Cassi McLemore
Former BCG Recruiter
It can feel like an uphill battle to land an interview at a consulting firm if you attend a non-target school. Consulting is a highly competitive field and the top firms want to hire the best talent out there. But don’t let this discourage you! You can still break into consulting with a non-target school background.
As stated by Bain’s head of consultant recruiting in a recent Wall Street Journal article: “You’re purely judged on the merits of how you did in the interview, not my preconceived notions of how many people I should expect to like on a certain campus.”
In this article, we’ll cover how to be competitive when applying to top consulting firms from a non-target school. We’ll discuss:
- What consulting target schools are
- What you should do before the recruiting process even starts
- How to be competitive in landing an interview
- What to do once you are in the interview
Let’s get started!
What Are Consulting Target Schools?
In the consulting world, a Target School is a university or college that a consulting firm actively focuses on for recruiting top talent. These schools are considered “target” institutions because they often have strong academic programs, established consulting clubs, robust alumni networks, and a track record of producing candidates who succeed in consulting roles.
Keep in mind that not all consulting firms have the same target schools.
Why Do Consulting Firms Have Target Schools?
Many consulting firms, especially top firms like McKinsey, Bain, and BCG (MBB), recruit heavily from target schools because they provide a pipeline of highly qualified candidates and streamline the recruitment process. These candidates often possess the skills, experiences, and characteristics needed in consulting like problem-solving, leadership, and academic excellence.
Most target schools have dedicated career services personnel who advise students on getting into consulting. With this level of strategic support, students at these schools have great prep resources for the rigorous consulting recruitment process.
With a history of success in recruiting from these schools, there are lots of alumni working in consulting who are eager to help current students. Therefore, consulting firms are more actively engaged with these schools, often hosting networking events, coffee chats, office visits, interview coaching, and on-campus interviews.
Given this high level of engagement and support, students from non-target schools will likely face a more competitive process. Non-target school applicants should plan to network harder, submit standout applications, and do as much case interview prep as possible. Let’s dive into how to put your best foot forward.
Networking: Your Leg Up Before Recruiting Begins
If you’re aiming to break into consulting from a non-target school, networking can be a game-changer. Connecting with current consultants is often your best bet for gaining valuable insights, securing referrals, and standing out in the competitive recruiting process. While a referral does not guarantee an interview, it certainly increases your odds.
Sign Up For Online Workshops
Many consulting firms host virtual workshops specifically tailored to students at non-target schools. These workshops introduce you to the consulting industry, outline the recruiting process, and often provide tips on how to craft competitive applications.
Attending these events not only helps you prepare for recruiting but also demonstrates your genuine interest in the firm and proactive nature. Be sure to follow the firms’ LinkedIn and career pages so you don’t miss out.
Show Up and Stand Out
If you can attend live information sessions or coffee chats hosted by the firms, do it! These sessions aren’t just for learning; it’s your opportunity to be seen. Showing up at these events signals interest, and that can make a lasting impression on recruiters and consultants representing the firms. These interactions can also provide firsthand insight into the firm’s culture, values, and areas of expertise. This knowledge will strengthen your responses to critical interview questions like “Why do you want to work in consulting?” and “Why this firm?”
Build Meaningful Connections
Networking is crucial for students at non-target schools, where on-campus recruiting opportunities might be limited or non-existent. A strong connection with a consultant or recruiter can lead to an internal referral, significantly boosting your chances of landing an interview. However, effective networking is about quality, not quantity and your focus should be on building genuine relationships rather than just collecting contacts.
How to Start Networking
Leverage LinkedIn: Connect with alumni from your school or others in your network who work at the firms you are interested in, and personalize your outreach. Mention common interests or mutual connections to establish rapport. It can be intimidating to reach out to strangers but keep in mind they were once in your shoes and aware that networking is part of the process. You can ask for 15 minutes of their time to learn about their experience and demonstrate your interest and qualifications.
Follow-Up: A thoughtful follow-up email or LinkedIn message can turn a casual interaction into an ongoing professional relationship. It may take 3 or more conversations to secure a referral, so make sure to leave the door open for another chat.
By strategically engaging with consultants and recruiters before recruiting season, you’ll not only gain a clearer picture of the industry but also position yourself as a memorable candidate. Read this article to dive deeper into Consulting Networking.
Exclusive Free Training on passing consulting case interview.
Build a Competitive Application to Land an Interview
Nail the Basics
These foundational steps apply to all applicants whether from target or non-target schools. As a non-target school applicant, nailing these fundamentals can showcase your readiness for a role in consulting.
Strong GPA: Aim for a 3.7+ to demonstrate academic excellence. If you don’t have the strongest academic record, consider writing an addendum to your resume that adds some color. For example, were you working full-time or caring for a sick relative while balancing a demanding class schedule?
