core business of operation consultants
is to help clients lead major change projects by working on the full change
lifecycle, from strategy to implementation.
They often investigate customer service response times, cut operating or
inventory backlog costs, or look into resource allocation.
So let’s say, for example, that we have a project with a more strategic side
like pricing or the denition of a new organization.
A standard management consulting rm might just go in and make a
recommendation on how to change pricing for products and services.
In operational strategy consulting they would actually help them make the
change, implement it for different customers and geographies, and assess
what impact the change has made and what to do differently.
Examples of typical operations consulting engagements:
» Streamlining the equipment purchasing process of a manufacturing
company
» Determining how a dessert chain can save on ingredient costs
without changing its menu • Working with a newly-merged
commercial bank to increase its customer response efciency
» Creating a new logistical database for a car manufacturer
LEADING OPERATIONS CONSULTINGFIRMS INCLUDE:
» PwC Consulting
» Accenture
» Capgemini
» Deloitte Consulting
Human Resources
Consulting
Human Resources (HR) consultants maximise the value of employees
while placing the best people with the relevant skills in the appropriate
roles. This branch of consulting aims to effectively utilise personnel, or
human capital, to achieve the goals of the organisation.
Clients hire HR consultancies as part of departmental or organisational
restructuring, systems implementations, and ongoing initiatives and studies
(e.g. diversity and work/life balance). HR consultants also provide technical
advice. This advice is largely based on number crunching and additionally
focuses on restructuring benets packages and valuating compensation
structures. At its best, HR consulting helps to develop a human resources
model that addresses the specic needs of the business in a manner that
serves the best interests of both the company and the employee work
force.
Examples of typical human resources consulting engagements:
» Bringing together the cultures of merged companies by developing
or altering work cultures
» “Managing relationships” to ensure focus on customers and open
communication
» Building “competencies” through better and more efcient training
programmes
» Fostering employee creativity through “process innovation”
» Counselling and processing laid-off employees and assisting them
in nding new jobs
» Creating or updating a new division’s benets package
» Reviewing and revising a law rm’s compensation structure
LEADING HUMAN RESOURCES CONSULTING
FIRMS INCLUDE:
» PwC Consulting
» Mercer HR Consulting
» Aon Hewitt
» Towers Watson
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Different types of rms
in Consulting
THE BIG 3- MBB (MCKINSEY, BAIN, BCG)
These three rms have stood out from other competitors and have consolidated
themselves as the top-tier of consulting business.
THE BIG 4
Though the Big 4 generally refers to the top tier auditing rms, all of these rms
have seperate successful consulting divisions.
BOUTIQUE FIRMS
Boutique rms support their clients with highly-specialised expertise and
are known for their personalised and bespoke advice. Boutique rms
choose to focus on a smaller number of industries (energy, life sciences,
retail), functions (M&A, economics and litigation, turnaround),
or methodologies (real potions, EVA).
We must be clear that being a boutique rm is not synonymous for being a
small rm; a boutique is determined not by size, but by focus.
All this said, we should note that many boutiques are indeed small,
ranging from 200 employees to a single consultant. Often, boutique
consulting rms grow from the expertise and client relationships of one to
ve founding partners, and unless it sells a consistently large ow of work,the rm has no compelling reason to grow quickly. If you are especially
interested in a particular industry or type of consulting problem, denitely
do your homework on the outstanding boutiques in that eld. If you nd the
right company to match your interests, you will spend all of your time doing
the work you dreamt of, and that is a much harder goal to achieve within a
more diverse consulting rm.
Examples of boutique consulting projects:
» A consulting rm with a well-known shareholder value
methodology helps a beverage company establish value metrics in
its business units
» An economics consulting rm helps a foreign government decide
how to structure the privatisation (sale) of its utilities through an
auction
» A niche R&D strategy consulting rm deploys two consultants to
a high growth semiconductor company in Silicon Valley for a 3
month project to improve R&D processes
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PwC helps organisations and individuals
create the value they’re looking for. We’re a
network of rms in 158 countries with more
than 180,000 people who are committed
to delivering quality in assurance, tax and
advisory services.
Our Consulting practice was launched a
few years ago, but the truth is our work
goes back way beyond that. More exciting
than our past, however, are our ambitious
plans for the future. Since our inception
we’ve recruited over 600 graduates into our
industry recognised programme. This year
alone we’ve provided ambitious people with
over 60 internships, and made over 300
promotions across our business. And we’ve
seen similar levels of growth across our
global network. These are exciting times for
us – and you could soon be part of them.
WHAT WE OFFER
We offer two distinct graduate routes into Consulting. If you want a
broad range of experiences across a number of disciplines, then join
Management Consulting and train on a two-year structured programme
that builds a range of core skills. Or, if you’re interested in one of our
specialist consulting practices – Strategy, Economics or Sustainability and
Climate Change – then you can apply directly to that area and develop
your skills quickly through strong project responsibility and in-depth
training.
JOIN US
Research. During your interview, you’ll need to explain why you’ve
chosen a specic area of Consulting and what you can bring to it. So visit
www.pwc.com/uk/careers and start exploring.
Get online. Decide on your area of Consulting and the skills you can
bring, and apply online. We’ll then ask you to take some online tests and
you’ll get the results within 48 hours. You’ll nd out if you have a rst stage
interview once the deadline has passed.
First interview. This could be over the phone, face-to-face or on
campus. It will be a competency-based interview so make sure you’ve
thought about the type of experiences and skills we’re looking for. If you’re
applying to Strategy, the rst stage will be an assessment day.
Assessment day. We’ll invite you to this if you have a successful rst
interview. There’ll be numerical tests; logical reasoning tests; a group or
individual exercise; and a written exercise. For Strategy, your rst stage
assessment day will consist of psychometric tests, a written exercise, and
a competency-based interview.
