Hello there, After graduating from a UK top 5 in 2010 and accepting an offer from TeachFirst, I soon found myself being used as a classroom sitter for bottom set pupils and resigned. I decided to use the next couple of years as an opportunity to focus on travelling; trying out job roles; and volunteer opportunities. I have assumed responsibilities and gained experience in managing projects and managing people, specifically in the areas of business research; marketing and sales; event management; and account management in London, France and New Zealand. I have realised strategy consultancy would be a great fit - a combination of my intuitive analytic ability and people skills, teamed with variety, project based work and international opportunities. I am a highly motivated individual, confident of my ability to achieve goals and believe I would be very capable in such a role. However I know I'm not a cookie cutter candidate and I would like to know how this broader life experience will be looked upon by recruiters? I'd also really appreciate any feedback on whether my aspiration is realistic in the current job market given I graduated in 2010 (2.1 degree, 4As at A-Level) and what you would recommend as initial steps for someone in my position.Thank you for reading this through and I appreciate any constructive advice you may be in a position to offer,Kate

Graduating in 2010 + no prior consulting / industry experience means that you will need to apply for graduate roles – and 25 is not ‘too old’ for this.On the face of it your academics ‘tick the box’, but bear in mind that strategy roles typically attract individuals with top qualifications.I am more concerned with your experience – you have clearly been busy over the past three years, with a variety of different positions, but from a recruitment perspective this would suggest that you don’t wish to commit to a role for an extended period. You will need to make your motivations clear in your application as well as demonstrate that you had sufficient time in your prior roles to develop some substantive experience and skills (in addition to having impact). As you say, you are not ‘cookie-cutter’ candidate for the (very competitive) strategy roles. You may find success with the boutiques rather than the likes of MBB / Big 4 (hopefully others will provide input on this).

I agree with that, I for one would read the application and think it lacks focus or any sort of commitment. Trying your hand at teaching, then throwing in the towel and going on an extended holiday, them suddenly deciding you are 'ideally suited' to MC would to me lack credibility. Especially when comparing the CV to somebody who is fresh out of university and doesn't have that sort of dilution in their CV. At graduate level, employers aren't looking for people with 'life experience' (aka bumming around in Peru or suchlike while they 'find themselves'). I argue they're more interested in strong academics in proper subjects (I think we all know what the proper subjects are) and some relevant extracurriculars that are supplementary to their academic results.I'm not saying you've missed the boat, but arguably you're neither a grad nor an experienced hire now. Personally is seek to build on the education based career path somehow.

You say ..."a combination of my intuitive analytic ability and people skills, teamed with variety, project based work and international opportunities."Be prepared for recruiters to say (particularly with regard strat positions which are considered the top of the tree)"we like quantitative analytical qualifications, a willingness to have no social life and a blind dedication to the single project in front of you. We particularly like people who have at no point questioned the single minded career path that they decided upon around the age of twelve".International opportunities will be almost 0% or a 100% requirement depending upon the firm.Bottom line is that you should apply and see (you have good academics), but don't think that many firms will be looking at your CV thinking, "wow, what a nice change to see someone take the time to round out their life experience before joining us - I bet we get a better person as a result"....of course it probably DOES make you a better and more interesting person. I know lots of strategy consultants and they only time they're not boring me is when they're too far up their own ar$* to hear what they're saying - which is often.

Seems like some sensible advice here.My two cents:1) You need a compelling story as to what exactly you have been doing for the last few years, what you have achieved and how that will serve you well in future.2) In your cover letter and CV, don't go overboard on your 'intuitive analytical ability and people skills' unless you can cite specific examples to prove them - when I see phrases like that with no evidence to back it up, it just makes me want to test it over and over and over.3) Have a plan B and plan C, in case consulting doesn't work out. You'll have to decide what they are, but you'll find that the graduate schemes at the major employers will offer you opportunities that are very similar to many aspects of consulting in terms of some of the day to day work, with equally good prospects of building a successful career (and less travel and late nights of course...).4) I wouldn't hang around - of course, 25 is not old, but you now need a few years of solid work experience, in one company, with promotions, to demonstrate the skills, commitment, ambition etc that you allude to in your postGood luck

Thank you all so much for your constructive responses and perceptions!It seems experience may be my biggest obstacle and I am concerned that I look like I lack commitment and focus. I seem to be fairly clueless and would really value your input on how to best frame my experience in a cover letter/CV summary....so as not to have every application binned at first screening :) What do you think about the below for a narrative to explain my experience? Focus and priorities change, but my primary motivation upon graduation was to travel and adventure. I was impatient to learn about the world first hand and to travel when I was young and could push my physical limits - trekking the Great Walks in New Zealand; cycling across Cambodia; skiing everyday in the French Alps. I have been focused and driven in pursuit of the opportunities and finances to achieve my travel aspirations. Since graduation I have volunteered 6 months at an international NGO (where I set up a skills-share programme, won an international award for my analysis into the economics of fair-trade and wrote bids for development grants); worked as a Chalet host in the French Alps; spent a year in corporate strategy events in London (where I generated record revenue for my area of responsibility); and worked 6 months for a travel company in New Zealand (growing sales and managing existing client accounts). With travel experience behind me, I am now committed and fully focused on developing my career and to achieve the ambitions I have for working life. With the variety, project based work and intellectual challenges, strategy consulting... I can take hard truths- what do you think/improvements?Kate

