What Type Of Person Thrives In The Consulting Industry According To A Manager At Large Consulting Firm
To thrive in a large consulting firm, one must be a "problem solver" who is invigorated, not intimidated, by challenging issues, viewing them as "wicked problems" ripe for collaborative solutions; additionally, a successful person has the ability to work with anyone, demonstrating empathy and adaptability, and to be a team player willing to "jump in" and share in both successes and failures, fostering a "we're all in this together attitude".
Problem-Solving, Teamwork, Adaptability, Empathy, Collaboration
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Lauren Elizabeth
Manager
Large Consulting Firm
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University - Master of Science in Business Analytics and Johns Hopkins University - Master of Public Health
Economics
Consulting & Related Professional Services, Healthcare, Medical & Wellness
Consulting
Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. Problem-solving skills are essential: Successful individuals in this industry view challenging problems as opportunities and are motivated to solve them.
2. Adaptability and teamwork are crucial: The ability to work with diverse individuals, understand their perspectives, and function effectively within different team dynamics is key.
3. Collaboration and shared responsibility: A willingness to contribute to team efforts, share both successes and failures, and foster a 'we're all in this together' attitude is highly valued.
Transcript
How would you describe people who typically thrive in this industry?
First and foremost, it's always problem solvers. I think it's people who see opportunity in a challenging or naughty problem and want to take that on and solve that issue. We always joke that they're wicked problems.
Bringing a group of really smart people together to solve that thing is hopefully something that invigorates you and excites you, as opposed to intimidating someone. I think that makes you really successful in this role.
I think it's two sides of the same coin, but an ability to work with anyone and to be a team player. They are somewhat the same, but I would say they have two slightly different skillsets.
An ability to work with anyone is a willingness to have a sense of empathy for all those that you end up on a team with. Try to understand their working style and where they're coming from, and then hope that that's returned to you as well.
Every team you're a part of is always going to be different. So understanding how to work with lots of different types of thinkers, as well as practically how you operate in that workspace together, would also make you really successful.
Being a team player is a little more on you as the individual. But again, it's a willingness to just jump in. If someone says, "Hey, I really want to work on this thing," and you're kind of interested in it, it's also a willingness to say, "Yes, I want to go do that, and I want to be a part of that team."
It's also sharing in successes and sharing in failures. When there is a success, it is a team success. Rarely is it something that's individual, that they've only done it themselves.
Similarly, when something can be hard, it isn't individually on you; it's on the broader team. I think it creates some of that "we're all in this together" attitude. Having those sorts of skills make someone really successful in a job like this.