Final stage interview. For Management Consulting, Economics, and
Sustainability and Climate Change, your second and nal stage interview
will be with a senior member of the team. Like your rst interview, thiswill be competency-based so be ready to talk about your skills and how
you gained them. For Economics, this will also include a technical case
study. For Strategy, you’ll have a nal stage assessment day consisting
of a senior interview and case study, presentation exercise and a group
exercise.
Who we are
TYPE OF CONSULTING
Multiple focus
COMPANY WEBSITE
www.pwc.co.uk
CONTACT INFORMATION
08081001500
VACANCIES
Insight programmes, summer
internships and graduate
opportunities available
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What made you join strategy
consulting at PwC?
While I was at university, I went to a
case study sessions and enjoyed it in the
way you might enjoy a sudoku or
crossword. I liked the idea of having such
an engaging job so applied to severalstrategy consultancies and ended up at
PwC
What type of projects have you been
involved in?
It’s so varied. I’ve done everything from
strategy work for a UK lingerie retailer, to a
due diligence in Singapore on cranes, to
pro bono work for a children’s hospice.
What is your average work day like?
Again, really varied. Usually I’m in at 9,
sitting alongside my project team. I usually
have my own section of a project so I will
do analysis or research to support the
arguments or recommendations I want to
make. At some point during the day I’ll
catch up with someone more senior to let
them know what information I’m nding and
how my thoughts are changing and get
their input and steer. If there are clientmeetings, I would usually go along.
What is the most stressful/ hardest
part of your job?
I would say it’s the pace of it. You have to be
quick on your feet and exible. Regularly
I get asked to look into something I know
nothing about (e.g. nuclear valves, chemical
storage terminals) and need to develop acommercial opinion by the next morning.
Any tips for students applying for
internships or graduate roles at
PwC?
Two things. First, do your homework. Find
out the specic assessment criteria you
will have to meet and tailor your CV so
that you clearly demonstrate these. Think
of examples you can give in interview that
show you have the necessary skills. Do the
practice online assessment tests and case
studies on the web. Secondly, don’t be
embarrassed to get people to help you. Ask
parents, friends in work, the careers centre
to read your CV etc. Get all the advice you
can.
For those students who are
partaking in a placement at PwC
what should they do to makethemselves stand out during their
internship?
We work in small teams, so there’s little
chance of your brilliance slipping under
the radar. Working hard and contributing
to your project team is all you need. If the
team would like you on another project,
you’ll get an offer.
SOPHIE ARMOUR, Strategy Consulting, PwC
Simon-Kucher & Partners is the number
one strategy consultancy in the eld of
marketing and sales, and we are widely
regarded as the world’s leading expert
in pricing strategy. We are consistently
ranked in the top 10 in the Vault Guide to
Consulting.
Our clients are leading industry players
and private equity rms, covering a highly
diverse range of sectors. We help our clients
boost their prot through improvements to
their top line, rather than reducing costs.
As a global company, we think and act
beyond borders with a network of 27
ofces worldwide. Our rapid growth and
globalisation provides our consultants with
unlimited opportunities to “grow faster, with
us”.
Who we are
TYPE OF CONSULTING
Strategy and Marketing
COMPANY WEBSITE
www.simon-kucher.com
CONTACT INFORMATION
recruitment.london@simon-
kucher.com
VACANCIES
Applications open: 15 Oct 2013
Applications close:
Internships – 6 Jan 2014
Graduate positions – 29 Jan
2014
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WHAT WE CAN OFFER
Given our world-renowned expertise in marketing, sales and pricing
strategy, each consultant can rapidly become a specialist rather than “just
another consultant”. There is a wealth of opportunity to build a career and
make your mark in a specic area of interest, as part of a fast-growing and
evolving organisation.
New consultants can expect a high level of responsibility and exposure
to clients from an early stage. This allows for exceptional professional
development. You’ll be involved in all aspects of project work, from
business development and analysis, right through to the delivery of the
nal presentation.
As a global rm there are signicant opportunities for travel, including ourstructured international training programme, as well as the annual Simon-
Kucher “World Party”. Rotations to gain international experience at other
Simon-Kucher ofces are possible as your career develops with us.
JOIN US
Our consultants come from a diverse range of personal, academic and
professional backgrounds. They take the initiative and are eager to direct
their own career development. We look for dynamic, pro-active individuals
who will thrive in an entrepreneurial environment. Successful candidates
have strong analytical, quantitative, leadership and communication skills.
Visit our website to complete the application tool and upload your cover
letter and CV. If you pass our screening, you will be invited to go through
the interview process. Preliminary rounds involve online tests and a short
telephone interview. Assessment day interviews usually have two main
parts: the rst part explores the candidates CV and motivation, the second
is a case study presentation and discussion with a Simon-Kucher Director/
Partner.
Why did you choose to join Simon-
Kucher & Partners?
I chose Simon-Kucher due to its
specialisation and world leading position
in pricing, which is a topic I particularly
enjoyed studying during my degree.
Additionally, the company culture which I
would describe as relaxed, friendly, open
and with a focus on high quality output
appealed to me.
Could you briey describe your role
and what you do on a day to day
basis?
I am a Senior Consultant in our
Construction, Chemicals and Commodities
competence centre, typically working with
clients in highly concentrated industries with
high xed costs where industry protability
is dependent on competitive reaction.
Regardless of your level at Simon-Kucher
you work in small teams solving complex
business problems around revenue
management, strategy and marketing. The
further you progress in the rm, the more
focus is placed on developing businessand winning projects as well as managing
teams and supervising projects. As a
Senior Consultant I am responsible for
managing parts of, or entire projects. Day
to day activities could involve conducting
client interviews, analysing data, preparing
presentations, developing solutions,
modelling, facilitating workshops etc.
