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Many interns kickstart their internships with a significant number of key goals and intended objectives in mind. Often, the most common being proving their academic skills and sufficiently impressing the organization's management over the course of the internship. The ultimate goal for most interns is to successfully secure a long-term position with the organization. 

It is significant to remember that if you do not receive the successful offer, it does not mean you did not perform well. There are many key variables taken into consideration when considering whether an offer will be made and unless you are adequately fulfilling ALL the criteria, it is likely your internship will end with the experience and references. 

The Value Of A Practical Work Background

Having a practical work background presents you with a considerable number of excellent prospects when you are ready to go into the job market. Not only is the internship a first-rate way to get to know the industry from the inside, but equally represents an excellent opportunity for you to better understand your specific career goals and whether consulting is the right choice or you. 

Your internship will present you with a remarkable insight and first-hand experience into your career. In addition, it presents you with invaluable experience and an opportunity to learn practical skills and put  your academic practice to to use.

Your Career Path Starts The Same Day Your Internship Does 

Day 84 of your internship is as important as day 1. It is vital to remember your internship also indicates the start of your business reputation. The precise moment you step into your role as an intern, your career is starting. 


It is equally important you take all the necessary precautions to protect your reputation. You will be acquiring new skills, undergoing induction and training which will introduce you to the basics of the industry and be asked to perform a number of duties. How you will perform, what you achieve and all the steps in between ultimately play a role in the success of your internship.  


The fact is, you do not have 12 weeks to prove yourself, you have to prove yourself every day for twelve weeks, starting the first day of your internship. Every day, every action, achievement and even every mistake will ultimately make up the foundation of your career.  Nothing but your most exceptional performance is what it will take for you to successfully complete the 12-week internship. 

Once you have successfully passed through the induction, you should be prepared for tasks that include actual client work and being part a project team. Therefore, it is important you remember the value and importance of quality and accuracy. 

What If I Make Mistakes?

You will come across many diverse facts, technical terms, information and figures throughout your internship. This can be overwhelming and mistakes can occur. There are two types of mistakes. Those you learn from and those that could ultimately cost you the prospect of a job offer.  


Learning mistakes could include a spreadsheet formatting error or preparing a presentation outside the organizations preferred format, style or templates. You make the mistake once and learn from it. What is unacceptable is repeating these mistakes. Your actions and performance will ultimately be assessed and count toward the end results. It is critical to pay attention and always work with quality in the forefront.  What is unacceptable is repeating these mistakes. 


Learning curve mistakes will not count against you in the assessment if they are actual mistakes made during the learning process and not through carelessness or not paying attention. 


While making mistakes do happen, it is important to remember that there are certain mistakes which could influence the firm’s decision to not make the offer. These are often referred to as deal breaker mistakes. These are mistakes that could threaten or risk the organization's reputation or result in loss of business. Consulting is a competitive industry and an organizations reputation plays a vital role in their business. Breaking a client’s trust in the company’s reputation is an unforgivable mistake. 

Ask Questions

 As a consultant, your job is to ask the right questions so it is not wrong to ask questions to clarify information or instructions. If you are asking the right questions or asking questions for the right reasons, this does not have a negative impact on the assessment. 

Additional Resources 

The MCC case interview method:

Our case interview course has been developed by MBB consultants with clear goals in mind - To teach you how to think, act and communicate like a world-class strategy consultant. By going through it you'll become equipped not only to ace the interview process, but also to be a top performer at your firm. Other methods focus on helping you memorize dozens of frameworks and pre-packed structures. 

We take a different approach:

We believe that distinctive candidates and distinctive consultants don't rely on crutches and that they use their own minds to solve the toughest problems. We're here to help them master the concepts and processes they need to be able to shine.  

We can support you in:

Understanding business fundamentals: Get your mini-MBA with our Marketing, Strategy and Economics, Accounting & Finance modules. 

Learning how to crack a case

Identify the problem, Build a problem driven structure, Lead the analysis and how to provide recommendations. 

Shaping your approach with our building blocks

Master profitability analysis, competitive dynamics, pricing discussions, among others. 

MCC coaching sessions:

Coaching can help the best candidates to pinpoint their development points and turn them into strengths. They will give you self-awareness about your profile and how to best position yourself for that MBB offer. Equally importantly, they will give you the confidence to know you can succeed in such a challenging process.



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