More than half the people in top MBA programs and a significant number of college seniors flirt with the idea of becoming a management consultant after graduation. It's a high-paying, high-profile field that offers students the opportunity to take on a lot of responsibility right out of school and quickly learn a great deal about the business world.

The big names in management consulting are well known. Bain & Co., the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), McKinsey & Co., and a solid crop of similar firms vie for contracts from the Fortune 500. Each firm has a slightly different focus, culture, and approach.

“Consulting” is a big, one-size-fits-all term that includes virtually any form of advice-giving in a business setting. The management consulting segment of the industry includes firms that specialize in providing advice about strategic and core operational issues, such as finding new channels for selling products or reducing the costs involved in producing a product. Although some of the highest profile firms populate this segment, they're not the only ones doing consulting.

Thousands of other organizations and individuals call themselves consultants and make money selling their advisory services, and they offer plenty of opportunities for employment. If you like the idea of advising businesses and you have a particular interest in computers, human resources, corporate communications, mobile communications, health care, financial services, real estate, e-commerce, or some other specialized field, there's a good chance that you can find a position within an organization doing precisely that.

Overall, the outlook for the management consulting industry is positive. We predict a steady 7% annual increase in consulting revenue across the board through the end of the decade.

WHO ARE CONSULTANTS 【谁是咨询师】

Consultants tackle a wide variety of business problems and provide solutions for their clients. Client companies hire consultants when they are up against problems that require expertise beyond what their staffs can provide, or when they need the fresh perspective of an outsider.

For consultants, this means constantly being exposed to the greatest challenges companies face: how to integrate staff and work processes after an acquisition, how to restructure after bankruptcy, where to set up manufacturing facilities abroad, how to attract and retain the right employees. Depending on the size and chosen strategy of the firm, these problems can be as straightforward as researching a new market or as complex as rethinking the client's entire organization.

By and large, the things insiders like about consulting are similar across the board. They enjoy the variety afforded by working in different industries for many different clients, the intellectual challenge of pushing themselves to the limit as they tackle complex business problems, and the people with whom they work. And they like the money and the perks. The industry pays very well, and consultants travel in style. Consulting insiders also have a litany of complaints: 60-hour workweeks are standard, extended travel is the rule, and personal plans often must be put on hold. Clients-not you-drive the deadlines, which can severely cut into your social life. In addition, at some point most consultants long for the opportunity to actually implement their great ideas.

CAREER TRACKS 【职业发展道路】

As each firm has its favourite buzzwords, it also has unique terminology for its rank and file. While the titles might vary from firm to firm, the roles can basically be divided as follows: analyst (also called research associate or staff consultant at some firms), consultant (or senior consultant), manager, and partner or vice president. In addition, consulting firms hire a cadre of highly capable nonprofessional staff to fill administrative and support positions.

· ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Most consulting firms have a fairly large pool of college-educated administrative assistants and support staff on board.

· ANALYST/RESEARCH ASSOCIATE/STAFF CONSULTANT

This is the position at the bottom of the professional pyramid. The vast bulk of analysts are young, talented, and hungry college graduates.

· ASSOCIATE/CONSULTANT/SENIOR CONSULTANT
This is the typical port of entry for newly minted MBAs (and increasingly for other graduate students as well). Senior consultants often perform research and analysis, formulate recommendations, and present findings to the client.

· MANAGER
After a few years, a senior consultant will move up to manager. As the title implies, this usually means leading a team of consultants and analysts toward project completion.

· PARTNER OR VICE PRESIDENT
This will be a role that you earn and receive congratulation from your school fellows.

WHAT DOES OUR PROGRAM OFFER【我们的项目提供了什么】

We offer inspired students a broad range of knowledge and practical experiences stepping into management consulting industry.

Course Structure: Real consulting case study and interview preparation process delivered by experts from top management consulting firms

Course Duration: 72 hours’ full time training that is designed in line with the standard, requirement and procedure of consulting firms’ recruitment process.

Suitable for: Anyone who is looking to break into management consulting industry and meet the threshold requirements of hiring.

Course Schedule: Only open three sessions each year, limited seats per session (Please make inquiry to our consultants for course timetable)

COURSE OUTLINES 【课程大纲】

Module Descriptions - Section 1

Advance Excel Warm Up

Day 1	Custom Number Format	Understand the structure of Custom Number Format Format number in thousands, millions, billions Apply special symbols in custom number format Permanently hide numbers
	Data manipulation	Popular text formulas – left, right, mid, find, concatenate, substitute Find and Replace shortcut Quick remove duplicate & remove blank Text to columns
	Most popular shortcuts	Format different numbers and dates Quickly select big dataset Turn on & turn off filter Select whole row and whole column Move across worksheets, workbook
	Most Popular Formulas	Math and rounding functions (special rounding tricks) The AND function, OR function Nested IF function The VLOOKUP function, HLOOKUP function Transposing data INDEX and MATCH functions
	Most Popular Formulas	Math and rounding functions (special rounding tricks) The AND function, OR function Nested IF function The VLOOKUP function, HLOOKUP function Transposing data INDEX and MATCH functions
	Advanced Formulas Application	Array Formulas Sumproduct Formulas Indirect Formula Offset Formula 3-D Lookup, 4-D Lookup Lookup for 2nd, 3rd, 4th … match
	Name Managers	Understand what is name and how to use names How to use shortcut to quick create multiple names and bring up names list Use offset formula to create dynamic named range Use dynamic named ranges to create dynamic chart Use indirect and named range to automate calculation
	Conditional Formatting	Apply format based on cell value Use formulas to determine format Data bar, heat map, icon set Conditional Formatting – Budget Variance Analysis Conditional Formatting – Project progress
	Protect your data	Protect worksheet – locked or hidden Protect workbook structure Protect workbook with password to open
	Work with massive workbook	Quickly enter data into multiple worksheets Quickly change formulas in multiple worksheets Manager data more efficiently across multiple worksheets Change calculation method

