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For a recent Tuesday Night Out (TNO), the Consulting Club hosted a happy hour at Upslope Brewing’s Boulder Tap Room. In addition to enjoying empanadas and local brews, students had the opportunity to connect with Raj Babu, the COO of Birch Benders. Mr. Babu has more than a decade of consulting experience and a wealth of knowledge about the hiring process and what to expect in a job.

During the happy hour, he answered questions about consulting – from skills to build and how to network. In terms of skills to cultivate as MBA students, Babu emphasized that analytic ability is critical in consulting. Also, most interviewers look for a strong work ethic and dedication to the job. Yet, when discussing the recruiting process, Babu mentioned that beyond skillsets, companies look for personality – just not too much. On that note, showing enthusiasm and selling yourself is good, but seeming arrogant is not; speak proudly to what you can do.

On the topic of challenges on the job, Babu notes that the components outside your control – customers, coworkers – demand the most. To set yourself up to deal with challenges, networking goes a long way. Before you land a consulting job, leverage your professional network and push yourself to get those touch points. But, make networking easy on those you reach out to and always thank your connections for their time and help. Day one on the job full time or as an intern, Babu recommends networking internally – get to know the company and the people.

His general advice for MBAs looking to foster a consulting skillset is to observe everything. As he puts it: “You have to do it your own way and figure out what works for you.” This applies to the classroom, but also to the particular supplementary skills you gain outside the classroom. Babu wrapped up the session encouraging commitment; observing everything is important for understanding your path, but when you commit, really commit.