I often get asked: What do you look for in candidates?
It’s a fair question, and my answer is as personal as it is practical.
First and foremost, I look for someone I enjoy working with. Chemistry is critical for building effective teams. The first step in any hiring process is to screen out potential “toxic personalities”—those who lack values or disrupt team dynamics.
Beyond that, consulting is a strange and uniquely challenging profession. Imagine this: you’re paid to give advice to people more senior than you, who know their industry better than you ever could. Yet, they value your perspective enough to act on it.
How does this magic happen?
It starts with confidence. If you don’t believe in yourself, others won’t feel secure around you. But confidence doesn’t mean arrogance. I don’t subscribe to the approach where consultants position themselves as superior to their clients. Instead, I value humble confidence—what I call affirmative humility: having opinions that can stand up to scrutiny and the test of time while remaining open to challenge.
The Role of Innovation: Entrepreneurial Spirit Matters
Innovation is at the heart of consulting, and with it comes the need for an entrepreneurial mindset. Whether through actual entrepreneurial experience or simply an enterprising spirit, this quality is vital—even for candidates early in their careers.
Entrepreneurial individuals are natural problem-solvers. They are resourceful, proactive, and unafraid to take calculated risks to achieve results. These are the people who see opportunities where others see obstacles, who instinctively think of creative solutions and take ownership of their work.
Innovation also requires adaptability. The fast-paced, ever-changing landscape of consulting mirrors the challenges faced by entrepreneurs—constantly learning, pivoting, and delivering value. If you’ve ever launched a project, started a business, or even initiated a meaningful change within an organization or community, you already have a key trait we look for.
Even small entrepreneurial endeavors count. The important thing is the mindset: are you someone who takes initiative and creates something meaningful out of limited resources? That’s the spirit of innovation we value.
The Power of Intellectual Curiosity
But if I had to pick one defining quality of a great consultant, it would be intellectual curiosity.
This isn’t just about acquiring a degree—that’s only the beginning. Truly curious people never outgrow the “why” phase of childhood. They marvel at the world, constantly questioning and exploring.
Consulting demands fast learners who can master new skills at lightning speed. You must always stay one step ahead of your clients—otherwise, your role ceases to exist. Intellectual curiosity is easy to spot. Here’s how I measure it:
- What’s on your reading list?
- What new skill have you learned in the past year?
The Value of Authenticity: Hobbies and Extracurriculars
Lastly, don’t underestimate the power of extracurricular activities. Those few lines on your CV reveal more about your authentic self than the rest of your resume combined.
I still remember interviewing with Merrill Lynch for a trading position. At the time, I was into extreme sports and mentioned that I windsurfed competitively. My interviewer, however, played chess. And when you think about it, that makes perfect sense for pricing stocks and strategizing in trading.
The takeaway? Pay attention to those three lines about your hobbies and languages—they demonstrate who you really are and your openness to the world.
At the end of the day, we’re looking for individuals who bring a balance of confidence, humility, intellectual curiosity, and an entrepreneurial spirit. These qualities not only make you a great consultant but also set you up to make a meaningful impact on your clients and the world.
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