MBB internship rejection - impact on full time recruiting?

So if you're unsuccessful during your junior internship application for MBB, how would that affect your full time chances?

So during the internship cycle, let's say you

  1. are rejected without interview
  2. Get an interview, but do badly on it and get rejected
  3. withdraw application half way due to competing offer

would these adversely affect your chances for full time recruiting?

8 Comments
 

Regarding point 2, it can go one of two ways. If you get an interview and give a solid performance but end up getting rejected in the second round you will be in a fine position going into full time. I know 3 people who were rejected for internships at MBB who got full time offers the next year. On the other hand, if you get an interview and come in completely unprepared and bomb the case, that might hurt you full time.

 

1 probably shuts the door; you'd have to show some significant improvement in less than a year, and your GPA/Resume isn't like to change enough.

2 harms you, but there are plenty of people who get rejected the first time around make it for FT. Some firms/offices/partners have a bias against seeing a candidate again, but there's nothing you can do about that.

3 you will absolutely be out.

 
Best Response

1 doesn't rule you out completely. But you have to figure out why you didn't get an interview at all. Brand name internship and/or higher GPA could make your resume more attractive. But if you were competitive with your peers, it probably just means you didn't network well enough. Also, at least at my MBB, we take a lot fewer undergrad interns compared to full time.

2 - agree with iConsult with exception that, even if you made it to 2nd rounds, you'll have needed to still do well / been on the bubble. Hard to tell this of course. That being said, if this is the case, keep in touch with interviewers over the summer.

3 - if you withdrew application before even getting a consideration for an interview, then you're fine. It's like you're starting fresh.

 

Consulting firms take a lot more full times than interns, so you've probably got an even better shot next year (EDIT: actually I didn't realize you're an MBA, above may not apply)

 

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