Strategy Simplified

Send us Fan Mail If you’re looking to transition from engineering to consulting, you’re not alone. We get hundreds of emails each year from people just like you. We’ve got good news - the transition is possible and even probable with the right approach. Today we’ll share: Why consulting hires engineers Pathways to break in Recruiting tips and tricks Relevant Links More info on Palm Tree careers Le...

Send us Fan Mail We work with thousands of consulting candidates each year. 95% of them have McKinsey, Bain, and BCG as a target firm. And often, ONLY those 3 firms. We’re all for reaching for the stars, but we believe an “MBB or bust” approach is NOT the right approach for most aspiring consultants. Today, we’ll share 3 reasons why we don’t recommend the MBB or bust approach. Relevant Links Resum...

Send us Fan Mail It's official - Bain & Company is the first firm to announce application deadlines for 2025 start dates. Listen in for: Bain application deadlines for summer 2024 Why there are 2 deadlines - and which to apply to A recommend prep timeline 2 killer prep resources Note : These deadlines are for undergraduate and Specialty Master's students. Relevant Links Application d...

Send us Fan Mail A coffee chat is a casual yet professional approach to networking, especially in the consulting industry. But what is a coffee chat and how should you approach it? Listen to this episode with incoming Associate Ty Sheets. Ty has experienced the networking process from both sides of the table and breaks down: Why coffee chats matter How they fit into the networking process The best...

Send us Fan Mail Looking to land a job as a product manager? You’ll need to prepare for product manager interview questions. Listen to this episode to get a sense of common product manager interview questions and answers to help you land top jobs at companies like Amazon, Google, and more. Jenny Rae covers the 4 key categories of product manager interview questions: Background and experience quest...

Send us Fan Mail Are you looking to break into consulting - but don’t have a business degree or background? Maybe you’re asking “Can I even get a consulting job without a business degree?” The short answer is “YES!” you can. We’ve helped many non-business candidates (e.g., history or liberal arts majors, PhDs/MDs, interior designers, real estate agents, scientists) break in. In this episode, we’ll...

Send us Fan Mail Juliane Hoss spent 3 years in Bain & Company's Johannesburg, South Africa office working in the Private Equity Group and on large transformation projects. Today, she joins us to provide an insider look at how Bain conducts case interviews.  Throughout the case, she switches between her "interviewer" and "coach" hat to give the candidate feedback after...

Send us Fan Mail Want to become a more effective storyteller? Ready to increase your executive presence and influence? In this episode, Namaan Mian breaks down the techniques that separate effective presenters from average ones. You'll walk away with increased confidence in your abilities as a presenter. Relevant Links 1:1 presentation coaching through Power Presentations Watch the video of t...

Send us Fan Mail In today's tough recruiting environment, tthe importance of a strategic approach cannot be underestimated. In this episode, our team breaks down: The 3 “A” pillars that all consultants developed to land their offers How to avoid the mistakes that hinder thousands of candidates each year A tool to evaluate when and what kind of help you need along the way Looking for a communi...

Send us Fan Mail If you're passionate about the intersection of consulting and healthcare, you're in the right place. In this episode, we interview five leading healthcare consulting experts to uncover trends and opportunities in the industry in 2024. They share: Trends in healthcare consulting How firms are leveraging technology Opportunities for advanced degrees, healthcare professiona...

Send us Fan Mail Want to work for the Boston Consulting Group? BCG is one of consulting's top employers - the 2nd biggest of the Big 3 firms. The firm is known for creativity, thought leadership, and innovation. Today, Jenny Rae breaks down the BCG recruiting process, including when to apply and prep resources. Over 97% of BCG applicants do not land a role. Listen in for a playbook on defying...

Send us Fan Mail Consulting hiring timelines are confusing even to industry insiders. Finding answers is near impossible.  In this episode, we’re excited to demystify the 2 consulting recruitment pathways and hiring timelines for each. Quick overview of timelines for each candidate group: February-April : PhD/JD/MD Bridge Programs June-September : Undergraduate/Specialty Masters internship and ful...

