{"id":13703,"date":"2024-09-26T14:34:35","date_gmt":"2024-09-26T14:34:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/?page_id=13703"},"modified":"2025-09-02T07:29:55","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T07:29:55","slug":"consulting","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/info-resources\/exploration\/consulting\/","title":{"rendered":"Career area: Consulting"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"vf-grid | vf-grid__col-3\"><div class=\"vf-grid__col--span-2\"><!--[vf\/content]-->\n<div class=\"vf-content\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A &#8216;science administration, management, consulting&#8217; career<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Consultants provide expertise, analysis and advice in many sectors. There are a number of well-known international management consultancies \u2013 such as McKinsey &amp; Company, Boston Consulting Group and Bain &amp; Company (known collectively as \u2018the big three\u2019) \u2013 who offer consulting for a wide range of projects across many industry sectors. There are also smaller \u201cboutique\u201d companies or freelance consultants that focus on specific regions, sectors or project types. Some large companies also have in-house consultants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Management consultancies provide input on potential solutions for overcoming specific business problems, help companies decide whether\/how to implement particular projects, or provide industry-specific strategic input on future challenges\/growth areas. Such companies employ PhD-level scientists from all disciplines for their communication, analytical, and critical thinking skills. Some consultancies focus on the pharma and biotech sectors, and all projects are related to life-science businesses. Here, a scientific background helps consultants quickly understand, assess and integrate the science underlying a project or process. In large companies working across multiple sectors, life scientists may work on projects with a life science focus or also apply their critical thinking skills to projects from clients in other sectors (e.g. finance, energy, automotive).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"vf-tabs\"><ul class=\"vf-tabs__list\" data-vf-js-tabs=\"true\"><li class=\"vf-tabs__item\"><a class=\"vf-tabs__link\" href=\"#vf-tabs__section-ad9d22e7-f2ff-4f69-8d17-6906474a25b3\" data-vf-js-location-nearest-activation-target=\"\">Roles and responsibilities<\/a><\/li><li class=\"vf-tabs__item\"><a class=\"vf-tabs__link\" href=\"#vf-tabs__section-0e516856-67d5-40f7-8a48-9fb56f3d4d9c\" data-vf-js-location-nearest-activation-target=\"\">Career entry and progression<\/a><\/li><li class=\"vf-tabs__item\"><a class=\"vf-tabs__link\" href=\"#vf-tabs__section-2b831503-f499-4f03-ae98-402b00c99e2e\" data-vf-js-location-nearest-activation-target=\"\">Knowledge and skills<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"vf-tabs-content\" data-vf-js-tabs-content=\"true\">\n<section class=\"vf-tabs__section\" id=\"vf-tabs__section-ad9d22e7-f2ff-4f69-8d17-6906474a25b3\"><h2>Roles and responsibilities<\/h2>\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Management and strategy consulting<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Management and strategy consultant roles usually involve a subset of the following tasks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>collecting, analysing and interpreting primary and\/or secondary data&nbsp;related to the client\u2019s problem\/request.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>conducting interviews and organizing focus groups\/workshops.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>using the information collected, and\/or applying different frameworks\/methods to:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>identify possible solutions and the strengths\/weaknesses of different proposals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>evaluate a business, an internal process, or the potential market for a new product or expansion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>preparing documentation and presentations that summarize the analysis and recommendations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>communicating with clients and the team.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Often more junior consultants or analysts are tasked with identifying and analysing available data, opinions and options, and preparing slide sets \u2013 and more senior consultants bring context and experience of similar problems at other clients, and lead presentations to clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Other types of consulting<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>For freelance consultants and some companies, the focus is providing very specific expertise to a client, often supporting the client with a complex project. The exact tasks will vary depending on the type of consulting\/expertise offered, and whether you are working as a freelance consultant or are employed by a company.