Consulting

Editor's Picks

50 best consulting firms to work for
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Announcing the 2025 Consulting Rankings for All Regions!

We here at Vault are pleased to announce our 2025 Consulting Rankings, including our new Vault Consulting North America 50, Vault Consulting EMEA 25, and Vault Top Consulting Asia-Pacific! A new...

Editor's Picks

Vault Consulting Rankings: Five-Year Retrospective Post-COVID

Mastering Tough Interview Questions: Part I

Mastering Tough Interview Questions: Part II

From Classroom to Career: How Vault Empowers MBA and College Students

Top Consulting Firms

Skills & Requirements

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How to Learn Like a Management Consultant

In management consulting, you’re expected to quickly get up to speed with a client’s market position, competitive advantages, financial standing, and overall business model. Clients pay top dollar for consultants, expecting them to offer meaningful insights and actionable plans.
rubiks cube that says figure it out

How to Problem-Solve Like a Management Consultant

Traditionally, the art of problem-solving has been the professional domain of management consultants. However, you don’t have to be pursuing a management consulting career in order to be an adept problem-solver.
hands on a laptop

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Resume Writing (But Were Afraid to Ask)

The importance of your resume can’t be stressed enough. Recruiters and hiring managers use it to assess if they want to continue exploring your candidacy for their open roles.
blue suit boss desk

Showing Off Soft Skills in the Interview

Let me drop a quick truth-bomb on you: the more experience you have, the easier it is to fill your resumé. I know, right?
Land the McKinsey Offer Part 3: Communication Skills

Land the McKinsey Offer Part 3: Communication Skills

Communication is, without doubt, the most underrated skill of the consulting interview. Here’s the crazy thing: most candidates don’t even realize they will be explicitly evaluated on it!
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How to Be Small Talk Savvy During the Job Search

If there’s one activity that occurs at nearly every stage of the job search, it’s small talk. And unlike other aspects of the job search, small talk usually happens without warning.
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How to Improve Your Networking Skills in 6 Short Steps

If you’re not networking, you’re not growing your career. It’s that simple.

Case Interview Tips & Advice

MBA Virtual Career Fair: Consulting Case Interviews Fireside Chat

MBA Virtual Career Fair: Consulting Case Interviews Fireside Chat

On Friday, February 11, Firsthand held its first annual MBA Virtual Career Fair. The Fair was geared toward first- and second-year MBA students looking to prepare for and find internships and full-time positions.
man thinking about his papers

Sample Interview Questions: What Is The Size Of The Market For Disposable Diapers In China?

Here's a good example of a market sizing. How many people live in China?
the white house

Sample Interview Questions: How Many Gallons Of White House Paint Are Sold In The United States Every Year?

The "Start Big" approach: If you're not sure where to begin, start with the basic assumption that there are 320 million people in the U.S. (or 30 million businesses, depending on the question).
girl thinking and writing

Sample Interview Questions: How Many Square Feet Of Pizza Are Eaten In The United States Each Month?

Start with the rough figure of 300 million people in America. How many people eat pizza?
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Mastering the Case Interview: Tips from an Ex-BCG Consultant

What does Serena Williams' serve have to do with the toughest job interview style out there? A lot.
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Land the McKinsey Offer Part 2: More Case Interview Skills

“Ok, now that you’ve got a structure in place, let’s dive in. Your client operates in a $34B global market, maintains a ~12% market share and earned a 23.2% profit margin last year.
Women Interviewing at Desk

Land the McKinsey Offer: Case Interview Skills

"Ok, your client is a large, multi-national…" This opening sentence is enough to strike fear into the hearts of many extremely talented undergraduates and graduates. Case interviews with firms like McKinsey, BCG and Bain can be a daunting proposition!

A Day in the Life of a Consultant

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A Day in the Life: Energy Consulting Associate

9:30 AM: Get into the office on a Friday morning and check voicemail and email. You’ve got a message from the head of the energy practice, asking you to put together a few discussion slides on your practice area’s new sales initiative for an internal conference call later in the day.
business meeting

A Day in the Life: Project Manager at an International Consulting Firm

6:00 AM: My alarm goes off, it’s Monday morning. I take a few seconds to remember that I’m in Lyon, France, where I’ve just spent a terrific weekend with my girlfriend.
messy desk with laptop, colored pencils, chocolate bar, cup of tea

A Day in the Life: Communications Consultant

My role on the Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) team as a Communications Consultant is to spread awareness of I&D initiatives and share the importance of inclusion to the 40k+ Humana associates across the country. It’s important that we inform our associates of the significance of diversity and how it ties to the reality of our workplace, community and our members.
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A Day in the Life: Consulting Firm Associate in Shanghai

7:30 AM: Wake up in the hotel near the Shanghai office. Hit the gym for 30 minutes, shower and change.
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Day in the Life: Inside a Life Sciences Consulting Case

The Project:  L.E.K. Consulting is supporting a diagnostics company in developing a strategic plan for its business over the next five to ten years.
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A Day in the Life: Consulting Pension Actuary

8:00 AM: I'm out the door with my son. My wife goes into work before me, so I get my son ready and drop him off at day care before I head into the city.

