Careers: Consulting

What is Consulting?

Consulting is the business of solving other companies' problems - for a fee. Organizations hire consulting firms when they need outside expertise, an objective perspective, or extra horsepower for complex strategic initiatives. Consultants parachute into a client's business, diagnose issues, build recommendations, and help implement solutions - then move on to the next engagement.

The industry spans several categories:

• Management Consulting (Strategy): McKinsey, Bain, BCG (MBB) - the most prestigious tier. Focus on C-suite strategy, org design, and growth.
• Big 4 Consulting: Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG - massive firms offering strategy, operations, tech, and risk advisory.
• Boutique/Specialty Firms: Oliver Wyman, L.E.K., Kearney, AlixPartners - focused on specific industries or functions.
• Tech/Implementation: Accenture, IBM Consulting, Capgemini - focused on technology transformation and system implementation.

What Do You Actually Do?

If you've ever watched House of Lies, you might think consulting is all luxury hotels, flights, and team dinners on the client's dime. That's only partly true - and it comes with a steep cost. The consulting lifestyle is physically demanding, emotionally taxing, and often unsustainable long term. Turnover is high for a reason.

A Typical Week

• Monday: 6AM flight to the client site. Arrive by noon. Work until 7-8PM prepping decks, analyzing client data, and meeting stakeholders. Check into a JW Marriott or similar. Team dinner, bed by 10PM.
• Tuesday & Wednesday: Wake up at 6AM. Gym. Breakfast. Uber to client site. Work nonstop through lunch (Uber Eats if you're lucky) until 8PM. Evenings may involve more work - or a rare night out with teammates.
• Thursday: Fly day. Best-case scenario, you leave by noon. Worst case, you're at the client until late. Either way, get home, decompress, and prepare for Friday.
• Friday: Often remote. Some firms expect you in the office, others don't. When in-person, it's usually for all-hands meetings or social events. Free drinks and snacks are common.
• Weekend: Variable. Some weekends are sacred. Others involve grinding on decks in airports or even theme parks. It all depends on your project and manager.

The Social Reality

Consulting is about more than spreadsheets and strategy decks. It's a relationship business - with your team, your clients, and your firm. That's why recruiting events are heavy on happy hours and light on slides.

You'll spend countless hours in tight conference rooms with your team. Your coworkers become your core friend group. Emotional intelligence, cultural awareness, and communication skills matter more here than in nearly any other business field.

Social Expectations

• Know how to dress across settings (formal, biz casual, offsite)
• Hold your own in conversations on business, sports, politics, culture
• Have a take on food and drinks
• Recognize brands and their socioeconomic signaling
• Read the room, especially with clients
• Present clearly under stress to senior leadership
• Be mentally agile and unafraid to tackle vague problems
• Be willing to go above and beyond for the team - often at the expense of sleep, health, or family
• Understand loyalty programs (airlines, hotels) as if they're part of your comp plan

Roles Within Consulting

Qualifications by Level

Entry-Level (Post-Undergrad)

• Bachelor's degree from a strong university (target schools preferred)
• Strong GPA (3.5+ for MBB, 3.3+ for Big 4)
• Internship experience or leadership roles
• Must pass case interviews and behavioral screens

Mid-Level (Post-MBA)

• MBA from a target program (Wharton, Booth, Kellogg, CBS, Tuck, etc.)
• 3-7 years of pre-MBA work experience
• Demonstrated leadership and client-facing ability
• Case interview proficiency

Senior / Partner Track

• Deep expertise in a specific industry or function
• Proven ability to develop client relationships and sell work
• Track record of building and leading high-performing teams
• Typically 8-15+ years of consulting or equivalent experience

Compensation

Comp varies significantly by firm tier. MBB pays a premium at every level. Big 4 firms compensate well but trail MBB by 15-30% at junior levels. The gap narrows at the partner level.

Do Veterans Fit?

Honestly - yes, but it depends on the person. Consulting rewards many of the traits the military builds: composure under pressure, structured thinking, ability to lead without formal authority, and comfort briefing senior leaders. But it also requires a set of soft skills that not every veteran has practiced in uniform.

Where veterans have an edge:

• Structured problem-solving - the military decision-making process (MDMP) maps surprisingly well to case frameworks
• Poise under pressure - you've briefed Generals, so a partner interview won't rattle you
• Team leadership - consulting is a team sport, and you know how to build cohesion fast
• Work ethic - the hours are brutal, but you've done worse in the field
• Unique perspective - firms value diverse backgrounds, and your operational experience sets you apart

Where veterans need to adapt:

• Business vocabulary - "BLUF" and "OPORD" don't translate. Learn to speak in terms of deliverables, stakeholders, and insights.
• Social polish - consulting runs on dinners, happy hours, and cultural fluency. This is a relationship business.
• Ambiguity tolerance - the military gives you a mission. In consulting, you often have to define the problem before you solve it.
• Quantitative skills - brush up on financial analysis, market sizing, and basic statistics before recruiting.

Bottom line: if you're willing to learn the language, prep hard for case interviews, and lean into the social side, consulting is one of the highest-ROI career paths for veterans coming out of top MBA programs.

Recruiting Pathways

On-Campus Recruiting (OCR)

• Most MBB and Big 4 firms have target schools
• Attend info sessions, apply through school job boards
• First-round interviews: case + behavioral
• Second/third rounds: deeper cases, partner interviews

Direct Applications

• Harder, but not impossible
• Network with alumni or firm contacts
• Tailor your resume + cover letter
• Timing is critical - apply in line with recruiting windows

Tips to Maximize Your Odds

• Join your school's Consulting Club
• Network early with alumni and recruiters
• Attend info sessions and mixers - they're vetting you socially
• Follow up after events with coffee chats and thank-yous
• Study for case interviews early - use Case in Point, Victor Cheng, or MBA prep guides

The Case Interview

The case interview is consulting's equivalent of the GMAT. You'll be asked to solve a business problem live - thinking aloud, structuring your approach, doing math under pressure, and delivering a recommendation.

Start Here:

• Harvard Case Prep Guide
• Kellogg Consulting Club Guide
• Duke MBA Case Guide
• Darden MBA Case Guide

Final Word from Sitreps2Steercos

Consulting offers elite exit opportunities, fast learning, and brand prestige - but it's not for everyone. It requires travel, stamina, and social finesse. But if you want to be around smart people solving hard problems - and can handle the pace - it may be the right fit for you.

Post in the community forums if you want help navigating the recruiting process, prepping your case interviews, or choosing between firms.