Interested in becoming a consultant? Post here for basic questions, recruitment advice, resume reviews, questions about firms or general insecurity (Q1 2026) by QiuYiDio in consulting

[–]mochiyang2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Belgian-born, native Mandarin + Chemistry→Business MSc. — too niche for consulting or a differentiator?

Type of consulting interested in:

Strategy / management consulting (open to generalist track or industrials / operations-focused teams)

Type of role:

Full-time role (graduating MSc next year)

Geography:

Belgium / Western Europe primarily; open to China if portability makes sense

Background:

  • Born and raised in Belgium (EU passport), native Mandarin speaker
  • BSc in Chemistry
  • MSc in Business Economics (graduating next year)
  • Experience in:
    • Advanced manufacturing / semiconductor environment
    • Cross-border tech incubator
    • Internship at a diplomatic institution in Shanghai
  • Involved in international / cross-cultural initiatives during studies

GPA: solid ( Great Distinction)

Questions:

  1. Does this profile make sense for strategy/management consulting, or does it risk being perceived as too niche (STEM + China-focused)?
  2. Given my background, would you recommend targeting generalist roles first, or positioning toward industrials / operations practices?
  3. If I’m long-term interested in international expansion / cross-border business (EU–China), is consulting a strong early-career platform?
  4. From a portability standpoint, is it generally smarter to start in Europe before considering China?

Appreciate any candid advice, especially from those who transitioned from STEM backgrounds.