How do science and engineering students enter consulting companies?

What type of consulting firm does Roland Berger belong to? A: Consulting companies are roughly divided into strategic consulting, IT consulting, human resources consulting, etc. Different classification standards will also produce different results. Roland Berger Strategy Consultants was founded in Germany in 1967. It is currently one of the world's top strategic management consulting companies, with 42 branches in 30 countries around the world. Since entering the Chinese market in 1984, Roland Berger has opened offices in Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong and Taipei, with more than 240 consultants. Q: More and more students are eager to join consulting companies, taking a fancy to the high salary and trapeze life. Is this the norm for consulting companies? What do consultants mainly do? A: This is determined by the nature of the consulting work. Roland Berger's business scope covers all walks of life, including automobiles, energy, chemicals, logistics, consumer goods, medicine, finance, telecommunications, machinery manufacturing, etc. For each industry, consultants will provide consulting services in various aspects such as strategic positioning, brand marketing, and process reengineering. Consultants often need to communicate with corporate decision-makers across the country and around the world to understand market conditions and provide solutions, which inevitably requires frequent business trips. Although the work is hard, the financial rewards are relatively high. Talent requirements Q: What qualities does the consulting industry like in fresh graduates? In what ways are these traits used to examine and measure candidates? A: Consultants are generally passionate about the consulting industry and are committed to solving practical problems for enterprises. They have strong analytical skills and logical thinking, and business knowledge is essential. The process of solving problems also requires a lot of communication, innovative thinking and the spirit of constantly challenging yourself to pursue excellence. In order to test these abilities, the typical method is a case interview: by providing a simulated scenario to test the candidate's ability to think and solve problems. Q: Do students with a background in science and engineering have any advantages or disadvantages when applying for jobs? How to maximize strengths and avoid weaknesses? A: In Roland Berger’s recruitment, students from each major will not be treated differently based on their major in final admissions. Arts and science students have their own strengths. Science and engineering students generally have strong logical thinking ability and high sensitivity to numbers, but they lack business knowledge. Students can expand their business knowledge by taking elective courses or reading some relevant books on their own. They can also pay more attention to the business news around them in their daily lives. Over time, they can turn this into their own advantages. At Roland Berger, about half of the consultants have a background in science and engineering, including PhDs and masters in computer science, mathematics, mechanical engineering or biology. Job Search Tips Q: How important are school grades, internship experience and social activities in job hunting at a consulting company? A: We will comprehensively evaluate a job applicant's resume based on these circumstances. In fact, a good resume is just a stepping stone. In the first round, if your resume is basically qualified, you will get the opportunity to be interviewed. The final consideration for admission is a person's overall quality. Graduates' academic performance, internship experience and social activities are all within the scope of our inspection. But students should focus on their studies. If a student only focuses on internships and social activities and neglects his studies, we have no reason to believe that he will become a good employee. Q: What should job seekers pay attention to during interviews at consulting companies? A: For case interviews, it is helpful to prepare more in advance. It is recommended that candidates collect more case information, develop problem-solving ideas, and accumulate relevant business knowledge, so that they can be confident during interviews. Q: Students who are not majoring in economics and management will take consulting and economics management examinations such as management consultants and consulting engineers to improve their competitiveness. How beneficial do you think these certificates are in the screening process? What are your opinions and suggestions? A: Roland Berger’s recruitment process has no specific requirements for these certificates. The certificate means passing the exam, but it does not mean that you have mastered and can use this knowledge flexibly. If time permits, students should be encouraged to recharge more. Taking the exam is more of a learning process. In the process of preparing for the exam, you can accumulate knowledge, strengthen business literacy and exercise abilities.