Isaac Cruz

Isaac Cruz

Isaac is currently an Associate at Strategy&, PwC's strategy consulting arm. He has worked on various projects, including financial services, professional services, and federal government. Whilst at ANU, Isaac engaged with various programs run by the CBE, including the CBE Internship Program and the CBE Global Business Immersion to Sweden and the UK. He was also involved in the local chapter of the world's largest run youth organisation, AIESEC. He is passionate about self-development and is currently a mentor for the CBE Special Industry Project Program. In his free time, he enjoys playing board games and solving escape rooms with his friends.

Strategy consulting is a very demanding profession. Your view?

Yes, strategy consulting is challenging, but I am fortunate in that the firm I currently work for (Strategy&), has always placed my personal and professional development at the core of my work experience to date.

My colleagues and the teams I've worked in have been supportive and I am enabled to perform to my best because of the guidance and one to one coaching provided by my seniors.

It's all about effective communication with both your teammates and clients, to ensure the demands of the profession are met, without sacrificing either quality or timeliness.

Your top tips on thriving in assessment centres for graduate programs?

1. Understand the problem: It's easy to get caught up in the moment and want to contribute immediately, but I find that taking a step back to first understand what is being asked of you helped me frame my responses well. You should be able to demonstrate core skills that are being assessed against, including critical thinking, effective communication, and time management.

2. Read the room: I found that 'soft skills' were a great help in standing out in Assessment Centres. Being empathetic, understanding group dynamics, and challenging ideas without coming across as abrasive helped me succeed in assessment centres. Don't forget to contribute though! If you don't say anything, recruiters won't be able to assess you!

3. Have fun: My inner nerd always found the problems and questions raised during Assessment Centres engaging. I find that being intellectually curious enabled me to think creatively, while also allowing me to contribute to group discussions. I find establishing rapport with other attendees and recruiters helped calm my nerves, while allowing me to enjoy the challenge an Assessment Centre brings.