Recruiting Journeys | Nonprofit Consulting: Alex Grassby ’24, CSS Fundraising
Alex Grassby ’24 used her time at SOM to transition into an impact consulting role at a firm that helps nonprofits fundraise effectively.
In this series, recent Yale SOM graduates break down the recruiting process that led them to their current roles.
What does the recruiting process look like in your field?
I’m at the intersection of two fields right now, consulting and nonprofit. Because of that, I didn’t follow the traditional consulting recruiting path. I worked at PwC Canada before SOM and returned to the firm for my summer internship, which meant I started recruiting for full-time jobs in my second year.
I found my role that spring, through an SOM networking event in New York City that featured employers across different industries. The CSS people I met were really lovely, and the company sounded interesting. After the event, I started keeping an eye out for open roles and reached out to the recruiting officer I’d met there, who chatted with me a few times. Later I learned that although those chats were informal, they were effectively an early part of the interview process.
CSS does just-in-time recruiting, so they reached out to me around graduation asking me to apply to a role that needed filling quickly. I did two behavioral interviews by phone, during which I answered questions about my background and the way I worked. Then I completed a case study, which included a PowerPoint presentation and a written memo, over four days. The whole process took less than a month; I received my offer by the end of June, and started shortly after.
Which SOM resources helped you the most during the recruiting process?
Because of my job situation, I used the CDO much more in my second year than my first. Rachel Ryan was a godsend for keeping me accountable. About once every two weeks, I’d schedule a meeting either to talk about strategy or to force myself to make progress on my own.
I reached out to a lot of SOM alums for coffee chats while I was recruiting. They didn’t always have tangible job leads, but they gave me really sound advice, and they were invested in seeing where I eventually ended up.
Which SOM classes best prepared you for your current role?
Impact Measurement was a great class. In addition to learning the actual tools and accounting processes that measure impact, the conversations in class were really helpful and prepared me for the conversations I’m participating in now. The courses Strategic Leadership Across Sectors and Strategic Communication: Delivering Effective Presentations also taught me how to talk and relate to a broad array of people.
Learn about SOM’s Consulting Club and Net Impact Club, and visit our consulting and social impact information hubs.
What advice would you give to current students recruiting in impact consulting?
This field is relatively niche, so it’s easy to get an understanding of the main players and dig deep into different companies and roles. If this is an area you’re interested in, use every opportunity and resource to learn what each firm does and the differences between them. It’s also helpful to know where you want to go after your first job. For example, my current role would set me up well to go into development work, but if I wanted a different kind of career it might not be the most logical step.
Anecdotally, I know that CSS and other firms are growing wicked fast. So if you’re interested in consulting but the traditional firms aren’t your jam, there’s a ton of opportunity in this sector—that’s really exciting.
