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.
Communication, Problem-Solving, Teamwork, Curiosity, Strategic Thinking
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 & Related Professional Services
Consulting
International Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Transfer Student, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Insatiable curiosity and a constant desire to learn and solve problems are essential for success in consulting.
2. Strong people skills are crucial for building internal support and effectively interacting with clients, regardless of seniority.
3. A solid foundational skill set in areas like finance and strategy is necessary for effective communication and collaboration.
Transcript
Here's the cleaned transcript:
I would describe people who typically thrive in this industry.
When I think about people thriving in consulting, three things come to mind. The first is insatiable curiosity – a desire to constantly know and learn more, and to figure out the best way of solving problems.
The second relates to people skills. This includes building champions within the firm who will help you get the projects you want, fight for your promotions, and advocate for you to be placed in higher-stakes environments for faster growth and development.
It also means having the right interpersonal skills to interact with clients effectively. You might be in your 20s, but you're talking to the CEO of a multibillion-dollar company. You need comfort and the maturity and skill to carry that conversation, making them believe you know what you're talking about, even if you've only spent a couple of weeks learning about that industry or function.
The last, and very important, thing is having a good foundational skill set. These are the table stakes, knowing how to understand the basics of financial statements and how basic strategy works. Having these makes it easier to communicate with clients and teammates, so you're not essentially speaking a different language.