The SAIS Consulting Club recommends those interested in a career in consulting to research and prepare extensively. The club also offers regular case interview workshops throughout the semester. Research For those interested in management and strategy consulting, a number of guides are available. These include the Vault Career Guide to Management Consulting and the WetFeet Careers in Management Consulting Other types of consulting, such as energy or political risk consulting, are generally lacking for published overviews. For types such as these, those interested should utilize their personal and professional contacts to arrange informational interviews, and attempt to gleam as much information possible from specific company and organization websites. This is something quite important in any case. Interview Preparation Management consulting and, to a lesser extent, other consulting-related careers will entail a rigorous interview process. For example, in the case of the prestigious McKinsey & Company, an interviewee will generally be asked to solve one or more cases over three or more rounds. A case will last anywhere from 15 to 60 minutes and might ask you to solve a hypothetical business problem, do tricky mental math, review graphs and other exhibits, trust your gut in the face of uncertainty, and articulate your views in a clear, concise manner while under pressure. In all, it is a difficult process, but one for which you can prepare. Further, it is the view of the SAIS Consulting Club that learning how to solve consulting cases can greatly help in preparing for other, non-case-based interviews, and even those outside of the private sector. Some useful guides for standard management consulting case practice are: For those interested in development or the social sector, the club recommends students form discussion groups to think through possible solutions to case studies. In the past, case studies have been drawn from the World Bank website and an excellent database maintained by the Emerging Markets Development Advisors Program. Finally, it takes time to master the art of solving cases. It is best to start early, at a minimum 1 month before any interview, and to work in groups to enhance communication skills and learn how to handle the unexpected. | 