Send us Fan Mail If you're looking to launch or pivot your career, this episode is for you. 5 leading university Career Services experts share the strategies, tips, and tools they employ to prepare their students for recruiting success across industries and functions.  Cornell University SMU Cox School of Business Swarthmore College USC Marshall School of Business Washington University in St....

Send us Fan Mail Many people who want to “become a management consultant” don’t realize that there are many different types of consulting. It’s sad when we run into people who apply for one type of consulting (i.e., tech) thinking that it’s strategy consulting only to later realize how different they are. To help you avoid a painful discovery like this, today we’ll break down the differences betwe...

Send us Fan Mail Ryan Boutwell landed an MBA internship at McKinsey AND a return offer to go full-time.  In this episode, he shares his journey from the UVA Darden School of Business to securing a coveted job with McKinsey. You'll walk away with no-nonsense tips and tricks for: Being yourself in the recruiting process Insightful questions to ask in networking calls Your office selection strat...

Send us Fan Mail Getting a role in management consulting is never easy, but it becomes even more difficult in an economic downturn. But one thing that has stayed true throughout the periods of repressed economic growth: consulting firms almost never stop hiring. They might slow down. They might delay start dates. They may even do layoffs. But they rarely ever completely stop. Nevertheless, we are...

Send us Fan Mail Whether you're just starting out in your career or looking to enhance your leadership abilities, self-leadership is a crucial foundation for success. Listen in as Jenny Rae - from the other side of the mic this time - shares insights and real-life examples to help cultivate self-leadership skills that will propel your career forward. Whether you're aiming for a promotion...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when going from a broke college student to a first-time working professional? Often - personal finance chaos.  Today, Namaan and Jenny Rae share keys to setting up your personal finances when starting your career. The 3 "money buckets" to set up right away The benefits of automating your money system How to live life "outside the spreadsheet" Navig...

Send us Fan Mail There are thousands of consulting firms out there - how do you decide which is right for you? We're excited to announce that Management Consulted's annual ranking of the world's top firms is now LIVE - check it out ! We've been keeping a strong pulse on the industry for over a decade and know what makes a great firm a great firm. Every year, we evaluate hundred...

Send us Fan Mail If you are an advanced degree student looking to break into consulting, Vinura’s story is for you. With a background in research and a history in medicine, Vinura decided to pursue consulting as a way to branch out from his medical background. Despite being the only student in his program to recruit for consulting, he landed a BCG offer. In this conversation, he shares the passion...

Send us Fan Mail February and March is peak application season for advanced degree candidates -  PhDs, MDs, JDs, Postdocs, PharmDs, etc. In fact, the first bridge program application deadlines close on February 19. These bridge programs are a fast track for advanced degrees to break into Bain, BCG, McKinsey, L.E.K., and more. In this episode, Jenny Rae breaks down everything you need to know about...

Send us Fan Mail I (Jenny Rae) was ill-equipped to start as an analyst (Associate Consultant) at Bain & Company. Bain provided an accounting fill-in-the-blank workbook, gave a general overview of a few things we would need to know - but the things Bain glossed over were incredibly important. Here are 3 things I wish I knew as a first-year analyst at Bain. Relevant Links $200 Early Bird discoun...

Send us Fan Mail Partner in consulting are largely misunderstood. What do they do - really? Today, Jenny Rae breaks down the role of a Partner into 3 main functions. In addition, she shares: How long it takes to make Partner Compensation for Partners & more If you want to get into consulting, you'll want to get a few years under your belt and see if you like the work. Who knows - you may...

Send us Fan Mail Omar is a former Oliver Wyman Summer Consultant and current McKinsey Business Analyst - on today's episode, he demonstrates what to expect in McKinsey cases. Get your McKinsey case practice on track by grabbing a pencil and paper to follow along. This case features an e-commerce marketplace in Europe looking for ways to grow revenue. Can our candidate crack the case? Listen t...

Send us Fan Mail Shane navigated the Boston Consulting Group recruiting process to land an incredible internship. How? In this episode, we dive into his journey to uncover: Shane's lightbulb moment for choosing strategy consulting How he answered "Why BCG?" Critical case prep tips for a firm like BCG Tips for the day of your interview Shane's approach to selecting the Dallas of...