Should I Apply Widely or Focus on Specific Firms for Consulting Internships?

Question

I am in my senior year and will graduate in August. I plan to apply for consulting internship opportunities starting in this January at offices in Riyadh. If I do not secure an internship, I will face a one-year application freeze, which means I will need additional time to prepare.

Should I apply to all available internships at firms like MBB, the Big 4, and Tier 2 firms to enhance my chances of gaining valuable experience, or should I focus on specific firms so that I can apply to them after graduation? (I want to be in MBB or Tier 2 after I will graduate )

I heard I am applying as an intern. Companies will have lower expectations than a full-time role and your mistakes in the interview will be overlooked.

Answer 1

Hi there,

I would apply to all firms for internship positions.

It increases your chances to land an offer
You go through a lot of real-world practice
If a target firm takes you as an intern, you can convert it to a full-time offer during the internship
If a non-target company takes you as an intern, it still would be a great improvement on your resume that warrants a new invitation next time from MBB and other firms
If you fail with a firm, you can re-apply within 1 year usually after a failed internship application

All the best,

Florian

Answer 2

Hi there,

Definitely apply to all of them. Start with interviews at firms that are not your top choice can help you practice and refine your approach before interviewing with your dream companies.

Good luck!
Kairavee

Answer 3

Hi there,

Q: Should I apply to all available internships?

For several companies, if you apply for an internship and are rejected, you can still apply for a full-time position, so that gives you two shots (this should be verified with HR as it might depend on the office/company).

In any case, given you will graduate in August, even if you have to wait until January 2026, that would be only a few months, so I would still recommend applying for all the internships first.

Good luck!

Francesco

Answer 4

Given your situation, it’s best to apply widely. Securing any consulting internship, even at a Tier 2, will give you valuable experience and strengthen your profile for future applications to MBB.

Thanks

Ashwin

Answer 5

Good question. For a current student, it is always best to apply first to firms that recruit directly from your campus / program. Otherwise, it can be an uphill battle to get an interview. With this market, applying broad, having targeted conversations, and preparing appropriately (e.g., resume, case preparation, fit interview, etc.) is essential. Feel free to get in touch for a free 15 min consultation.

Answer 6

Hey there,

In short, I would recommend you apply widely and cast your net as wide as you can! :-)

Having said that, make sure you have optimized your CV and each application to give you the best chance on each

It's good to give yourself opportunities

All the best

Answer 7

Hi there, This is absolutely not true. The timing of the call doesn’t indicate the outcome of your application. I can... (read entire answer)

Hi there, This is absolutely not true. The timing of the call doesn’t indicate the outcome of your application. I can tell you that the past week, McKinsey Middle East has been... (read entire answer)

Answer 8

Hey there, Similarly to the full-time hiring process, companies such as the MBBs and tier 2 tend to recruit from sele... (read entire answer)

Hey there, Similarly to the full-time hiring process, companies such as the MBBs and tier 2 tend to recruit from select universities and schools (Target Schools), and their Midd... (read entire answer)