Can you get into consulting without any experience?
People who want to become a consultant relatively early in their careers are often faced with a tough question: how can I break into consulting without any experience?
Similarly, if you started a career that’s very different to consulting and now want to make a switch, it can feel like you’re facing the same problem.
This blog will show you to get your consulting application noticed, even without any experience.
Showcase Transferable Skills
Consulting recruiters are looking for evidence that you have the core consulting skills. Therefore your application needs to focus on demonstrating that you have experience in the consulting skills even if it’s not at a consulting firm.
These are the skills recruiters are looking for:
Critical thinking
Problem solving
Analysis
Attention to detail
Teamwork
Leadership
Communication
Focus on highlighting the clear parallels in your transferable experience from academics, activities, sports teams etc.
You’re trying to prove to a consulting recruiter that you have the underlying consulting skills even if you haven’t got the consulting experience.
Start a Side Hustle
The best thing you can do to make your application stand out is start a side hustle. Setting up a simple side hustle will demonstrate to consulting firms that you’re proactive, a commercial thinker and execute dispute ambiguity. All of these are essential consulting skills.
Examples of side projects:
YouTube channel
Blog
eComm business selling print on demand clothing
Newsletter
It doesn’t have to be time-consuming but just a little something to show you can think outside the box will make you stand out.
If you’re struggling for inspiration, try this short book by Austin Kleon called ‘Show Your Work’.
Bring a Fresh Perspective
Zero experience is secretly your superpower. Emphasise the outside-the-box thinking you'll bring and use your unconventional background as an advantage.
Skills Over Experience
It’s definitely possible to break into consulting without any experience but you’ll need to go the extra mile to make your CV stand out. Focus on proving your skills and starting a little side project will help differentiate you from all the other consulting applications.
