Strategy consultant: missions, qualifications, typical day

At McKinsey, BCG, and Bain, for example, a strategy consultant is responsible for helping clients reach their goals. Strategy consultant teams provide their clients with structured recommendations, allowing for evidence-based decision making. The main mission of a strategy consultant is to understand the commercial and operational goals of the companies to which he is assigned, and then to propose solutions to achieve them - by analyzing and optimizing their internal processes in particular. These goals are goals common to any large global company, for example, increasing the profitability of the company or a business unit, for example, increasing the profitability of the company or a business unit, increasing or restoring growth, launching a new product, entering a new market, reacting to a competitor's strategy, etc.

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Examples of missions of a strategy consultant
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Strategy consultants work hard to help their clients reach their goals. Here are some of the main missions of strategy consultants (this list is not exhaustive):

1. Market analysis and expertise: Establish a thorough understanding of the various forces influencing business performance and business strategies.
2. Opportunity detection: Research, identify and realize new growth opportunities for businesses, as part of general or targeted expansions.
3. Organizational diagnosis: Use of current and current best practices in order to improve efficiency and profitability, system procedures and internal control..
4. Change Management: Identifying the critical drivers of change to create an ecosystem that supports future transformation.
5. Crisis response: To provide critical assistance when businesses are facing unexpected or unexpected business challenges.
6. Operational planning: Optimizing time, resources and metrics concerning the quality of the final product/service delivered to customers
7. Strategy execution: Effectively implement recommendations on supply chain, financing, etc., with a constant focus on continuous improvement

The type of missions will depend in particular on your client's industry, on the function concerned by the mission (customer service, HR, operations, IT, etc.).
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Examples of a typical day for a strategy consultant
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There is not really a typical day because everything will depend on the configuration of your project and the way your practice works. Nonetheless, there are a number of tasks that are common to all strategy consultants. For example, a typical day for a strategy consultant with 4 to 6 years of experience may include:

• an oral presentation to the client's board of directors or CEO
• meetings with the project team to make progress on its various modules
• proofreading and improving presentation decks
• calls to ask questions on a specific topic to renowned experts in their fields
• statistical research and analysis
• a visit to a client site to try to understand the field implications of the project

The job of strategy consultant is demanding but allows you to maintain a good balance between personal and professional life. Discover our detailed article on work-life balance at McKinsey, BCG and Bain.

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How do I become a strategy consultant?
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While it depends on the seniority level of the position you are applying for, some skills remain common at all levels of the strategy consulting firm pyramid. Indeed, to qualify for a career as a strategy consultant with one of the largest global firms, you will need to have a unique combination of academic and professional knowledge. A sharp and analytical mastery of commercial sciences is essential to obtain this position. This may include a solid understanding of marketing or management, or even psychological business analysis. In addition, specific technical training (e.g., quantitative mathematics) is not necessarily required but would be a considerable advantage. While top firms have changed their application criteria to improve diversity within them, candidates who graduate from the largest schools and universities still have an advantage in being interviewed.

Candidates for strategy consulting should also have solid professional and/or associative experience: this can range from university education to field work involving the conduct of surveys and/or IT development. It can even include some meaningful volunteer activities that reflect your passion for solving complex problems while using your creativity. These experiences are essential because they demonstrate to recruiters your practical as well as theoretical ability to apply your academic knowledge to the real benefits of customers.

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Conclusion

In the end, being a strategy consultant at one of the best firms like McKinsey, BCG or Bain offers an excellent opportunity for people who like to solve complex problems and have a tangible impact on the business world. The unique combination of academic and professional skills required makes this a highly competitive but very rewarding position.

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