Remote Work Tips & Issues

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Mental Health Awareness in the Workplace: What Employers Can Do

Discussions about mental health in the workplace have become more commonplace over the course of the last several years, and many employers have begun to recognize the importance of a workplace environment that is open, understanding, and supportive. Mental health issues can have an impact on productivity, job satisfaction, and employee retention, and can affect employees and employers alike.
business meeting

Introvert’s Guide to Successful Work Meetings

During work meetings employees are granted the opportunity to collaborate and share ideas, and the popular belief is that extroverts are best suited for situations like these. For introverts, meetings might feel overwhelming or draining, but there are ways to manage and overcome these feelings.
business meeting

Breaking Free from the Rush: How to Overcome False Urgency and Boost Productivity

Certain management styles can lead to increased employee stress and frustration. Most commonly, management might create situations in which employees feel rushed or confused over their priorities and deadlines.
business meeting

Professional Time Management: Strategies for Politely Declining Meetings

In the professional world, meetings are a fact of life. With hybrid and remote roles becoming more prominent in recent years, meetings are more commonplace and team leaders may schedule meetings as a means of catching up with their team.
How to Use the 4 As to Overcome Workplace Stress

How to Use the 4 As to Overcome Workplace Stress

Given the countless Zooms, heavy workloads, and constant deadlines, it comes as no surprise that 83 percent of U.S. workers suffer from workplace stress.
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How to Set Boundaries at Work [VIDEO]

As uncomfortable as it may feel to set boundaries at work, having solid boundaries is a key way to avoid burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance. In this video, we show you how to tackle these tough conversations and excel in boundary setting.
Managing Teams with Both Remote and In-Person Employees

Managing Teams with Both Remote and In-Person Employees

In today's rapidly evolving work landscape, the division between in-office workers and remote workers is becoming increasingly apparent. While remote work offers flexibility and convenience, it also has its challenges.
3 Virtual Networking Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

3 Virtual Networking Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

Regardless of where you are in your career, building a strong network is essential for growing your career growth. This means it’s now necessary to master virtual networking, which has become a game-changer in the world of work.
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Do’s and Don'ts of Virtual Interviews in 2024

Virtual interviews can be just as nerve-wracking as in-person interviews. So, if you’ve been asked to attend an online interview, here are some tips to help you prepare thoroughly and perform well.

Building Your Network

business meeting

Networking Outside the Box: 6 Unusual Methods to Making New Connections

When we think of professional networking, traditional methods such as attending industry events, joining LinkedIn, or reaching out via email come to mind. While these strategies are essential to making new network connections, there are some other unconventional methods that are just as effective.
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How ChatGPT Can Help You Network: Part II

Welcome back to our series on how you can use ChatGPT to help build a professional network. Last time we spoke about how to generate initial networking messages in which you’re emailing a new potential network connection, so if you haven’t done so you can check out that blog here.
Man working on chatGPT

How ChatGPT Can Help You Network: Part I

We’ve been talking a bit about how ChatGPT can help you prepare for a job interview, tailor your resume and cover letter to a job description, and research potential employers, but did you know it can also help with professional networking? That’s right, ChatGPT can assist in drafting different types of emails and messages that can be used in networking, so with the right prompts it can be a very helpful tool.
5 LinkedIn Tips for Students

5 LinkedIn Tips for Students

Leveraging LinkedIn can provide you with a significant advantage at any stage of your career, including at the college stage. As a student, integrating your resume with a strong LinkedIn presence can open doors to numerous opportunities.
How to Leverage Social Media for Job Search Success

How to Leverage Social Media for Job Search Success

When used effectively, social media can be a powerful tool for job search success, helping you to network, share ideas, represent yourself, and so much more. Here are five tips for leveraging social media to stand out in a crowded job market.
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8 Awesome Women’s Professional Networks

Women’s professional networks offer a range of benefits that contribute to the personal and professional development of women in various industries. Most typically, these organizations offer networking opportunities, mentorship programs, skill development workshops, and a platform for discussion and collaboration.
scientist working in the lab

Top Black Professional Networks in STEM

Today we’re going to showcase some of the top organizations for Black professionals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The objective of these organizations is to provide a platform for innovation, collaboration, and the empowerment of Black professionals in the world of STEM.
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Top Black Professionals’ Networks by Industry

Welcome to our comprehensive guide highlighting the top Black professionals’ networks across various industries. These organizations provide invaluable resources, support, and networking opportunities for Black professionals, regardless of their age or skill level.
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Introverts' Guide to Networking Success: Strategies for Meaningful Connections

Throughout your career, it's vital that you build up and maintain a professional network. A solid network will afford you new opportunities, and you’ll be able to gain valuable insight into your career.
Creating a LinkedIn Profile That Stands Out

Creating a LinkedIn Profile That Stands Out

Your LinkedIn profile is your digital business card, offering a snapshot of your professional identity. It's not just a place to list your work history; it's a powerful tool for networking and job hunting.
Networking Strategies for Introverts

Networking Strategies for Introverts

Networking as an introvert can be challenging. Introverts typically get their energy from within and need time to recalibrate after hanging out with people, whether socially or professionally.