What is the most interesting project
that you`ve done so far?
Developing and implementing a pricing
transformation project for a global leader
in base materials in the UK and US. The
project was particularly interesting due to
the high importance of the work and its
impact on the future protability of the rm.
I was lucky enough to have CEO level
exposure, developing concepts presented
to investment analysts and relevant media
organisations as key parts of the rm’s
strategy to return to protability in the
medium term.
What is the most stressful part of
your job?
Completing projects on time whilst coping
with events out of your control e.g. clients
not providing the data we need.
Do you have any advice for the
interview process at Simon-Kucher
& Partners?
Make sure you have all the fundamentals
sorted e.g. covering letter and CV with no
spelling or grammar mistakes, the ability to
demonstrate why Simon-Kucher appeals
to you and what we actually do. It is also
important for you to be able to do simple
arithmetic in your head for the interview.
ANDREAS PANAYIOTOU, Senior Consultant,Simon-Kucher & Partners,London ofce,
University College London, BSc Economics
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EY is a global leader in assurance, tax,
transactions and advisory services. Our
167,000 people are united by our shared
values, which inspire our people worldwide
and guide them to do the right thing, and our
commitment to quality, which is embedded
in who we are and everything we do.
Our Advisory service line focuses on
helping clients to improve their performance
and manage their risks more effectively.
Particularly important in a challenging
and uncertain business environment, with
escalating competition. We work with clients
to address their specic circumstances and
help turn strategy into reality. Whether it’s an
improved nance function, enhanced supply
chain or superior customer management,
we’re able to offer added value. This is why Advisory is our fastest-growing service line
and an energetic, fast-paced environment
with nearly 20,000 professionals around the
world.
Who we are
WHAT WE OFFER
Because Advisory is a diverse and uid business area you’ll be involved
in a huge variety of work. This will involve delivering wide-ranging and
constantly changing ideas to our clients across a broad spectrum of
industries and locations. As a matter of course, your experiences will be
wide and varied. You’ll quickly be given responsibility to deal with complex
business problems — an excellent way to build the skills you’ll need for a
long and fullling career. The size and variety of the clients we work for will
mean your career develops faster here than in most other businesses.
Within Advisory you can choose to work in one of eight areas: Actuarial,
Financial Services Advisory Consultant Programme – Performance
Improvement, Advisory Consultant Programme - Performance
Improvement, Advisory Consultant Programme – Risk, IT Advisory
Consultant Programme, Financial Services Advisory Consultant
Programme – Risk, Financial Services Advisory Consultant Programme
– Information Technology Advisory (ITA), Financial Services Advisory
Consultant Programme - Information Technology Risk Assurance (ITRA)
JOIN US
Our application is made up of two parts. First of all, you will need to
complete our online application form. This is your chance to tell us about
yourself and achievements to date. Then you should complete an online
strengths assessment, which will ask you to read a series of scenarios
and then choose how you would respond in each scenario. The questions
will require you to select one response, or rank your responses in order.
Providing you are successful at application you will be required to
complete an online psychometric test which tests your verbal, numeric
and diagrammatic reasoning ability. Next you will be invited to attend
an interview that will ask you to demonstrate your strengths and your
motivation for joining EY. We want to get to know you, so relax and be
yourself. At the Assessment centre you will take part in various activitiessuch as a team meeting, a written report and an interview. This will give
you a better feel for EY and helps us learn more about you.
TYPE OF CONSULTING
Multiple focus
COMPANY WEBSITE
www.ey.com
CONTACT INFORMATION
VACANCIES
Insight programmes, summer
internships and graduate
opportunities available
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AHMED YOUSSEF, Executive, London ofce,Royal Holloway University, BSc Management (Hons)
Why did you decide to join Advisory
at Ernst & Young?
I was very excited by the prospect of
playing a role in this cutting-edge, global
and professional network, which put
simply scrutinises how companies conduct
their business, exploiting potentials for
improvement and adding value to the clients
operations. An opportunity at EYs Advisory
practice promises a high-performing and
global career trajectory crucial to expand
on my skills, experiences and business
acumen. I see high intrinsic value in working
within a fast-paced, challenging and
dynamic environment as is the case at EY.
Could you briey describe your role
and what you do on a day to day
basis?
I was recently aligned to the Regulatory
Advisory team within FS Risk. To say
“day-to-day” is to imply a certain routinewhich does not exist in the consulting world
(at least most of the time). Every day is
different and is only as varied as any given
person wants it to be. To be more specic,
my top priority is usually the client project I
am engaged on, which changes from time
to time (either due to changing projects or
due to acquiring responsibilities within the
same project). I also get involved in other
“ “
I enjoy the variety, the travel, exibility and autonomy.
EY is a highly decentralised organisation which means
that working here includes interacting and coordinating
with many, many different people with varying skills
and expertise.
work with the project team outside of my
normal role and responsibilities. Further tothis, I assist multiple managers within my
competency team (i.e. Regulatory Advisory)
with internal work such as proposal,
training, research etc. I also get involved in
extra-curricular activities such as graduate
recruitment and attend a number of training
days / weeks every year.
Our clients in the nancial services sector
have been hugely impacted by regulation
introduced as a result of the 2008 recession,
which will aim to fundamentally change the
way they go about their business. Through
various ground-breaking projects, we help
the client comply with these regulations
in a business-wise manner. We do this
by remediating legacy misconduct (i.e.
helping them recover from scandals such
as PPI), assessing and reworking their
compliance target models, advising them on
product offering, management informationoptimisation and so on. New technologies
are presenting various opportunities
and threats, and changing social values
demand that rms are on their toes as
regulations change over time. Ultimately,
regulation ensures the integrity of the UK
nancial markets and FS Risk Advisory’s
biggest revenue generator is - by far - the
Regulatory practice.
