What to expect when recruiting for specialty consulting firms

Specialty consulting firms provide great opportunities for students interested in working on specific types of projects, with certain types of clients, or to have an impact in a specific area of interest. Firms recruiting from Yale SOM specialize in a range of areas, from providing economic consulting support or supply chain guidance to a range of clients, to a range of support to clients in education, healthcare, non-profits, and TMT, to providing a full life-cycle transaction support to private equity clients.  

Recruiting approach

Some specialty firms hire from business school for only full-time consultants while others hire both full-time and interns annually. Given their specificity, specialty firms are smaller in size with smaller hiring needs and fewer office locations than global management consulting firms. Work visa sponsorship is not as prevalent.

Proven experience or interest in their work is required

Specialty firms look for proven interest/ experience in their area of expertise, but do not expect students to have been consultants before. Proof points can come from previous experience in a function or industry, or true commitment shown through course work and club involvements, or personal experiences.

Network with consultants to showcase your value

Networking with consultants (vs. recruiters) is a valuable way for candidates to showcase their interest in and commitment to the work of the firm. Through informational interviews, coffee chats, industry events, alumni networking events, and other networking options, hiring teams can assess your true interest and capabilities in their arena.

Expect behavior and casing interviews, and maybe a twist

Similar to management consulting recruiting, case interviews are the norm, whether for internship or full-time. Expect cases to be focused on the work/ client base of the firm. Behavior interviews assess fit within these smaller teams/ firms, as well as commitment to the firm and client-service skills. Specialty firms are more likely to add their twist on interviews, such as holding group interviews or asking candidates to build and give a mock client presentation.

Recruiting timeline

For graduating students:

Specialty firms will recruit and hire through Fall semester and again as graduation nears for just-in-time, or immediate start, roles. Engagements will vary from on campus to virtual multi-school, to participating in CDO hosted HireSOM events.

For first-year MBAs:

Specialty firms are just as eager to connect but have fewer resources and hiring needs than global management consulting firms. Look for some events in Fall that may include graduating students in the audience. Application deadlines typically fall from mid-December through mid-February, with interviews occurring late January through the entire Spring semester. In some cases, firms will re-recruit in Spring semester.

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By Rebecca Stekloff
Rebecca Stekloff Senior Director, Employer Partnerships
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