Hey there,

I'm about to give you some less than stellar news but I feel it better to rip off the bandaid than sugar coat things. You're a distinct disadvantage at the moment having no ECs. Yes, traveling is rough but you're in consulting, and your involvement is a direct factor in your year end evaluation. Consulting firms are notorious for requiring practitioner involvement and you're going up against peers who have years of impactful activities. The easiest activities to become involved in are through your firm itself. Think recruiting, pro bono work, training, or thought leadership.

So is it difficult to be involved while you're traveling? Of course. But everyone else is so that excuse simply won't work. If you were really involved in undergrad, that's great and make sure you highlight that where appropriate. As you look for new activities. think about what ties well to what you did in undergrad to add a component of commitment and passion there.

Let me know if you have any specific questions!

Bhavik

Hey there,

That's a relief - for some reason I thought you were further along than just 8 months. That's perfect! You're asking the right questions mate. So from an involvement standpoint, there are certain things you should keep in mind. ECs serve one of a few purposes:

1) Skills Development: Often times, ECs give junior staff an opportunity to develop and showcase leadership that would otherwise be difficult to get with a client or within the company. Therefore, it can augment your professional accomplishments and give a direct comparison among peers.

2) Passion & Impact: Have you always been passionate about something? Then your ECs can help paint that story and show your impact. This can be a variety of things - anything from volunteering to running marathons. It shows dedication and drive.

3) Professional Enablement: Not all ECs have to be philanthropic. Have you always wanted to start a business on side? Go ahead. You learn more starting a business than you do in any rotational program. Or perhaps you are heavily involved in white papers for an industry or function you want to pursue post MBA. Or perhaps you are involved in a professional organization in the area. If you go with professional organizations, make sure they're well known and not fluff. For example, avoid Toastmasters.

What you want is to seem well rounded (so don't go all in with the volunteering - switch things up) but also impactful. So don't get involved in something with a big name where you have a small role. You want to strike a balance.

If you have certain ECs you're debating between, feel free to list them here and we can chat through the pros and cons of them!

Bhavik