Global Macro Strategy vs Traditional Consulting Internship

Wondering what everyone´s take is on this. Currently a second year at a semi-target RG, studying IR. Have managed to secure a summer analyst position at a MM HF, 10-12 B AUM T2 Pod Shop, in Global Macro Strategy, in NYC. This would be my first Finance/Business internship, as I´ve previously only interned in Politics/IR Consulting. Would try and leverage this for an internship at a more well known brand next year in Asset Management/S&T and then do a masters at LSE, with the goal of breaking into Management Consulting after. I know, this is a totally untraditional path into Consulting.

I´m wondering how T2+ Consulting firms would look at my profile as opposed to someone with a more traditional background with Management Consulting internships at smaller firms, or from IB. Does my work experience differentiate myself as an interesting candidate or would it be seen as completely irrelevant? Assume that I´ll have a 1:1 classification UG and Founder/President of a student led startup investment society, however not currently part of Consulting soc (will try and join at LSE during PG)

8 Comments
 

Can answer for MBB and presume T2 is similar.

Your experience doesn’t need to be in consulting to be valued, it just needs to be impressive to whoever reads your CV. A global macro seat is impressive for those in finance, but there is a risk that whoever reads your CV doesn’t recognise the name of the fund or understand the role. 

This isn’t a dealbreaker and the experience will still be valued, but perhaps less than a brand name internship. 

I think your current strategy is good. Do the macro internship, and then next year try and land a brand name finance internship or a T2/MBB internship.

 

To add: you mention this being an untraditional path to consulting, but many in consulting do have untraditional backgrounds. My MBB intern class had previous experience in boutiques, investment banking, software, academia, government, and even random stuff like music.

 

thanks for the response, and good to know. I´m actually planning to do a 2 YR Masters at LSE, so I´ll have two more summers to do internships. What I´m debating is, whether I should go for a brand name internships in AM/S&T next yr (which would be very competetive) or try and pivot to a Boutique IB that would give me really relevant experience in working directly with tech companies etc. and then go for the brand name internship in IB/Consulting the next year, the summer before I graduate from the Masters. 

 
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I don't think an internship in boutique IB would boost your CV much. It's not adding a big name and the experience isn't super relevant. With the hedge fund experience, it would be a bit redundant. 

I think you should focus the first summer on landing a  T2/MBB consulting seat or big name IB. AM or S&T would be ok too, but I think IB is better as it's more recognised and more similar to consulting work. I get that the hedge fund leads naturally into AM/S&T, but it wouldn't be a big leap to go to IB either. In the UK, applying for IB and consulting actually works quite well as IB will recruit Sept through to Dec, and then consulting kicks off in Jan.

If the first summer goes well you can just chill out during the second, but if not then you should apply to all the same places as last year again (I didn't land MBB until the second time round). If you're concerned you won't get anything, then you can always apply to a few consulting/IB boutiques as well.

 

This is so helpful, thank you so much, really helps me map out my gameplan for the next few years. 

 

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