About
Name: Travis Hoskins
Nationality: Trinidadian
Programme: MBA 2016
Education: BSc Chemical Engineering, Howard University, USA
Current role: Director, Alvarez & Marsal, Houston, USA. Ex-Mckinsey.
Pre-MBA role: On-site Process Engineer, Siemens Energy
What was your professional experience before the MBA?
For 8 years prior to the MBA, I worked at Siemens in Houston as a chemical engineer in oil and gas consulting. We consulted for refineries making sure they operated safely. It was a really interesting experience.
What led you to do the MBA?
In my work as an engineer. I learned how to be analytical and how to break down problems and solve them, but I always felt like I was missing something. I felt like I wasn’t able to make proper business decisions because I didn’t have that training. I could figure out a problem if you gave me a week to solve it, but I couldn’t relate to the business implications of a decision.
Which aspects of the Cambridge programme attracted you?
I loved the practical element of the course that allowed you to apply what you’re learning immediately. The second aspect was that the Business School is really close to a lot of venture capitalist and a lot of entrepreneurial communities, and that really attracted me. I had a background in oil and gas, and I was interested in consulting, but I just wanted to have the opportunity to explore entrepreneurship too. The third thing that attracted me was the opportunity was to be surrounded by so many smart and brilliant people in Cambridge!
What were your career goals during the MBA?
I had been interested in McKinsey for several years before my MBA – that’s when I first applied to McKinsey. I really liked the brand image of the company, but more importantly the projects they work on.
When I started the MBA, I had a few options planned out, with different firms such as BCG and Roland Berger. I interviewed first with BCG in December and I was literally the first one out of the gate. I was the first one to get rejected too! Then I went to a networking event that McKinsey had at Cambridge Judge in November and I met a recruiter there.
What did you do to achieve the switch to consulting?
It’s so important to be fully prepared. I started preparing even before I even started the MBA. I had probably done about 40 cases before I came to CJBS. I knew coming in that I wanted to apply to consulting firms. The Careers team and coaches also helped me a lot, specifically with aligning my personal experience with the needs of the company and role.
Also, I was the president of the Consulting Club and I ran weekly sessions on Sunday. So, it helped me that I was teaching people how to do it while also practicing case studies.
So, probably over the year I’ve done close to 100 cases. It’s not a large number, really. I had friends on 2-year programme MBA programmes, and in my opinion, anywhere between 40 to 60 cases is a recommended number to really understand the process. Some people are different. Some people don’t need a lot of cases, but in my case, I enjoy the process.
What advice would you have for others seeking a consulting career?
First of all, start your job search early! Make a list of the companies you’re interested in and start reaching out to people there before you start the programme.
Secondly, be persistent. Don’t be unsettled by rejections, but learn from them. I would also advise being very targeted in your job search. List those companies you really want to apply for and focus on those, rather than a scatter-gun approach.
And lastly, work on developing a support network, whether it’s the careers team, friends who have gone through the interview process, alumni. I tapped into all 3 and I think that really helped me. I was well prepared, but having classmates around who were available almost anytime to practice my cases with really took me up a level.
Travis Hoskins, Cambridge MBA alumnus (MBA 2016) made the sought-after career change from engineering to consulting after his MBA. How did he prepare for the recruitment process and to what does he attribute his success in being offered a role with McKinsey? What was your background before the MBA? I'm originally from Trinidad and Tobago, and did my undergrad and graduate degrees in the USA. For eight years prior to the MBA, I worked at Siemens AG in Houston, as a chemical engineer in oil and gas consulting. It was a really interesting experience to see the high importance that oil and gas companies put on safe process engineering. Why did you do an MBA? In my work as an engineer, I learned how to be analytical, how to break down problems and how to solve them. However, I always felt like I was missing something – I wasn't able to make business decisions because I didn't have that training. I could figure out a technical engineering problem, but I could not yet fully relate to the business implications of subsequent decisions. Why did the Cambridge MBA programme attract you? I loved the practical element of the MBA that allowed us to apply what…