Are brand name internships important to get a full-time entry level role at the top Dubai consulting firms?

Hi,

A brand name is a real signal at the CV screen, but it is one input among several: what the screener is looking for is proof that you performed above average and that you built the skills consulting requires across your different experiences.

What a smaller company usually costs you is the exposure to a large and structured organization, so that is the thing to compensate for on the resume, bringing out the scale of what you handled and who you had to align rather than the name on top.

I would put serious effort into a referral. A strong resume gets the invite anyway and a weak one gets screened out anyway, so a referral mostly moves borderline profiles, which is where a strong but unbranded CV sits.

One point specific to Dubai: the region has cut intakes quite heavily over the last months, so the screen is tighter than it used to be and I would apply as early as the cycle allows.

If you want a pair of external eyes on your specific situation and more tailor made suggestions, feel free to write to me.

Best,

Franco

Hi there,

Short answer is it will not make or break your ability to get an interview offer. I got an offer at BCG (amongst others) with a full-time job only at a company called Appian. Much more important was that I had been given/shown large responsibility and desireable skills.

My #1 piece of advice is network, network, network :)

Bonus - for your resume

• The template you use is critical. I've had candidates with amazing experience but horrible templates. Make sure your resume layout brings the eye to whats important, is sharp/clear, and organized/clean
• Be concise + clear with your experience bullet points. Make sure, where possible, bullet points articulate both clear skills/responsibilities (verbs) AND impact ($ or %). Do so with as few words as possible (without taking away the "bigness" of it
• Less can sometimes be more. Make sure you inlude the experience that actually matters. Anything you add that is uninteresting doesn't just add 0 value, it detracts from the rest of your experiences!

Good luck!

We're literally just covering the surface now. I highly recommend my Applications Course, which dives into all things resume positioning, showcasing your impact, networking and application strategy.

A brand-name internship helps, but you don't need one, and your profile already covers most of what screeners look for: grades, leadership and measurable results. A well-known employer works as a shortcut. The reader trusts the experience without having to assess it. When the company is unknown, your CV has to show the scale of the work clearly enough that the reader can assess it quickly.

For each role, I'd make the bullets carry numbers and ownership: how big the business was, what you were responsible for, what you decided, and what changed as a result. Something like "redesigned the pricing for a 40-store retailer, raising gross margin by 3 points" reads well whatever the company's name is. If an employer is unknown outside its market, add one short line describing it.

Plan this summer's project with the CV in mind. Agree on one or two outcomes you can measure by the end, and track them as you go.

For MBB or Strategy& Dubai, I'd also check how strong your link to the region looks. Talk to consultants in that office, and be ready to explain clearly why you want to work in Dubai. Those conversations can also lead to a referral, which helps an unfamiliar CV get a careful read.

Hi there,

Prestige matters as a signalling factor. It basically demonstrates that other organisations with a high bar have evaluated you and considered you could perform at that standard. So effectively, it's an extra data point that shows you are a top performer. 

What also matters is that you try and accumulate experiences that are in consulting or in consulting-related roles. Effectively, you should demonstrate that you have the sort of skills they are looking for in consultants. Even if your prior internships were not in consulting, make sure in your CV to make the parallels clear between what you did and what the consultant role requires. 

Best,
Cristian  

It is not the most important fact in your cv but it is helpful and might make it easier for you for some reasons:

- a well-known brand is a spotlight that catches the eye

- you have references and know that someone working there went through a certain process and learning process

- it gives you kind of a quality stamp, because everyone in the business knows approximately what to expect from candidates after spending the time at this company (same with people leaving consulting)

Hey there :)

Brand names definitely help, but they are far from everything. MBB and Strategy& will look closely at what you actually achieved, the responsibilities you had and the impact you created. A strong project at a smaller company can be more compelling than a big brand name with very little ownership. Make sure your CV highlights measurable results, leadership and problem solving. With your academic and extracurricular profile, I wouldn't worry too much about the lack of a prestigious internship.

Best, Alessa :)