Welcome back to the Knockout Newsletter, brought to you by The Final Round. The workplace is changing by the minute, and you need to be ready. Our objective is simple: every other Tuesday, we send you insight to help you knock out the competition, advance past the final round interview, and grow in your career.
P.S. Towards the bottom of this week’s newsletter, we’ve provided TONS of free Consulting resources for you.
Thank you for joining us in the ring. Let’s go…
Spotlight Episodes - Consulting
We’re showcasing episodes that feature experts in the field of consulting. From RECRUITERS from some of the world's most prestigious consulting firms (BCG, McKinsey, and Bain), to the GODFATHER of the Case Interview, Marc Cosentino (Author of Case in Point), these 6 episodes will provide you with insider tips on how to advance past the Final Round Interview and secure that dream consulting job!
Stayin’ Social
For those of you new to the Knockout Newsletter and/or The Final Round, we’ve recently launched our own TikTok and Instagram pages. Our series “How many hours in a week do you work?” has been viewed over 1,000,000 times, and we have tons of new video series currently in the works! Make sure to follow us by clicking the links below so that you don’t miss any of the fun career content. See you there!
TikTok
Business Buzz - Light in the Darkness
Layoffs are continuing across the country as talks about a looming economic recession continue. Companies including Shopify, Outbrain, and WHOOP have slashed substantial portions of their workforce, citing the pandemic and previous overhiring (Source).
However, the LinkedIn community is a strong one. Our friend Reno Perry has created a community where those recently laid off can provide their information, experience, and job aspirations. Everyone has a layoff list, but this database combines them all and makes it easier for companies to find quality candidates; a win-win for employers and future employees.
It just goes to show you the power of the LinkedIn Community (Source).
Why it Matters
Having a strong network can be more helpful than you think. This applies to friends, family, students, professors, mentors, and even LinkedIn connections. Don’t be afraid to use these resources to your advantage when you’re stuck, whether it’s networking, applying for a job, or overall career advice. People are willing to help—it’s just up to you to ask for it.
Upcoming Consulting Recruitment Deadlines
Below, we’ve posted some upcoming deadlines for management/strategy consulting firms. However, many more opportunities are available than those posted below. To get a better idea of deadlines for other firms of interest, be sure to visit your school’s career/alumni office, visit your desired firm’s career page, and utilize Handshake and LinkedIn to be sure you’re staying ahead of the deadlines.
Note: These are deadlines for roles located in the United States
Internship and Job Deadlines
McKinsey and Company: Summer Business Analyst: August 11th, 2022 // Business Analyst: July 7th, 2022
Bain and Company: Associate Consultant Intern: September 15th, 2022 // Associate Consultant: September 15th, 2022
Boston Consulting Group (BCG) - Summer Associate: September 15th, 2022 // Associate: August 23rd, 2022
Source: McKinsey and Company, Bain and Company, Boston Consulting Group
We’re Here to Help: Free Consulting Resources Below 💡
As promised, below we’ve shared TONS of free resources to help you prepare for consulting case interviews. However, before you prepare for a consulting interview, you need to secure an interview. Securing an interview is half the battle, requiring sufficient networking, a firm-specific cover letter, and an updated resume.
Tips to secure the interview:
Network, Network, Network: Don’t just apply online right away. By networking, you not only gain a better understanding of the role responsibilities and firm culture, but you open the door for other potential connections. It’s also a way to tell if consulting is the right industry for you! Networking is particularly important if you’re not from a target school, or a school which firms dedicate extensive time and money to recruit from.
Quantify Your Resume: Your resume shouldn’t just share your experiences and accomplishments but should show them, too. The best way to do this is by “quantifying,” or using numbers to show your impact. For example, rather than saying you helped facilitate customer growth, instead say: “facilitated customer growth by upwards of 30% through direct and indirect acquisition methods.” Consultants like numbers—as do consulting Recruiters.
Personalize your Cover Letter: Cover letters shouldn’t be the same for all firms you’re applying to. They should be specific to the firm you’re applying to. How have you demonstrated their core values through your experiences? Your cover letter should tell a story that exhibits the values most important to that firm.
Once you’ve mastered these 3 tips, you should focus on case preparation. Posted in the link below is all you need to make it past the Final Round, including:
30 Case books (Hundreds of practice cases)
Case charts and exhibits (A guide to approaching case interview exhibits like charts, graphs, and tables, and 10 detailed examples)
Case Math Guide (Overview of the math portion of a consulting case interview + math formulas to know)
Case Math Practice Problems (80 case math practice problems with solutions)
*These resources were created by professionals from Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Accenture, Bain & Company, McKinsey & Company, The Walt Disney Company, EY-Parthenon, and more.
Click below for our free consulting resources:
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Written by Bryan Hanley; Edited by AJ Eckstein