Two MBB internships back to back: worth it? And does 2 months instead of 3 lower return offer chances?

Question

Hi everyone,

I'm a Master's student in the DACH region and currently hold internship offers from two MBB firms. I've signed the first one and plan to do both back to back during a six-month leave semester: three months at the first firm, then straight into the second. I have no prior consulting experience.

Three things I'd appreciate honest input on:

Does doing two MBB internships actually make sense? My reasoning: it maximizes the chance of getting at least one return offer, I'd see both cultures, and going into the second internship with three months of actual consulting experience should make it easier to perform there. I'd also assume that having cleared the bar at two MBB firms is a decent signal in itself. But I don't know how recruiters actually view this (e.g. if 2 MBB internships look redundant), so tell me if I'm wrong.
How long should the second internship be? Six months back to back sounds intense, so I've thought about doing two months instead of three. Does that lower my return offer chances, since I'd have less time to prove myself and might only be staffed on one partial project? Or does the length barely matter?
The slightly awkward one, and I want to be clear that my plan is to do both: since I have no consulting experience yet, I can't fully judge what six months back to back will feel like. If it turns out that the first internship plus a return offer is enough for me, and I'd rather keep the remaining time free to recharge before the full-time start, how bad is it to cancel the second internship at relatively short notice? What are the actual consequences, beyond the obvious bad impression?

Thanks a lot for the help.

Answer 1

Hi,

First of all, congratulations. That is a great position to be in. Let me take your questions one at a time.

I have not seen many candidates complete two MBB internships back to back, but I do not see any major downside. The clearest advantage is that you effectively double your chances of securing a return offer. You will also make a more informed decision about where you would prefer to work. Having three months of consulting experience before starting the second internship should also help you perform more effectively from the beginning. Two MBB internships may look somewhat redundant on your CV, but that is a minor consideration compared with the potential benefits. As long as you can explain your rationale clearly, I would say the advantages significantly outweigh any disadvantages. Go for it!
Six consecutive months will surely be intense, but it is manageable. In practice, it will give you an early taste of what six months of full-time consulting feels like. Regarding two months versus three, I would ask the recruiter directly whether the shorter duration could affect your return-offer evaluation. If both options are officially available, I would follow HR’s recommendation. Personally, I would lean toward three months if maximizing your probability of a return offer is the priority: it gives you more time to demonstrate consistent performance.
I would try to honor the commitment to the second firm, even if you receive a return offer from the first. Maintaining good relationships is valuable because you never know whether you may want to join or work with that firm later in your career. There may be no immediate consequence if you withdraw, however, cancelling at short notice could damage your relationship with the recruiter and the office, and potentially make a future application more difficult.

Hope this helps
Best,
Franco

Answer 2

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the offers from the two consulting firms!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your questions:

First of all, doing both internships is less valuable than it looks on paper. Each consulting firm cares mostly about its own return offer, so the second stint adds only a small extra signal, and six months of consulting back to back with no break is much harder than you can judge without prior consulting experience. If I had to pick, my favorite option is to do the first internship, go all in for the return offer there, and treat the second one as optional.
Moreover, two months instead of three does not lower your return offer chances by itself. What matters is that you are staffed on a real project and have enough time to be thoroughly evaluated, and around eight weeks is normally enough for that.
Lastly, I would strongly advise you to not cancel the second internship at short notice. The DACH consulting market is well connected and people move between consulting firms, so a burned bridge can resurface years later. If you decide against the second internship, tell them as early as you possibly can, ideally more than a month ahead.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Answer 3

I think doing 2 is overkill. The variance in the jobs is going to be wildly difficult to predict (working with a manager you like at firm 1 is great, but ultimately not a predictor for how much you will enjoy the full time job later). If you had a gut reaction on which you like better, do the internship with that firm, give it your all, and get that return offer. Hedging your bets between the firms is just not a great look and you won't be really committed, which I think will show up in how you work with your team and colleagues. I know this is a slightly direct read of your situation, but I hope its a helpful perspective - congrats on getting 2 offers btw that's a massive sign you're likely a very very strong candidate.

Answer 4

Hi there,

First, congratulations on two MBB offers!

1. Yes, doing both makes sense. It gives you two chances at a return offer, lets you compare the firms, and gives you actual consulting experience before the second internship. Two MBB internships will not hurt your resume.

2. If you're worried about 6 months, well, you should worry about the full time job! 3 months at each is reasonable, and if you can't handle it, well, it's good to know now.

3. Also, keep in mind that they will probably tell you how long the internship will be. I'd be surprised if they let you decide. If both durations are formally available, ask the recruiter whether they are evaluated identically, but do not assume they are.

4. If maximizing the chance of a return offer is your priority, do 3 months. More time gives you more chances to be staffed, perform, receive feedback, and demonstrate improvement.

5. Look, the honest answer is that cancelling after signing is bad etiquette and it almost certainly burns bridges with the second firm. You can still do it, but do so knowing that consequence. If you decide not to proceed, tell them as early as possible.

6. Finally, make sure you're prepared for how to handle conversations in the office. If people ask what you're doing next, the other internship WILL come up. Make sure you have a gameplan for how to navigate that honestly and professionally.

My recommendation is simple: Do both, do 3 months at each, and commit fully to both.

Answer 5

hey there :)

I actually did two MBB internships back to back myself, so I can definitely see the logic behind your plan. I think it makes sense if you genuinely want to compare the firms and maximize your chances of getting a return offer. Having already experienced one MBB internship can also make you much more comfortable going into the second one.

For the second internship, I’d personally aim for three months if possible. Two months can still be enough, but you have less time to build relationships, demonstrate your performance and get staffed on something meaningful.

As for cancelling the second internship, I’d avoid planning around that. If you already know you want to do both, commit to it and reassess only if circumstances genuinely change. Cancelling at short notice can burn bridges and potentially affect future recruiting opportunities.

Overall, I think two MBB internships can be a very strong experience, provided you manage the workload and give yourself some time to recover.

Best, Alessa :)