What to expect on your first day in consulting: an insider's guide
Starting a new job as a consultant can seem daunting. You’re probably wondering: “Where do I go? Who should I meet? How do I get started?”
Some consulting firms arrange big induction days for all new starters. In that case, you can expect to get all the information you need in advance and if you don’t have it, you should reach out to the recruiter from your consulting firm to double check. This blog is aimed at people who don’t have formal induction days arranged.
We’re going to cover what to expect and do on day one to launch your consulting career confidently.
Typical first day activities
While specifics vary by firm, most first consulting days involve three common activities.
Onboarding essentials
Getting your laptop, phone, badge/pass, and system logins
Learning how to submit timesheets and expenses
Understanding absence and holiday policies
Meeting key people
HR contact: your go-to person for onboarding questions
Practice Lead: probably also the partner/director who interviewed you and ultimately accountable for the consulting practice you’re aligned to
Career Coach: one of the most important consulting relationships you will have. They help guide your development through the firm and represent you at performance cycles
Peers: fellow consultants are invaluable allies
Finding your first project
Speak to the ‘staffers’ or ‘schedulers’ about open roles
Check engagement role databases and proactively apply
Tell everyone you're available! Networking is key
Set yourself up for success
There are three main things you can do on day one to set yourself up for success:
Take thorough notes during onboarding
Build relationships - especially with your career coach and peers
Start finding your first billable project immediately
Conclusion
Though starting a new consulting role can feel intimidating, focusing on essential admin, networking, and quickly finding a project sets you up for consulting success.
If you can spend your first day as a consultant focusing on the things mentioned in this blog then you’ll be setting yourself up for a successful and fulfilling career in consulting.
And don’t forget to enjoy it. You’ve done extremely well to get this far!
