Consulting remains one of the most lucrative paths for MBA grads—but the industry is grappling with how artificial intelligence can reshape its people model, Bloomberg writes.
MBA grads who land jobs at consulting firms can earn some of the highest starting salaries available, according to data collected by Bloomberg Businessweek for its annual business school rankings. Class of 2025 MBA grads who took jobs in consulting had a median starting salary plus bonus of $205,310—21% higher than the median compensation overall.
But if the economy as a whole is being shaken by artificial intelligence, with technology being able to perform much of the research, synthesis and analysis that consultants often do, will consulting firms need to employ as many analysts? Will as many clients need to hire consulting firms?
Experts say that despite the shake-up, firms are not drastically reimagining their ideal candidates—rather, they’re mainly homing in on judgment and interpersonal skills.
“The biggest message so far from the consulting companies is that consulting is about becoming a trusted adviser,” says Stephen Pidgeon, executive director of career services at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. “So they’re still very much looking for people who can work within a team in a stressful situation.”
Consulting firms want candidates who understand how to use AI to synthesize data and then generate insights—and then differentiate their recommendations from what the clients could generate through using AI on their own.
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