INSIGHTS FROM THE INDUSTRY

3 skills indispensable in management consulting:

I'd like to propose 3 key "values" as opposed to "skills" that are critical to success in any consulting firm. While skills such as slide making and excel are indispensable, they can easily be picked up on the job. The "values", on the other hand, are more difficult to develop and a lot more impactful once mastered.

1. Comfort with ambiguity- While help is always offered and given in the world of consulting, it is expected that you take a first crack at assigned tasks before asking seniors for guidance. More often than not, you will find yourself wanting more information and context than is given, and an important barrier that you need to cross is to do your best with what you have and be comfortable with the insufficiency of information instead of letting it act as a blocker to progress.

2. Receptiveness to different types of people- Young consultants tend to change projects frequently, and hence you will be exposed to a variety of people and working styles, some of which might be different from what you're most comfortable with. In such a scenario, it is essential to be open and receptive to different ways of working, while also standing up for yourself when something doesn't work for you.

3. Taking initiative- If you don't do your work, no one will. While initiative and ownership is a value that is developed over time and you are not expected to start off with it, the sooner you start taking an end to end view of your deliverables and actively ensuring that the work gets done no matter what, the better off you will be in this fast paced, sometimes crazy, consulting environment.