Hi everyone! I have a question about future career possibilities. My background includes a dual bachelor’s degree in economics and international relations, plus I recently completed a master’s degree in international relations. I just received a graduate offer from KPMG to join their GRC consulting division.
I’m curious about what career directions other people have pursued after working in Big 4 consulting, especially those with IR or similar academic backgrounds. What industries or roles did you transition into? Were there any unexpected opportunities that opened up because of the consulting experience combined with an international relations education?
Any insights about career progression or advice would be really helpful as I’m trying to plan my long-term professional path. Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences!
nice! i’ve seen tons of ex-big4 people with ir backgrounds land policy jobs or move into diplomacy. the analytical skills from consulting translate really well to government strategy work and think tanks. a few friends jumped to corporate strategy at tech companies - turns out the international perspective is gold there.
Congrats on the KPMG offer! That’s awesome. Your IR background will open tons of doors at multinationals, international nonprofits, and government agencies. Plus the consulting skills you’ll pick up are gold everywhere.
This combo rocks! I did economics + poli sci, then three years at Deloitte. What blew me away was how many companies need people who get both business and geopolitics. I jumped to a fintech startup handling emerging markets expansion - the IR background is massive for navigating different regulatory environments. Consulting taught me problem structuring and how to talk to executives, skills you can’t pick up anywhere else. Best move I ever made!
Your academic background sets you up perfectly for tons of different paths after consulting. I’ve seen plenty of people with similar profiles, and that GRC consulting experience is gold for moving into risk management at banks or big corporations. You’ll build regulatory expertise that’s super in demand, especially in industries dealing with messy international compliance stuff. Don’t just think corporate though - consulting skills make you a strong candidate for international development orgs where you need solid analysis plus policy know-how. The strategic thinking and stakeholder management you’ll get at Big 4 opens doors you wouldn’t expect, like VC firms working in emerging markets or leadership roles at trade associations. Your international relations background gives you a real edge on cross-border issues that pure business consultants just can’t handle as well. It’s a killer combo that’s becoming more valuable as everything gets more globally connected.