Withdrawing Consulting Internship Application

First of all: congrats on getting referred and progressing in the process! 

In most consulting firms, there is no formal “ban period” for withdrawing from an internship process. What matters far more is how you handle it. Proactively informing HR in a timely and professional way is generally seen as mature and respectful, not negative.

Withdrawing after the assessment or even after receiving an interview invite is typically acceptable if communicated clearly and early. Firms understand that plans change, and they ultimately want candidates who can fully commit.

For full-time recruiting later on, the key drivers will still be your profile, performance, and fit. A transparent and courteous withdrawal now is very unlikely to hurt future consideration and can actually leave a positive impression.

Hello!

I can definitely see why this feels like a tricky situation, but with open and transparent communication, you can minimize a lot of the stress and uncertainty.

First of all, congratulations on getting a referral—that’s always a great position to be in and a strong way to enter the recruitment process.

Secondly, I think it’s completely appropriate to reach out to the HR or Recruitment team and explain your situation, much like you’ve done here. Even in your description, you’re already demonstrating thoughtfulness and professionalism: you’re mindful of not taking someone else’s spot if you can’t be in the region, while also expressing genuine interest in pursuing a full-time opportunity in the future.

I’d recommend emailing HR to ask for a brief call (ideally over Zoom rather than handling it entirely via email). On that call, you can explain that you’re very grateful to have started the process, but that your personal circumstances for summer 2026 have changed. From there, you can professionally ask whether it’s possible to postpone the interview and have it considered as a full-time interview later on, or whether that would require a separate process altogether.

You may be pleasantly surprised—there’s a chance they could simply adjust the timing and align the interview with a full-time role instead.

This is a smart pivot, and you are correct to handle this now. The risk is manageable, but the execution needs to be clean, especially since you have a partner referral attached to your file.

Here is the reality of the black box: Consulting firms track resource efficiency heavily. Withdrawing now, before they spend time assigning interviewers and scheduling slots, is viewed as a sign of professional maturity, not a red flag. The only scenarios that truly trigger a ban period are last-minute no-shows for interviews or reneging on an offer after signing the contract. Your situation is nowhere near that severity.

You absolutely should not wait for the interview invitation. If you receive the invite and then immediately pull out, it signals that you wasted their time setting up the logistics. The best move is to contact HR immediately via email. Keep the message short and professional. State that due to unforeseen personal scheduling conflicts related to summer regional travel, you need to respectfully withdraw from the 2026 internship consideration. Crucially, explicitly state that you remain extremely interested in the firm and hope to re-engage for the 2027 full-time role in Dubai, as it remains a top career priority.

By being proactive and respectful of their headcount, you protect the partner relationship and ensure that your profile is flagged as "Location Conflict: Professional Withdrawal" rather than "Disinterested Candidate." This withdrawal will not jeopardize your FT application; in fact, a clean withdrawal shows respect for the process.

All the best!

hey there :)

Withdrawing now is generally fine, especially if you explain your situation clearly and professionally, like you did. Most firms understand that summer plans can change, and as long as you communicate early and politely, it shouldn’t negatively affect your full-time application later. If an interview invite comes before you withdraw, it’s also acceptable to decline, again with a clear explanation. Just make sure to emphasize your continued interest in future full-time roles in Dubai.

best,
Alessa :)

Hi there, 

I would approach the recruiter and explain this situation exactly. 

It's important that they are aware of your status so as not to count your withdrawal into a 1-year freeze. 

Otherwise, it shouldn't be a problem. 

If you're aiming to apply within the coming period, you might find this guide useful:

• • Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

Best,
Cristian