#13: BCG Consultant: How Software Engineers Can Outsmart the Tech Recession

Today, I talk with Kelly — a former BCG Project Leader who worked at Goldman Sachs and BCG before walking away at 25 after managing teams most people don't lead until their mid-30s. We dive into the strategies that helped her break into elite consulting: from leveraging coffee chats to land accelerated offers, to the communication frameworks and interview techniques that separate candidates who get hired from those who don't. We also break down what management consulting actually is, how AI is reshaping the industry, what it's really like working 60+ hour weeks with hourly deadlines, and why software engineers should consider consulting as a career path. If you're a CS student, software engineer, or anyone looking to accelerate their tech career through networking, interviewing, and strategic positioning, this episode of the SWE Accelerator Podcast is a must-listen.

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I’m Aman Manazir, a career coach and software engineer. I interned at companies like Amazon, Shopify, and HP in college, and the day I graduated I landed a $168,000/year* full-time software engineering job. I help you make it as a computer science student & software engineer and get your dream job offer.

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⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro 
01:18 – Kelly's Background: From Canada to Goldman Sachs
04:03 – What is Management Consulting? Breaking Down BCG
05:54 – Types of Companies Consulting Firms Work With
06:54 – Can Anyone Get Into Consulting? Background Requirements
07:58 – Why Computer Science Majors Should Consider Consulting
10:00 – AI's Impact on the Consulting Job Market
12:59 – Software Engineering Accelerator 
13:53 – How Consulting Projects Actually Work (Entry-Level Perspective)
16:35 – ChatGPT Deep Research & The Future of Consulting Work
17:58 – Day in the Life of a Consultant
21:09 – The Reality of 55-70 Hour Work Weeks
23:25 – Hourly Deadlines & Same-Day Delivery Culture
24:51 – Managing 1000s of Messages Per Day as a Consultant
26:30 – Managing a Team at 25: Kelly's Fast-Track Promotion Story
28:22 – What is a Coffee Chat? (Definition for Tech/SWE Students)
30:19 – Coffee Chats: The "LeetCode" of Networking for Consultants
34:59 – Why SWE Students Are Under-Utilizing Coffee Chats
35:49 – How to Stand Out to Hiring Managers (From Someone Who Interviewed 200+ Candidates)
37:27 – Tactics to Maximize Your Coffee Chats
40:04 – Making People Feel Like Experts: The Interview Approach
42:09 – Networking for People Who Hate Small Talk
44:12 – How to Ask Smart Questions Even When You're Lost
46:55 – What Separates Candidates Who Get Offers from Those Who Don't
49:09 – The STAR Method: Common Mistakes to Avoid
50:37 – Beyond STAR: Adding Impact & Philosophy to Interview Answers
52:44 – Communication Frameworks Consultants Use (That SWE Students Should Learn)
55:07 – Zoom Out, Zoom In, Zoom Forward Framework
58:31 – What Do You Think About Quiet Quitting?
58:53 – The Great Lock-In: Gen Z's Shift from Quiet Quitting to Locking In
1:00:43 – Gen Z in the Workforce: A Millennial's Perspective
1:02:15 – Millennials vs Gen Z: Different Approaches to Work & Rules
1:04:42 – Social Media's Impact on Generational Work Styles
1:05:52 – Advice for Burnt-Out 22-Year-Old Software Engineers
1:08:57 – Where to Connect with Kelly (Sunday Chats on Instagram)
1:09:40 – Outro