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Personal Fit

Hi, 

I am applying for entry positions in MBB for next fall. During the summer I am going to San Francicso to work for an early phase startup. Is this something that I should not be afraid of saying during the personal fit part of the interview, or could it end with them fearing that I am more interested in an entrepreneurship career?

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Top answer
on Mar 04, 2019
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success: ➡ interviewoffers.com | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi Anonymous,

it is totally fine to mention your summer internship in a startup; however, the interviewer may ask you the following questions:

  1. Why didn’t you apply for consulting for this summer?
  2. Why do you want to join consulting instead of continuing to work in a tech startup?

You should therefore prepare in advance for these questions, explaining in your answers that you are interested in aspects that only consulting could provide (for example, coverage of multiple sectors) and the reasons why you delayed your consulting application.

Hope this helps,

Francesco

Vlad
Coach
on Mar 04, 2019
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

It's totally fine to mention this. Make sure you prepare some good stories highlighting your achievements there.

Best

Deleted user
on Apr 30, 2020

Dear A,

Of course you can mention this. I'm sure they will appreciate it. But remember to tell the stories that highlight you enterpreneur achievemnts. In telling stories you can follow common framework in answering any questions. It consists of 5 parts:

1. Situation

2. Problem

3. Solution

4. Results 

5. Your learnings

Hope, it helps.

Best,
André

7
on Mar 25, 2019

of course u should mention it! most consultants appreciate an entrepreneurial side!! you should incorporate the work you do there with the work MBBs do, especially when it comes to tackling revolutionary industries like big data in consulting

1
Clara
Coach
on May 01, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

On top of the insights already shared in the post, next week will be pusblished in PrepLounge´s Shop material related. 

In concrete, the "Integrated FIT guide for MBB". It provides an end-to-end preparation for all three MBB interviews, tackling each firms particularities and combining key concepts review and a hands-on methodology. Following the book, the candidate will prepare his/her stories by practicing with over 50 real questions and leveraging special frameworks and worksheets that guide step-by-step, developed by the author and her experience as a Master in Management professor and coach. Finally,  as further guidance, the guide encompasses over 20 examples from real candidates.

Hope you find it useful!

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