MBA Recruiter Interview: Jody Mullen, L.E.K. Consulting

When you ask MBAs what they plan to do on completing their degree, no small percentage will say the same thing: consulting. However, this by no stretch of the imagination means that they will have identical experiences – so much depends on the firm for which one works for a start. Take L.E.K. Consulting, an international strategy consulting firm ranked 12th in the Vault Consulting 50. While the idea of consulting work may conjure up images of people living out of suitcases and racking up frequent flyer miles, L.E.K. Consulting does a lot of its work in-office…so no four days of travelling out to clients each week for its consulting talent. Surely, for many, a big draw.

As with any big firm, knowing what makes L.E.K. Consulting unique and approaching the recruiting process in the right way can help you stand out from dozens of other candidates attending the same information session, says Jody Mullen, L.E.K. Consulting’s director of recruitment. In the following interview, Mullen discusses what L.E.K. Consulting looks for in its MBA recruits as well as what makes it a unique employer in the consulting space.

L.E.K. Consulting was ranked 12th in the Vault Consulting 50. What do you think makes L.E.K. Consulting a great company to work for?

A key part of L.E.K.’s mission is to be the fastest and best at developing outstanding business talent. Our people develop the most rigorous analytical skills of any firm. L.E.K.’s apprenticeship system and diversity of challenging business experiences builds great business judgment. The case team approach achieves results far beyond what any individual can do alone and our staff excel at teamwork. Consultants work on 6-10 projects per year, providing each a broad exposure to a wide range of industries. We continually challenge our staff with assignments that stretch their abilities, and we advance people on merit as quickly as they develop. Our people acquire skills and experience faster than their peers at any other firm.

What makes L.E.K. Consulting different from other consulting firms?

L.E.K. Consulting helps clients achieve practical results with real impact. As a global strategy consulting firm, we are comprised of the brightest and highest achieving people, whose work has transformational impact on organizations that reach millions of people. At all levels, our staff has outstanding career development opportunities, taking on a wide range of roles with increasing complexity, responsibility, and exposure to clients. L.E.K.’s deep industry insight and global reach help our clients achieve tangible, high-impact results – and our people develop creative solutions that enable and expedite our clients’ success.

Our blog, The L.E.K. Advisor, contains blog posts and videos that show more of our unique culture.

What are the most common job roles for MBA graduates at L.E.K .Consulting? How much travel is involved in these roles?

MBA graduates possess the prerequisite education to come into the firm at the consultant level – which is a management position. We expect our consultants to manage associates from day one at the firm, which we think is a big differentiator for us. We also have a differentiated staffing model in which we do much less onsite work than other consulting firms. Our consultants spend a good amount of time in our own offices rather than at the client site.

What do you look for when evaluating a candidate’s résumé and experience?

We are looking for candidates who have demonstrated business and quantitative aptitude through their work experience or coursework and who have shown leadership and initiative, perhaps through organizational leadership or direct experience leading teams or projects. We hire very intelligent people so good grades are necessary, as are showing a true interest in consulting and L.E.K. in particular.

How many MBA students do you typically recruit each year?

We are growing in the US and increasing our consultant numbers for each office. In 2015, we are planning on hiring close to 30 full-time consultants across our five US offices.

How many MBAs intern at L.E.K. Consulting? Of these interns, how many leave with full-time job offers?

Our summer consultant program typically has around 20 MBA interns. The vast majority end up with a full-time offer from us.

Is MBA hiring up or down this year?

At L.E.K., MBA hiring is up by about 10%. It’s a reflection of our firm’s growth and we have adjusted our recruiting targets to allow for that.

Which business schools and MBA conferences do you recruit from and why?

We recruit at all the top US MBA schools, but our relationships are deeper at Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Kellogg, Columbia, Fuqua, Booth, Anderson, Sloan, Tuck and Haas. In more recent years we’ve broadened our scope to include schools where we have had really good luck finding great talent and will continue to refine our approach as we build out those relationships.

What steps should MBAs take in order to make a good impression? Conversely, what are some common mistakes MBAs should avoid when contacting recruiters?

They say that you only have one opportunity to make a first impression. While I think that is debatable, it does have merit. MBAs will have the unique opportunity at various recruiting events to meet multiple people at that organization. Individuals should come prepared with background knowledge of the firm and the industry, and then make a connection with each person they speak with. I can’t say enough for the follow up, though – some of the most outstanding candidates I’ve met have sent me follow up emails later in the day to thank me for the time I took to speak with them, and then mention a pertinent point that was made in the conversation. Making yourself stand out amongst the crowd is very important when you are one of 100 people at an info session.

What are the biggest misconceptions that MBAs have about L.E.K. Consulting and the consulting industry?

There are some big differences between L.E.K. Consulting and our competitors. Oftentimes, candidates will think that all consultants travel to the client four days a week or that you have to specialize in a specific industry. That is not the case with L.E.K. One of our biggest differentiators is that we do the much of the case work in our own offices. This doesn’t mean fewer client-facing opportunities, but more that the client work is done via other means. Being able to work in your home office and sleep in your own bed at night really is one of the big points of pride at our firm.

Is there anything I did not ask that you think MBAs should know before applying for jobs at L.E.K. Consulting?

When I’m asked what makes this place unique, I would have to say it’s the people. Working side-by-side every day with people you genuinely like and respect is something you can’t really quantify, and yet it makes your time in the office so much better. The people who do the best work at the firm know how to build relationships and get to know their colleagues.