What do you enjoy most about your
job?
I enjoy the variety, the travel, exibility and
autonomy. EY is a highly decentralised
organisation which means that working
here includes interacting and coordinating
with many, many different people with
varying skills and expertise. I also enjoy
the fact that there is real support for people
developing personally and professionally.
Could you describe what your most
challenging case has been thus far
in your career?
The most challenging time for me
would be juggling between my full-time
work responsibilities and preparing for
professional qualication exams at the
same time (in addition to any extra-
curricular activities and social life). This
challenge develops me in utilising my time
more effectively and organising myself toincrease efciency. Time pressure helps
one in prioritising work, sharpens focus
and reduces waste.
Do you have any advice for the
interview process at Ernst & Young?
It is important to bring your “whole self”
not just to job interviews but to work in
general. While it is important to demonstrate
yourself at your best, make sure you have
a “story” and to present it in a relevant way.Something which puts off many interviewers
is candidates who are too well rehearsed,
to the point where answers are more like
recitations than genuine and intuitive
thoughts. Make sure to be proactive in
general and share those experiences with
the interviewer. Last but not least make sure
you really understand the rm, what we do,
who our clients are and the current issues
facing the rm and the wider industry.
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Management Solutions is a leading provider
of business consulting services for regulated
industries. We have more than 1,300
professionals working in ofces in the UK,
Spain, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Italy,
Portugal, the US, the most representative
countries in Latin America, and China.
Our consultants have the opportunity to
develop personally and professionally
integrating in teams in projects r elating
to Strategy, Sales and Marketing
Management, Risk Management and
Control, Management and Financial
Information, Organisation and Processes,
Applied technology.
Who we are
WHAT WE OFFER
We offer the possibility to join the rm that offers you everything
necessary to develop your potential to the full, by working in some of
the most relevant consulting projects in the industry, for the largest
companies, leaders of their respective markets, side by side with the
industry’s top management as they tackle local and global projects, and
as part of an extraordinary team of professionals, whose values and
corporate culture are a benchmark for the industry.
ManagementSolutions provides a clearly dened career plan where
professionals are promoted solely on the basis of their own merit.
Furthermore, ManagementSolutions continues to be partnership-based
management, offering each of the Firm’s professionals the goal of
forming part of the group of partners. Our consultants have a wide
range of training options available to them throughout their professional
career. We offer our people the best opportunities to improve their
knowledge and skills through our training courses, certied programs
for each professional eld and specic seminars to develop particular
competencies. ManagementSolutions is an equal opportunity employer.
We value the diversity of our team members.
JOIN US
You must me a nal year student or recent graduate with at least a
2.1 in a discipline preferably relating to Finance, Economics, Business
Administration, Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics
or Physics. We are looking for someone, who is mature and hard working,
integrates easily into multidisciplinary teams, and is willing to travel.
Applicants for employment in the UK must possess work authorization
which does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa.
We look favourably on the knowledge of foreign languages (Spanish,
Portuguese, Mandarin Chinese and/or German), postgraduate studies
and specialised courses, knowledge of Financial Products and Markets,Treasury and Investment Banking environments, prociency in the use of
MS Ofce applications.
To apply, please send cover letter, CV and unofcial university tr anscripts.
TYPE OF CONSULTING
Business Consulting
COMPANY WEBSITE
www.managementsolutions.com
CONTACT INFORMATION
0207 469 6800
VACANCIES
On-going recruitment for
graduate positions, no xed
quota.
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L.E.K. Consulting is an international rm
that specialises in strategy, transaction
services and performance improvement
consulting. It advises the largest private
and public sector organisations, private
equity companies and smaller, more
entrepreneurial businesses.
With a reputation for resolving the most
complex commercial issues, L.E.K. helps
business leaders consistently make better
decisions, deliver improved business
performance and create greater shareholder
returns.
The rm was founded in 1983 and employs
over 900 staff in 20 ofces across Europe,
North America and Asia Pacic. L.E.K. has
been named ‘Professional Services Firm
of the year’ at the City A.M. awards 2011,
which celebrate the most successful rms in
London’s nancial and business community.
L.E.K. stands out as the only major globalstrategy consulting rm to have grown
from a UK base and was the rst strategic
consultancy to win the prestigious Queen’s
Award for Enterprise in International trade.
WHAT WE OFFER
Graduate training programme
We operate a very comprehensive training programme which is structured
over three years. New joiners will have an initial two-week full time training
programme, followed by continuous monthly training sessions, which are
tailored to the needs of your position. L.E.K.’s training covers the full range
of technical, analytical, strategy, communication, project management
and relationship building skills. Combined with on the job training, this
gives you an excellent range of commercial skills and a solid grounding in
business fundamentals.
International swap programme
Our international swap programme provides the opportunity to spend six
months on secondment to one of L.E.K.’s 20 ofces across the globe. It
is a fantastic way to experience a different business environment, gain
exposure to new industries and specialisms and gives the opportunity to
experience a different culture.
JOIN US
Graduate vacancies in London: 40-50. Application deadline: 10th
November 2013
Summer internship vacancies in London: 10 ( 8 week internship starting in
July 2014). Application deadline: 16th January 2013
To apply please visit www.lek.com and submit an online application
Who we are
TYPE OF CONSULTING
Strategy
COMPANY WEBSITE
www.lek.com
CONTACT INFORMATION
0207 389 7200
VACANCIES
Graduate and summer
internship vacancies available
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Why did you choose to join L.E.K
Consulting?
L.E.K. offers experience in a broad range
of industries and case types, has helpful
and fun colleagues and runs an excellent
training programme.
What is it like to work in L.E.K
Consulting?
