The first 90 days: setting yourself up for success as a new consultant…
Starting a consulting career can feel daunting. Fortunately, Consulting Survival is here to help you set yourself up for success in the first 90 days of your new consulting career.
Follow these tips in your first 3 months to build strong foundations for success. Prioritise these strategies early on to start strong.
How to Succeed in Your First 90 Days as a New Consultant
Secure a Client Project
Your number one priority in your first 90 days is to find a billable role. Consultants are most valuable when the client is paying for them and to do that, you need a project (also known as an engagement).
Top tips for getting staffed quickly:
Polish your resume/profile and meet scheduling teams
Network extensively to uncover opportunities
Ask managers and Partners if they need team members
Learn the Landscape
You don’t need to have everything figured out on day one. For the first 90 days, take the pressure off yourself and treat this as adjustment time.
Here’s the three main things you’ll want to find out about in your first three months as a new consultant:
Identify key people and decision makers
Master essential admin like timesheets
Understand expectations for your role's level by reading the official performance criteria from HR
Explore your firm
Consulting firms have a lot to give but most people never explore it! Take advantage of the fact you’re new to find out all that your firm has to offer.
This includes exploring different Practices, roles, mentoring opportunities, training courses, internal networking events, side of desk opportunities and even clubs or societies.
Plenty of firms have things like a running club or cycling clubs, some even have wine clubs! Whatever you enjoy doing, bonding with your new colleagues over a mutual hobby will help you feel part of your new firm.
Build relationships
Make the most of this phrase: “Hi, nice to meet you. I've just joined.” This is a golden opportunity to play the ‘new person’ card and meet as many people as you can.
Make sure you don’t neglect any of the following:
Introduce yourself to colleagues across the firm
Gravitate towards mentors aligned with your goals
Attend practice-wide events like Town Halls and there’s normally a social element afterwards too that it’s wise to attend
Set yourself up for long-term impact
The first 90 days as a new consultant is like a roller coaster through the land of ambiguity. However, the advice in this blog will help you get the most out of your first three months in consulting. Use this time to build the foundations for a fulfilling Consulting career.
