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Peter, Associate Consultant at Mercer: Advize Career Interview

A finance undergraduate degree and internships in investment banking and private equity launched a career path culminating in an Associate Consultant role at Mercer.

This journey involved an MBA, a strategy consulting internship, and a pivot into human capital consulting.

The work is dynamic, demanding adaptability and problem-solving skills to manage client relationships, analyze data, and craft presentations for diverse projects, from market entry strategies to acquisitions.

Success requires an insatiable curiosity, strong people skills, and a structured approach to problem-solving, with empathy proving crucial in navigating workplace dynamics.

Entry-level opportunities exist as analysts or associate consultants, accessible through proactive outreach to firm recruiting teams and leveraging college resources like consulting-specific recruiting programs.

The industry offers broad exposure to various sectors, accelerating professional growth and providing invaluable networking opportunities. The most rewarding aspect?

The constant exposure to new teams, problems, and clients, fostering resilience and a deeper understanding of diverse business challenges.

Advizer Information

Name

Job Title

Company

Undergrad

Grad Programs

Majors

Industries

Job Functions

Traits

Peter Yuan

Associate Consultant

Mercer

University of British Columbia

UCLA Anderson School of Management (MBA)

Finance

Consulting

Consulting

International Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Transfer Student, First Generation College Student

Watch all of this Advizer's videos below

Career Path Of An Associate Consultant At Mercer

Peter's career path began with a finance undergraduate degree and internships in investment banking and private equity, revealing an early interest in "the financial markets and finances as a whole". After a period in investment banking, a pivot to Mercer as a human capital consultant, followed by an MBA and a strategy consulting internship at Parthenon, ultimately led to a full-time offer post-graduation.

Career Path Of An Associate Consultant At Mercer

Main Responsibilities of an Associate Consultant at Mercer

As an Associate Consultant at Mercer, a significant portion of the work involves coordinating with junior staff, reporting to senior colleagues, and directly managing client relationships, ensuring "everyone's being kept happy" and adapting to evolving client needs. The day-to-day reality is dynamic, encompassing client meetings, team collaboration, data analysis, and storytelling, with the constantly changing nature of the projects—from market entry strategies to acquisitions—being a key appeal of the consulting career.

Main Responsibilities of an Associate Consultant at Mercer

A Day in the Life of an Associate Consultant at Mercer

A day as a Mercer Associate Consultant is highly varied; "no two days are really the same," with activities ranging from client meetings and data analysis to crafting presentations and collaborating with teams to solve diverse business challenges, such as market entry or acquisitions. This variety, touching upon "all facets of a business," is a key appeal of the career.

A Day in the Life of an Associate Consultant at Mercer

Most Important Skills For An Associate Consultant At Mercer

Mercer Associate Consultant Peter emphasizes a "desire to learn and…be uncomfortable" as the most crucial skill, acknowledging that the ability to navigate ambiguity is key to long-term success, far outweighing basic technical skills like Excel proficiency which are developed on the job. The constant variety of projects and clients, creating a dynamic and ever-changing environment, is highlighted as a significant benefit of the role, fostering adaptability and problem-solving skills.

Most Important Skills For An Associate Consultant At Mercer

Favorite Parts Of Being An Associate Consultant At Mercer

Peter, an Associate Consultant at Mercer, thrives on the "constantly changing" nature of his role, working with "new teams, new problems, new clients" every few weeks. This dynamic environment fosters adaptability, accelerates professional growth, and builds resilience to unexpected challenges.

Favorite Parts Of Being An Associate Consultant At Mercer

Biggest Challenges Faced By An Associate Consultant At Mercer

Peter's biggest challenge as an Associate Consultant at Mercer is navigating the inherent ambiguity in client requests, noting that "a lot of times clients come to us with a business problem...and a couple weeks down the line, we realize what they actually want us to solve is a slightly different problem." This requires careful alignment between project goals and client needs to avoid "a lot of late nights trying to rework things in the last minute."

Biggest Challenges Faced By An Associate Consultant At Mercer

Favorite Parts of Working in Consulting as an Associate Consultant

Peter, an Associate Consultant at Mercer, appreciates the industry's exposure to diverse sectors, stating, "you do get to experience a wide variety of different industries," allowing for exploration of career interests and ultimately leading to a clearer long-term career path. This exploration has helped define both preferred and less appealing sectors.

Favorite Parts of Working in Consulting as an Associate Consultant

What Type of Person Thrives in Consulting According to an Associate Consultant at Mercer

To thrive in consulting, an "insatiable curiosity" and strong people skills are crucial, enabling the development of internal champions and confident client interactions, even at a junior level. A solid foundational skill set, including understanding "basic financial statements and strategy," further facilitates communication and success within the field.

What Type of Person Thrives in Consulting According to an Associate Consultant at Mercer

What An Associate Consultant at Mercer Wishes They Had Known Before Entering Consulting

Peter, an Associate Consultant at Mercer, learned that the consulting industry values a structured approach to problem-solving more than possessing immediate answers; "it's okay to not know the answer, but it's important to know a process towards getting closer to the answer," a lesson that significantly reduced initial anxiety and improved comfort with the role over time.

What An Associate Consultant at Mercer Wishes They Had Known Before Entering Consulting

Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Associate Consultants At Mercer

Major consulting firms like Mercer hire entry-level undergraduates through various channels, with roles often titled "analysts" or "associate consultants". The interviewee suggests proactively contacting firms' recruiting teams— "just reach out...and say hey, I'm interested in consulting"— to explore opportunities and leverage school connections or individual background to increase chances.

Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Associate Consultants At Mercer

Significant Career Lesson From An Associate Consultant At Mercer

Peter, an Associate Consultant at Mercer, emphasizes the importance of empathy in navigating workplace challenges, stating that "understanding their perspective and why they're reacting a certain way gives you a lot more perspective." This approach, recognizing the pressures individuals face both personally and professionally, allows for more effective conflict resolution and fosters stronger working relationships.

Significant Career Lesson From An Associate Consultant At Mercer

College Experiences That Helped An Associate Consultant At Mercer Succeed

Peter's undergraduate program's "Consulting specific recruiting program" provided invaluable networking opportunities and case interview training, giving Peter "an understanding whether or not this industry is for me" and the skills needed for job applications. This early network proved crucial later in their career, with these established connections providing support and mentorship that Peter credits as essential to their success, highlighting the importance of building relationships.

College Experiences That Helped An Associate Consultant At Mercer Succeed
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