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"vf-tabs__section\" id=\"vf-tabs__section-0e516856-67d5-40f7-8a48-9fb56f3d4d9c\"><h2>Career entry and progression<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Management consulting<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is possible to enter management consulting roles from a PhD, without additional experience or qualifications. A postdoc is not required and \u2013 for many roles \u2013 does not provide any advantage. A demonstrated track record of prior achievements &amp; willingness to take on leadership roles can help your application stand out. During the interviews, problem-solving, communication, decision making and numeracy skills are probed, and most interview processes involve \u2018case studies\u2019. Business knowledge is not a prerequisite (most companies provide in-house training on this for PhD-recruits). However \u2013 to demonstrate your interest in the business of science and to perform well in the case studies that can make up a large part of the interviews \u2013&nbsp; it is helpful to get familiar with basic business concepts and trends in relevant industries in advance&nbsp; (e.g. by reading industry publications). Further information about interviews can be found in \u201cinterview info + practise case material\/tips from the big firms\u201d in further reading below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some management consultants remain within consulting, working up to partnership. Alternatively, consultants also often move to management or in-house consulting roles at biotechs and pharma or other sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Other types of consulting<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other types of consulting rely on specific expertise. Some PhDs or postdocs find that their academic work allows them to work as a freelance consultant e.g. on specific types of data analysis. Our experience is that most (but not all) freelance consultants with a life science background developed further expertise in a corporate or industry setting, and then become consultants.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"vf-tabs__section\" id=\"vf-tabs__section-2b831503-f499-4f03-ae98-402b00c99e2e\"><h2>Knowledge and skills<\/h2>\n<p>In most roles, consultants have to quickly understand problems, identify and analyse relevant data, and communicate recommendations and insights that are actionable and bring value to the client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/blog\/2022\/03\/skills-for-a-scientific-career\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">careers and skills survey<\/a>, 24 consultants told us the competencies they use most in their daily work&nbsp; The most frequently selected competencies were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>effective communication (selected by 79% of respondents and ranked top for success in the role)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>organization (selected&nbsp;by 71%)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>team work (selected&nbsp;by 71%)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>clarity of thought&nbsp; (selected&nbsp;by 46%)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>delivering presentations&nbsp; (selected&nbsp;by 46%)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Language requirements<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Language requirements for consulting roles vary depending on the working language of the company\u2019s client base. Fluency in the local language (at least B2 level) is sometimes required; for other companies, English is enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div><!--[vf\/content]-->\n<div class=\"vf-content\">\n\n<figure class=\"vf-figure wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"vf-figure__image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/wp-content\/uploads\/Train-the-Trainer_Lima_Sarah_Morgan-8-t.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12067\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<article class=\"vf-card vf-card--brand vf-card--bordered vf-u-margin__bottom--800\" default>\n  \n  <div class=\"vf-card__content | vf-stack vf-stack--400\">\n          <h3 class=\"vf-card__heading\">\n        \n        What do people value about this career?\n              <\/h3>\n    \n    \n          <p class=\"vf-card__text\"><!-- wp:paragraph -->\r\n\r\nIn our<a class=\"vf-card_link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/blog\/2022\/03\/skills-for-a-scientific-career\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u00a0careers and skills survey<\/a>, scientists working in consulting told us that they appreciate that their work:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>is intellectually stimulating<\/li>\r\n \t<li>provides opportunities for personal growth<\/li>\r\n \t<li>is financially rewarding<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/p>\n      <\/div>\n<\/article>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<style>\n    <\/style>\n\n<section id=\"wp-block-1\">\n  <div class=\"vf-card-container  | vf-u-fullbleed  \n  | vf-u-background-color-ui--grey--light \">\n          <div class=\"vf-section-header | vf-u-margin__bottom--600 | vf-u-sr-only\">\n        <h2 class=\"vf-section-header__heading\" >\n        header    <\/h2>\n              <\/div>\n      \n\n<div class=\"vf-grid | vf-grid__col-3\"><div class=\"vf-grid__col--span-2\"><!