Profile Review for Consulting Interviews
Hey! Looking to get an internship at MBB/T2. I’m in my second year of a 4 year masters. Looking for advice on improving my profile for interviews. I have no problem with pre-interview tests. Going to try stay as anonymous as possible.
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Year long work experience (pre-college) in a global hardware company with $5 billion in revenue where I had significant leadership experience (pitching to CEO, managing team etc). Work was mainly presentations and excel. Lots of impact is ‘quantifiable’
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Studying STEM at Imperial.
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First year SWE internship at FAANG
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Options between IB and S&T for this summer (which do I choose?)
Some leadership experience in my youth, but none at university (thought my prior professional leadership would be higher valued).
Currently thinking about getting more leadership experience by starting something (have a great idea for a charity I think) or by joining a reserve force (think Army/Firefighter/Police).
I only play sports recreationally - not part of any teams. Religiously active though and have 3 years of MMA under my belt (if that matters).
1) Should I take M&A or S&T?
2) What can I do to boost my profile?
Thank you so much!
Hey there! It sounds like you're on an exciting path towards landing an internship at MBB or Tier 2 consulting firms. Based on the most helpful WSO content and insights from the WSO Courses and Academy, here are some tailored suggestions to enhance your profile for consulting interviews:
1) Should I take M&A or S&T?
Given your goal to break into consulting, particularly at MBB or Tier 2 firms, M&A might align more closely with the skill set and experiences these firms value. M&A work often involves strategic thinking, financial analysis, and understanding market dynamics, which are crucial in consulting. It also provides a solid foundation in corporate finance, which can be beneficial during case interviews and when tackling client problems related to growth strategies, mergers, and acquisitions.
2) What can I do to boost my profile?
Leadership Experience: Starting a charity or joining a reserve force could indeed add a unique dimension to your profile, showcasing your initiative, leadership, and commitment to making an impact. Consulting firms value diverse experiences that demonstrate leadership, problem-solving, and the ability to drive results.
Extracurricular Involvement: While your professional leadership experience is valuable, involvement in university clubs or societies, especially in leadership roles, can also be beneficial. It shows your ability to balance academics with extracurricular activities and lead among your peers.
Networking: Engage with alumni from Imperial who are currently working in consulting. This can provide you with invaluable insights into the consulting world and potentially open doors for referral opportunities. Networking is a critical component of the consulting recruitment process.
Case Practice: Continue to hone your case interview skills. Even if you're comfortable with pre-interview tests, the case interview is a different beast. Practice with peers, seek feedback, and consider engaging with case coaches if necessary.
Personal Interests: Your involvement in sports, MMA, and religious activities adds depth to your profile. Consulting firms look for well-rounded candidates, so be prepared to discuss how these interests have shaped you personally and professionally during interviews.
Regarding your summer options between IB and S&T, given your interest in consulting, an IB internship might offer more relevant experience. It aligns closely with the type of strategic and financial analysis work you'd encounter in consulting. However, if S&T excites you more and you believe it will offer unique skills or experiences, follow that path. Ultimately, the best choice is one that aligns with your interests and where you believe you can make the most significant impact.
Remember, consulting firms value diverse experiences, analytical skills, and the ability to drive impactful results. Focus on building a narrative that ties your experiences together and demonstrates your readiness to tackle the challenges consulting work presents.
Good luck, and feel free to reach out if you have more questions!
Sources: Case study interview for MBB consulting - 24 of my best tips on how to get in, Studying process, Q&A: SVP with 15+ YOE BB -> MM -> MC (all M&A): A Long & Strange Trip, Q&A: MBB, BB S&T+IB, Top MBA, US/Global, Does S&T recruits MBAs?
Bump
Do more (any?) extracurriculars that are not career-related to display some leadership. Your work experience is fine, as is Imperial (but grade below Oxbridge) but would be great to see some more edge in other areas - be that through becoming a leader of a non-career but large student society (you can only apply for internships in consulting in your third year and full-time in fourth so you have time), charity leadership, and/or the reserves like you suggested (though would suggest Army/RAF over becoming a special with the met which is not uni tailored/much more boring/no leadership to speak of)
MBB London consultant here, happy to share my thoughts.
1) I would say M&A but whichever provides a better branding
2) MBB do look for all-rounders. You have decent professional experiences under your belt already so keep it up. I would say getting some leadership experiences will be great, for example leadership roles in major societies (not necessarily finance/ consulting related) or probono consulting societies. MBB also look for "interesting" individuals, essentially people excelling in any area that interests them (sports, charity etc)
If you have no issues passing screening, my advice to you is to grind case interviews since that would differentiate you from the rest of the candidates. Good luck
Thanks for the feedback!
I’ve just missed election season and was never too engaged with my societies, outside of a couple of events (mainly did socials/activities with mates outside societies).
Don’t have anything ‘special’ creatively / sports wise either. Won a couple of hackathons, that’s about it.
I’m assuming at this point an interview is out of my reach for MBB, but do you think I could still qualify for T2?
relax man, you can potentially get MBB and T2. There’s no guarantee of either happening, but no it’s not out of the question.
Coffee chats with recruiters tho will help
Awesome, thanks for the re assurance man :)
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