The rm offers great variety with
opportunities to learn lots of different things.
It’s challenging and rewarding whilst also
being fun.
What are the career and
professional development in place
in L.E.K Consulting?
Through exposure to a variety of industries I
have been able to comprehend and analyse
a lot of data and information. I have also
had some client exposure in my rst six
months at L.E.K., which is a great start.
What are the most stressful parts of
your job?
One challenge was on a particular
case where we had to locate a client’s
competitors’ store locations at street level,but the standard mapping software was
not detailed enough. Instead, we had to
nd new software, learn how to use it and
produce a beautiful competitor map all in
just a couple of days.
A highlight for me is that I am now able to
quickly gain an in-depth understanding of an
industry and its market challenges through
conducting specialised, targeted and
thorough research.
What are some of the projects that
you have worked on so far?
• Long term strategy for a large pan-
European IT Company
• Vendor due diligence for one of the largest
premium bar operators in the UK
• Commercial due diligence for a global loss
adjusting company
Do you have any advice for the
interview process?
Do lots of case study practice (get them
from the top MBA business schools).
What has been your favourite L.E.K.
social event?
Ice skating at Somerset House must be the
best one so far!
WEI ZHOU, Associate, London Ofce, L.E.K, University College London, MSc Physics
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Mercer is the global leader for trusted HR
and related nancial advice, products and
services. In our work with clients, we make
a positive impact on the world every day.
We do this by enhancing the nancial and
retirement security, health, productivity and
employment relationships of the global
workforce.
Mercer has more than 18,000 employees
serving clients in over 180 cities and 40
countries and territories worldwide.
Who we are
WHAT WE OFFER
If you join us, you will be
Working with the world’s leading companies and organisations to help
them meet their most critical business challenges – Mercer counts 9 out of
10 Fortune® 100 companies among its clients
Working with the best and brightest people, colleagues who are committed
to exceeding the high standards set by our clients – and by ourselves
Working for a company that offers a vast array of learning and
development opportunities
Working for a company that conducts business with the very highest
standards of integrity
JOIN US
To apply for a role you’ll need to go through a straightforward but thorough
process designed to ensure that you’re right for us and that we’re right for
you.
You’ll need at least 300 UCAS points in three subjects, including a B in a
numerical/semi-numerical subject. In addition, you’ll need a 2.1 honours
degree in a numerate or semi-numerate degree discipline (or an equivalent
qualication).
TYPE OF CONSULTING
Human Resource and
Investment Management
COMPANY WEBSITE
www.uk.mercer.com/home
CONTACT INFORMATION
020 7626 6000
VACANCIES
Graduate and summer
internship vacancies available
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Why did you decide to join Mercer?
I studied Mathematics at University and
decided I wanted to be an actuary. The
reason I decided to choose Mercer to
pursue this career is that it is one of the
market leaders in pension’s consultancy
with ofces worldwide.
Could you briey describe your role
and what you do on a day to day
basis?
I work in a team to support consultants to
deliver projects to clients. These clients
can be corporate or trustee and we advise
them on their pension arrangements.
This includes, for example, analysing the
cost and risk of their pension benets. In
addition I help to develop more junior
colleagues.
What are the opportunities for
professional development at
Mercer?
As Mercer is a global company there
are opportunities to move abroad and/
or to other areas of the company, forexample, Investment Management. Within
retirement consultancy itself there are also
opportunities for you to specialise in an area
that particularly interests you.
What do you enjoy most about your
job?
I was recently given the opportunity to work
in Mercer’s Lisbon ofce for an eight week
secondment. This experience developed mytechnical skills for my day to day job whilst
enabling me to work with a different team in
a different country.
Could you describe what your most
challenging case has been thus far
in your Mercer career?
As an actuarial student at Mercer you study
towards the actuarial qualication alongside
your day to day role. This for me was a
big adjustment compared to studying full
time at University. Good time management
is needed to ensure you split your time
between study and working appropriately.
Do you have any advice for the
interview process at Mercer?
Throughout the interview process you
should be interested and ask questions
about the role you are applying for. This
should include knowing why you want to dothe role and what makes you suited to it.
The key is to make sure you a well prepared
and remember to be yourself.
HEATHER BROWN, London ofce, Mercer, University of York, BSc Mathematics
Performance Improvement requires analytical and
problem solving skills. You also need to be a good
team player as well as be able to take the lead and
use your own initiative. These skills allow us to
successfully help our clients identify and solve
business problems.
Studying Chemical engineering at UCL, gave me a
platform to use and improve all of the above skills.
I was solving complex problems and analysing
data on a daily basis. Chemical Engineering isn’t
always an exact science, so decisions around the
best course of action to take would need to be
made; something that translates directly to the
consulting world.
Undertaking a group project, rather than a
dissertation, in my nal year was also the perfect
situation to use my team working skills. We
were all responsible for our own sections, but
ultimately we had to come together to produce
one deliverable. This is exactly how Performance
Improvement projects work at EY, and the
interpersonal skills I learnt at UCL are invaluable.
However, it is important to note that studyingany subject at degree level will provide you with
the ability to work under pressure as well as
the organisational and time management skills
required to succeed in such a face paced industry.
HOLLY ELLINGTON, Consultant, FSPerformance Improvement, Chemical Engineering
BEng
“
“
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The Social Investment Consultancy (TSIC)
is an international consulting rm using the
latest models of social enterprise, revenue
generation, impact investment and venturephilanthropy to help businesses, charities
and philanthropists maximise their impact.
We believe in risk and evidence in equal
measure, and think that doing good can
reinforce — rather than compromise —
ways of generating prots and creating long-
term shareholder value.
