Engineering into Consulting - Next Steps?

Hi Johannes,

If you are certain you are willing to work as a consultant, I recommend to apply for a full time position directly. You have already finalized your master studies, other internship experiences and scheduled the first interviews. Happy to support you with preparing the interviews.

Feel free to reach out via chat to discuss in more detail.

Mattijs

Hi Johannes,

First of all, congratulations on the invitations!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:

• Since almost all consulting firms in DACH adhere to the "Fair Company" initiative, which prohibits graduates from working as interns, I don't think the question of doing a few internships beforehand even arises.

You can find more on this topic here: How to succeed in the final interview round.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming applications, pre-interview assessments and/or interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hi Johannes

Former engineer here! I'd apply for the full-time position directly. The engineering toolkit is highly relevant and valued for consulting firms. You do need to prep for the cases and adjust your CV (which seems like you're doing that already if you have the invitations!). A lot of the candidates I've worked with in past few years have had background similar to yours before joining consulting. 

Good luck

Hesam

Hello Johannes!

Apply for the full time position. Your experience is appropriate, your task will be to create a consulting-style CV to be considered. Let me know if I can help you with that!

Best,

Mari

Hi Johannes,

Q: I am currently split between either applying directly for an associate position or using 1-2 relevant internships before applying to gain consulting experience and avoid any application blocks.

If you mean whether to apply for full-time or for an internship for the same company, given your experience (2 years working full time + 2 internships already), full-time should be fine. 

With 2 years of experience, in most companies you would still need to apply for an entry-level position, although they will probably recognize some seniority.

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi there,

Given your background, you have a highly attractive profile for consulting firms.

I recommend applying directly for full-time roles, as many firms won’t allow you to apply for internships once you’ve completed your studies. To maximize your chances, spread your applications across different firms and tiers - MBB, Tier-2, in-house strategy teams, and boutique firms.

Here’s the best approach:

1. Network strategically: Gauge demand and secure a strong referral.
2. Polish your application: Ensure your CV and cover letter are tailored for each firm.
3. Prepare for recruitment tests & games: These are often the first filter in the process.
4. Master case & fit interviews: Structured preparation is key to standing out.

Let me know if you need guidance!

Cheers,

Florian

Hey there 😊, your solid background from a TU9 and over two years of hands-on experience at a DAX40 firm give you a strong foundation for moving into operations consulting; since you've already secured first-round interviews with boutiques and Big4 firms, applying directly for an associate position could leverage your experience and academic strength for faster progression, but if you feel that additional internships would help you bridge any consulting-specific gaps and further refine your skillset, that’s a viable path too—ultimately, it comes down to your comfort level with the transition and your long-term career goals, so trust your instincts and remember that both routes have worked well for others with similar profiles. Best, Alessa 😊