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List of Internships: Find the Top Consulting Internship for You

• September 5, 2024

Many undergraduates, MBA students, and others are interested in breaking into the field of management consulting. But how do you start?

The best way to figure out whether the field of management consulting is right for you is to apply for an internship the summer before you graduate. From a consulting internship, you’ll get hands-on experience in the field, meet professional consultants, and see for yourself whether you like the work and are good at it.

That’s why we’ve compiled this list of consulting internships. It gives you a place to start as you research the firms to find the top consulting internship opportunities for you.

Important! Please note that the consulting internship roles listed below are open for applications. Some consulting firms have already filled their internship position. As they open up applications later this year, this list will grow. For a more comprehensive list of all firms available for applications, please see our  List of 200+ Consulting Firms to Apply to .

In addition to checking out this list, be sure to see our article on how to land a consulting internship , written by a former McKinsey Summer Intern. Also, see our post on how to write your consulting resume.

List of Management Consulting Internships

Have questions?

If you have questions about this list of top consulting internships, leave them in the comments below. One of My Consulting Offer’s recruiters will answer them. Other people prepping to apply to management consulting internships found the following pages helpful:

• Our Ultimate Guide to Case Interview Prep
• How to Write a Consulting Resume
• How to Get a Consulting Internship & What to Expect
• BCG Internships
• BCG Sophomore Internships
• Bain BASE Scholar Internship for MBA Students from Diverse Backgrounds
• The Bain BEL Program for Sophomores from Diverse Backgrounds
• McKinsey Sophomore Summer Business Analyst Program
• Deloitte Discovery Internship
• Expedition EY
• Roland Berger Internship

Help with Your Consulting Application

Thanks for turning to My Consulting Offer for advice on finding a management consulting internship. My Consulting Offer has helped almost 89.6% of the people we’ve worked with to get a job in management consulting . We want you to be successful in your consulting interviews too. For example, here is how Carolyn was able to get her McKinsey internship.

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Get your application noticed with these insider tricks from former McKinsey, Bain, and BCG Recruiting Managers.

4 thoughts on “Complete List of the Top Consulting Internships [2023]”

Can you share the list of management consulting interns which are recruiting for summer placement internship in 2022.

This list has been updated. Good luck with your consulting internship search! https://www.myconsultingoffer.org/list-of-consulting-internships/

Are there any potential winter internships based in London in 2022?

Hey, Christopher, Summer is the most popular time for internship programs, so I can see why you might be concerned about finding a winter one. I think you’ll need to do a bit of digging to find one for the winter located in London. My suggestion is that you start with the consulting firms that interest you the most and check their “Careers” pages for internships. You can also network to get more information about the firms and programs they have to help you learn about careers in management consulting and with their firm in particular. Here’s a link to our article on Networking Your Way into the Consulting Industry. Best of luck in your search!

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Hacking the Case Interview

Are you looking to transition from a PhD or advanced degree program and get into management consulting ? Unsure of how exactly to do this?

We have you covered! This comprehensive article covers:

• Why consulting firms hire PhD / advanced degree candidates
• Firms that hire PhD / advanced degree candidates
• Challenges that PhD / advanced degree candidates face
• PhD / advanced degree consulting recruiting process
• Submitting a PhD / advanced degree consulting application
• Passing consulting interviews with a PhD / advanced degree
• Recommended PhD / advanced degree case interview resources

If you’re looking for a step-by-step shortcut to learn case interviews quickly, enroll in our case interview course . These insider strategies from a former Bain interviewer helped 30,000+ land consulting offers while saving hundreds of hours of prep time.

Why Consulting Firms Hire PhD / Advanced Degree Candidates

Consulting firms hire PhD and advanced degree candidates for many reasons.

One, consulting firms want to hire top talent wherever they may be. While consulting firms have traditionally hired from top-tier undergraduate and MBA schools , they have been moving towards also hiring from top-tier medical schools, law schools, and graduate schools. Talented future consultants can be found anywhere and consulting firms want to hire them.

Two, a lot of the skills that PhD and advanced degree candidates have can be transferred to consulting. PhD students gather data, break down problems, write papers, and present their work to others. Analyzing data and presenting your work are critical skills that consultants use every day.

Three, the work that consultants do is increasingly becoming more specialized, requiring specialized expertise. This is where PhD and advanced degree graduates shine. If a consulting firm is helping a pharmaceutical company develop a strategy to launch a new drug, who better to help them than a biochemistry PhD or MD that understands healthcare ?

Therefore, if you are interested in transitioning to the business world, know that consulting firms do hire PhD and advanced degree candidates that have no business backgrounds.

As a PhD or advanced degree hire, you’ll typically be placed at roughly the same level as an MBA hire. However, if you only have a master’s degree, you may be placed at the same level as an undergraduate hire.

Firms That Hire PhD / Advanced Degree Candidates

All three of the top-tier management consulting firms, McKinsey, BCG, and Bain, hire PhD and advanced degree candidates. In fact, they have special programs that are tailored to helping PhD and advanced degree candidates go through the recruiting process.

