We caught up with Ciara to find out about her experience at CIL Management Consultants.
Tell us a little bit about yourself, your background, and your role at CIL Management Consultants
My name is Ciara and I studied Biology at the University of Bath. My background is in science; I even did a lab R&D placement at GSK, working in the Cell and Gene Therapy department as part of my degree’s year in industry. However, in my final year, I decided I wanted to pursue a new route, which is why I applied to be an Analyst at CIL. As an Analyst, I take part in projects and carry out primary and secondary research for companies across different industries.
What made you apply to CIL Management Consultants?
I wanted a change from biology and I knew I enjoyed the concept of business strategy and analytics as I had done a Business A level and some business-focused modules in my degree. I was also intrigued by the variety of sectors and work that CIL has to offer. With its vast sector-wide experience and broad project exposure, I thought it would help me to discover which areas would interest me most and eventually want to specialise in for the future.
What was the application process like? What did you enjoy the most?
I thought the setup of the application process was great. We were assigned an initial mentor to guide us through the interviews. This was a really great way to ease us into the process and let us find out a bit more about CIL informally before diving into an official interview. Following this, we had a round-one interview that involved market sizing, data interpretation exercises and CV-driven questions like “so why CIL?” and “Why consulting?”. The second and third-round interviews involved diving deeper into data interpretation. We analysed a mini-case study on a given industry.
Overall, the process was enjoyable as I felt supported along the way. The interviewers were friendly, but also constructive throughout the process. They challenged what I said and enabled me to reflect on my own performance, which I think is a critical skill to have.
Any tips for anyone who would like to apply for a similar role at CIL?
I would say to research the company and find out what we do just so you really get an understanding of why you want to apply – once you have your ‘why’ you can really understand how your values align with those of CIL and work out if you would be a good fit for the company. Another major tip would be to smile! CIL prides itself on the people it hires, and your interviewers can pick up on people with a good attitude and a hunger to learn more. Having a growth mindset is also a stand-out point. There is always room for improvement and learning - embarking on a career in management consulting will leave you learning new things every day.
If you want to follow in Ciara's footsteps - check out CIL's profile.