Two internship offers

Hi there, 

So, if I understand the question, you have the possibility of doing both these internships (because they don't overlap) and you're wondering whether to just focus on the one you like instead of doing both?

If that's the case, here's what I think.

If you want to make sure that you are as good as possible in your internship with company A (and the one with company B comes before it), it still makes sense to do the internship with company B as well because it will help you learn a lot. 

The earlier you expose yourself to consulting-like challenges, the earlier you'll learn. 

Also, here are two guides I wrote that discuss how to become a top performer in consulting in your first year. 

You can use some of these tips to perform well during your internship and get the return offer:

• Free Guide: How to Become A Distinctive Consultant
• Free Guide: How to Manage for Lifestyle in Consulting

Best,
Cristian

Congratulations on receiving offers for internships with two tier 2 firms! It's great to have multiple options to consider. Making this decision requires careful consideration of your long-term career goals and how each internship aligns with them.

Since your aim is to secure a permanent position at firm A, it's essential to assess which internship would best position you for success at firm A. While starting directly at firm A may save you time, gaining experience at firm B could also be valuable for your career development.

Here are a few factors to consider when making your decision:

1. Relevance to your career goals: Evaluate how each internship aligns with your long-term career aspirations. Consider the type of projects you would be working on, the industries you would be exposed to, and the skills you would develop. Choose the internship that offers the most relevant experience to your desired career path.

2. Exposure and networking opportunities: Look into the networking opportunities at each firm during the internship. Building relationships with professionals at firm A or firm B could be beneficial for securing a permanent position. Consider the culture and fit of each firm as well.

3. Skill development: Assess the learning opportunities offered by each internship. Evaluate which firm would provide you with the chance to develop the skills that are most valuable for your desired role at firm A.

4. Previous intern experiences: Reach out to individuals who have completed internships at firm A and firm B. Ask about their experiences and how it has impacted their career progression. This can provide valuable insights to help you make your decision.

5. Timeline and offers: Check the timelines for accepting the offers and starting the internships. See if there is any flexibility in the start dates that would allow you to consider both options.

Ultimately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this decision. It depends on your individual goals and priorities. If possible, try to gather as much information as you can about both internships and their potential impact on your career. Consider speaking with mentors, career advisors, or professionals in the consulting industry for further guidance.

Remember that internships are valuable opportunities to learn, grow, and build your professional network. Whichever path you choose, make the most out of your experience to set yourself up for success in your desired permanent position.

Wishing you the best of luck with your decision-making process and your future career!

Hi there,

thanks for the question. 

Generally speaking, if you were offered an internship at firm A already and you are a quick learner, it's the most direct path to complete that and qualify for a return offer.  

Will be hard to answer this question specifically without knowing the companies in question though.

Could you please share here or via DM? 

Regards, Andi

Hi,

Assuming you are able to phase the internships nicely, i.e. start A after B, then there is very little downside of doing the internship first. 

6 months is really nothing in the grand scheme of things, and if you are able to get better experience and build up the necessary skills and become better acquainted with pitfalls etc, the upside to this is immense.

Hi there,

Congratulations on the offers! In terms of your question:

Q: I would very much like to start directly at firm A and not do the internship at firm B previously as it would save me half a year. However, I am uncertain whether I will need the additional experience I would gain during the internship at firm B to be able to excel at firm A. 

From your question it is a bit unclear if you could do A right away, or whether you would have to wait in any case to start that internship, regardless of the decision for B.

In case you can start with A right away, I would probably do that and concentrate on that firm.

In case you have to wait to start with A, if you believe the internship with B could be useful long term, it might be a good investment in terms of time. Whether it is the best investment it depends on the opportunity cost – ie, what else you could do in the meantime. It is difficult to judge that without additional information as we don’t know the alternatives in that case.

Best,

Francesco

Hi there,

I honestly see no reason to do both unless you want a break/time!

Accept both, if you get the offer at firm A, you can alwys tell firm B you're decided not to do the internship. 

If, at that point, you think you have the energy and want to learn more, still do firm B (you can grow professionally, learn a ton, and develop a good network).

You're young. Now is the time to say yes, work hard, learn, grow, and build the network. You always want more experience at this age.

Here are some tips to succeed: https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/tips-for-consultans

Hello,

I think this all depends on your personal preference, time/opportunity cost, and so on. All else equal, I would say that more experience is always helpful, so you won’t lose much by doing both internships and then going with firm A for the full-time offer. Six months is not much in the grand scheme of things. Alternatively, it is absolutely possible to get a full-time offer after an internship where you had no prior experience. Do you know whether most people who intern at firm A get the full-time offer or if it’s a bit harder than that? In the former scenario, a lack of experience won’t hurt you too much if you do good work, show initiative, etc. In the latter case, some prior experience might help you gain an edge over other candidates.