Top Five Tips for New Employees Joining a Consulting Firm

“What do you do for a living?” In the Washington, D.C. area, this is a commonly asked question. And,  “consulting” and “Government” are frequent responses. Consulting continues to be a sought-after job for industry veterans, those entering the workforce, and some looking for a career change.

Consulting can mean many different things, depending on the company. At Arc Aspicio, we have a very specific client-centered approach to consulting. We also have a very strong and shared culture.

Arc Aspicio is unique in that it embodies the organization, professionalism, and brand of a large consulting firm, while preserving the personal camaraderie of a smaller company. This provides new employees with a set of unique opportunities that are not available at most other companies. These include a high level of internal company involvement and exposure to mission-critical projects earlier in an employee’s career than would be possible at a larger firm.

Fast forward to my first day at Arc Aspicio: a blur of orientation “modules”, company knowledge, and matching faces to names. However, I quickly integrated into the company, and now several months in, I am becoming more involved and fascinated with our work each day.

I offer some tips for new joiners to take full advantage of the many opportunities. New joiners should focus on integrating and developing themselves within the company as extensively and quickly as possible. New employees should:

• Be proactive on learning the mission and goals of your client and project. Learn as much as possible as quickly as possible, so you can make an immediate impact
• Cultivate a relationship with your mentor. Your mentor works on another project and is available to help you navigate and learn about the company and opportunities
• Identify two or three internal involvement opportunities you want to be a part of – recruiting, strategic initiatives, proposals, or community service – and reach out to get involved
• Accept lunch and happy hour invitations to foster relationships with employees across the company
• Ask for help whenever you need it, then offer help to others who join in the future

In my few months here, I have already contributed to an internal strategic initiative and worked on an interesting proposal. As a result, I can confidently say that I feel more at home with Arc Aspicio than I have at any other consulting firm.

Our company prides itself on being a consulting firm – not simply a contractor. We focus on strategy, foster a common culture, invest in the professional development of our employees, and offer opportunities for internal involvement immediately. As a result, our employees are able to better serve our clients while simultaneously building their own personal skills from day one.