What's your job about?
Nous Group is an international management consulting firm operating in Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada. We work with public and private sector organisations in all different kinds of sectors such as health, human services, education, sustainable development, and defence.
It can be difficult to explain exactly what we do, and it’s a running joke in the office that consultants never know how to explain what they do to their family and friends. In simple terms, I usually explain it as “solving complex problems for clients”. Some projects I’ve worked on include evaluating a federal funding agreement, developing a national plan, and scoping operational models for collaboration between two organisations. Each project is inherently different.
As a consultant, my job is to work with my project team to complete the work needed to deliver what the client needs. My work varies day-to-day, but it can include conducting desktop research, creating PowerPoint presentations, writing reports, running workshops or consultations, collecting project data and analysing data. We also work on tasks to help develop business and ‘win’ work for the company, which includes contributing to writing proposals to submit to potential clients. I also like to participate in office activities, such as organising multicultural events to raise cultural awareness and positivity in the office. The latest one was a Lunar New Year lunch, which included a variety of delicious Asian foods and red pockets with chocolate money for everyone. Now I’m onto planning the next event. Stay tuned!
What's your background?
I was born and raised in the suburbs of South-West Sydney in the family home my parents bought when they migrated from Vietnam to Australia in the 1990s. After finishing high school, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. Since I liked food and exercise, I decided to enrol in a combined degree of exercise sport science and dietetics. I completed the 5-year degree and graduated with a Master of Nutrition and Dietetics in 2021 to become an Accredited Practising Dietitian. I dived straight into job hunting and got several jobs working in disability, private practice, and health promotion. Although I liked working in health and with different clients, I decided that the clinical world was not for me.
I had conversations with my colleagues and mentor, which spurred some thinking about what else a dietitian could do outside of the clinical world. I realised that there were many transferable skills that allied health professionals have, including research skills, people skills, problem-solving and critical thinking. That is when I applied for Nous’ graduate role. Prior to doing some research, I had no idea what management consulting was, and I thought I needed a business or commerce degree.
I reached out to some high school friends who were working in management consulting, and they helped me prepare for the interview questions and case studies. I started in October 2022 at the Nous Sydney office, and I’m currently rapidly approaching my six-month anniversary.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Definitely! Coming in as a dietitian, I thought I was a fish out of water in the corporate world. I was proven wrong and was so surprised by the diverse backgrounds and experiences of all my colleagues. I’ve met psychologists, engineers, lawyers, doctors, radiographers, scientists, professional athletes, musicians, PhD students... just to name a few.
I’ve learnt that the skills, attitude, and life experience that you bring to the job are more important than your educational background. Along with any transferrable skills you may have, a curious mind and willingness to learn and ‘lean in’ for any challenge are key.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
The coolest thing about my job is getting the opportunity to see how things work behind the scenes that you usually wouldn’t be able to see outside of management consulting. For example, I was able to interview stakeholders for a project which provided insight into the Federal Government’s COVID-19 response. I could see the complex processes and amount of work that went into the national response to COVID-19. I think the positive impact of our projects is also cool, it’s always rewarding to see a report that you’ve worked on published online or have your recommendations implemented to create change.
What are the limitations of your job?
Sometimes I’ll need to work longer hours. The number of hours I work each day will vary based on the tasks I need to complete and their deadlines. For example, I may be working extra hours each day leading up to the final deliverable being due to a client. Things can be fast-paced, and you may need to pivot quickly to adapt to changes in the project timeline, scope, or deliverables. However, it is good practice to ensure that you are not consistently working excessive hours to avoid ‘burnout’ and reach out for help if you need it.
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