As an observer at the Ernst and Young IA consulting challenge, I had the benefits of speaking to the competitors as well as the organizers of the contest. The competition packet received by each team evidenced a well-structured test of consulting, analysis, and presentation skills. I approached the E&Y team during an intermission in the contest to inquire on how this competition maps to the qualities and skills they look for in potential hires.
According to Bill Schaumann, Sr. Manager at E&Y, the challenge is designed to test one’s problem-solving and consulting skills. “The IA Challenge addresses different business problems each year,” said Schaumann. “Since there is no constant set of variables, one’s ability to assess a problem, formulate a plan of attack, solve the problem, and provide meaningful feedback is tested.”
Mr. Schaumann's comments were elaborated upon by his team of E&Y advisors. Vicki Kamenova, Sr. Advisor at E&Y and graduate of Walsh College emphasized the importance of consulting skills in the context of the Challenge. “You must be able to build a rapport with the client from the moment you step in the room,” said Kamenova. “You must then present your assessment of the situation clearly and show how you add value. That is what we are looking for from the teams.”
Professional consulting skills was a clear focus as my conversation with Ms. Kamenova’s colleagues continued. “This is not a regular 9-to-5 job” said one advisor. This became evident as they regaled me with stories of the recent engagements they completed. These stories illustrated the following traits that are valued by Ernst & Young.
- Consulting work is not for the timid. You must be respectful but also command respect from others.
- You be able to maintain composure and provide answers under all circumstances.
- The analytical mindset is common to most, if not all, E&Y personnel.
My next blog post will profile the competitors, their approaches to the problem, and the lessons they learned.
Mr. Trinks,
This blog post focused on some of the qualities that consulting firms like Ernst&Young value in their employees. While these organizations expect their advisors to be technically competent, they also expect them to have strong consulting skills. As my next blog post will discuss, having the technical answer to a problem does not mean you are able to sell that solution to board.
Thank you for your comment. Future blog posts will elaborate on the connection between my points and security/IT.
Steven F. Fox
What does any of this have to do with security or even IT?
Post new comment