College Experiences That Helped A Strategy Consultant At Accenture Succeed
To prepare for a successful career, Audrey, a Strategy Consultant at Accenture LLP, recommends balancing academic work with diverse extracurricular leadership roles and unique experiences, such as studying abroad in Tanzania for wildlife conservation. This approach, Audrey explains, provides "a whole host of stories" to showcase one's personality and interests during interviews, making the candidate more memorable and interesting than simply matching a job description.
Extracurricular Involvement, Leadership Experience, Study Abroad, Behavioral Interview Skills, Risk-Taking
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Audrey DeVaughn
Strategy Consultant
Accenture LLP
Yale University, 2017
UCLA Anderson, MBA, 2023
Economics
Consulting & Related Professional Services
Consulting
Scholarship Recipient
Video Highlights
1. "Be involved in extracurricular activities and take on leadership roles."
2. "Study abroad or participate in other experiences that show your interests and willingness to take risks."
3. "Diversify your college experience to have a wide range of stories to share in interviews."
Transcript
Audrey, going back to your time at Yale, what did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
To set myself up for success, I tried to be really involved in extracurriculars and have leadership positions within them. I also had a job on campus and was heavily involved with club sports, serving as captain for both the club soccer and basketball teams.
At the same time, I wanted to enjoy my college experience. Many interviewers, during behavioral interviews, want to hear stories and get to know you. One of the biggest experiences that came up for me was studying abroad in Tanzania over the summer.
I took a class in Wildlife Conservation, which had nothing to do with what I interviewed for or even my major. However, it showed my interests and that I was willing to take risks.
It's important to diversify your college experience so you have a host of stories to tell during behavioral interviews. This helps the interviewer see you as an interesting person, not just someone who fits a cookie-cutter mold of what's in the job description.