Help! How to improve profile for MBB applications

I would love some advice on where I could improve my profile ahead of the upcoming consulting recruitment cycle in London. I can land interviews at a lot of the T2s but have never got one at MBB. Bit about my profile:

Education: Target uni (Imperial/LSE/UCL), hopefully a First Class (just finished final year)

Experience: FAANG Finance Analyst internship, public sector internship, medium sized management consulting (more like implementation consulting) internship and a small asset management internship.

Extra-curricular: Two leadership positions in societies, one on the committee of a large society at uni (but not President), and one being treasurer of a smaller society. Also was a manager in a student consulting club.

My guess is I fall short in the experience and extra-curricular areas mainly. Since I've finished uni, not much I can do for extra-curricular but main dilemma is should I start my career at a medium-sized 'tier 3' consulting firm, or instead turn down the return offer and look to do more off-cycle internships at brand names to boost the CV?

6 Comments
 

would recommend to keep take the job offer and reapply to strat firms whilst working. in this economy, its better to be working than not wokring and plus you will have the time to make applications / it will help with casing etc

wait to see what others say though, im a nobody in this game

 
Most Helpful

Hi there, incoming MBB London here. Your profile looks attractive enough to pass screening, here are some potential reasons why you can't pass screening and ways you could turn in around:

1. Market slowdown: not much you can do, however it is likely that the next recruitment cycle will increase headcount as compared to the last few cycles.

2. CV: Sometimes less is more, highlight your strong points (quality> quantity), and quantify impact, WSO CV reviewers are helpful too

3. Cover Letter: Not all firms require a CL, but if they do, try setting up coffee chats with current and past consultants. Namedrop and highlight points that are not widely known by other candidates (you will be surprised how much you can learn about a firm just by a 5-10 minute coffee chat)

I would suggest taking the job and reapply, rather than taking the risk to apply to offcycles at brand names and potentially not land anything

 

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