How to succeed at MBB MBA summer internship?

To reiterate, I am a student at a M7 MBA program who was fortunate enough to get an internship offer from one MBB firm (which I will be accepting soon). I really want to do well in the internship and convert it to full time. I know that generally speaking conversion rates are high, but I don't really intend to leave anything to chance.

What are some steps that I can take in between now and this summer in order to best prepare myself for my internship? Thanks.

11 Comments
 

It depends on which MBB. If you are going to Mck or BCG, their internship is run a little bit more like the hunger games. Most all of the new hires are capable but there are only slots for about half of them. In that case, just try to read the situation and overdeliver/shine when possible.Bain takes fewer interns with the goal of hiring most all of them. If you are going there, just don't be a dick. If you made it through the screening and interview process you are probably capable of doing the job.

 
Best Response
"Hughly741"

It depends on which MBB. If you are going to Mck or BCG, their internship is run a little bit more like the hunger games. Most all of the new hires are capable but there are only slots for about half of them. In that case, just try to read the situation and overdeliver/shine when possible.
Bain takes fewer interns with the goal of hiring most all of them. If you are going there, just don't be a dick. If you made it through the screening and interview process you are probably capable of doing the job.

This is incorrect. McK and BCG would love to bring aboard all of their summer interns. In fact it is something they actively track. Additionally, there's been more of a push to get a higher share of the class from the internship rather than full-time recruiting because of competition from other industries (namely tech).
 

I know that out of all of the North American interns for Bain, only 2 individuals ended up not receiving return offers (I'm friends with a former intern that had that statistic). The return offer rate at McK is above 90% so there is no "hunger games" mentality at all. I'm not familiar with BCG, but I imagine rates are similar. As long as you have a positive attitude, you work hard, and you don't do anything stupid/offensive, then you're basically good. Usually the people that don't get returns from summer internships either did something ridiculous, didn't communicate with their teams at all, or just simply lacked the aptitude of learning basic consulting skills.

 

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