MarquisParker.com // Business Strategist, Speaker, Advisor, and Coach

The email below came in from an active duty soldier in the U.S. Air Force who is interested in pursuing a career in Consulting after his time in the service ends next year. He’s close to completing his MBA at a non-top-tier MBA program (he has done his coursework while in the military) and he’s wondering if that would hinder him from having a shot at a big-name firm.

I might have mentioned this before, but I’ve got a soft spot for folks in the military because several of my family members have served. I hope that my advice is … Read the rest

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In this entry, I’m fielding a question from an MBA student from a business school in India. He’s interested in Consulting, but, while his school has great placements in several industries, it doesn’t have a reputation of placing people into the Consulting industry. It appears that his undergraduate institution isn’t very reputed in India, so he’s wondering whether he has a chance to break into Consulting.

Emails like this that ask about how things go in other countries are tough for me because I only have what I’ve read about business customs in other nations to serve as a foundation … Read the rest

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The email below comes from a reader who has his eyes set on McKinsey, Bain, or BCG, but is worried because his background is somewhat non-traditional. He’s earning an International MBA at the University of South Carolina’s Moore School of Business and doesn’t have much work experience. I’ve been contacted by several people in a similar situation to his before, so I’ve thought a lot about these types of situations. I can’t say that my read on his situation is THE answer on the topic, but it is a perspective that might be helpful to him. Now, we just have… Read the rest

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Recently, I had a great email exchange with one of my college classmates about the role that personal branding can play in one’s career search. She is starting up her own job search and is deciding on how to best present her experiences, qualifications, and interests to new contacts and/or potential employers. This is something about which I’ve thought a lot, so it was like the words just flew through my fingers on this one. I tend to blend the ideas of personal branding, professional branding, networking, and career positioning, which comes out when I give advice on these topics.… Read the rest

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The message below is from an auto industry professional who is interested in transitioning to Management Consulting. He has a solid 10 years of auto experience and an MBA, but, during his previous attempts at applying, he hasn’t received any interview invitations. He’s asking for my read on his situation and for guidance on whether he has holes in his profile. I have a feeling that his earlier lack of success might have been tied to timing and the economic downturn, but I can’t be 100% sure of that. I gave him a quick read on his profile in my… Read the rest

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Over the years, I’ve received messages from a lot of people, representing many different age categories. Of course, I receive many emails from professionals in their 20′s and early-30′s who are trying to chart a strong career path. I’ve also receive emails from people over 35 who are seeking advice on how to get their careers back on track. And, every now and then, I’ll get an email from someone who much younger than I’d expect, even as young as high school and early college. I’m always impressed when younger readers reach out to me for career guidance because preparing… Read the rest

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The email below came in from a reader who found me through the interview that I did with ManagementConsulted.com last year. He’s a former Mechanical Engineer who worked his way up to VP of Operations at a software company. Now, he’s aiming for business school with a goal of going into Management Consulting after his graduation.

He’s presented me with a few questions regarding his school choices, how they might affect his chances of getting into Consulting, and whether he will have any control over his choice of office if he gets an offer. All of these are pretty interesting … Read the rest

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During tough economic times like this, I’m sure that everyone could use as much information as possible about how to find the right career path. Please check out the video and text below to find out about a promotion for a really cool career prep resource that has been offered to registered members of this site.

Career change challenge promotion from Marquis Parker on Vimeo.

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Graduate school may get you a good job, but it won’t guarantee you your D.R.E.A.M. job. Do you know what it feels like to D.R.E.A.M. awake? Do know how to make meaning and … Read the rest

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