--[vf\/content]-->\n<div class=\"vf-content\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Want to learn more about this career area?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<details  class=\"vf-details\" id=\"\"  >\n<summary class=\"vf-details--summary\">\nOverview articles<\/summary>\n<div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n<div class=\"vf-links vf-links--tight vf-links__list--s vf-links__list--very-easy\">\n    <ul class=\"vf-links__list vf-list vf-links__list--secondary\">\n    <li class=\"vf-list__item\">\n          <a class=\"vf-list__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.science.org\/content\/article\/science-careers-guide-consulting-careers-phd-scientists\">\n        The Science Careers guide to consulting careers for Ph.D. scientists      <\/a>\n      <\/li>\n    <li class=\"vf-list__item\">\n          <a class=\"vf-list__link\" href=\"https:\/\/cshperspectives.cshlp.org\/content\/10\/11\/a032946.full.pdf+html\">\n        A Career for Life Scientists in Management Consulting \u2013 Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives      <\/a>\n      <\/li>\n    <li class=\"vf-list__item\">\n          <a class=\"vf-list__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.science.org\/content\/article\/should-you-set-out-your-own-independent-consultant\">\n        Should you set out on your own as an independent consultant? \u2013 Science Careers      <\/a>\n      <\/li>\n    <li class=\"vf-list__item\">\n          <a class=\"vf-list__link\" href=\"https:\/\/career.ucsf.edu\/phds\/career-paths\/consulting-careers\">\n        UCSF overview of consulting careers      <\/a>\n      <\/li>\n    <li class=\"vf-list__item\">\n          <a class=\"vf-list__link\" href=\"https:\/\/phd-careers.co.uk\/2025\/09\/01\/from-phd-to-consulting-an-insiders-guide\/\">\n        From PhD to Consulting &#8211; PostGradual: The PhD Careers Blog       <\/a>\n      <\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details  class=\"vf-details\" id=\"\"  >\n<summary class=\"vf-details--summary\">\nResources<\/summary>\n<div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n<div class=\"vf-links vf-links--tight vf-links__list--s vf-links__list--very-easy\">\n      <h3 class=\"vf-links__heading\">Resources<\/h3>\n    <ul class=\"vf-links__list vf-list vf-links__list--secondary\">\n    <li class=\"vf-list__item\">\n          <a class=\"vf-list__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.careers.ox.ac.uk\/management-consultancy\">\n        Material from Oxford University career services.      <\/a>\n          <span class=\"vf-badge vf-badge--primary\">\n        **Highly recommended**      <\/span>\n      <\/li>\n    <li class=\"vf-list__item\">\n          <a class=\"vf-list__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/groups\/3797868\/\">\n        LinkedIn group: from PhD to consulting      <\/a>\n      <\/li>\n    <li class=\"vf-list__item\">\n          <a class=\"vf-list__link\" href=\"https:\/\/careers.bcg.com\/case-interview-preparation\">\n        Interview info and practice case material\/tips &#8211; BCG      <\/a>\n      <\/li>\n    <li class=\"vf-list__item\">\n          <a class=\"vf-list__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mckinsey.com\/careers\/interviewing\">\n        Interview info and practice case material\/tips &#8211; McKinsey      <\/a>\n      <\/li>\n    <li class=\"vf-list__item\">\n          <a class=\"vf-list__link\" href=\"https:\/\/caseinterviewprep.deloitte.com\/\">\n        Interview info and practice case material\/tips &#8211; Deloitte      <\/a>\n      <\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details  class=\"vf-details\" id=\"\"  >\n<summary class=\"vf-details--summary\">\nBooks<\/summary>\n<div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n<div class=\"vf-links vf-links--tight vf-links__list--s vf-links__list--very-easy\">\n    <ul class=\"vf-links__list vf-list vf-links__list--secondary\">\n    <li class=\"vf-list__item\">\n          <a class=\"vf-list__link\" href=\"https:\/\/caseinterview.com\/case-in-point\">\n         Case in Point by Marc Consentino      <\/a>\n      <\/li>\n    <li class=\"vf-list__item\">\n          <a class=\"vf-list__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.harpercollins.com\/products\/the-ten-day-mba-4th-ed-steven-a-silbiger?variant=32206243987490\">\n        The Ten-Day MBA      <\/a>\n      <\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:12px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"vf-box vf-box--normal vf-box-theme--quinary | vf-u-margin__bottom--400\">\n                            <p class=\"vf-box__text\">We highly recommend learning more about the careers using the resources above, then conducting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/info-resources\/making-connections\/#vf-tabs__section-c9d226ee-2bad-45ed-bf4a-7d49cd01ad03\">informational interviews<\/a> to gain further insights directly from former PhDs working in career areas that interest you.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div><!