Entry-level Positions for Aspiring Cofounders, CEOs, and CFOs
For aspiring consultants, Aaron suggests prioritizing "boutique consulting firms" to gain proximity to customers and problems, unlike the siloed experience at larger firms like Deloitte or McKinsey, also mentions that the more hands-on experience gained, the better. Beyond consulting, Aaron advocates for any entry-level role offering genuine business or industry understanding, even if seemingly "menial," as this provides invaluable context for future senior roles, highlighting that taking junior roles is "incredibly undervalued and underrated" in preparation for senior roles.
Boutique Consulting, Entry-Level Roles, Small and Midsize Businesses, Business Understanding, Career Context
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Aaron Chavez
Cofounder/CEO/CFO
Unconventional Ventures
Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey | Barrett
Finance
Consulting & Related Professional Services
Business Strategy
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Boutique consulting firms offer hands-on experience and direct customer interaction, providing valuable problem-solving skills and contextual understanding, which is beneficial for those seeking a career as a consultant.
2. Gaining practical experience in the industry, even in menial entry-level roles, is crucial for developing a comprehensive understanding of the business and its operations, which will be valuable in future senior roles.
3. Taking junior roles to prepare for senior positions is highly beneficial, even if it seems less appealing initially because it will give one valuable context later on in one's career.
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate or graduate student might want to consider?
Sure, I'll answer this two ways. One is if you're looking to be more of a hands-on consultant and you really want to solve problems in this way, boutique consulting firms are probably going to be your best bet.
You want to be as close to the customers, as close to the problem, and as close to not only the work you're doing but the context for why you're doing it. Working at Deloitte, KPMG, or McKinsey is absolutely great, but you're going to be very siloed.
You're going to be very used to a certain level of corporate issues, and there are effectively no large businesses relative to how many small and midsize businesses there are. So all that understanding in the world only makes you able to understand a fraction of the market.
I think it's really helpful if you could get a position or at least take one and do a bunch of informational interviews with others. The more you can understand about the job, the better you'll be at knowing where you want to fit in.
The other way is any entry-level role that will give you true understanding of your business or the industry, even if it seems menial. If you wanted to be an oil rig guy and tighten bolts in the future, I want you to go work on an oil rig.
I literally don't care if it's for three days, three months, or six months, whatever the appropriate time is. Dealing with construction, dealing with hot rivets, and dealing with different things gives you context.
So later, when you're the CFO and you ask, "How much do we really need to spend on this?" you can say, "Man, I remember when it was like that. I gotta talk to the guys about this because I'm thinking this and this." You have so much more context for what you're doing.
Taking junior roles in preparation for senior roles is incredibly undervalued and underrated.