An internship is a great way to secure a full time offer. There's no difference in the interview process. Where things change slightly is that for example they will accept a broader set of answers for pei given that as an intern you have less experience to draw from. 

I have seen firsthand the differences between intern and full-time hiring processes. While the overall recruitment process may be similar, there are some key differences to keep in mind.

First and foremost, internships are typically shorter in duration and intended as a learning experience. As such, the expectations and responsibilities may be different compared to a full-time role. The interview process for internships may also be slightly less rigorous, as the focus is more on potential and fit rather than extensive experience.

On the other hand, full-time positions are generally more competitive and require a higher level of experience and expertise. The interview process for full-time positions is typically more intense and may involve more rounds of interviews or case studies. 

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Hi there,

if you have been in a full-time position once, an internship is a step back in my opinion. With your question you are essentially trying to gauge whether an internship is the easier route into MBB. If I met you in an interview as a candidate and I saw that you have had a full-time position before and you are now applying for an internship, I would want to hear a convincing story as to why that is - especially when application windows for full-time positions are open at the same time.

While it is true that many consulting internships result in return offers and that the application process for an internship might be a bit more lax (because interns are a less risky bet for a firm - if they don't work out they'll be gone quickly), I think the ship has sailed for you in terms of being able to properly justify wanting to do an internship. 

If you want to be “MBB material”, you need be able to acclimate to any situation quickly. Therefore you won't need training wheels on your bike anymore.

Best of luck

Hi there,

Normally I would say, go for the FT position because interviews are basically the same. At McKinsey, I interviewed both incoming interns and BAs/Associates and didn't really make meaningful differences in the way I evaluated their performance.

However, there's one potentially big advantage when going for internship positions first that I learnt about during my MBA (at least in case of McKinsey). If you fail the interview, you're banned from interviewing for a period of 12-24 months for the same position. Since the FT position isn't the same, you're technically not banned from interviewing for that position and can give it another go.

The recruiter that visited campus said this out loud to our MBA cohort. I can't be sure how exactly this is applied in practice across all offices, but it's worth considering.

Best of luck whatever you end up doing!

Moritz

Hi there, 

The current consultant you mentioned is right in many ways. 

The reality is that most (or almost all) internships materialise into full-time offers at top-firms. That's mostly because the criteria they use for recruiting for internship or entry-level roles is similar. However, they tend to be a bit more lax in terms of accepting candidates for internships than for full-time positions as a way of managing risk on their side. 

So in short, if you don't mind starting with an internship, it is one way of increasing your chances to be successful with the interview. 

Best,

Cristian

Hello,

Here are my thoughts:

1) It seems like you're applying for a graduate position here as you mentioned that you have just a few months of full-time experience.

2) The interviews itself don't have many differences in the questions that are asked - especially on the case side of things. For the fit side, they are a bit more relaxed with your motivations to work in consulting when applying for a summer internship.

3) When it comes to converting the interviews into an offer, the bar for getting through to the internship may be slightly lower than the full-time role

4) As you probably know, getting the offer for the summer internship helps you significantly to get the offer for the full time role.

5) Thus, if you're okay with interning for a few months, I would strongly suggest to go for the intership.

All the best!

Feel free to reach out to me directly if you have any questions.

Rushabh

Hi there,

This is indeed an interesting question which is probably relevant for a lot of users, thus I am happy to provide my perspective on it:

• It's generally true that internships can be a good way to get your foot in the door at a consulting firm, especially if you are seeking a full-time position after the internship. Many consulting firms have internship programs specifically designed for candidates who are interested in pursuing a full-time career in consulting.
• However, if you are already eligible for a full-time position, there is no reason to do an internship instead. In general, the recruiting process for internships and full-time positions is very similar. The interview process for internships may be slightly less rigorous than for full-time positions, as the internship is intended to be a learning experience rather than a long-term commitment.

In case you want a more detailed discussion on what to do in your specific situation, please feel free to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hi there,

This isn't really the right way to think about this…

If you are allowed to/can apply to a full-time entry-level role then you should. With an internship you don't have security, and, after the internship you have to then wait to start.

What you should do is talk to the recruiter and figure out what you're eligible for. If you're in school and going through recruiting before starting your next year of education, you should intern. If you're currently working FT you should probably not do an internship.

I would  go with a full-time position as the interview and pay (pro-rata) are similar. Also, if you are already working full-time, why would be applying to an internship?

You will need to explain why the sudden change after only a few months in your full-time job application though.

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