How to break in to consulting

Hi Guys,

was hoping that some of you may be able to advise me on how to market myself better with respect to moving into strategy consulting.

I've got three years experience in market research (still employed) and am now at project management level, I was previously in academia and hold a doctorate in chemistry hence the relatively low amount of work experience. I really want to make the move away from the market research area and get into strategy consulting.

I appreciate that I may have to take a step sideways and down, but in light of the current market for jobs I was wondering if any of you may have some tips that may help me?

Thanks

Listen you big, dumb, balding north american ape...

Given your background it might be more appropriate to get into industry-specialised consulting rather than a generic strat house as they will be able to factor in your chem doctorate and project mgmt experience (for example, consulting for the Oil & Gas industry). You need to demonstrate that you can apply this knowledge to their business area and that you have sufficient other skills to make it at higher than grad entry level.

Otherwise you will indeed be lumped into an analyst / associate intake where nobody's previous experience matters and become a spreadsheet jockey for 3 years.