Consulting Internship: How to Land an Offer

Receiving an offer to a summer management consulting internship is like winning the golden ticket in Willy Wonka. Because the recruitment process is so rigorous, only the best candidates are selected to become summer interns. The majority of these students eventually receive return offers. This means that a consulting internship is the most surefire way to becoming a full-time consultant.

Ready to work hard and follow a strategic plan? Read on to see what steps you need to take to land a coveted consulting internship.

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Steps To Land A Consulting Internship

1. Mentally Prepare Yourself

You'll need thick skin on your path towards your dream internship.

An often overlooked piece of advice and first step when it comes to consulting recruiting is your mental preparation. Most offers are the culmination of months of preparation - at the minimum. A lot of hardship can be prevented by having the right expectations.

Beyond the timing aspect of recruiting, you should also mentally prepare yourself for a rigorous process. Many candidates want to work at consulting firms but not everyone is willing to put in the work that is required to receive an offer. In fact, less than 5% of all applicants will end up with a job.

2. Tangible Preparations

When it comes to working towards a consulting internship, the earlier you start, the better your chances will be. Make sure to have the following fundamental components of your candidacy ready.

• • Maintain a 3.5+ GPA: Management consultant firms highly value academics as an indicator of discipline and intellectual curiosity. A strong GPA won’t guarantee an interview, but a low GPA will almost certainly cause your resume to be immediately thrown into the trash.
  • Know the Consulting Recruiting Schedule: Only undergraduate juniors and 1st year MBAs are eligible for consulting internships. Undergraduates interview between July-early October, and MBAs interview in January. No matter your level, you should begin your prep as early as possible (we recommend 3-6 months).
  • Create a List of Target Companies: In order for a bullet to hit a bullseye, it needs to first be pointing towards the right direction. Create a list of 6-10 companies you want to work for. Do as much research as you can to see what makes each one unique. You can start with our Consulting Firm Directory.
  • Build a Strong Resume: A consulting resume showcases that you have the chops to excel at the job. This means highlighting your analytical and problem-solving skills, while also showcasing your leadership abilities. In addition, include a Personal section that highlights your interests and hobbies - this humanizes you and helps you stand out from others. And don't wait to update your resume until the night before applications are due - building a strong resume can take weeks. Work with our MBB editing team to put your best foot forward with a custom edit.
  • Develop a Foolproof Networking Strategy: Networking is the key to getting in the door at any consulting firm - from MBB to Big 4 to boutiques. Follow the 2:2:2 rule - don’t reach out to more than 2 people in the same office at the same time for the same role. Read our networking guide for more insight.
  • Understand how to use your Career Center: Your Career Center should have plenty of resources that you can utilize during the recruiting process. From free resume revisions to employer meet and greets, ensure you are not missing out on these important resources! Many Career Centers have partnered with us to provide you free access to our subscription platform.

3. Take Advantage of Internship Opportunities

This one is for undergrads. One of the key advantages to being a student is that you’re given a free pass to apply to as many companies as your heart desires without experience. Of course, not all companies will reply to you, but they’ll be more understanding about where you’re coming from.

During your Freshman and Sophomore summers, spend time in other internship programs - the more brand name they are, the better. Besides having a low GPA, having zero professional experience is a dealbreaker for most firms.

4. Join a Business Organization

Joining a business or consulting organization on campus can be one of the most helpful steps you can take during your consulting recruiting journey. Being surrounded by like-minded peers who you can practice with is an invaluable part of your recruiting process. Landing an offer at a top consulting firm can be a daunting task. Though, it is much easier when you have the weight of a program and organization behind you!

It’s why we created Black Belt - an accelerated program created by McKinsey, Bain, and BCG consultants. Learn more.

5. Take an Easier Course Load During Recruiting

Again, this one applies mostly to undergrads. After learning about the consulting summer internship recruiting schedule at your school, plan to take a lighter course load during that quarter or semester. This means loading up on your harder courses earlier or after recruiting concludes.

With preparations for behavioral and case interviews, networking, and interviews themselves, recruiting will take up a huge amount of time and mental bandwidth. Landing a good job after college is arguably the most important thing you can do with your time at school. You don’t want the time you spent studying for a midterm to be the reason you don’t receive your dream consulting internship offer.

6. Figure Out Your Edge

You don’t want to seem like the same cookie-cutter candidate lost in the sea of thousands of applicants. Whether it’s through starting a business or actively involving yourself in interesting extracurricular activities, figure out what makes you unique (don’t just take your mom’s word for it!).

Go For It!

One of the greatest parts of being in a degree program is the freedom you’re provided to try anything you want. Take advantage of this opportunity to explore new business or personal horizons. You’ll have a great topic to talk about during interviews but more importantly, you’ll grow from the experience!

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Additional Reading:

• Consulting Internships
• Deloitte Consulting Summer Internship: 3 Takeaways
• Networking for Consulting Internships
• Consulting Resume: Complete Guide