Hi everyone,
I have recently started my final year of university and am pivoting from IB to consulting. However, I am unsure when to apply for for an internship starting from late June next year. On one hand, most sources that I find say six months prior; however, I assume that there will be significantly more applications during the summer months.
What do you say - can I already apply or it is wiser to wait another couple of months?
Thank you in advance for your responses.
Hi there,
I would say that it really depends on your level of preparation for the recruiting process. Do you know what will be awaiting you in the interviews? Do you feel comfortable enough solving cases and do have your personal fit stories laid out? If yes, there is nothing wrong with getting your application process kicked off.
Unlike some other geographies, consulting firms in Germany typically recruit year-round. If you do get an offer, it is also usually valid for a year so that you can pick your starting point within that timeframe.
If you are just starting out with consulting interview prep, however, I would take some extra time to really make sure you are properly equipped for the requirements of the process before applying right away.
Feel free to follow up in case that would be helpful
Hi there,
Talk to your career office.
This is exactly what they're there for!
They know the exact dates for each firm in regards to when they will be on campus, when application deadlines are, which ones are rolling apps, etc.
You haven't even told us what region of the world you're in!
If you are recruiting via a specific channel (undergrad, MBA, PhD, etc.), the best resources for dates is literally the people who manage YOUR channel!
Hi there,
Q: I am unsure when to apply for an internship starting from late June next year. What do you say - can I already apply or it is wiser to wait another couple of months?
I assume you want to apply for a summer internship. Although it is true that there may be more demand for summer internships in consulting compared to off-cycle, there should also be more supply. So there should not be major issues with that.
In terms of when to apply for a summer internship: I would check if the firms have deadlines, if not you can apply as soon as you feel you will be well prepared for interviews. If they have a fixed starting point for the summer internship, earlier is better than later as slots will be filled up at a certain point.
You can find some tips on how to prepare below:
▶ How to Prepare for a Consulting Interview
Good luck!
Francesco
Hi there,
In these situations, it's best to find out when the deadlines are directly with the office where you are applying to.
For students or fresh graduates, there are a few dates per year when the firms are trying to rally all their applications. It's best to know these in advance and if possible, to apply significantly earlier than the day before the deadline.
Best,
Cristian
Hi there,
I would apply in December to set the interview dates in mid-January. Usually, there are no specific deadlines as roles are filed on a rolling basis.
Cheers,
Florian
In general, November/December is the best time for that, as very frequently the interviews are scheduled for January.
Having said this, the way to be sure is to reach out to them directly.