TSIC’s dynamic teams in Dubai, London
and New York come from a mixture of
traditional management consultancy,
international development and public policy
backgrounds, bringing best practice from
some of the world’s top consulting rms,
charities and policy units. The integration of
skills and expertise from across the public,
private and third sector forms the basis for
a range of professional services that drive
social impact and organisational change.
Our past clients have included John Lewis
Foundation, Practical Action, Cherie BlairFoundation, The Old Vic, APM Terminals,
The One Foundation, Amnesty International,
Royal Courts of Justice Advice Bureau and
Alquity Africa Fund.
WHAT WE OFFER
You will have a chance to join the TSIC Team, which is a group of dynamic,
creative thinkers whose experience ranges from traditional management
consulting and nance to social entrepreneurship and international
development. Our diverse backgrounds and range of expertise are coupled
with a passion for innovation that fuels everything we do for our clients.
JOIN USThe Social Investment Consultancy is always looking for talented and
experienced people to join our team. Please submit a CV and cover letter
to [email protected] and we will contact you when suitable
opportunities arise. Throughout the year, we also offer paid internship
positions.
Who we are
TYPE OF CONSULTING
Social innovation
COMPANY WEBSITE
www.tsiconsultancy.com
CONTACT INFORMATION
0207 239 8935
VACANCIES
Check website for current
openings
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Why did you decide to join TSIC?
About midway through my PhD inInternational Studies, I realised I didn’t
fancy being an academic, but still wanted
to apply my passion for social change and
international research towards solving
practical problems. Social impact consulting
with TSIC turned out to be the perfect
opportunity for me to do that – enabling
me to work in a team setting and learn
constantly about new sectors and parts of
the world, while also doing work that has an
immediate application.
Could you briey describe your role
and what you do on a day to day
basis?
I work as a Consultant across our diverse
client groups – leading a number of projects
as well as supporting my colleagues. As I
have the most research experience in the
team, I also direct our in-house research
programme. We try to put out at least twomajor reports a year on topics we nd are of
interest to the sectors we work in.
As we are a small rm, there is really no
‘standard’ day and we all wear several
hats throughout it. Today, I started my day
at the Kazakh embassy applying for a
visa for some work we are going to be in
Kazakhstan at the end of the month, I then
went out to Southwest London to meet
with a client we are doing a social impact
evaluation project for. I then came backto our own ofce in North London to do
some research for our next report and tailor
a proposal for some new client work we
are pitching. So that’s admin, client work,
internal research and business development
all in one day!
What are the opportunities for
professional development at TSIC?
As we are a small team, there is not as
much structured personal development as
one might nd at a larger consulting rm.
However, we do all have external career
mentors arranged by our manager, as well
as the opportunity to identify trainings we
would like to attend with a personal budget/
time allowance to spend attending trainings.
What do you enjoy most about your
job?
Getting to learn constantly about different
sectors, geographies, and ideas to solve
social problems through the work we do for
clients. It never gets old.
Could you describe what your most
challenging case has been thus far
in your TSIC career?
The rst client project I managed completely
on my own was also probably the most
difcult one I have ever been involved with
– it was a partnership evaluation betweentwo global youth organisations that hadn’t
been on the best of terms in the years
leading up to the project. They wanted an
evaluation of the partnership’s performance
and whether and how they should continue
working together. The consulting process
involved a large number of interviews with
members of both organisations, and the
politics were astounding. I learned a great
deal about how to obtain and present
balanced perspectives, and how to focus
evaluations on objective performance
indicators/ROI data as opposed to getting
bogged down in opinions and history. It was
difcult, but when I nished the work and
saw that both organisations were happy with
the nal report and felt they had identied
a productive way forward, it was the most
satisfying deliverable I’ve ever had signed
off!
Do you have any advice for theinterview process at TSIC?
Demonstrating you are capable, exible
and have a genuine interest in our work
is more important than having the perfect
prior experience. Some of our best staff
have never worked in the social sector and/
or consulting before, but are hard-working,
motivated individuals who bring a great
attitude to the team and quickly make acontribution through their willingness to
adapt. Demonstrating you are able to do this
is key to being successful at a small rm.
What are the biggest
misconceptions that applicants
might have about your industry?
That we don’t work as hard because we
are social sector rather than business
consultants – any client-based work will
inevitably have deadlines that are not set
by you, and which you will sometimes do
have to go the extra mile and put in late/
long hours to meet and deliver a quality
product. The difference between us and the
private sector is that there is no expectation
that we should be killing ourselves for our
jobs – we do all value and enjoy our lives –
but anyone who is looking to make a small
business work and thinks it will be an easy
ride should best apply somewhere else!
RACHEL LINN, Consultant, London ofce, University of Cambridge, PhD, Politics and
International Studies; MPhil, International Relations;
Stanford University, BA (Hons) Political Science
“ “
Demonstrating you are capable, exible and have a genuineinterest in our work is more important than having the perfect prior experience. Some of our best staff have never workedin the social sector and/or consulting before, but are hard- working, motivated individuals who bring a great attitudeto the team and quickly make a contribution through theirwillingness to adapt.
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Integration is a consultancy in Strategy,
Management & Operations, and we have
come a long way since our foundation in
Brazil in 1995. We now have around 300
consultants in ofces in Sao Paulo, Rio
de Janeiro, Mexico City, Buenos Aires,
Santiago and London.
We have a different approach to consulting.
Our passion for helping our clients means
that we go the extra mile to ensure
our projects deliver more than just a
recommendation – our advice is realistic,
implementable and drives the results our
clients need. We design every project with
implementation in mind to guarantee our
recommendation is translated into results.
Consultants from our London ofce travel
all over Europe and the world to help our
industry leading clients tackle their mostpressing issues. Although we are divided
internally into areas of expertise, our
analysts start as generalists and learn how
to approach problems across a variety of
industries, project types and geographies.
