Consultoría En Eeuu

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CARE
GUID
CONS
Customized for: Patrick (psk2122@columbia.edu)

VAULT CAREER
GUIDE TO
CONSULTING

© 2007 Vault Inc.

Customized for: Patrick (psk2122@columbia.edu)CARE
GUID
CONS
Customized for: Patrick (psk2122@columbia.edu)

VAULT CAREER
GUIDE TO
CONSULTING

LAURA WALKER CHUNG, ERIC CHUNG
AND THE STAFF OF VAULT

© 2007 Vault Inc.

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Copyright © 2007 by Vault Inc. All rights reserved.
All information in this book is subject to change without notice. Vault makes no claims as to
the accuracyand reliability of the information contained within and disclaims all warranties.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, for any purpose, without the express written permission of Vault
Inc.
Vault, the Vault logo, and “The Most Trusted Name in Career InformationTM” are trademarks
of Vault Inc.
For information aboutpermission to reproduce selections from this book, contact Vault Inc.,
150 W. 22nd St., 5th Floor, New York, NY 10011, (212) 366-4212.
Library of Congress CIP Data is available.
ISBN 10: 1-58131-531-7
ISBN 13: 978-1-58131-531-8
Printed in the United States of America

A CKNOWLEDGMENTS

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We are extremely grateful to Vault’s entire staff for alltheir help in the
editorial, production and marketing processes. Vault also would like to
acknowledge the support of our investors, clients, employees, family
and friends. Thank you!

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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION

1

THE SCOOP

3

The Basics of Consulting

5

What is Consulting? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Consulting Skill Sets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
The Traveling Salesman Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Who Hires Consultants, and Why? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Industry History and Trends . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Current Trends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Consulting Versus Other Career Paths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Consulting Categories

31

Types of Consulting Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Typesof Firms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

GETTING HIRED

47

Targeting Consulting Firms

49

Researching Companies, the Right Way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Interviewing the Consultants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

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