Junior Consultant

Not every graduate role accelerates your career. Some simply fill your time.

If you are looking for a serious start — where responsibility comes early and your growth curve is steep — keep reading.

Junior Consultant (Graduate Program)

Begin Your Career Where Your Growth Curve Is Steep

H.C. Bonum is a trusted advisory and consulting firm partnering with organizations across Africa during critical moments of growth and change. We help leaders develop, teams strengthen how they work together, and cultures evolve to support sustained performance. Clients call on us when the work is consequential — during leadership transitions, organizational transformation, strategy execution, and periods of rapid growth. They rely on us not only for insight, but for sound judgment, professional credibility, and the ability to engage thoughtfully in complex environments.

As our work continues to expand, we are seeking high-potential graduates ready to begin their careers in a firm defined by professional excellence, responsibility, and continuous development. This is not a routine entry-level role. It is an apprenticeship in consulting — designed for individuals who want to build capability quickly, develop strong judgment, and grow into trusted advisors over time.

The Kind of Professional We Are Looking to Develop

We are not simply hiring analysts.

We are developing future advisors.

Success in this role requires more than intellectual strength. It calls for individuals who can think clearly, engage confidently, and contribute meaningfully in professional environments.

You are likely to thrive here if you are:

• Intellectually curious and analytically capable
• Comfortable structuring ambiguous problems
• Clear and professional in your communication
• Reliable and disciplined in execution
• Receptive to feedback and committed to growth
• Comfortable engaging others and building credible working relationships
• Willing to step forward, take initiative, and contribute beyond assigned tasks

We are particularly interested in individuals whose trajectory suggests strong future potential — even if their path has not been conventional.

Prior consulting experience is not expected. Seriousness of intent is.

Why Early-Career Professionals Choose H.C. Bonum

We believe that talented individuals grow fastest when entrusted with real responsibility within a supportive, high-standards environment.

As a Junior Consultant, you can expect:

• Early Exposure to Real Advisory Work: Contribute meaningfully to client engagements addressing leadership, culture, and organizational performance — not simulated projects.
• Accelerated Professional Development: Receive structured coaching, practical feedback, and apprenticeship-style learning that builds both capability and confidence.
• High Standards That Build Credibility: Develop the habits of preparation, reliability, and thoughtful execution that distinguish respected professionals.
• Responsibility That Builds Judgment: You will be trusted with meaningful work early, developing both analytical strength and professional presence.
• Client-Facing Experience: You will increasingly participate in client environments where professionalism, thoughtful engagement, and relationship awareness are essential.
• Broad Organizational Perspective: Gain exposure to how complex institutions operate and how leadership decisions shape performance.
• Merit-Based Growth: Progress is driven by capability, contribution, and professional readiness — not tenure.
• Leadership That Invests in People: You will work alongside experienced practitioners who take development seriously and model the standards we expect.

The Opportunity

Our 12-month Graduate Talent Program is designed for individuals who are intellectually curious, disciplined, and motivated to tackle complex organizational challenges. As a Junior Consultant, you will support engagements that help organizations navigate complex people and organizational challenges. Your responsibilities will include research, structured analysis, preparation of client materials, participation in interviews and working sessions, and contributing to the development of practical recommendations.

Our work often takes place in high-stakes environments — leadership transitions, culture shifts, strategy execution, and periods of rapid growth. Junior Consultants are exposed early to the realities of advisory work: thinking clearly in complex situations, communicating with professionalism, and contributing to engagements that matter deeply to our clients.

You will learn how experienced advisors:

• Diagnose organizational issues
• Engage senior stakeholders
• Structure ambiguous problems
• Translate insight into action
• Support leaders through change

You will also gain exposure to how advisory firms build trusted client relationships, contribute to business development, and sustain long-term partnerships.

While the work is demanding, the environment is deeply human. We value professionalism alongside warmth, respect, and the ability to engage others thoughtfully — even in high-pressure situations.

A Note on Expectations

Consulting is rewarding work, but it is not effortless.

You will be stretched intellectually and interpersonally, held to high standards, and expected to approach your responsibilities with seriousness and care. This role is best suited to individuals seeking long-term professional growth rather than short-term convenience. In return, you will gain experience that accelerates your development and builds capabilities that endure across industries and roles.

Key Responsibilities

Client Engagement Support

• Conduct research and synthesize findings into clear insights
• Support structured analysis and problem-solving
• Assist in preparing high-quality client materials
• Participate actively in client interviews, workshops, and sessions

Communication & Professional Contribution

• Contribute to clear, well-structured deliverables
• Communicate thoughtfully and professionally
• Engage constructively in team and client discussions

Project Coordination

• Help track priorities and milestones
• Support planning and execution of engagement activities

Relationship Development

• Build constructive working relationships internally and with clients
• Contribute to a consistently high standard of client experience

Business Development Exposure

• Support proposal and pitch development
• Contribute to materials for prospective engagements
• Develop an early understanding of how professional networks are built

First 90 Days Priorities

We believe clarity drives early success. During your first three months, you will focus on building capability, confidence, and professional discipline.

First 30 Days — Learn and Integrate

• Understand our work, clients, and standards
• Learn internal tools and processes
• Build relationships across the team.
• Establish credibility through reliability

Days 31–60 — Contribute

• Support active engagements
• Deliver research and analysis with increasing independence
• Strengthen communication and problem-solving skills.
• Apply feedback quickly and visibly

Days 61–90 — Build Momentum

• Take ownership of defined workstreams
• Demonstrate sound judgment
• Contribute thoughtfully in discussions
• Establish credibility as a dependable team member.

By the end of your first 90 days, you should feel confident navigating project environments and contributing meaningfully.

What Success Looks Like in 12 Months

A successful Junior Consultant will have:

• Developed strong business communication skills
• Earned a reputation for reliability and follow-through
• Developed strong analytical and communication skills
• Built professional confidence in client environments
• Contributed meaningfully to engagements
• Demonstrated initiative and sound judgment
• Shown readiness for expanded responsibility

Many of our strongest professionals began their careers in this programme.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of Second Class Upper from an accredited university
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Solid analytical ability
• Attention to detail
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint

You Are Likely To Excel If You Are:

• Proactive and self-starting
• Professionally confident yet coachable
• Resourceful and resilient
• Well-organized and dependable
• Comfortable engaging others
• Motivated by growth and responsibility
• Committed to high standards

Take the Next Step

If you are ready to begin your career in a role that will challenge you, develop you, and position you for long-term success, we encourage you to apply.

We encourage applications from graduates who are ready to be stretched, supported, and held to high professional standards.

Join us in helping organizations navigate moments that matter — and build leadership, teams, and cultures that sustain performance.

Please note: Due to the developmental nature of this program, we are seeking candidates who demonstrate strong academic performance, have a clear commitment to professional growth and are ready to approach their careers with professionalism, discipline, and long-term focus.

Application Instructions

Please submit the following:

• Your CV
• Cover letter
• Academic transcript
• A 300-word response to the question below

Question:

In 300 words or fewer, describe a difficult problem you have solved (academic, professional, or personal). Explain how you approached it, what you learned, and what you would do differently today.

Kindly combine all documents into a single PDF titled: FIRSTNAME_LASTNAME_JUNIORCONSULTANT.pdf

Submit your complete application to info@hcbonum.com.

Applications submitted without the written response will not be considered.

Priority consideration will be given to early applications.

Due to the high level of interest we typically receive, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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