The document provides tips and advice from a panel discussion for students doing consulting internships. It discusses leveraging relationships, working on familiar projects, maintaining a good attitude, seeking feedback, and balancing project work and relationships. It also answers common questions about tools to learn, switching offices, communicating long-term plans, time management, decision makers for offers, choosing projects, being oversold, and social expectations. The overall message is to work hard and contribute positively to projects and relationships during the short internship period.

1. +
Make the Most of Your
Consulting Summer
Internship
2011
Notes from Panel Discussion
24 May 2011
J-P Martins, AD Consulting Careers

2. +
Panelists’ top tips!
Leverage your relationships with junior team members
Try to work on projects or aspects of projects that you have some
familiarity with
Bring a good attitude – work well with people, get the basics right,
make no mistakes!
Seek and receive feedback, both formal and informal
Bear in mind the need to balance project excellence and building
relationships

3. +
Q&A (1 of 4)
What tools should we learn/ Excel and PPT should be enough!
practice beforehand? Excel (eg pivot tables) - try online training?
Thinkcell
How encouraging was the Good, but don’t expect continual pats on the back;
environment; why do some not relationships, or consulting not the right fit
get offers?
What are some team ‘dos and Be humble; voice opinions & speak up; make you
don’ts’? contribution clear; do what’s asked of you & do it well;
don’t try to over-impress/do to much; take part (eg lunch,
dinner, social
What’s the timing of offers, Summer internships should yield offer acceptance
autumn internships, other deadlines that allow consulting recruiting in the autumn
recruiting activities? term – if not or unsure, contact Career Services
Autumn internships may be later – consult other firms
you might want to recruit with well in advance

4. +
Q&A (2 of 4)
How easy is it to switch office Possible and there are precedents, but beware annoying
post-internship? the recruiters. Consult with Career Services!
How easy is it to participate in Talk to Adeel Hyder/Pooya ? (MBA2011s) about their
recruiting if on exchange in the experiences
autumn? Possible, in fact better for some geographies, but be
proactive & consult with your target recruiters in advance
Slight handicap in some circumstances
How should you communicate Be quite open, but reinforce commitment to the
your LT plans if asked during development experience
your internship?
Time management – best to Get stuck in – 8-10 weeks is too short a time, and
execute a slow start and build projects move quickly
as you gain knowledge and
confidence?

5. +
Q&A (3 of 4)
What not to do? Try too hard
Blow up
Abuse juniors
Miss a deadline
NO SURPRISES!
What preparation to do? Take a short holiday
Talk to others that interned/worked in the office you are
going to
Who are the decision makers Everyone – truly 360 including client
on offers? Engagement manager, partners
No place for anonymity

6. +
Q&A (4 of 4)
How to choose a project? Choice can be limited
Make a few staffing preferences clear
Use it as an opportunity to understand the staffing
system in your firm/office – get to know the person that
manages staffing
Do Project Leaders/others Not necessarily
oversell your capabilities/ Will ‘sell’ you well, but never in their interests to expose
expertise? you
What’s expected of you Lots of opportunity – recommended to take part
socially? Mainly around travel if working with remote clients – eg
breakfast, lunch, dinner with team mates
Make sure you go to Friday drinks, outings/awaydays