Accepting offer for internship in other branch than actually interested in?

Hi there,

Congratulations on the offers! In terms of your questions:

1) So my question would be if you would go for the M&A internship just for the name and later on change branches or is it more advisable to go for the Inhouse consulting internship (retail branch)?

If the goal of the internship is to favour your next application, I would try to understand which brand name could help the most.

You can check it as follows:

1. Look for alumni of the two companies on LinkedIn
2. Check how many moved to your preferred exits in your target region
3. Normalize for the size of the companies in the region

2) Would it be better to pursue any internship now than wait until open spots are available again? 

I would prefer to do an internship now; I cannot see the advantage of doing nothing instead of the internship.

3) Do you think I ruined my chances by not applying directly and now having to do another internship at a less prestigious firm (my academic profile would fit to Tier 1 or 2)? 

No. The internship can improve your profile if properly reported on your CV.

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi there,

First of all, learn from these mistakes and don't repeat them ;)

https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/how-to-get-a-consulting-internship-tips-and-tricks

https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/application-tracker

Second, congrats on getting 2 offers! You might be the most upset person I've seen that has TWO OFFERS :)

It sounds like both of these are internships?

In which case, remember that this is for a short period of time (therefore, worry less about which one you would like/dislike).

In my view, the Big4 name brand on your resume is incredibly important to get right now. That said, it does depend which inhouse consulting internship specifically you have.

If it were me, I would take the Big4 offer. I would decline the inhouse consultany, but tell them I'm extremely interested in them full time, but have to take another intership for complicated reasons - I would call them and speak to them in a way that leaves the door open for full-time recruiting in the future.

Now, remember this is what I would do. It's not necessarily what you should do, which is generally advise best given via  phone call where I learn much more about your specific situation, goals, the offers/choices, etc.

======================================

Now, avoid making mistakes like you did during recruiting and read the following articles for on-the-job - make sure to succeeed during the internship by being properly prepped!

https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/tips-for-consultans
 

https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/pros-and-cons-of-working-at-a-top-consulting-firm

Hello there,

I understand your concern about ruining your chances of getting into a prestigious consulting firm. It's a competitive field, and having a strong internship experience can definitely help your chances.

Choosing the right internship opportunity involves considering several factors. While the prestige of a firm, such as a Big 4, can enhance your resume, it's not the sole determinant of success. Equally important is your personal interest in the field; pursuing work aligned with your passions and career goals will likely lead to a more fulfilling experience. Moreover, the timing of your decisions shouldn't cause undue concern, as there are still opportunities to explore alternative internships later in your gap year. Ultimately, finding a balance between firm reputation, personal interest, and long-term career objectives should guide your internship choice for the most rewarding and impactful experience.

Ultimately, the decision regarding your internship choice lies with you, and there is no definitive right or wrong option. 

It's crucial to weigh all the factors involved in your decision-making process. If your passion lies in Consumer&Operations, the Inhouse consulting internship, despite not being at a prestigious firm, could offer valuable experience and industry connections. Alternatively, if you're still exploring your career interests, the M&A internship might provide exposure to various industries and functions, helping you narrow down your focus. Regardless of your choice, maximizing your internship experience by tackling challenging projects, participating in extracurricular activities, and networking extensively will bolster your future job prospects and professional development.

I hope this helps!

Hello,

Congratulations on getting two offers - that's excellent!

To answer your questions:

So my question would be if you would go for the M&A internship just for the name and later on change branches or is it more advisable to go for the Inhouse consulting internship (retail branch)? 

First and foremost, I would think about which internship you would actually prefer (along all considerations - role, branch, office, region, pay, etc.). These both sound like great internships that will look good on your resume when you apply for consulting.

From a purely strategical perspective, I would go for the stronger brand name here, so the Big 4 M&A. This is something recruiters will look for on your resume.

I am extremely afraid of having ruined my chances since I do not have a extremely prestigious internship now for the following months but I thought it would be better to pursue any internship now than wait until open spots are available again? Do you think I ruined my chances by not applying directly and now having to do another internship at a less prestigious firm (my academic profile would fit to Tier 1 or 2)? 

You haven't ruined your chances at all - people go into consulting from all walks of life, and it's absolutely better to come in with some experience than with none. You definitely did the right thing by applying.

Hi there!

Actually, it doesn't sound like you're in trouble. 

It's rather your worries about the many things that could potentially go wrong that make you feel this way. 

If I were you, I'd go for the role that is closest to what I'd want to do in the future. 

Then second I'd optimise for brand. Brand helps, but if the core of past work experience isn't relevant and you can't show that you developed relevant skills, then brand is useless. 

Sharing with you a guide on how to approach the application strategy:

• Free Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

Best,
Cristian

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