Hey everyone!
I’m really convinced that strategy consulting is the right path for me. I don’t mind the long hours and I think it matches my skills better than my current job. The problem is I’m not sure how to get started.
A bit about me: I studied law and worked at a corporate law firm for a while. It was okay but felt too limited. Since I’m interested in business and finance stuff, I switched to a finance job in London. The pay is pretty good for someone my age and I’m doing well at the company, but the work feels boring and repetitive.
During uni and after, I started several small businesses on the side. Some made decent money, one completely failed, and one actually hit six figures in revenue. I know it might look bad that I keep changing careers, but I think these different experiences would actually help in consulting.
I don’t have an MBA but my law degree is from a top UK university. I got A*s in Economics and Business at A-level too. In my current finance job, I talk to CEOs and private equity firms regularly, so I’m comfortable dealing with senior people. I’ve also done internships in private equity, insurance, and at a direct-to-consumer startup.
The main issue is I don’t know anyone in consulting. I work in central London so if anyone has advice or connections, I’d love to buy you coffee or pay for a phone call.
Any suggestions would be really helpful. Or tell me if you think I’m completely wrong about this!
You’re actually in a solid spot for strategy consulting despite not having the typical background. Your entrepreneurial experience shows you can think strategically and execute - something many candidates can’t demonstrate. Law training + finance + running businesses creates a strong story about understanding different sides of business problems.
Start prepping for case interviews now - this trips up most people. Your legal background means you can analyze well, but consulting cases need specific frameworks and structured thinking. Practice tons with other people or online platforms.
For networking, hit up consulting alumni from your school on LinkedIn. Most will chat briefly with fellow grads. Also check out events from groups like the Management Consultancies Association.
Don’t stress about your career changes - spin them as intentional exploration that led you to consulting as the right fit. Just tell a clear story about why consulting makes sense given everything you’ve done, not like it’s just another random switch.
your background’s actually way more interesting than typical MBA grads who just followed the standard path. the entrepreneurial experience is gold - consulting firms love candidates who’ve built something real instead of just studying case studies.
for breaking in without connections, cold outreach on LinkedIn works but make it personal. reference specific projects their firm handled that connect to your experience. also check out boutique firms - they’re usually more flexible on non-traditional backgrounds than MBB firms.
Sounds like you’ve got amazing real-world experience! Your six-figure business success speaks volumes. Start with smaller strategy boutiques - they value diverse backgrounds way more than big firms. Hit up industry events and reach out confidently!