Who we are
WHAT WE OFFER
We make sure that you have everything you need to succeed in your
new career. Every new analyst and consultant completes an extensive
induction programme, including two weeks of training in Brazil and half
a year of monthly training sessions in London. Integration also pairs
you with a senior mentor to guide you in your day-to-day professional
development. Your development doesn’t stop there, however – throughout
your time at Integration you will be exposed to new challenges that allow
you to grow, and you will always benet from intense, honest and personal
mentoring from senior leaders.
JOIN US
Our London ofce is growing fast, and we are recruiting people with an
entrepreneurial spark who can make a difference for our clients, and for us.
To apply, please send your CV and cover letter of us at
[email protected] by 4th November 2013.
Our selection process has the following stages:
1. verbal & numerical reasoning tests,
2. t and competency based interview,
3. competency based interview and case study interview,
4. partner interviews.
TYPE OF CONSULTING
Strategy, Management &
Operations
COMPANY WEBSITE
www.integrationconsulting.com
CONTACT INFORMATION
Tel +44 (0) 207 290 4770
Fax +44 (0) 207 499 5406
VACANCIES
Graduate positions available.
Apply before 4th Nov 2013
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Why did you choose to join
Integration?I chose Integration for the opportunity to
work in a wide variety of industries for global
players that, I believe, face very interesting
challenges. Since day one, I have worked
alongside clients, from their ofces, to
solve their challenges together with them.
What I like a lot about Integration is the
constant focus on developing a realistic and
implementable end result which delivers the
impact the client needs.
I also nd a great t between myself and
the Integration culture. The company really
values individual needs, and differences
are highly respected, which creates a great
work life balance and a great environment
in which to work.
What are the opportunities for
professional development at
Integration?
Integration has a learn-by-doing approach.
In every project, there is a project team
to support you and which is committed
to growing together. At the beginning of
a project personal development goals
are dened, and throughout the project
there is a very open culture of feedback
to make sure everyone can focus on his/
MARLOES VAN DER MEER, Consultant,Integration Management Consulting, Master’s degree
in International Management from JIBS, Sweden,
Bachelor’s degree in
International Business, Tilburg University
her development. Every project has
different challenges and different learningopportunities, which is great for my personal
development. There are also coaching
sessions in place and, of course, there
are formal internal trainings that are very
hands-on and based on real Integration
cases. Personally, what I value greatly is
the transparency around the professional
development process and the clarity on
individuals’ development points: it is very
clear in which points you need to develop in
order to move on in your career.
Can you briey describe your role
and what you do on a day to day
basis?
This is difcult to describe as no two days
are the same in consulting! Generally, I
would say that I dedicate around 80% of
my time to projects and 20% to internal
initiatives.
In projects, I work alongside the clientto understand the business context and
particular issues, and to guarantee good
communication throughout the project. For
most projects, I’m in contact with industry
experts outside the company to gain an
external point of view. According to the
project context, I might also conduct several
site visits to get a better understanding
of reality. On most days, there is
some analysis to be done or there is apresentation to be prepared and I also have
meetings with the Integration team to align
and discuss the project status.
Integration is a start-up in London and we
work in a very entrepreneurial environment
with plenty of space to work on internal
initiatives. This is great as I have the
opportunity to contribute to building the
operation in London in addition to my
project work!
What are some of the projects you
have recently worked on?
One of the great things about Integration is
the variety of projects that I have been able
to complete. Over the last 3.5 years, I have
worked in 4 different industries, 12 countries
and in 11 different types of projects.
My most recent project has been conducted
in Switzerland, France, Hungary and The
Netherlands for a leading Biotechnology
client. I provided project and change
management support to help build a new
business area inside the European division.
This was achieved by implanting new
processes and creating an organisational
culture that allowed the client to reach
their growth targets. The project has
been a great learning experience, and a
very rewarding experience for me as the
transformation and impact we created wasextremely visible for the client, and for us.
What is the most stressful part of
your job?
Urgent and unexpected client requests
can be stressful. Fortunately this doesn’t
happen too often as we have frequent
contact with the client throughout the
project. Very short projects tend to be a
little bit more stressful, as in those cases
there is little time to understand the client’s
reality and develop a solution.
“ “
One of the great things about Integration isthe variety of projects that I have been able tocomplete. Over the last 3.5 years, I have workedin 4 differ ent industries, 12 countries and in 11different types of projects.
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Before diving into a long and sophisticated consulting recruitment process, make sure you
are familiar with this industry and its specics. There are a lot of useful web resources out
there to help you learn about various types of consulting and determine whether it is the
right career path for you. Once you realize that consulting is denitely your thing, select
and research the rms you are most interested in. You might also want to start following
their Facebook and Linked-in pages to get a deeper understanding of what it is like to work
there. In addition, it is always useful to stay up to date with business news: it does not only
help you build extensive commercial awareness, but also allows you to start thinking as a
consultant, i.e. analyzing issues that different companies are facing right now and coming
up with possible solutions.
USEFUL LINKS:
» Vault, a career portal with consulting sections and rm rankings:
www.vault.com
» Graduate Consulting, an online portal including general information,
FAQs and application tips:
www.graduate-consulting.com/Consulting
» Management Consulting Prep, another extensive consulting platform:
www.mconsultingprep.com/before-apply/
» Career portals:
www.glassdoor.com
www.wikijob.co.uk/
» Consulting Job Secrets, the step-by-step guide to getting hired by a consulting rm:
www.consultinsider.com/
HOW WE CAN HELP:
Attend company presentations and events held by the UCLU Business Society. You can
nd the accurate schedule on: www.uclubusinesssociety.com/events.php
Before applyingApplication Process.
