Consulting Workshop Series
This series, taught by Dr. Brendan Boler, is offered through 8 Sessions over the course of the academic year, 6 sessions in the fall semester and 2 sessions in the spring semester. It is designed to help graduate students and postdocs gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed for a consulting job. Trainees will learn a hypothesis-driven structured problem-solving approach used by many top strategy consulting firms and apply this approach to help improve their own skills in case interviewing. Students will also gain valuable experience with two important skills: data analytics for consulting using Excel, and storytelling for consulting using PowerPoint. Both of these skills are often tested as part of second-round job interviews and are key skills for success on the job.
The course will require two deliverables (an Excel model and PowerPoint presentation), due by the 7th and 8th sessions. Students will have the time to complete the assignments during winter break. The assignments will each take about 6 hours of time, 12 hours total and are prerequisites for earning a digital badge for consulting. Upon successful completion (participation in 6 out of 8 sessions and assignment completion) of this series, graduate students and postdocs are eligible to receive a digital badge, issued by the PhD Plus Program through Credly, that demonstrates proof of completion of the program.
In 2024-2025, the workshop sessions will take place:
Fall 2024: The first six sessions in Fall take place 3:30-5 PM (ET) on Wednesdays from October 2 to November 6.
Spring 2025: The remaining two sessions in Spring take place 3:30-5 PM (ET) on Wednesdays, January 22 & February 5.
Fall Session Schedule:
October 2: Consulting 101 & Practice Case Interview #1 (New Cabell Hall, Room 489)
October 9: Communicating like a Consultant, Practice Case Interview #2 (New Cabell Hall, Room 489)
October 16: Practice Case Interview #3 - Bain style (New Cabell Hall, Room 489)
October 23: Networking for Consulting & Practice Case Interview #4 (New Cabell Hall, Room 489)
October 30: Practice Case Interview #5 - McKinsey style (New Cabell Hall, Room 489)
November 6: Telling Your "Why Consulting" Story & Practice Case Interview #6 (New Cabell Hall, Room 489)
Spring Session Schedule:
January 22: Practice Case Interview #7 and Data Analytics for Consulting, Location TBD
February 5: Practice Case Interview #8 and Data-Driven Storytelling for Consulting, Location TBD