Land an Offer
This chapter brings together everything in The Consultant’s OS as it applies to recruiting. The same skills that make you effective on engagements make you effective at landing the job.
The Recruiting OS
Every element of The Consultant’s OS applies directly to recruiting:
| OS Imperative | Recruiting Application |
|---|---|
| Think Clearly | Structure your candidacy story; diagnose firm needs and your fit gaps |
| Get to the Right Answer | Research firms and people; prepare for case interviews |
| Move Work Forward | Manage your recruiting timeline; own your job search |
| Create Impact | Tell compelling stories; build trust with recruiters and interviewers |
Networking
The Trust Equation in Action
Networking is about building genuine relationships, not collecting contacts.
\[Trust = \frac{Credibility + Reliability + Intimacy}{Self\text{-}Orientation}\]
Do:
- Research the person before reaching out
- Come with thoughtful questions
- Follow up when you say you will
- Offer value (share an article, make an introduction)
- Stay in touch, not just when you need something
Avoid:
- Asking for a job in the first conversation
- Sending generic outreach
- Forgetting to follow up
- Only reaching out when you need something
Smoothie Chat Structure
| Phase | Time | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | 2-3 min | Thank them, establish rapport |
| Their Story | 10-15 min | Learn about their experience |
| Your Questions | 10-15 min | Thoughtful, researched questions |
| Closing | 2-3 min | Thank, ask for referrals, establish next steps |
Networking Tracker
Maintain a tracking spreadsheet:
| Field | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Name | Who |
| Firm/Role | Where |
| Connection | How you met/were introduced |
| Last Contact | When |
| Notes | Key takeaways |
| Follow-up | What you committed to |
| Status | Active/Dormant/Closed |
Resume
Resume as Hypothesis
Your resume is a hypothesis: “I’m the right hire because X, Y, Z.”
Structure it with MECE proof points:
- Each bullet should be distinct (no overlaps)
- Together, bullets should tell a complete story
- Lead with your strongest, most relevant evidence
Action Titles for Bullets
Every bullet should lead with impact:
| Weak | Strong |
|---|---|
| “Responsible for sales analysis” | “Increased sales 15% by identifying underserved customer segment” |
| “Worked on financial models” | “Built $50M M&A valuation model used in board presentation” |
| “Helped with marketing” | “Launched campus campaign reaching 2,000 students; 300 sign-ups” |
Quantify Everything
- Revenue/cost impact
- Scope (team size, budget, users)
- Outcomes (% improvement, time saved)
- Recognition (awards, promotions)
TipResume Templates & Examples
The Resume Bible from Management Consulted includes templates, formatting guides, and real examples optimized for consulting recruiting. Access free through BYU Marriott.
Case Interviews
The OS in Cases
Case interviews test every imperative:
| Case Element | OS Imperative |
|---|---|
| Clarifying the prompt | Think Clearly (Diagnose, Define) |
| Structuring the problem | Think Clearly (MECE, Prioritize) |
| Market sizing/estimation | Get to the Right Answer (Estimate, Assumptions) |
| Analyzing data | Get to the Right Answer (Synthesize) |
| Making a recommendation | Create Impact (Communicate with brevity) |
| Handling ambiguity | Move Work Forward (Progress without certainty) |
Case Structure
- Listen carefully: Understand the prompt fully
- Clarify: Ask 1-2 questions to confirm understanding
- Take time: Ask for a moment to structure
- Present structure: Share your MECE framework
- Work through: Analyze systematically
- Synthesize: Deliver a clear recommendation
Market Sizing Framework
- Define what you’re sizing
- Choose approach (top-down or bottom-up)
- Identify key drivers
- State assumptions explicitly
- Do the math (round numbers!)
- Sanity check
Case Practice Schedule
| Weeks | Focus | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| 1-5 | Observe, learn frameworks | 1-2 |
| 6-8 | Math, estimation, synthesis | 3-4 |
| 9-10 | Full cases with ambiguity | 2-3 |
| 11-15 | Mock interviews, polish | 2-3 |
| Total | 8-12 |
TipCase Practice Resources
Management Consulted offers several tools for case practice (free to BYU through Marriott registration):
- Case Library – Practice cases by type and difficulty
- AI Case Bot – Solo practice with AI feedback
- Case Partner – Find and schedule case partners
Behavioral Interviews
PARADE Framework
| Element | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Problem | Context/challenge | “Our team faced declining engagement…” |
| Action | What YOU did (specific) | “I personally led the analysis…” |
| Result | Outcome (quantified) | “…resulting in 30% improvement” |
| Application | Link to consulting | “This is similar to how consultants…” |
| Differentiation | What was unique | “What set this apart was…” |
| Evidence | Proof points | “The client said…” |
Common Behavioral Questions
Build stories for:
- Leadership
- Teamwork/collaboration
- Overcoming challenges
- Analytical problem-solving
- Influence without authority
- Failure and learning
- Why consulting?
- Why this firm?
Story Bank
Prepare 8-10 stories that can flex across questions. Each story should:
- Be 2-3 minutes when delivered
- Have quantified results
- Show YOUR contribution (not just the team’s)
- Be genuine (not fabricated)
Fit Interviews
What Firms Evaluate
- Judgment: Do you make good decisions?
- Character: Are you trustworthy?
- Cultural fit: Will you thrive here?
- Motivation: Do you really want this?
Demonstrating Fit
| Quality | How to Show It |
|---|---|
| Judgment | Share examples of difficult decisions |
| Character | Be honest, including about weaknesses |
| Cultural fit | Research the firm’s values; show alignment |
| Motivation | Be specific about why this firm |
TipFit Interview Deep Dive
The Fit Interview 101 guide covers the most common behavioral questions, how to structure your answers, and what interviewers are really evaluating.
Mock Interviews
Getting Maximum Value
- Treat it like the real thing: Full formality
- Record if possible: Watch yourself later
- Ask for specific feedback: “What’s one thing to improve?”
- Apply feedback immediately: Show growth in next practice
- Track improvement: Note patterns across mocks
Mock Interview Resources
- TA-led sessions in pods
- Peer practice (case exchange)
- MCA mock interview events
- Online practice via Management Consulted: AI Case Bot for solo practice, Case Partner for peer matching
- Practice Interview Feedback Form (set up before your first mock)
Recruiting Timeline
| When | Activity |
|---|---|
| Now | Research firms, start networking |
| Weeks 1-4 | Build target list, resume v1 |
| Weeks 5-8 | Active networking, resume refinement, case fundamentals |
| Weeks 9-12 | Case practice, behavioral prep, applications |
| Weeks 13-15 | Mock interviews, final polish |
| Post-Course | Continue networking, applications, interviews |