Interning at McKinsey as a fresh grad with 1 YOE

Hi,

Congrats on securing an internship with McK!

Concerning your first question - interning at McK will be a valuable experience and will be viewed as such by recruiters of pretty much any company - independent of the timing of your internship in your broader career.

Concerning your second question:

• Make sure you dedicate your time to this internship. I've seen intern struggles by trying to many things at once (such as finalizing courses).
• Be open minded about the casework you'll be doing. Don't get bogged down on a specific industry or practice area. 
• Try to understand the breadth and depth of what McK has to offer. Talk to your colleagues about the casework they do and what they find appealing about it. You'll notice everyone is keen to discuss.
• Socialize! Join events, dinners, parties, etc - get a feeling for the company culture.
• Learn - be curious and enjoy

Lastly, generally an internship is structured in such a way that it is very similair to the work a fulltime hire would do in his first 1 - 3 months - so I wouldn't worry that the scope of your work (or responsibilities) are limited.

Best,

Oliver

Congrats on your McKinsey offer! 

To your questions: 

(1) How is an internship for a fresh graduate with work experience viewed by recruiters once I finish the internship and start applying for other companies?

It's an internship at McKinsey! Vast majority of recruiters would be well aware how competitive it is to get in McKinsey (and not less so for internships!) so I personally think it would be very well received. 

You might get questions though why did you not stay at McKinsey, so I would prepare for that. 

(2) How to make the most out of my internship at McKinsey? I believe that since this is an internship, my work scope/responsibilities might be limited
 

There is practically no difference in scope / responsibilities between an intern and a regular new joiner. MBBs pride themselves in offering through their internships the full consulting experience. So anything that would apply to making the most for a full-time job in consulting, will very well apply here as well. 

Good luck in your internship!
Ariadna 

Hi there,

Congrats! :-)

1. A 6 month McKinsey internship will have a big impact on your resume. It is viewed very positively!
2. Nothing is further from the truth. Interns are treated the same way as new-hire full-time consultants. You will have more responsibilities than you would want right from the beginning, don't worry about that :-))

To make the most out of it and get a return offer, there are a few things you should do.

1. Perform well at your core tasks (ownership of your work, analytics, double checking your work, visualization, communication) and improve quickly (your EM and partners evaluate not only what you can do right now BUT how quickly you develop and what potential you have for the future.

1b. Learn from your peers, either by asking (don't be afraid to ask) and by observation.

2. Be visible in front of your team, client, partners, and office. Speak up, take the opportunities to lead meetings, present, and contribute your opinion (this is the single biggest reason why interns do not get a return offer if they fail to show that they are here)

3. Network, make sure people know you across the office/practice

4. Manage your stress. Find a way to balance work and life. I have recorded a session for PrepLounge on this topic: https://youtu.be/4VK8wL_xsmQ?si=go1vmIEiAmwLz76T

Reach out if you want to learn more! I coach people on getting the entry right and have also written a book about the topic called Consulting Career Secrets.

All the best,

Florian

Congrats!

Don't be too worried about them taking the time to come back with the offer. I recognise the concern, but they don't turn their back on the commitments they make (or it's an absolute exception if they do). 

To take your questions one by one. 

• How is an internship for a fresh graduate with work experience viewed by recruiters once I finish the internship and start applying for other companies?
  • It's definitely an asset to have a McKinsey internship on your CV and the brand will help you going forward. 
  • If I were you, I'd focus on doing a really good job during the internship so it converts into a full time offer. 
• How to make the most out of my internship at McKinsey? I believe that since this is an internship, my work scope/responsibilities might be limited
  • Sharing here two articles with tips specifically on this that you might find helpful:
    • Expert Guide: How to Become A Distinctive Consultant
    • Expert Guide: How to Manage for Lifestyle in Consulting
  • And below a post I wrote on social media about the critical thing you need to get right and which is within your reach as a new joiner.

Best of luck!
Cristian

Hi there, 

Congratulations on the offer! In terms of your question:

1) How is an internship for a fresh graduate with work experience viewed by recruiters once I finish the internship and start applying for other companies?

This will be a major improvement of your CV. They will probably ask why you did not continue with McKinsey during the interviews, so I would recommend preparing for that question when you interview.

2) How to make the most out of my internship at McKinsey?

In general, doing what is required at the highest possible level. You can find a few practical tips below for the first weeks: 

1. Take notes during meetings/discussions with your manager – this will help you to remember details and will show the team that you care.
2. Always double-check. The first impression is very important when you join a new company: if you show you are reliable from the beginning, you will create a good reputation. Double checks should be done on expectations for your job, your Excel analysis, your slides – basically everything.
3. Define priorities before starting any set of tasks. You want to identify the most important activities and prioritize them, applying the 80-20 rule. Align with your manager to define them at the start of the project whenever possible.
4. Socialize with your colleagues and start to build a network. A good start is key to develop good relationships long-term. Try to build connections in your first weeks with your peers to build a network.
5. Align with your team on your private life activities. You might want to organize some space for personal activities (sport/ friends/ family). It is better to align with your manager/teammates from the beginning on your core needs so that there are no surprises later­ on.
6. Ask for feedback every two-three weeks – this will show you are proactive and willing to learn.
7. Ask for help when you don't know what to do – better to let know you are in trouble with meeting a deadline than missing the deadline.
8. Be approachable and respectful to support staff – these people are generally great and influential in the company as well.

3) The verbal offer was made 1 week ago and I haven't heard back from them ever since and decided to follow up. Would the follow-up alter their decision after all?

Not at all, there is no reason why this should create any issue.

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the internship offer from McKinsey!

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

• First of all, a top tier strategy consulting internship is of course very well recognized.
• Moreover, I would advise you to show initiative, seek feedback regularly, and strive to exceed the expectations set for your role. Also try to connect with as many people as you can.
• Lastly, following up on your verbal offer is a good move. It shows your interest and enthusiasm for the position. It's unlikely to negatively impact their decision; rather, it demonstrates professionalism.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare your McKinsey internship, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

You have the wrong perspective here. 

This is not an intership.

This is the same as a full time offer. If you have a full time offer, you still have a probation period. Depending on the country, might be of six months. So there is no difference.

They are managing expectations, and doing some preemptive damage control. Business is slow, and they don't want to feel as commited to keeping someone for one year if business is slow. If they don't need you after 6 months, they can end the internship without having to “counsel you out”, and it looks just as good in your resume. If there's business (or if there isn't, but you prove to be above average) they keep you. :)

This seems like a FT offer.

Checking-in - do you have an update on the offer? Does it fall in the right direction?