Extracurricular Leadership: Showcase your ability to lead and take initiative, especially in roles where you solved difficult problems or coordinated across teams. These examples could come from internship or job-related experience, clubs or sports you are actively involved in, or complex school projects.
Case Practice: Familiarize yourself with case interviews, as they’re a major part of the hiring process. Utilize resources like My Consulting Offer’s case coaching, online prep platforms, and live mock interviews with peers or mentors. “Practice makes perfect” has never been truer than when preparing for a case interview. Don’t make the mistake of waiting until you land the interview to start practicing.
Craft a Compelling Application
As a non-target school applicant, your application must stand out from the crowd, especially since recruiters may not know your school.
Your resume should highlight consulting skills like problem-solving, teamwork, or flexibility and showcase measurable results from professional or academic experiences. Rather than just listing your responsibilities in a role, demonstrate the quantifiable values you delivered. Your cover letter is an opportunity to show that your values align with the firm’s mission.
Check out these articles for more information on crafting a compelling Consulting Resume and Cover Letter.
Apply To More Firms
For candidates from non-target schools, increasing the volume of applications is a smart strategy and will help your chances of landing interviews. Keep an open mind and don’t get your heart set on an MBB offer.
Apply to MBB but also explore Tier 2 and boutique consulting firms like Deloitte, Accenture, or L.E.K., which can provide excellent consulting experience. Your first consulting job doesn’t have to be an MBB and many candidates begin their careers at boutique or Tier 2 firms and transition later.
While there’s no magic number, consider applying to 15 to 20 firms if consulting is your ultimate goal. This increases your odds and allows you to gain valuable interview practice.
Build a Strong Story for “Why Consulting?”
This is where non-target school candidates can shine. Be thoughtful and deliberate about why you’re pursuing consulting and practice storytelling with peers, mentors, or a coach.
Highlight Personal Motivation: Are you drawn to the problem-solving aspect, the exposure to diverse industries, or the fast-paced learning environment? Be authentic, specific, and ready to answer this question during the initial screening or formal interview process.
Link Your Background: Connect your unique experiences (academic, professional, or personal) to consulting and showcase how they prepare you to succeed in the role. Highlight internships, projects, or academic work where you solved complex problems and worked with data. Demonstrate grit and determination through past experiences that prove you thrive in demanding environments.
Learn more about how to answer the “Why Consulting?” question here.
How To Be Competitive in the Interview
Landing the interview is only half the battle. Let’s discuss strategies to help set yourself apart and excel in the interview process as a non-target school candidate.
Be Strategically Focused
Applying to dozens of firms without thoughtful planning and preparation won’t get you an offer. Instead, be strategic and identify 15 to 20 firms you’re genuinely excited about and align with your career goals. Spend more time tailoring your documents and preparing for interviews than blasting out resumes. Remember, quality beats quantity.
Master Case Interviews
Case interviews are make-or-break, and firms expect candidates to perform well regardless of their background. However, many candidates from target schools don’t know case interviews well, giving you an edge if you’ve practiced diligently.
You should start practicing as soon as you decide to apply for consulting roles. The more cases you do, the better, but aim for ~50+ practice cases with various partners. Whether you practice with peers, mentors, or coaches, ask for feedback and focus on improving your weaknesses.
Utilize online case prep resources offered by consulting firms or consider working with MCO to gain access to tons of case interview materials and coaching from one of our former MBB interviewers.
Check out our free Case Interview Prep Guide.
Don’t Underestimate Behavioral Interviews
Consulting firms assess more than your ability to solve problems. hey also want to see if you’re a good fit for their teams and culture.
Develop 4 to 6 stories that highlight leadership, problem-solving, teamwork, and handling challenges. Show genuine enthusiasm for consulting and self-awareness about your growth and challenges. Behavioral interviews can make or break your chances, especially if the competition is stiff in case interviews. Learn more about the Behavioral Interview here.
– – – – – – –
In this article, we’ve covered:
- Target schools and why they exist
- How to prepare before the recruiting process begins
- How to land a consulting interview as a non-target school applicant
- How to stand out in the interview as a non-target school applicant
Still have questions?
If you have more questions about recruiting into consulting from non-target schools, leave them in the comments below. One of My Consulting Offer’s recruiters will answer them.
Other people interested in recruiting into consulting from non-target schools found the following pages helpful:
Help with Your Consulting Application
Thanks for turning to My Consulting Offer for advice on applying to consulting firms from non-target schools. My Consulting Offer has helped 89.6% of the people we’ve worked with to get a job in management consulting. We want you to be successful in your consulting interviews too. For example, here is how Shawn was able to get his offer from McKinsey from a non-target school.
Exclusive Free Training on passing consulting case interview.