07/03/2023
It was only recently that somebody on internet asked us about how to answer the “why consulting” question during an interview. And it got me wondering, how many consulting job applicants out there must wish either they had known “the right answer” to this question before their interview, or that their interviewer never asked them this question in the first place. Trust me, if I’d been asked this question during the interview for my current job in an HR consultancy, I wouldn’t be existing here, writing this article for all of us right now.
So, for what it’s worth, I decided to decode this question for myself and for everybody else who is either simply curious to know how to approach this question or desperately trying to secure a potential job opportunity in a consulting role.
If you are actively applying for a job role in a consulting company, chances are that you will be asked this question at some point during the interview process. But before jumping on how to best answer this question, it’s important to first understand the purpose behind asking you this question. I’m of the opinion that here, the interviewer wants to understand your motivation factors behind opting for a consulting firm over other firms, while also ascertaining whether you have the right skill set for the job or not.
A few good reasons for working in a consulting firm are:
1. You get to interact with brilliant minds from various educational backgrounds. Consulting firms have a diverse workforce as they interact with various industries and sectors, and hence, welcome people from multiple educational backgrounds. For ex – We, at Posterity Consulting – an executive search firm, regularly hire top graduates from various educational backgrounds like Technology, Business Administration, Psychology, Arts & Humanities, etc. and help them explore various career paths available in the field of Human Resource.
2. It gives you the chance to work on numerous projects from various industries and sectors, and at times, even for different functions, enabling you to develop a strong market intelligence and domain expertise.
3. The learning curve is steep as consultancies invest heavily in training and developing their consultants, coupled with fostering a regular feedback culture through performance reviews. There is also scope for experiential learning, as one is continually met with different types of challenges in such a work setting.
4. Working capabilities are developed more quickly in this environment owing to the combination of team problem-solving and client interaction.
5. Consulting also adds novelty to work as there’s always new and varied projects coming up your way.
6. Many consultants work directly with the key stakeholders of their client, including managerial and Executive/C-Suite level professionals, allowing them to get first-hand exposure of stakeholder management at all levels.
Other good reason for considering a career in consulting, although not advised to be stated in a job interview, is – if you are a fresh graduate and unsure about which sector to begin with and further your career in, joining a consulting firm could be just the right thing for you to explore various sectors and specialties, while also allowing you access to multiple exit opportunities later.
Now that we know the possible reasons for choosing to work in a consulting firm, let’s talk about how to best approach the question, “why work in a consulting firm?”.
1. Prep before the interview. Read about the projects that company has previously done. Interact with the current/former employees of that organization / other experienced consultants and learn about others’ first-hand experiences of working in Consulting.
2. When faced with this question during an interview, it may probably seem like a good idea to immediately list some of the above-mentioned reasons in front of the interviewer like a rote-learnt answer. But doing that would not only run the risk of your answer sounding generic, but also doesn’t convey anything to the interviewer about what all you can bring to the table. So along with listing your own motivation factors behind choosing to pursue a consulting role, also mention why it is of importance to you. For ex – If you are motivated by the learning opportunities a consulting role offers, you can say something like, “The reason I’m looking forward to work in Consulting is because of the vast learning opportunities that come with it as I’m someone who constantly likes to learn new things.”
3. Show them that you did your homework. Educate yourself about the work they’ve done in the past, and state that as one of the reasons behind you wanting to work in Consulting. Here, the goal is to convey how the work also resonates with your career objectives and aspirations.
4. Next, talk about why you think you can be an asset to the company and how you would use your skill set to get the job done. Add credibility to your answer by mentioning past instances where you demonstrated those skills. You can also include metrics, as this will make your answer memorable and unique.
5. Further support your answer by mentioning your takeaways from the interactions you had with other industry professionals.
In conclusion, answering the question "why consulting?" requires careful consideration and preparation. By understanding the purpose behind the question and the potential benefits of working in a consulting firm, job applicants can develop a compelling and genuine answer that showcases their motivation, relevant skills, and fit with the company's goals and values. Additionally, doing research on the company and seeking out insights from current or former employees can help applicants tailor their answer and demonstrate their interest and knowledge of the company. With these tips in mind, job applicants can confidently approach this question and increase their chances of securing a consulting job opportunity.