Although assessments that consulting rms use to sift through candidates
vary a lot, generally the application process looks like this:
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ONLINE APPLICATION
ONLINE TESTS AND
EXERCISES
COMPETENCY
INTERVIEWS
CASE
INTERVIEWS
This section of the guide contains information, useful tips and advice about
different types of assessment, which will hopefully help you succeed in
every stage of the consulting selection process. However, make sure you
regularly check websites of your target companies for the most accurate
and up-to-date information about their recruitment procedures.
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Consulting rms receive a high volume of applications every year and
they are only able to interview a small portion of applicants. Hence, it
is vital that your CV and Cover letter stand out from the crowd. Many
students applying for consulting roles make a big mistake of creating a
general CV/Cover letter and sending it to multiple rms. Never do this!
You should always customise your CV and Cover letter, making them
tailored to a specic consulting rm. In addition you need to ensure
that everything is error-free, otherwise there is a high chance that your
application will be binned straightaway (rms view spelling and grammar
mistakes as the evidence of carelessness and lack of focus). Finally,
cut the length of your CV and Cover letter to just one page. Instead of
listing every little thing you did in your life, focus on your most impressive
achievements and experiences, making sure they reect all the necessary
skills consulting rms are looking for.
Cover letter is extremely important, as it demonstrates your writing style
and creates the rst impression on your recruiters. It should state and
accentuate qualities that you possess and your suitability for the job.
You can also use cover letter to address weak points on your CV and
to emphasise outstanding achievements, which might be accidentally
overlooked in your resume.
CV and Cover letter
UCLU Business Society | 46UCLU Business Society | 45
Name
Address Contact number, Email
EDUCATION
Highlight academic strengths and performance: recruiters look for outstanding academic
records - a rst or 2:1 at university (expected or achieved) + top A-level and GCSE grades
at school
UNIVERSITY NAME, Degree (Date) Location
• Grades, awards, signicant academic projects
SCHOOL NAME (Date) Location
• A level results or equivalent
• Awards, Other
WORK AND EXTRACURRICULAR EXPERIENCE
Highlight the following:
• Evidence of leadership qualities: Consulting rms look out for applicants who dis- play
senior management potential as they are more inclined to work with applicants who
display a propensity for leadership. Evidence of such qualities includes leadership
positions undertaken in university and/or new initiatives started and implemented with
minimal support.
• Team-oriented characteristics: You should highlight activities or events that you have
been involved in that demonstrate your ability to be a good team player. Consulting
rms work on a wide spectrum of projects and each project requires a different t.
Each project will require a different set of skills and resources and consultants will
have to match up to the differing tasks by undertaking different roles with exibility and
adaptability.
• Quantiable individual accomplishments: Firms tend to seek people who are reliable,
committed, motivated, enthusiastic, responsible and able to produce work with quality.
You must be able to exemplify these traits through real life examples or events so as to
fully convince the recruiters.
• Technical and quantitative skills: To distinguish yourself from the vast number of
applicants, we recommend that you put emphasis on the technical skills, foreign
languages, academic prizes, awards or scholarships and publications that you possess
or have achieved.
COMPANY NAME, Job Title Location
• Key responsibilities Dates
• Results + How Achieved
• Skills and experiences gained
SOCIETY/ORGANISATION NAME, Position of responsibility Location
• Key responsibilities Dates
• Results + How Achieved
• Skills and experiences gained
OTHER
• Language and IT skills
• Interests and hobbies and how they exemplify your character and personality
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Most consulting rms use aptitude tests as part of their selection process to lter out
candidates and thus reduce the number of interviews they need to conduct. It is also
believed that these tests give an accurate reection of candidates’ abilities. They are
usually administered online, but you may be asked to re-sit them at the subsequent
interview or assessment centre to conrm your result. Consulting rms use such test
providers as GTIOS, SHL, or PSL.
USEFUL LINKS:
» www.shldirect.com/en
» www.kenexa.com/Solutions/Assessments
» www.assessmentday.co.uk/
» www.psychometric-success.com/downloads/download-practice-tests.htm
» www.savilleconsulting.com/products/aptitude-preparation-guides-and-advice
» www.indiabix.com/online-test/categories/
» www.jobtestprep.co.uk/Default.aspx
Numerical reasoning
Tests on inference from data such as tables, graphs and reports. It is imperative that you
are able to analyse data, spot trends and follow numerical logic.
HOW TO PREPARE: revise the basics of mathematics both with and without a calculator.
Visit nancial and business sections of quality newspapers: study graphs and tables, try to
establish relationships between the numbers.
» www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise.
Develop your maths skills through a variety of fun games.
» www.caseinterview.com/math/home.php.
Victor Cheng’s maths practice tool.
Online Tests
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Below are standard components
of the cover letter aimed at consulting rms:
INTRODUCTION:
Who are you and which university you are attending/have you attended? Why do you want
to work for this rm? What is it that attracted you to apply for this rm and/or role?
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE:
What consulting experience do you have? If this rm has a specialty (e.g. a technology
consulting rm), explain why you are interested in that specialty.)
INTEREST IN CONSULTING:
Briey discuss what is it that attracts you to consulting. Is it the competitive environment?The dynamism of the industry? The large and diverse clientele base?
CLOSING:
Always thank the reader for his/her time and consideration.
HOW WE CAN HELP:
This year UCLU Business Society is organizing a series of CV checks. Attend them to
have your resume reviewed by your peers and various rms’ representatives.
Attend UCLU Business Society networking events on campus to connect with employers
and learn about their personal experiences within different rms. Remember: the more
specic you are in your cover letter, the better. For example, you might want to write about
a specic thing a consultant said that triggered your particular interest in that company.
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This exercise is primarily used by Deloitte, KPMG, and E&Y to test one’s decision-making
and time management skills, communication and attention to detail. Particip