Definitely. Believe it or not, many firms in the business world (investment banks, consulting firms, etc.) are looking to hire people that were NOT business majors. For them, it's a different perspective,; someone who doesn't necessarily know how the market is supposed to work, but can think logically and have done well in other disciplines. Honestly, most of what you learn in school doesn't apply in the real world, so anything you will need to do in your job can be taught to you. Thus, the things that are most important when you are trying to get into consulting is your ability to learn quickly, ambition, working hard and keeping up in a fast paced environment.
However, you will likely get the question, why consulting? If you are an English major, firms are going to want to know why you want to do consulting instead of going to grad school, being a writer, etc. Make sure you have a good answer (and don't say you're in it for the money). Although it is true that consultants probably make a pretty penny more than writers starting out. If you don't like to follow the market or have genuine interest in the business world, consulting probably isn't for you, but if you truly think that you will enjoy a career in this field, you should go for it.
The best ways to get your foot in the door are:
1. Apply for all jobs/internships - the more times you try, the better chance you have of getting an offer.
2. Read the Wall Street Journal.
3. Prepare to make your case about why you should get the job over a business major.
If you have any other specific question please comment, I would love to help you out!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
History Major, Consulting Profession - Does It Work?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Hi it's really nice of u to share ur experience here with us. this one just fits in with me so much! i am not majoring in finance or accounting but really want to crack into this field. I majored english in undergraduate and now doing labor studies in mater, so i'm wondering is it possible to get an intern in this field with my background? and how?
I also want to know how possible it is for me to pass the CPA test; i mean i have no idea of what the exam looks like but is it possible to pass just by studying by myself?
If you don't have a business background, you can still apply for consulting jobs. First, you need to seek out the opportunities, so use Experience or other job search engines to find opportunities that sound interesting to you. Make sure that you include in a cover letter exactly WHY you want to break into consulting/business even though you don't have that background. Explain what you can bring to the table that other business majors can't. Make sure you have done some of your own research on the field and what is going on in the current business environment to show your geniune interest in the field.
In terms of the CPA exam, the course requirements are very strict, so if you have not taken accounting courses, you would not be able to take this exam. I wouldn't suggest taking any exams until you actually get into the industry because then you will have a better idea of your career path and what exams (if any) would make the most sense for you.
Post a Comment