BYU CONSULTING NIGHT-MY REFLECTIONS
This was the first time I attended an event like this, head-hunting as they call it, and I found it very interesting.
Most people dressed their best and tried to impress, polished resumes, pressed suits, direct questions, these were the order of the day.
The event took place in the Hinckley Center this Wednesday when the big names in consulting set up to meet with the best and the brightest, or really anyone willing to come, that BYU has to offer.
Before I went, I was told, and then told you all, that the organizers specifically asked the BYU reps to provide the firms with more Humanities majors with foreign language experience. That is how the event made it onto the blog in the first place. That is why I attended. To find out if this was in fact true or not, and relay the information onto you.
First off, if you're not graduating in the next three months, these events aren't really tailored to you, however they make good practice at gaining confidence, asking the right questions, and getting a feel for what the experience is going to be like once graduation is looming over you. These firms weren't handing out internships, they'll be back in winter semester for that. They aren't looking to get you now if you're not available until April. My impression of these events is that they are short-term oriented. There are spots to fill and the people who can fill them now will do so. That was the spirit of the night.
The second thing that I found interesting is that they weren't really interested in collecting resumes. However if you showed your resumes to the reps of different firms they were all willing to offer specific and valuable critiques as to whether or not they would stand out. Your resume has to these days, because companies are using eRecruiting, a BYU service where your resume is placed in a database with any other student who signs up for it and firms are allowed to compare all eligible candidates side-by-side effortlessly. Its more important now than ever.
The third thing I came to realize is that your major is not really what will make or break you when it comes to getting a first interview. What most firms said is that they look for applicants who have had a lot of job experience through their schooling, both high school and university, and that have been involved. The more you are able to juggle, the more competitive you are. Your GPA is basically a hurdle, once you've cleared it, you are in some fierce competition, and whatever your major, if you've been out there getting stuff done, a first interview with these firms is definitely in the cards.
My first question with every rep was about the pitch I was sold about the demand for humanities majors and foreign language experience. Most of the reps didn't know anything about this and most of the posts they were filling wouldn't really be hindered or helped by foreign language ability. The rep for Dealersocket pointed out that his colleague that night was a Portuguese major and although had never used any Portuguese on the job, he still performed good job. He himself was a Sociology major. It seems like the reign of terror that business students have held is coming to an end.
These types of events are great experiences for anyone who wishes to prepare himself a path after graduation. This really opened my eyes to the possibilities that are out there. Basically, your major won't normally hinder you from getting an interview. That's the key right there, the interview. You have to nail it. Once you've impressed on a face-to-face basis, then you could get a second interview, and these are the ones where you fly out to company HQ and test out the compatibility of your two worlds. So the next time one of these comes to town, don't hesitate. You might just find your future here.
And lastly, Fresh Consulting, my favorite of all the presentations. He was one who said that a diversity of majors was actually what his company was looking for. They work with huge companies, infusing them with the perspective of the up-and-coming generation, the generation that has never NOT had the internet, those who know how to reach huge audiences easily, and helping these large companies use the internet in a way to utilize all the resources that are available in nontraditional forms of business. He talked about how BYU students are somehow able to connect with clients in a special way that no one can really classify but is real, that is why we are so heavily recruited. Fresh consulting farms out a lot of small jobs like blogging to students here so feel free to look him up and drop him a line, he was one of the nicest guys I've ever met.
-Pete
