Jesse Martin graduated from UNC in 2020 with a PharmD. He was interviewed by Amelia Bulivant in January 2022 when he was a Consultant at Clearview Healthcare Partners.
What does a typical day look like for you?
Days are quite variable in terms of what needs to be done. We have a single staffing model, so I am only on one project at a time. Our cycle in terms of client check-ins is typically weekly. Our project duration varies from 3 weeks to 6 plus months. This will influence what a day looks like.
My day consists of a lot of independent work and focused time to do my work. Primary research is a large component, so a lot of calls with physicians, payers, and other experts. We typically check in with leadership once a week. My day starts anywhere from 8-10 am and goes a little bit later into the evening. My day always begins with looking at what we are trying to accomplish.
How much traveling do you do as a consultant at Clearview?
Zero travel. However, I did start during COVID in 2020. Historically, the expectation is to be on site for a final or mid-term presentation.
How does your job affect your general lifestyle? How is work-life balance as a consultant?
It varies greatly. For the most part, weekends are protected, which is nice. I typically do not make many plans for the evenings during the week because it fluctuates. When I sign off, work can vary anywhere from 7:00 pm all the way to occasionally 10 pm. For example, if you are trying to get a document done for a client meeting, it will be a later night. It fluctuates based on the project. Longer projects have less work weekly, and shorter projects have a heavier workload upfront in a shorter amount of time.
How did you prepare for the consulting interview process?
In 2018, I participated in UNC’s case workshop. This workshop marked the official kickoff for preparation for me, which was a year and a half ahead of interviewing. The first thing I did was sharpen up my resume, then introduced myself to casing by watching people complete them and then practicing on my own and with others. I did about maybe 15-20 total practice cases throughout the preparation process.
What do you feel are the most effective strategies for successfully seeking a position in consulting?
The demand right now for life sciences consultants is incredibly high. Not to say that the standards have gone down. There is just a lot of need for consultants in this space. The first metric we use to assess candidates is a resume review. So, I would advise getting people in the consulting field to review your resume.
Make sure you have things on your resume to suggest a long-standing interest in consulting. Getting your resume in front of someone is a function of networking and luck. Do informational interviews with people in consulting firms and have your ‘why consulting’ pitch ready when you talk to them. When interviewing, my advice is to keep in mind that this is a client-centered industry, and you are representing the firm, so it is important that you come across as competent and are well-spoken. Your ability to do the work is not questioned, but you need to prove your communication abilities. This is an essential component being assessed in the behavioral and case interviews.
What skills, abilities, and personal attributes are essential for success in consulting?
Oral communication is a crucial skill. Teamwork and being able to work well with others are also important. Cultural fit is also being assessed in interviews. Being able to communicate an understanding in the life sciences industry is also important. The last one is your ‘why consulting’ rationale. You need to demonstrate that you have done the homework and know what you are getting into.
Thanks to Jesse for spending time with us to learn more about his experiences! If you’re interested in following his footsteps, you can visit the website of the GBCC. You could also reach out to him via LinkedIn.