In addition, many other top consulting firms hire PhD and advanced degree candidates, including Deloitte , Strategy& (part of PwC) , EY-Parthenon , LEK , and Roland Berger .

If you have a PhD in life sciences or an MD, there are many consulting firms that specialize in life sciences consulting . These consulting firms include: ClearView Healthcare , Guidehouse (Navigant ), ZS , Putnam Associates , and Huron Consulting .

Overall, there are many consulting firms that will hire PhD and advanced degree candidates.

Challenges that PhD / Advanced Degree Candidates Face

Although PhD and advanced degree candidates have some skills that will transfer over to consulting, there are many skills that will not. There are six main challenges that PhD and advanced degree hires will face when they recruit for and enter consulting.

Understanding essential business concepts

PhD and advanced degree candidates spend years studying fields that have nothing to do with business. One of the biggest challenges that these candidates face is ramping up on fundamental business knowledge.

Consulting does not require specialized business knowledge, but candidates should be familiar with fundamental business concepts, such as profitability, market share, and competitive advantage.

Additionally, many PhD and advanced degree candidates will lack the business judgment and acumen that a traditional MBA candidate has. Building up a strong business instinct takes time.

Solving problems quickly

PhD candidates may work on one project for many years, extensively researching the topic and going very deep into the details and nuances of the problem.

In contrast, consulting projects are typically solved in 3 – 6 months. As a new consultant, PhD and advanced degree candidates will need to learn how to solve problems quickly by focusing on the most important issues or areas.

Doing simple math calculations quickly

PhD candidates likely use sophisticated and complex mathematics in their research and work, such as differential equations or linear algebra.

In consulting, only very basic math is used. Surprisingly, during interviews, PhD and advanced degree candidates have a much more difficult time performing basic math calculations than undergraduate candidates. This may be because PhD candidates are used to doing higher level math using statistical software rather than doing simpler math calculations by hand.

Therefore, PhD candidates will likely need to brush up on their basic math skills to perform calculations quickly and accurately during their interviews.

Making things simple and easy to understand

One of the key skills in consulting is to make things simple and easy to understand. This is important in order to make clients understand their business situation and act on the recommendations that the consulting firm has provided.

PhD and advanced degree candidates deal with complex and intricate problems that are often difficult to explain to the average person. To be a successful consultant, PhD and advanced degree hires will need to practice explaining complex things in a simple way.

Not focusing too much on the nitty gritty details

In a PhD program, you go very deep into one particular area or topic. To become an expert in the field, you typically read all of the scientific papers published on the topic and know all of the details.

Consulting is less focused on the nitty gritty details. Consultants will learn just enough about a particular topic or area in order to be able to solve the business problem.

Focusing more on the overall business problem and focusing less on minute details is one skill that PhD and advanced degree hires will need to learn and develop.

PhD / Advanced Degree Consulting Recruiting Process

Some consulting firms, such as McKinsey, BCG, and Bain, offer programs that specifically help PhD and advanced degree holders apply and transition to consulting. Participating in these programs will help you build connections and increase the likelihood of receiving an interview.

These programs are fairly competitive and require you to submit an application in order to be accepted into the program.

• McKinsey Insight Program : This program provides an overview of management consulting and McKinsey, an opportunity to connect with consultants that share a similar background to you, and a mock case study.
• Bridge to BCG Program : This program provides an overview of consulting and what makes BCG special. You’ll have the opportunity to solve a BCG case in a case team simulation, network with consulting staff, and participate in social activities.
• Bain ADvantage Program : This week-long consulting internship immerses candidates into life at Bain and a career in consulting. You’ll have a full day of training followed by four days of a staffing assignment on a real case team. If accepted into this program, you will receive a guaranteed final-round interview for a full-time Consultant position.

Outside of these programs, the PhD and advanced degree recruiting process looks like the following:

• Submit your consulting job application
• Pass your first-round consulting interviews
• Pass your final-round consulting interviews
• Receive your consulting job offer

Submitting a PhD / Advanced Degree Consulting Application

Consulting firm job applications typically have three components: the resume , cover letter , and the optional referral.

We’ll briefly cover each of these components of the application over the next few sections. Each section has a link to a more comprehensive, in-depth guide that you should read.

Consulting Resume

Your resume is the single most important factor that decides whether or not you will receive a consulting interview. Consulting resumes are quite different from the type of resumes you would use in a PhD or advanced degree program.

For example, you will not need to list publications you have contributed to or conferences that you have attended. You’ll also need to simplify the topic of your research so that the average recruiter can understand what you have worked on and what you have accomplished. Finally, make sure to focus less on the details of your work and more on the overall accomplishment and impact.

Make sure to tailor your resume so that it follows the structure and format of a consulting resume.

In short, keep your resume to one page and quantify the impact of your accomplishments.

Consulting firms like to see:

• High grades
• