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Yannan, Senior Associate Consultant at Top Audit Consulting Firm: Advize Career Interview
A career journey from performing arts and social justice to a Senior Associate Consultant position at a top audit firm reveals a dynamic path filled with adaptability and entrepreneurial spirit.
The work involves navigating mergers and acquisitions, demanding strong communication and organizational skills alongside the ability to build rapport with diverse individuals.
A typical day varies greatly, balancing client interactions with project planning, requiring resilience and proactive thinking.
Success in this field hinges on a combination of academic credentials, relationship-building prowess, and transferable skills—even from seemingly unrelated areas like acting—highlighting the value of proactive networking and leveraging identity-related opportunities.
Entry-level analyst positions offer valuable experience, allowing exploration of this challenging yet intellectually stimulating and rewarding career path that constantly demands learning and adaptation.
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Job Title
Company
Undergrad
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Yannan Colljns
Senior Associate Consultant
Top Audit Consulting Firm
University of San Francisco 2015
N/a
Anthropology, Sociology, Fine Arts, Music
Consulting
Business Strategy
International Student, Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Immigrant, Worked 20+ Hours in School, LGBTQ, First Generation College Student
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Career Path of a Senior Associate Consultant at Top Audit Consulting Firm
Yannan's career path began with a performing arts and social justice degree, but after realizing "the job one is a lot of hours and two actually doesn't pay well," a pivot to the business side followed. This involved marketing, HR, and eventually launching their own consulting practice before pursuing an MBA and joining a large consulting firm, demonstrating adaptability and entrepreneurial initiative in navigating career transitions.
Main Responsibilities of a Senior Associate Consultant at an Audit Consulting Firm
Yannan's main responsibility as a Senior Associate Consultant is assisting clients navigating mergers and acquisitions, ensuring a smooth process. This involves addressing diverse challenges, from "wrong communication" to "implementing a new Diversity Program," to ultimately achieve the clients' intended outcomes.
A Day In The Life Of A Senior Associate Consultant At Top Audit Consulting Firm
Yannan's workday as a Senior Associate Consultant varies greatly, ranging from "very busy" days filled with client-side interviews and stakeholder meetings to slower periods focused on follow-up and project planning. The work's variability depends on "the clients, the project, the cycle of the year, depends on everything."
Most Important Skills For A Senior Associate Consultant At A Top Audit Consulting Firm
For a senior associate consultant, effective communication—the ability to "conceptualize ideas into really simple words"—is paramount, alongside building rapport with diverse individuals from varying backgrounds. Successfully navigating this requires strong organizational skills to maintain clarity of thought amidst complexity, forming the foundational base for the other two key skills.
Favorite Parts Of Being A Senior Associate Consultant At A Top Audit Firm
Yannan, a Senior Associate Consultant, most enjoys the constant learning and diverse exposure inherent in the role, stating that "Consulting is definitely an extension of my business school," while also appreciating the opportunity to fully utilize interpersonal skills, describing the job as "fully utilizing my skills" in communication and building rapport.
Biggest Challenges Faced by a Senior Associate Consultant at a Top Audit Firm
Yannan's biggest challenge as a Senior Associate Consultant is the constantly evolving nature of the work: "no clients are the same, no projects are the same," requiring continuous adaptation to new environments and team dynamics. This constant learning, however, is also what Yannan enjoys most about their role.
Favorite Parts Of Working In The Consulting Industry As A Senior Associate Consultant
Yannan, a Senior Associate Consultant, appreciates the intellectual depth of Top Audit Consulting Firm's work environment, enjoying "the level of...conversation," where colleagues "go deep" and strive for expertise in their respective areas. This collaborative, intellectually stimulating atmosphere, filled with "smart people," is a key driver of Yannan's job satisfaction.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Consulting Industry, According To A Senior Associate Consultant At A Top Consulting Firm
To thrive in consulting, Yannan emphasizes the importance of "a lot of energy and good health," given the demanding hours and need for client and coworker relationship-building. Further success hinges on strong organizational skills to juggle multiple projects simultaneously and resilience to overcome daily failures, "how to recover fastly in your failures and always be optimistic."
What A Senior Associate Consultant At A Top Consulting Firm Wishes They Knew Before Consulting
Yannan, a Senior Associate Consultant, reveals a crucial insight: "your resume does matter," highlighting the industry's focus on credentials from prestigious institutions. Furthermore, the career requires a personality suited to relationship-building with strangers, and surprisingly, skills like acting and graphic design prove unexpectedly valuable for effective communication and presentation.
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Analysts At Consulting Firms
Entry-level consulting roles for undergraduates typically involve "analyst positions," focusing on groundwork like spreadsheets and presentations; this allows individuals to explore whether a consulting career aligns with their interests, providing "a really valuable experience" regardless of long-term career path.
Significant Career Lesson From A Senior Associate Consultant At A Top Audit Firm
Yannan, a Senior Associate Consultant, emphasizes proactive thinking as a crucial career lesson, advising to always be "at least one step ahead," whether preparing for interviews or meetings. This forward-thinking approach allows for smoother workflow and better preparation, a valuable skill in the demanding consulting field.
College Experiences That Helped a Senior Associate Consultant at a Top Consulting Firm Succeed
Surprisingly, Yannan's acting class proved unexpectedly valuable, teaching crucial communication skills like "eye contact, tone of voice, and body language"—skills essential for networking, client interactions, and selling consulting projects throughout their career at a top audit consulting firm. This unexpected benefit highlights the importance of transferable skills gained even from seemingly unrelated coursework.
How Identity Influenced A Senior Associate Consultant's Career At A Top Audit Consulting Firm
Yannan, a Senior Associate Consultant, leveraged LGBTQ+ networking events like "Rangba" to build connections with employers interested in diversity initiatives, gaining "extra time asking extra questions" during the recruiting process at top consulting firms. This strong network and targeted engagement proved a critical factor in Yannan's career success.
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