Day 2 Part 1 -Advanced Charting	Create Chart	Use shortcut to create a chart Put chart in a separate worksheet Use different chart type
	Chart Design Tips	Apply different chart styles Change chart type Change data source Save as template
	Chart Layout Tips	Understand chart area, plot area, chart titles, legends Manager chart axis, gridline Apply data labels and customise data labels Insert pictures and shapes Format Shapes
	Create Special Charts	Waterfall chart Speedometer chart Thermometer chart Funnel chart Sparkline
	Dynamic Chart	Data validation How to use data validation to create dynamic chart
Day 2 Part 2- Pivot Table	Creating PivotTables	Introducing PivotTables Use shortcut to create a PivotTable Configuring a PivotTable – row, column, value, filter Managing PivotTables
	Pivot Table Design	Applying different PivotTable style Different table layout Manage grand total and subtotal Row & Column header, banded row and column Managing subtotals and grand totals
	Manage PivotTable	Change PivotTable data source Refresh PivotTable Filtering and soring PivotTable PivotTable group selection Change PivotTable calculation Method Add calculated fields
	PivotChart	Creating a PivotChart Apply different chart styles Change chart format and layout Select Data and change chart type Hide all buttons Use slicer to create dynamic chart Customise slicer into your own style Move PivotChart
	PivotTable Troubleshoot	Can’t create PivotTable Calculation not as expected Remove Blank

Module Descriptions - Section 2

Case Study & Interview Preparation

Capability Area	Module	Content Outline
Consulting Industry	What is management consulting	· An introduction to the management consulting industry · Overview of types of consulting firms · The Australian consulting market · Career paths and typical career entry points · Life as a consultant · Life after consulting
Strategic concepts	Strategic concepts 1 (strategy fundamentals)	· What is strategy · Corporate vs. business unit strategy · Common strategy frameworks (Porters 5 forces, 3Cs, 7Ss etc.) · Strategic segmentation · Exercise
Strategic concepts	Strategic concepts 2 (corporate strategy principles)	· Corporate strategy - the role of the parent · Core capability principles (Prahalad, Hamel) · Recent strategy concepts (Profit from the core, repeatability) · Exercise
Research techniques	Research techniques 1 (primary research)	· Purpose of primary research · Primary research techniques · Common statistical analytical techniques · Exercise
Research techniques	Research techniques 2 (secondary research)	· Secondary research overview · Common data sources · Analysing company reports · Exercise
Valuation analysis	Valuation analysis	· Valuation fundamentals for consulting (net book value, multiples, DCF) · Exercise
Excel modelling	Excel modelling 1	· Strategic modelling concepts · Modelling golden rules · Developing a model logic structure · Exercise
	Excel modelling 2	· Revenue model development exercise · P&L model development exercise · Balance sheet and cash flow model development exercise
	Excel modelling 3	· Introduction to advanced modelling concepts · Scenario analysis · Simulation analysis · Exercise
Operational analysis	Operational analysis	· Operational concepts · Introduction to process analysis · Process mapping and opportunity identification · Exercise
Implementation	Implementation	· Program management principles · Program architecture · Project planning · Exercise
General consulting skills	Strategic problem solving	· Overview of strategic problem solving techniques · Overview of key concepts (MECE, 80/20, decision trees) · Example decision trees · Exercise
	Working in teams	· Consulting team structures and roles · Working effectively in a team · Personality profiling exercise
	Pack structuring	· Effective written communication principles · The pyramid principle · Examples · Exercise
	Effective presentations	· Effective presentation principles · Practice exercises
	Work planning	· Work planning concepts · A functional module approach to work planning · Exercise
Case simulation	Case simulation 1	· Briefing · Work planning / team structure · Management interviews · Hypothesis development · Research / data gathering
Case simulation	Case simulation 2	· Financial analysis / modelling · Pack development · Client presentation
Securing a consulting position	How to get a job in consulting	· Application process · Screening process · Cover letter / CV · Networking

WHAT WILL YOU GAIN 【你能得到什么】

1. Real world management consulting case studies and case research with professional team;

ü On every case, study how to look at the business from a chief executive’s perspective.

ü Start by asking the right questions, and then dig deep into the numbers to unearth the right solutions.

ü Don’t settle for off-the shelf solutions, and learn how to customize recommendations and approach for target clients.

ü Have some general understanding about these industries: Airlines & Transportation, Consumer Products, Financial Services, Healthcare, Industrial Goods &Services, Media, Metals &Mining, Oil & Gas, Private Equity, Retail, Social & Public Sector, Technology, Telecommunications and Utilities & Alternative Energy etc.

2. Full scope of interview preparations;

ü The behavioral portion: how to show your ability to effectively interact with others, make your case, convince doubters, work collaboratively in a team based on your own experience.

ü The case portion: how to show your structured, logical thinking and problem solving ability, how to answer these questions:

"What is the market size for a cancer diagnostic technology in the U.S.?"

"How many airplanes leave from Boston's Logan Airport on Monday?"

"How many passengers fly through LAX in a calendar year?"

3. First class networking opportunity with professionals from top tier consulting firms such as Bain & Company and McKinsey & Company