From Chemistry to Consulting

Pia Götze (pictured left), 31 years old, has a PhD in chemistry. She has been with the Boston Consulting Group ( BCG ) for more than 4 years now. Interviewed by Next Wave Germany Editor Eick von Ruschkowski, she discussed her career transition from chemistry into the consulting business.

Read this article in German .

Next Wave: Tell us about your academic background.

Götze: After completing secondary (Gymnasium) school, I began studying chemistry in Göttingen in 1990. At that time, I was also thinking about getting a degree in law or medicine, but I eventually decided in favour of chemistry because I wanted to go into the natural sciences. I pursued portions of my studies in Paris before finishing my degree in Göttingen.

Next Wave: And you began work on your doctorate immediately afterward?

Götze: Yes, I was given the opportunity to do my PhD thesis in organic chemistry in Prof. Tietze's group. My PhD project dealt with the development and synthesis of cytotoxic prodrugs as new chemotherapeutics for cancer treatment and their in vitro testing.

Next Wave: Were you already considering your move into consulting at that time?

Götze: Not immediately; it was a longer process. During my final PhD year, I started thinking about my career: What will come after the PhD? What choices are out there for me? Basically, there were two traditional career paths: an academic career, meaning to stay at the university and to do a postdoc, or to look for a job in industry.

Next Wave: And these options were not appealing to you?

Götze: I took time to weigh these options carefully and decided against both of them in the end. I didn't want to stay within academia. The university system overall, but from a junior researcher's perspective in particular, didn't seem to be attractive at all. I also didn't really care for the idea of being a "token woman." On the other hand, getting a job in industry wasn't a real alternative. Several of my university colleagues were working in industry, and their reports made me rather sceptical. The bottom line was that although I was a thoroughbred chemist, I didn't think I'd be able to realise my personal goals in either academia or industry.

Next Wave: What kind of goals were these?

Götze: In the course of my doctoral studies, I realised that it's not the topic or the content of my work that I find most fascinating; rather it is an exciting, varied position with interesting and highly motivated colleagues. Additionally, I was looking for challenging projects that would allow me to grow and acquire more skills over time. And I wanted a job in which I could make a difference and have an impact within a company.

Next Wave: How did you go about looking for a job after these things became clear to you?

Götze: I participated in a workshop that was organised by McKinsey, a well-known management consultancy. It was a taster course to find out what consultants actually do. As a participant, you "play" at being a consultant for 2 days. After this workshop, I recognized that this career would be a viable option for me. So, I started to look around for the names in this business--as a chemist, I didn't know too much about consulting firms! A little later, I went to a second workshop. This one, run by BCG, was about strategic consultancy. And I discovered that this was absolutely my thing to do.

Next Wave: Did you have any reservations about making your move?

Götze: Of course. It is a major step to leave chemistry. But I really took the time to consider it carefully and was looking forward to the new challenge. I had already signed the contract before I left the lab to write my thesis.

Next Wave: Many people are not really familiar with the term "consulting." Can you explain what a consultant actually does?

Götze: At BCG, we support the management of companies as they try to develop innovative strategies that will give them an edge over their competitors, resulting in increased revenues. More precisely, in most projects, we work on accessing new markets, improving industrial processes, or the realignment of the companies' business segments.

Next Wave: How many consultants usually work on a project?

Götze: As a basic rule, we work in teams. Typically, a team consists of a so-called partner, who is responsible for acquiring projects and is the primary contact for the client, together with a project leader and, in most cases, three to four consultants who work on different aspects of the project. The individual team members come from diverse backgrounds, such as two management experts, an engineer, and a physicist--25% of BCG's consultants are scientists and about 10% have their background in social sciences and the humanities. The variety of different perspectives is very inspiring when you are trying to develop new ideas. The typical duration of a project is 3 to 4 months. After that, the teams will be changed completely. Because of this, a new project sometimes makes you feel like you have just changed your job: Everything is new--the client, the industrial sector, the problem, and especially the people you deal with.

Next Wave: How closely do you work together with the clients?

Götze: Very closely. In a typical working week, you'll be at the client's from Monday until Thursday. In many cases, you'll have your own desk there. Friday is usually spent in your own office.

Next Wave: Are your projects always in the chemical industry because of your background?

Götze: Not necessarily. I spent my first 6 months with BCG in the chemical industry. The advantage of that is that you feel secure because you know the terms. But after that, I was assigned to a project in industrial goods. I wanted this because one of my goals was to broaden my horizons. Since then, I have been on projects in high tech, consumer goods, and for an airport. The spectrum is quite broad.

Next Wave: You have already given us a basic idea of consulting work. What do prospective consultants have to keep in mind?

Götze: Well, as I have said, it's really normal that you'll be travelling to the client Monday morning. This can be anywhere in Germany or Europe. After the work is done, you usually return Thursday evening. The time you spend on the job is well above average, and this is one issue on which everyone considering a career in consulting has to make a personal decision: Do they really want to do this? A 60-hour week is normal; before important meetings with the client, it might well be more. The job of a consultant requires outstanding dedication--but you will also get the reward in the form of personal development.

Next Wave: Does that mean a consultant doesn't have a life besides the job?

Götze: It has a lot to do with time management. I always try to keep my weekends free. And except for rare exceptions, this works very well.

Next Wave: How can someone discover if he or she is made of the right stuff to be a consultant?

Götze: First of all, a lot of information is available on the companies' Web sites. They also contain sample projects which allow you to get a first impression. It also doesn't hurt to go to one of the road shows at the universities. Other than that, seminars and workshops are a good opportunity, but you'll have to apply for them. It is very important that anyone interested gets their own personal impressions of all the firms.

Next Wave: Which qualifications are desirable? Do you have to have a PhD?

Götze: BCG puts weight on an outstanding university degree, job experience in the form of internships--ideally with relevance to management and economics--and stays abroad. An applicant should also be able to prove that he or she has been engaged in more than just studying. A PhD is not a necessary requirement at BCG, but it can be helpful--as can an MBA. But the applicant's personality is at least as much a deciding factor as academic qualifications. As a consultant, you shouldn't only like to deal with numbers, but with people as well. Therefore, we emphasise team orientation and communication skills. Last but not least, every single applicant has to prove that they cannot only develop new ideas, but that they also have the energy and the endurance to really implement changes for our clients. Incidentally, my last recommendation for potential applicants in the final stage of their studies or their PhD is to apply for an internship with one of the consulting firms. They all offer them, and they are the best way to pick up the culture of the consulting business firsthand.

Next Wave: Dr Götze, thank you for sharing this information with us.