Does anyone have experience transitioning from Active Duty to a career in management or strategic consulting? I’d love to get some insight! Getting my MBA while active and will have it done by the time I transition.

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Keep in mind… the quality of your MBA program is heavily vetted for those wishing to enter a career in consulting - makes sense; there needs to be a client-perception that you’re actually qualified enough to tell them what to do.

Once you leave the federal-DoD bubble, your brand & education prestige (mixed in with of course your work experience) holds more weight than it did in the military. “Check-in-the-box” diplomas are useless pieces of paper for many industries; I see so many transitioning servicemembers fall into this trap…

Saying this not to scare you; just hope you’re going to a real (ideally highly ranked) university vs. a Western Governors, UoPhoenix, etc. - many veterans will also attend a full time program AFTER they ETS to recruit with these firms.

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A4 MBA quality is heavily vetted at MBB & the more pure strategy firms. We don’t place nearly as much of an emphasis on them at ACN (except within our own Strategy practice, but even that is questionable).

Went straight from the Navy to management consulting at Accenture. No MBA needed, just a referral (got it from a veteran).

Another person said it but I'll reiterate that an MBA will only open doors for you if it's from a top school. And if you want the MBA to get you the consulting job the best way is to go through campus recruiting. Once you graduate they tend to evaluate you as an experienced hire at which point your work history matters more, which could be good or bad.

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Thanks for the insight! And noted!

Mind if I asked what you do for USCG? I applied to a job with them recently.

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Former navy, no finance background now in finance. Learning curve is steep, my advice is don’t bite off more than you can chew in your first role

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Yep but not directly.

I went into corporate first in the civilian version of my MOS but with import / export attached. Finishing my undergrad and having hazmat certs are how I got that job.

My MBA helped my 2nd job since oil & gas was making a huge shit to requiring an engineering background. My MBA was concentrated in project mgmt so that gave e cove due to the program I was standing up for the driller I was working for at the time.

I'm in consulting now after having worked in industry but direct transition is definitely possible. Anything in particular you want to know / need help with? When is your EAS? Where do you want to be geographically?

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I’ll send you a message later today. Thanks!

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Went from enlisted Marine Corps infantry to college to a contractor to Deloitte (SC as an experienced hire). So a slightly different path, but happy to connect and share my experience and answer any questions. Shoot me a message.

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I’ll reach out to you when I have a moment today. Thanks!

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Start recruiting now and applying for internships. All recruiting is accelerated.

Was enlisted, retired, got my MBA and got into MC via referral. Complete 180 from what I did on AD. MBA might have gotten my foot in the door initially but who knows, it has no bearing on my day to day work.

Strongly recommend hiring our hero’s as you transition, I’ve helped hire a few through that scheme. One into consulting, the other into product. Leverage your military network, network your ass off at business school and that will open plenty of doors

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