Getting a Consulting Internship or Job: What the Top 3 Firms Officially Say They Want

One of the most intimidating steps in your consulting career can simply be getting your foot in the door. This can be especially true when applying for a position at the top three management consulting firms: BCG, Bain & Company, and McKinsey & Company. The demand for talented, driven individuals results in a highly competitive application process, where proper preparation and quick thinking can give you an edge over other candidates vying for the same position. 

What the Firms Say You Should Do to Land a Consulting Internship

While no two interviews will be the same, there are some common qualities and skills these firms look for in their potential employees. In fact, with a bit of research, you are likely to find a detailed guide for interviewing at each of the top three. Whether it’s a case interview or general tips for making the most of your time with the team, the information you need to succeed is at your fingertips. What’s harder to find online is a summary of the tips and information the top three firms are providing on their sites - so that’s what we are doing in this article. While we do not speak for the firms, we hope this rundown is helpful as you seek to understand their culture and hiring practices.

Below, we have summarized some of the key aspects of what each firm claims to look for as it interviews candidates. With plenty of links to reference, this article offers a starting point for your continued research so you can walk into the interview with confidence.

Communication & Networking Ability

Consulting is a never-ending process of networking: you must be able to market yourself to new clients in a way that highlights your skills and builds trust and empathy. You will also frequently need to summarize complex situations down to the essentials, communicating in a clear and concise manner. While these skills are tested throughout the interview process, an early opportunity to shine comes with the more traditional experience interview. The interviewer will try to ascertain your company fit by asking you about yourself, your interests, and eventually moving into past experience and qualifications.

This is a good opportunity to concisely highlight your past achievements, your leadership abilities, and the results of your work. Keep in mind that it is better to be specific and quantify your accomplishments, the same way you would present your results to a client. Not only does this give the interviewer a better understanding of your abilities, but it will also help you differentiate yourself from the competition with objective results.

Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving Ability 

As you know, the case interview is a unique section of a consulting interview designed to test your ability to approach complex problems. While it can seem intimidating, it is important to remember that case interview questions are not meant to stump you, but rather create a framework with which to highlight your analytical and creative problem-solving ability. As such, each of the big three firms have helpful advice and practice cases listed on their websites to help you prepare. 

It is helpful to remember that there is no right or wrong answer to a case interview; rather, the goal is to learn how you solve business problems. It is in your best interest to remain transparent and thoughtful about your reasoning, and clearly define your understanding of the problem and your resulting recommendation. View this as an opportunity to build rapport with your interviewer by discussing the issue at hand and offering innovative solutions.

A notable extension of this practice is the written case interview, as highlighted by Bain & Company. Though not every position will require one, preparing for the possibility will ultimately benefit your ability to develop recommendations for any case challenges presented. Essentially, you will receive more time to consider a client’s business case, but will also be expected to present a fully developed recommendation to your interviewer. This process mimics client interaction, displaying how you present and defend your ideas under scrutiny.

At McKinsey & Company, at least in some cases, they take the case interview a step further with a Problem Solving Game, developed in association with psychologists and game design experts. This digital assessment measures your cognitive skills while offering insights into your critical thinking abilities. Without the ability to practice in advance, you will be required to rely on your innate analytical skills and prove your ability to solve problems under pressure.

Passion & Curiosity

Whether you want to describe it as passion or entrepreneurial drive, the core characteristic interviewers are looking for remains the same: you have the desire to tackle challenges with an open mind. Management consulting firms often look for candidates armed with an innate curiosity, who thrive when offered a versatile and expansive network of learning opportunities. Given the fast-paced and ever-changing nature of a consultant's daily tasks, having the ability to adapt and ask the right questions is an essential trait that will help you shine in the role. 

For the duration of the interview, you will have multiple opportunities to prove your intellectual curiosity. For example, asking clarifying questions during the case interview and analyzing the data for essential information shows that you know how to efficiently direct your curiosity. Or, towards the end of the interview, indicate that you’ve done your research about the firm and position by asking insightful questions.

As a student, you have a unique opportunity to connect with recruiters from each firm on your own turf. BCG, Bain & Company, and McKinsey & Company all know the incredible value bright, dedicated students offer, and will frequently host events and seminars on campuses around the globe. Use these occasions to network with the company and other students pursuing the same career, utilizing their expertise to continue learning and expanding upon your own skillset.

Networking can lead to valuable opportunities to build out your resume, but you can also pursue options on your own. Programs such as ours here at Beacon Fellowship can help you gain real-world consulting experience by working under a Project Leader from one of the top firms. Becoming a successful consultant means maintaining a rigorous work ethic, even when you’re tired from extensive travel and working on a client that you’re less excited about. As with any job, an employer wants to assess whether you have both the ”can do” ability and “will do” interest, and nothing shows interest better than dedicating a few weeks of your break to studying abroad with Beacon in pursuit of consulting experience.

Beacon is independent of any consulting firm (it is meant to be that way) and we do not imply here an endorsement from them; we do, however, see it as part of our mission to democratize access to information about consulting careers and to ensure that everyone understands this world, which is a world that students even at elite institutions (let alone others) often struggle to understand