--[vf\/content]-->\n<div class=\"vf-content\">\n\n<article class=\"vf-card vf-card--brand vf-card--bordered vf-u-margin__bottom--800\" default>\n  \n  <div class=\"vf-card__content | vf-stack vf-stack--400\">\n          <h3 class=\"vf-card__heading\">\n                  <a class=\"vf-card__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/internal-information\/eicat\/embl-fellows-career-service\/career-exploration\/\" target=\"\">\n        \n        For EMBL fellows\n                  <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"vf-card__heading__icon | vf-icon vf-icon-arrow--inline-end\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n            <path d=\"M0 12c0 6.627 5.373 12 12 12s12-5.373 12-12S18.627 0 12 0C5.376.008.008 5.376 0 12zm13.707-5.209l4.5 4.5a1 1 0 010 1.414l-4.5 4.5a1 1 0 01-1.414-1.414l2.366-2.367a.25.25 0 00-.177-.424H6a1 1 0 010-2h8.482a.25.25 0 00.177-.427l-2.366-2.368a1 1 0 011.414-1.414z\" fill=\"currentColor\" fill-rule=\"nonzero\"><\/path>\n          <\/svg>\n        <\/a>\n              <\/h3>\n    \n    \n          <p class=\"vf-card__text\">Further internal resources (e.g. library of recorded career talks) can be found on our intranet pages.<\/p>\n      <\/div>\n<\/article>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n        <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<hr class=\"vf-divider\">\n\n\n\n\n        <div class=\"vf-section-header\">\n        <h2 class=\"vf-section-header__heading\">\n            <a class=\"vf-section-header__heading vf-section-header__heading--is-link\"\n               target=\"\"\n               href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/blog\/category\/career-profiles\/administration-management-consulting-career-profiles\/consulting\/\">\n                Read relevant posts from our blog                <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"vf-section-header__icon | vf-icon vf-icon-arrow--inline-end\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <path d=\"M0 12c0 6.627 5.373 12 12 12s12-5.373 12-12S18.627 0 12 0C5.376.008.008 5.376 0 12zm13.707-5.209l4.5 4.5a1 1 0 010 1.414l-4.5 4.5a1 1 0 01-1.414-1.414l2.366-2.367a.25.25 0 00-.177-.424H6a1 1 0 010-2h8.482a.25.25 0 00.177-.427l-2.366-2.368a1 1 0 011.414-1.414z\" fill=\"\" fill-rule=\"nonzero\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/h2>\n            <\/div>\n    \n<div class=\"vf-grid vf-grid__col-3 | vf-content\">\n\n    \n            \n<article class=\"vf-summary vf-summary--news\" style=\"display: block; display: unset;\">\n  \n  <span class=\"vf-summary__date\" title=\"2022-07-05T10:41:06+00:00\"\n    datetime=\"2022-07-05T10:41:06+00:00\">5 July 2022  <\/span>\n    \n  <h3 class=\"vf-summary__title\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/blog\/2022\/07\/career-profile-dr-benjamin-anstett-engagement-manager-at-trinity-life-sciences-management-consulting\/\" class=\"vf-summary__link\">Career profile: Dr. Benjamin Anstett \u2013 Engagement Manager at Trinity Life Sciences (Management Consulting)<\/a>\n  <\/h3>\n    <p class=\"vf-summary__text\">\n    For this career profile , we spoke with Dr Benjamin Anstett about his experience of working both for a large general management consulting company and smaller consulting companies focused on the life sciences industry.  <\/p>\n    <\/span>\n      \n<\/article>\n\n<!--\/vf-summary-->\n    \n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"vf-divider\">\n\n\n\n<div class=\"vf-grid | vf-grid__col-3\"><div class=\"vf-grid__col--span-3\"><!--[vf\/content]-->\n<div class=\"vf-content\">\n\n<div class=\"vf-section-header | vf-u-margin__bottom--400\">\n  <h2 class=\"vf-section-header__heading\" \n      >\n      \n          <a class=\"vf-section-header__heading vf-section-header__heading--is-link\"\n                  target=\"_blank\"\n         href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/info-resources\/exploration\/\">\n        Return to our Career information and exploration page        <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"vf-section-header__icon | vf-icon vf-icon-arrow--inline-end\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n          <path d=\"M0 12c0 6.627 5.373 12 12 12s12-5.373 12-12S18.627 0 12 0C5.376.008.008 5.376 0 12zm13.707-5.209l4.5 4.5a1 1 0 010 1.414l-4.5 4.5a1 1 0 01-1.414-1.414l2.366-2.367a.25.25 0 00-.177-.424H6a1 1 0 010-2h8.482a.25.25 0 00.177-.427l-2.366-2.368a1 1 0 011.414-1.414z\" fill=\"\" fill-rule=\"nonzero\"><\/path>\n        <\/svg>\n      <\/a>\n      <\/h2>\n\n  \n  <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":8552,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-title-left-aligned.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"embl_taxonomy":[],"class_list":["post-13703","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"embl_taxonomy_terms":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13703","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13703"}],"version-history":[{"count":42,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13703\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25165,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13703\/revisions\/25165"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8552"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13703"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"embl_taxonomy","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/embl-fellows-career-service\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/embl_taxonomy?post=13703"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}