Kellogg TMP

1. Kellogg TMP Recruiting Experience and Advice July 7, 2000

2. Agenda • Introduction • TMP and the Recruiting Process today • The Recruiting Process checklist • Perform an honest self-inventory • Get to know the different firms • Develop a targeted resume • Prepare (prepare, prepare) for your interviews • Resume Review • Final Thoughts • Questions and Answers

3. Consulting interviews — are you ready? Get ready for a wild roller coaster ride!

4. TMP Courses Job Personal Life Interviews Community Service This fall will be an exasperating juggling act

5. TMP and the Recruiting Process today • The good • More firms are starting to recognize the TMP program as fertile recruiting ground • Kellogg is supportive of TMP participation in the placement process • You tend to have more work experience than your full-time counterparts • You have demonstrated the ability to successfully manage a demanding schedule • The New Economy has made talented people harder to recruit, so most firms are looking more closely at “non-traditional” hires • The bad • You do not have the advantage of a summer internship • You do not have as ready access to information as full-time students • You will not have as much free time to engage in recruiting as full-time students • You do not have the same network as the full-time students • The ugly • Many recruiters still go on campus looking for full-time students. Some are not even aware of the TMP program Be positive. TMP Recruiting is getting better all the time

6. The Recruiting Process checklist Perform an honest self-inventory: When I grow up, I want to be… • What characteristics are you looking for in a job? • What characteristics do you want to avoid in a job? • What special requirements do you have? • Geographic location • Travel versus non-travel • Office environment versus industrial setting • How does my family factor into the equation? • Do your desires fit with your abilities? • What are your strengths? • What are your weaknesses? • How will all of the above change in 5 years? 10 years? Be honest with yourself, consulting may not be right for you

7. The Recruiting Process checklist Get to know the different firms • Identify resources and collect information • Company literature • Web pages • Wet Feet Press • Harvard Business School guide to Management Consultants • The Directory of Consultants and Consulting Organizations • Periodical searches • Your peers/fellow students • Do not forget about the consultants! Remember: Kellogg Alumni help Kellogg students • Create your own list of key requirements • Measure all the firms against your key requirements • Rank and segment the firms that most interest you • Develop a plan to talk to every firm on your shortlist. You will need this for your bid strategy • Remember, work is a four letter word: do not get caught up in the hype! Make an educated decision about your next employer

8. The Recruiting Process checklist Develop a targeted resume • Use an “action, results” format (i.e., do not tell me what you are responsible for, tell me the success youhave had) • “I did this, leading to that” • Make sure that the results stated are important to your targeted firms • Quantify your achievements where possible, but do not ignore nonquantifiable results • Speak in the vernacular of your targeted audience • Use consulting buzzwords where appropriate • Sanitize your resume of phrases that an outsider will not understand • Does your resume pass the “Mom test?” • Do the obvious • Show promotions • Italicize key words • Make sure dates are consistent • Spell check! • Use high quality, white paper • Tell me something about yourself • Differentiate yourself but be professional Do you know how many resumes we see? Spend the time to give yours a chance

9. The Recruiting Process checklist Prepare (prepare, prepare) for your interview • The General Interview • Anticipate all questions • Work up responses to anticipated questions (be as honest as you can!) • Draw upon your past experiences to create stories and show depth • Rehearse not sounding rehearsed! (We know you practice, but do not overdo it) • Preparation does not mean leaving your personality at home • Show me your human side • Remember, the interview goes two ways • Have at least three intelligent questions prepared • Do not be afraid to ask the difficult questions • Take a good, hard look at the people you are interviewing with and their surroundings Be yourself. If you cannot get an offer as yourself, you do not want the job!

10. The Recruiting Process checklist Prepare (prepare, prepare) for your interview • The Case Interview • Practice makes perfect • Consider the types of cases and what preparation might help you • Profit and loss: “The Mind of the Strategist,” Chapter One, by Kenichi Ohmae • Strategy and Industry analysis: Porter’s Five Forces model • Organizational Design • Operational Efficiency • I am sure you can think of others • Given the above comment, do not try to force fit every case into some pre-established structure! • If it helps, develop a standard introduction • Understand the end state where you want to be when you have finished the case • Next, start at a fairly high level and think through what you need to do to get to your desired end state • Explain the methodology you will use to solve the case • Understand and organize what information you have been given up front and what else you will need • Start asking questions Humble pie does not taste good, but do not take the rejection personally

11. The Recruiting Process checklist Prepare (prepare, prepare) for your interview • The Case Interview (continued) • During the interview • Listen, Listen, Listen. Most information is given to you for a reason • Think transparently (this is not, however, a license to babble) • If the interviewer does not understand where you are going, he/she cannot help you • Ask questions. Help the interviewer help you • Drive to a conclusion and state it (within your time limit) • Double back if necessary to make sure you have not missed something, or left something undone Humble pie does not taste good, but do not take the rejection personally

12. A.T. Kearney Resume Review • E-mail Resumes to Jeff Chang jeff.chang@atkearney.com • Deadline to Submit Resumes for Review July 21, 2000 • Contact Number (312) 223-7543

13. Final Thoughts • Time is short, get started now • Develop a game plan for • Learning about firms/obtaining interviews • Succeeding in case interviews • Dealing with the worst • Develop your support network to deal with the stress of it all • Family and friends • Non-Kellogg career mentors • Be yourself and have fun • Never say never! Best of luck. Oh, by the way, did I mention that A.T. Kearney is the consulting firm of the 21st century?

14. Appendix 1 — Common Mistakes

15. Common mistakes during the consulting interview process Self-Inventory • Not being honest about what you want for your future and which career path is right for you • Failing to realize that the Kellogg degree opens many doors — there is more to life than consulting The firms • Getting caught up in the name/image of a given firm and ignoring their personality and/or practice specialty • Falling for the recruiting “sales pitch” and not asking enough questions • Ignoring/snubbing the Big 5 Resume • Chronologically listing daily responsibilities and not emphasizing accomplishments or leadership abilities • Ignoring the CMC format (e.g., more than one page, grammatically correct sentences) Interview/closed list • Being too pushy about getting on closed lists • Taking the interview process too lightly • Failing to practice a full repertoire of cases • Taking rejection personally Most importantly, be courteous to your fellow students. The alumni bridge is a bad one to burn!