Fall 2023 EngAGement Series - Navigating the Analyst Application Process

Main ideas, concepts, and lessons conveyed

Purpose of the session (Fall 2023 EngAGement Series)

• Explain how to navigate AG’s (Analysis Group) analyst application process.
• Cover both:
  • Full-time and intern (summer) analyst roles
  • Analyst General and Analyst Healthcare positions
• Provide guidance on:
  • What the roles involve
  • Who they’re looking for
  • How to apply successfully

Role overview: What an “Analyst” does at AG

• Analysts (intern and full-time) work across multiple projects and practice areas/industries simultaneously.
• The work is varied and intellectually stimulating, with exposure to:
  • Data sets
  • Unique topics
• Analysts contribute throughout the life cycle of cases (from inception to filing).
• Depending on case needs, analysts may:
  • Use statistical programming languages and analyze data sets
  • Conduct literature reviews
  • Draft study reports and help present findings
  • Attend client meetings (and other team activities not listed)
• Collaboration is emphasized:
  • Analysts work with other analysts, senior analysts, associates, managers, VPs, and partners
• AG uses an internal labor market for full-time staffing, enabling candidates to be placed on cases aligned with interests.

Practice area split

• Healthcare analyst roles are within the H (epidemiology in market access) practice area.
• General analyst roles are within general economics consulting.

Qualities and eligibility criteria AG seeks

Education requirements

• Full-time / analyst roles
  • Candidates pursuing bachelor’s or master’s
  • GPA ≥ 3.3 (most recent degree)
• Healthcare
  • Slight preference for master’s students, but undergrads may still be considered
• Intern / summer analyst
  • Preferred: juniors
  • Or students between year 1 and year 2 of an MS program

Typical majors mentioned

• Biostats, computer science, economics, environmental health policy, epidemiology, finance, health econ, and other listed majors
• Participants were advised to read job descriptions, since differences exist between general vs. healthcare.

Skills/traits emphasized

• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication
• Interest/experience in statistical programming and data analysis
• Ability to work independently and on teams
• Passion for using data & analytics to solve client challenges (economic/financial/business)
• Analytical, quantitative, organizational skills
• Strong academics and attention to detail
• Desire to continuously learn and grow in a training-heavy environment

Locations, remote work, and visa support

• AG has 14 offices across 6 countries.
• Healthcare practice is limited to specific offices:
  • Boston, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Menlo Park, Montreal, London, Beijing
  • Healthcare opportunities are not available outside these offices.
• Remote work
  • Center of gravity is in-person
  • Employees may work 1–2 days/week remotely
  • Full remote may be possible case-by-case
  • Summer interns are expected to be in the office 3–4 days/week
• Application Office preference
  • Applicants can select up to three offices
  • Assign weighted percentages totaling 100%
  • Use a notes section for constraints or flexibility
  • Routing logic: if the top office can’t hire, application may move to the next preference
• Visa sponsorship/immigration support
  • Provided via a dedicated immigration and mobility team
  • Requirement noted: applicants needing sponsorship must have STEM degrees

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Methodology / step-by-step instructions (as described)

A) How to prepare your application

Use the cover letter strategically

• It is “pretty significant” in the review.
• Tailor to AG (avoid generic templates like “replace company name”).
• Explicitly connect your experience to the AG analyst role.
• Include specific examples such as:
  • Relevant organizations
  • Classes
  • Programming languages
  • Skills learned from internships or other experiences

Ensure accuracy

• Proofread the cover letter and materials carefully.
• Emphasis: submit an application that is error-free (attention to detail).

Match your background to the job

• Check alignment for:
  • General vs healthcare
  • Full-time vs internship

B) Application submission basics (what to include)

• Apply through AG’s website.
• Full-time application requires:
  • Resume
  • Cover letter
  • Unofficial transcripts
    • If in a bachelor’s + master’s path: transcripts from both programs
• Summer internship application requires:
  • Resume
  • Cover letter
  • Unofficial transcripts
    • At bachelor’s level and/or master’s level depending on where you are
• Writing sample
  • Not required
  • The cover letter is the key evaluated component

C) Office ranking process

• Select up to three offices.
• Assign weighted preference percentages that total 100%.
• Add constraints in the additional notes section (if applicable).
• Keep preferences honest and consistent; if preferences change, notify recruiting contact.

