Hi guys,I am currently on a year long internship with a market research company (rather irrelevant but experience nevertheless). I will be returning to Uni to complete my degree in October. I was just wondering whether it would be worth me self-teaching SQL if it will help me break into management consulting upon graduation? I plan on applying to firms such as the Big 4, IBM, Accenture and so on.. I should be on course for a 2:1 and I'm at a top 15 Uni studying Economics.Thanks,J

Yes, proficiency in building complex SQL queries is a core competency for all Management Consultants. You should also have a thorough grounding in C# and Java, as well as in-depth knowledge of OOP. These are the skills that are required in order to provide business advice to the management teams of large corporations.As they might say in computer language, "Management Consultants ? Programmers"

Undergrad123 - I must point out that in case you didn't realise BEP's tongue was firmly in his cheek.. Please don't base your life decision on that!Self-teaching SQL or any other self-taught IT stuff is worth diddly-squat to the Big 4. Initiative, ambition, IQ, EQ etc are the important traits at grad level.

sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, but simultaneously one of the most enjoyable to use?

i thought toilet humour was the lowest form of wit hehe

Sarcasm is the highest form of my wit.

@Tom,Lol! Don't forget WUMming.

I thought lowest form of wit was all the T#sco jokes that have come out over the last few weeks?And while we are here:T#sco have baked a new bread line to go with their burgers. They have called it [i]Thoroughbred[/i]Applause please. Thank you.

Small applause. I actually sniggered!I liked the meme with the running horses: "Let's run before they [i]findus[/i]"@undergad123, you won't need SQL as others have said. Echo what tom1 has said plus going on Wikijob and finding out what types of questions they ask/interview format will put you in good steed, ahem I mean stead.

That was the mane news weeks ago.The whole Tesco fiasco really put me off meat so I decided to become a veggie.... Only UniQuorn burgers for me from now on.Boom.Bosh.Wallop.KAPPOW!

[quote]@undergad123, you won't need SQL as others have said. [/quote]What absolute rubbish! Everybody knows that every good CEO is expected to be highly proficient in SQL, OOP, OLAP reports, Query Analyzer, stored procedures, DTS, Jobs and Profiler!

Also the proficient use of the 'spray can' in Paint is a major plus.

I hear that it helps if one has hair growing out of one's ears too.

spray can in paint is bringing back memories of windows 3.1.

Best way is learn SQL. Actually learning SQL is not as difficult as people usually think.Try this link http://www.w3schools.com/sql/default.aspSent me private message if you need help around SQL.Cheers,Venkat

Wow - thanks Venkat.Out of interest.. Why is the best way to learn SQL? Presuming you speak from experience of the best way to get into management consultancy and how SQL stands you out from the crowd.

I am not sure about other technologies. But if you learn SQL, you can generate reports by yourself instead of depending on others.

Finally, I no longer have to get other people to do my reports for me? I can do them all myself? Excellent, SQL here I come (literally).And while we are here:Does anyone have a toothpick? I ate a T#sco burger and it seems I still have a bit between my teeth...Kaboom, previous part of this thread is back in da house. Right, need to go back to being a grown up and finish off a spreadsheet on volumetrics

Why stop at SQL? There's also NOSQL. While at it, learn and master Hadoop, the whole ecosystem. Very important in management consulting. C-level meetings are all about these things.

Camster is correct, C-level meetings often consist of controversial debates around matters such as NoSQL and RDF query languages.Indeed, I've just spent the past 4 hours facilitating a workshop about SPARQL strategies for the board of a major FMCG PLC. It is number 1 on their CEO's agenda.

I just laughed so much I snorted my beer across the departure lounge...

It's all very well and good you laughing over there...Im stuck here, unable to run a report because I skipped the damn SQL lesson..

All this talk about SQL I've not even seen the first one yet.

Now that made me chuckle!

ChuckleVision

Yes you should go for SQL. SQL will definitely help you to get a good job in IT sector. I strongly agree with Bushy Eyebrow Partner. Learning C# and Java with SQL is a good option to support your profile. Thank you.

[quote]Yes you should go for SQL. SQL will definitely help you to get a good job in IT sector. I strongly agree with Bushy Eyebrow Partner. Learning C# and Java with SQL is a good option to support your profile. Thank you.[/quote]Well, thank [i]you[/i] for that.