Lucy M.

Independent Management Consultant
Happy to mentor
Happy to be contacted

About me

Lucy M.
Music
Music
Undergraduate
James
2001
United Kingdom

My employment

Independent Management Consultant
United Kingdom

More about Lucy

Has a disability

Like this profile?

Add this profile to your favourites so you can return to it later from your account.

A day in the life of a Independent Management Consultant in the United Kingdom

Management consultant, specialising in change management: seven years with a Big Four, six years and counting as an independent. Also a visiting lecturer at University of Southampton.

How I looked for work

First job: Times Graduate 100 & internet research. Current job: great network of headhunters, and Google

How I found out about the job

Other graduate recruitment website

The recruitment process

Three-stage interview: telephone, face-to-face, and assessment centre. This was back in 2004, but I think the process is still similar.

My career goals when I graduated

Had no idea what I wanted to do - it took two jobs I hated plus a gap year to find something I enjoyed.

My career history

Two years in advertising/marketing, seven years with Big 4 consultancy, six years (so far) as an independent consultant.

What has helped my career to progress

Hard work!

How my studies have helped my career

Studying music at York was completely irrelevant to my current career, but having a degree (in whatever subject) was essential.

What surprised me about my career so far

That I'm still doing it...

Where I hope to be in 5 years

Either have been, or be back at Uni doing a Masters... Otherwise, probably the same as now!

My advice to students considering work

Unless you are absolutely set on what you want to do, don't limit yourself. Go for everything and don't assume you are not qualified - it's up to the company to decide that. You could end up doing something completely unrelated to your degree that you end up loving! Don't be put off if you don't get the first (or second, third, fourth...) job that you apply for - it can take perseverance.

My advice about working in my industry

The big companies have their downsides (extremely competitive, and you'll be a very small fish in very large pond), but they also offer the best graduate programmes, and usually the best training. Be prepared to work wherever they send you, as you don't get too much choice as a newbie.

Contacting me

Happy to answer questions on:
- the consulting industry
- interviewing for a consulting job
- working as a management consultant

Happy to mentor anyone who's interested in the above!

What I do

I've been a change management and transformation consultant since 2004. I specialise in business, people & culture change for transformation programmes, working across a wide range of industries, including telecoms, FMCG, pharmaceuticals and financial services. Particular expertise in change strategy and delivery, business process and target operating model design, communications, and training design and delivery.

Skills I use and how I developed them

Communicating and presenting (written and verbal), analysis, planning and people development. All learnt on the job!

What I like most

The variety is great, being able to work across industries, different types of projects, different locations around the world. Money's okay too :-)

What I like least

Long hours, not always a great work/life balance, and being self-employed does not often equal stability!

What surprised me most

How so many companies mess up projects on an impressive scale...

Next steps...

If you like the look of Lucy’s profile, the next steps are down to you! You can send Lucy a message to find out more about their career journey. If you feel you would benefit from more in-depth conversations, ask Lucy to be your mentor.

Related profiles

Bharath S.
KTP Associate Embedded Systems Engineer
University of Essex\Flakt Woods
Computer Science
2016
Elizabeth L.
Teacher
All Saints CEVA Primary School
History
2006
Sam P.
Early Careers programme
MBDA
Physics
2017
Robert M.
Ex-Civil Service Fast Streamer
Ex-HM Treasury
History
2010