Internship Advice: Making yourself visible

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the offer!

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

• First of all, to maximize your chances, I would advise you to focus on the immediate tasks in front of you and try to excel at them as best as possible. Being visible and a helping hand on the team is also something that is highly sought after in potential full-time candidates.
• Moreover, being visible does not mean that you artificially become the biggest chatterbox in the room, but that you contribute to the discussions as best as you can, whether you end up being "right" or "wrong".
• Lastly, I would advise you to focus on learning common MS Excel functions as well as MS Excel and PowerPoint shortcuts. There is an almost infinite number of free resources to help you with these applications.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hi there,

Let's break down the key comment here:

And as an intern, what if I'm primarily making slides and not really taking part in the discussions?

Nothing could be further from the truth. You need to change your perspective here.

You are owning those slides and the work you put in to make them, meaning you are the number one source of truth on the content and the analysis. It's your job to discuss those insights proactively in team meetings, client meetings, and 1-on-1s.

On top of that, provide your comments during team problem solving sessions, in client meetings when the discussion is open for everyone.

At the end of your internship, everyone on the team and among key client stakeholders should remember your contributions and insights. If the partner has no comments about you, that's usually a bad sign.

To be visible is to be a full member of the team, not the quiet intern who hides behind their computer all day.

If you want to learn more, check out my book Consulting Career Secrets. It's on Amazon and it deals with these tactical things on a granular level, also on how to convert an internship into a full-time offer.

Cheers and all the best,

Florian
 

Hey there!

Making yourself visible during an internship means actively engaging with your team and demonstrating your value. 

This often includes speaking up during meetings and sharing your perspectives, even if they differ from those of senior team members. From my experience during three internships at Roland Berger, BCG, and McKinsey, I always received offers, and a key part of that was my willingness to contribute. 

It's perfectly normal to feel hesitant about sharing your ideas, especially if they seem less advanced, but doing so shows your critical thinking and willingness to engage. You might consider framing your thoughts as questions or suggestions, like, “I noticed that costs have increased—could this be impacting profits?” This invites discussion rather than presenting a definitive statement, making it easier to share your viewpoint without stepping on toes. Even if you're primarily working on slides, look for opportunities to join discussions or ask for feedback on your work, which can also increase your visibility. Engaging with your colleagues, asking for feedback, and being proactive can significantly enhance your chances of receiving a return offer.

Best, Alessa :)

Hi there,

it means that you should be engaged in a number of ways:

• be proactive with your team and offer support where you can, don't just wait passively until they talk to you or give you tasks
• proactively ask your manager for regular feedback and make it a point to work on it so that you can showcase a learning curve in the highlighted areas
• participate in team discussion and don't be afraid to share your own ideas, suggestions and observations (it's not about being right or wrong compared to a partner, it's about your underlying rationale) - consulting firms want people who think for themselves so demonstrate that
• network within the company, both inside and outside of your project team - have chats with people at the office, make sure they know your name, participate in office/practice events and the likes

I hope that helps to give you an idea.

Best

Feedback is key.

Ask managers and partners in your projects for frequent feedback (managers every week, partners 1-2 times per month). Ask for growing opportunities and get feedback on your performance. Make sure you act on the feedback in between session to keep growing.