Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Sustainable Supply Chain Analysts
Entry-level positions in sustainable procurement and supply chain risk for undergraduate students typically involve analyst roles at firms like the Big Four or McKinsey/Bain, with boutique consulting offering similar opportunities but a different structure; career progression involves starting as an analyst and "work[ing] your way up," potentially pivoting teams as needed.
Analyst Positions, Consulting, Career Development, Skill Set, Teamwork
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Ruzual Boparai
Sustainable Procurement & Supply Chain Risk Lead
Efficio
Georgian College, McMaster University
N/A
Engineering - Mechanical
Climate, Environment, Sustainability & Waste Management
Consulting
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Entry-level positions in this field are primarily analyst roles, especially within Big Four consulting firms and similar organizations like McKinsey and Bain.
2. Big Four firms sometimes seek generalists, while other times they look for candidates with specific technical skills. Students should tailor their applications to their strengths and career goals.
3. Boutique consulting offers different experiences than larger firms; they often have more of a startup environment compared to the established structures of Big Four firms.
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
If you're considering the "Big Four," it's mostly an analyst position. I would encourage people to apply based on their skillset.
At times, they look for generalists, and at other times, they seek very technical folks. So, see which direction you want your career to go and apply accordingly. The MBB firms—McKinsey, Bain, and BCG—have a similar concept.
The same applies to boutique consulting. I think with boutique consulting, you just have to be a bit more open to a startup-like structure. This is different from the "Big Four," where you have everything in place, such as templates.
Understanding those differences between levels and tiers is extremely important. Here, you start off as an analyst and then work your way up. You understand what works for you, and at times, you pivot or change teams. None of that is frowned upon in this industry.