D) Interview process flow (high-level)

General sequence

• Application review → first-round interviews → final-round interviews → offer decisions

First-round interview

• Typically virtual
• Held during September–November
• Duration: about 30 minutes
• Format: behavioral-based (no case study questions were stated)
• Expect questions about:
  • Technical/quantitative ability
  • Behavioral topics

Final-round interview

• Primarily in person (virtual possible depending on circumstances)
• Meeting with approximately 3–5 consultants
• Behavioral interviews
• Flexible based on office/schedule

Timelines

• After first-round: feedback within about 2 weeks
• After final-round: offer decision within about 3 weeks

E) Summer internship timeline and eligibility (as described)

• Typical summer internship duration: 10 weeks
• Typical dates: June–August

Eligibility framing

• Applicants are typically ~1 year before graduation, such as:
  • Graduating spring or summer 2025
  • Or graduating early (e.g., December 2024 for Summer Analyst 2024 cycle)

Intern work

• Real casework, staffed on at least one case
• Interaction with consultants daily across levels

Training and development

• Technical and soft-skill training
• Practice area overviews
• Social programming
• Mid- and end-of-summer performance evaluations

Return offer

• Interns are evaluated for full-time return offers
• Many interns receive return offers and return as full-time the next year

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Key dates and posting notes mentioned

• 2024 start date cycle
  • General analyst and summer analyst applications: open on the website
  • Healthcare application: not live yet; expected later in fall (also referenced as “next few weeks” / “next month or so”)
• Summer internship interviews
  • Start mid-October for the posted summer analyst role
• Full-time and summer interview months
  • First-round interviews: September–November (virtual)
• Summer internship interviews for healthcare
  • Not posted yet
  • Interviews set for January–February
  • Internship still runs June–August

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Questions addressed during Q&A (main takeaways)

• Can you apply to both healthcare and generalist?

  • Yes, you can apply to both, but they will likely consider you for the one that best matches your skills.
  • Healthcare posting may come later; attendees were advised not to wait if interested—apply when it opens.

• Can you apply to both full-time and internship?

  • Summer internship is for students the year before graduation (juniors, or MS year 1–2).
  • If you graduate “this spring,” they recommend applying to full-time.
  • Eligibility was confirmed for the scenario discussed (Bachelor’s 2024 → 1-year master’s → eligible for summer analyst).

• When do start dates happen after full-time offers?

  • Typically reach out in spring with start date options aligned to office and candidate needs.
  • December graduates may start earlier in spring; recruiting coordinates with the office.

• Support for employees who want a master’s after undergrad

  • Graduate school workshops (for analysts with 3+ years tenure)
  • Mock interview experiences
  • Part-time degree programs while continuing full-time work
  • Sponsored return offers for high performers to leave for master’s and return as an associate

• Unofficial transcripts not available by deadline

  • If transcripts can’t be provided in time:
    • Submit a screenshot or list of enrolled classes
    • Later add midterm info per school policy via recruiting inbox/contact

• Writing sample

  • Not evaluated/required (cover letter is key)

• Geographic preferences

  • Important for routing—encouraged to be honest
  • Can be explained in cover letter and also ranked via weighted percentages

• Rolling deadlines

  • After published deadlines, review may proceed on a rolling basis
  • Specific deadlines appear once roles post

• Work authorization / visa sponsorship

  • AG sponsors applicable work authorization
  • Sponsorship requires STEM degrees

• Candidates with ~1 year of work experience

  • Not the most common, but considered

• Cover letter length

  • Recommendation: about one page to one and a half pages

• AG culture and differentiators

  • Collaboration, hands-on training
  • Internal labor market staffing model
  • Minimal travel (most work in office)
  • Strong technical training resources, including “AGU” (internal learning platform)

• MBA/PhD applicants

  • Guidance: apply for associate role when posted
  • Summer analyst or analyst likely not the best fit for PhD background (per what was stated)

• Technical testing during interviews

  • Interviews are behavioral; no case tests/quizzes stated
  • You may be asked to walk through research/data projects

• If you already submitted an application and want to change something

  • You can log back into the system and update cover letter/resume

• Healthcare-specific follow-up

  • Healthcare application not posted yet
  • Attendees directed to a healthcare interactive case session tomorrow night for more detail

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Speakers / sources featured (identified)

• D Roberts — Recruiter, Analysis Group
• Kaye KY — Recruiting team member, Analysis Group
• Jake mul — Recruiting team member, Analysis Group
• “AG” / Analysis Group website — referenced for job descriptions, office info, and application materials
• Immigration and Mobility team at AG — referenced as providing visa/work authorization support
• Recruiting team / consultants (general references) — interviewers mentioned as “consultants,” but not individually named