Hannah, Associate Consultant at Ernst&Young-Parthenon: Advize Career Interview

A career pivot from politics to consulting at Ernst & Young-Parthenon is detailed, showcasing a path built on internships at UCLA Investments and Smartsheet, following roles at a town hall, Teach for America, and the World Trade Center.

The Associate Consultant role centers on financial modeling and reporting, demanding precision, creative problem-solving, and strong teamwork.

A typical day blends individual work with collaborative meetings, highlighting a dynamic environment. The work offers diverse projects across industries, but also presents challenges like unpredictable time commitments.

Success in this field requires personality, a genuine interest in business problem-solving, and adaptability.

Networking and internships are highlighted as key to career success, along with embracing authenticity in the workplace and actively navigating unconscious bias.

The interview offers valuable lessons about career flexibility, the importance of self-awareness, and the realities of navigating a male-dominated industry.

Advizer Information

Name

Job Title

Company

Undergrad

Grad Programs

Hannah Feller

Associate Consultant

Ernst&Young-Parthenon

UCLA, 2021

Majors

Industries

Job Functions

Traits

Economics

Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)

Consulting

None Applicable

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Career Path Of An Associate Consultant At Ernst And Young Parthenon

Hannah's career path demonstrates a pivot from a planned career in politics, involving roles at "my local Town Hall," Teach for America, and the World Trade Center, to a consulting career. After adding an econ major and internships at UCLA Investments and Smartsheet, a formal recruiting process led to an internship and subsequent full-time position at EY-Parthenon, where they have worked for two years.

Career Path Of An Associate Consultant At Ernst And Young Parthenon

Main Responsibilities of an Associate Consultant at Ernst & Young Parthenon

Hannah's Associate Consultant role at Ernst & Young-Parthenon involves "generating first drafts of all project deliverables," primarily using Excel for financial modeling and PowerPoint for reporting. Beyond this core responsibility, managing "project hygiene," including meeting documentation and external client communication, is also a significant part of their daily tasks.

Main Responsibilities of an Associate Consultant at Ernst & Young Parthenon

A Day in the Life of an Associate Consultant at Ernst and Young Parthenon

A typical day for an Associate Consultant at Ernst & Young-Parthenon involves a morning team sync to "align on priorities," followed by individual task completion interspersed with meetings to adjust the day's work based on client updates or changing needs. The workday concludes with an evening check-in to finalize tasks and plan for the next day, demonstrating a highly collaborative and dynamic work environment.

A Day in the Life of an Associate Consultant at Ernst and Young Parthenon

Most Important Skills for an Associate Consultant at Ernst and Young Parthenon

Hannah, an Associate Consultant at Ernst & Young-Parthenon, emphasizes the importance of "precision and paying attention to details," ensuring client-ready deliverables. The ability to "problem solve creatively" under tight deadlines, utilizing available resources and past experiences, and effective teamwork, balancing focused communication with relationship building are also key skills for success in this role.

Most Important Skills for an Associate Consultant at Ernst and Young Parthenon

Favorite Parts of Being an Associate Consultant at Ernst and Young Parthenon

Hannah, an Associate Consultant at Ernst & Young-Parthenon, enjoys the "plethora of opportunity" in consulting, allowing exploration of diverse projects across industries and deal life cycles, from diligence to post-merger integration, quickly determining career preferences and eliminating unsuitable paths. This variety, unlike the potentially more limited experiences of peers in other fields, is what Hannah finds most fulfilling.

Favorite Parts of Being an Associate Consultant at Ernst and Young Parthenon

Biggest Challenges Faced By An Associate Consultant At Ernst And Young Parthenon

Hannah's biggest challenge as an Associate Consultant at Ernst & Young-Parthenon is the "unpredictability in terms of time commitment," a common issue in professional services where client demands and limited experience can lead to miscalculations of workload and impact personal time; however, the work-life balance is "much better than I was anticipating."

Biggest Challenges Faced By An Associate Consultant At Ernst And Young Parthenon

What an Associate Consultant at Ernst and Young Parthenon Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Consulting Industry

Hannah, an Associate Consultant at Ernst & Young-Parthenon, learned that project assignments depend heavily on "timing," meaning that even with networking, "you might not always get the project that you're most interested in" due to project timelines and business needs. This often requires compromising and working on less desirable projects to meet the firm's demands.

What an Associate Consultant at Ernst and Young Parthenon Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Consulting Industry

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