Most Important Skills for a Senior Consultant at Deloitte Consulting
James, a Senior Consultant at Deloitte Consulting, highlights the often-overlooked importance of "soft skills" like "teamwork, communication, and time management" in consulting, despite the common perception of a numbers-heavy role. In addition to data analysis skills, the ability to build and present compelling PowerPoint presentations is also key, emphasizing the need to "tell that story in a logical manner" for diverse audiences.
Teamwork, Communication, Data Analysis, Presentation Skills, Time Management
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
James McGhee
Senior Consultant
Deloitte Consulting
Duke University
UCLA Anderson School of Management - Master of Business Administration
Legal & Policy
Consulting & Related Professional Services
Consulting
Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. Strong teamwork and communication skills are essential for success in consulting.
2. Excellent time management is crucial due to the demanding timelines and client needs.
3. Proficiency in data analysis and presentation skills (e.g., PowerPoint) is vital for communicating findings effectively.
Transcript
What skills are most important for a job like yours?
Consulting sometimes gets a reputation for being very numbers-heavy. While it does require many quantitative skills and data analysis, one of the most overlooked aspects is the critical importance of people and soft skills in the role.
Some of the most important soft and people-related skills include teamwork, communication, and time management. Consultants are typically strapped for time and operate under tight deadlines, often dictated by client requests.
On the more tactical, hard skills side, data analysis is certainly something we do frequently, whether it's financial data, performance data, or anything else. Another skill we frequently use is working in PowerPoint, building presentations, and being able to put a story together.
It's important to tell that story in a logical manner, from beginning to end, and in a way that any audience can digest it easily. These are the two most tactical skills, in addition to some of the others mentioned.