Hi KateObviously I am in no position to question your drive to become a top flight, blue chip strategy consultant - your intentions sound sincere enough. However can I potentially offer a more disruptive point of view?Just to summarize your experiences - you've:> Taught challenging children (OK you resigned, but at least you gave it a shot)> Travelled the world motivated by adventure> Worked at an NGO delivering real value to disadvantaged people> Worked your way through the world living by the seat of your pantsAnd you've done the above for significantly longer than the traditional GAP year and, what's more, you've had the opportunity to work in some of the most stunning places in the world, make money and be challenged.Then my question is - why on EARTH do you want to become a strategy consultant for (presumably) a Strategy house. Regardless of what anyone in Consulting says or does - it rarely impacts the greater good, its rarely work which - if you were to be hit by a renegade skier tomorrow - people will remember you for. It's tiring, back-breaking, arduous work populated by aggressive, alpha-males and never-ending performance apprisals. Your international opportunities will be incomporable to those you've already have - "opportunities" are often a synonym for the red-eye to Europe where you'll do Airport--> Client Site and if you're lucky, put a client site in between.My point is not to challenge your aspirations - but more to make a wider point. That you are clearly someone who can make a real difference in the world. You're smart, ambitious, worldly - obviously altrustic and sincere in your expectations from life. If you need to apply your strategic skills, stay away from the Tier 1s, stay away from the Coporporates - go to an NGO (you'll find their entry criteria no less demanding), strategize for a charity...Make a difference!Arby

Kate,There are some great points here, but as a person that has followed a similar path to you TF/travelling, I joined a consultancy and worked my way up.Be prepared to start at the bottom with the rest of the grads do the noddy work before you can progress in the world of Consultancy!!You display the typical characteristics of a TF'ster and some like it, others do not.........I call it diversity!!! - you just need to convince the employer!!N

If you want to work in mgmt consulting, you have think like a consultant. You have to act like a consultant. Etc.So..... you then re-phrase your question as..... "How can I leverage what I have done so far to help me BS my way into consulting?"And the answer is..... (you can word your CV around this, who knows, some of the recruiters here might refine it or simply say that it's crap)I wanted to make a difference, and thought I'd try to do it right out of uni. Young people have had a tough time finding roles. I've even seen this amongst uni graduates.My ANALYSIS tells me that young people leave school:1. Not knowing what to do, not knowing what options are available.2. Not having the necessary skills.3. Not knowing how to obtain necessary skills.During my time with Teach First, I tried to remedy this by:1. Giving young people a core set of necessary skills.2. Showing them the means and avenues to obtain relevant skills.With these, even if they are not sure of their chosen career path at this young age (don't know what to do), they know of options and can pursue options, know how to obtain skills, blah blah blah. Use examples like accounting, etc.And what are the core skills? There are two parts. One is "MBA core topics" (overview of the key aspects of an MBA course). The other is "core consulting skills". I'm sure you can BS your way from here.You show that you have an analytical mind. You show that you can structure things. You show that you are made for consulting.No one is going to bother about your time out teaching and whatnot. But..... if you can show how your time out.... is not really time out but experience that's very relevant to consulting, you might get called for an interview.

Man! Young people these days!!!Despite wanting a career in banking, I decided to "sweat out" that damn engineering degree and started out in telecom/TMT (in industry). At age 25, had already developed hardware and software that telecom operators worldwide were using (the telecom glory days, unlike now).

First off I am 30 and i am starting in Sept 2014 with a Big four firm.I have two BSc degrees because i decided to go back to uni to read accounting after I wanted to change career from Physics Nuclear Research Scientist to Accounting purely motivated by Money, Career Progression, Prospects and Change of Life Goals of achiving something that is worth something not just staring at atoms.First off: No one asked about my age during the recruitment process because ITS ILLEGAL to do so. secondly no one gives a hoot how old you are.I applied as a graduate regardless of my physics research experience because on their employment scale I AM A GRADUATE.Doesn't matter how long ago i graduated.My advice mate is go for it; if you can satisfy their competencies and got the grades to show for it why not.

25 is not too old at all and your broader life experience would definitely be an advantage in the workplace. However you would most likely need to start from the bottom as a graduate as you don't have relevant experience.As a path into strategy consulting, your best bet would be to apply to Big4 grad schemes. If you don't get anywhere with that then apply to smaller consultancies to gain some experience and then move on after 2-ish years.You'll need to have a solid 'story' as to how you came to realise strategy consulting is for you and not just a whim.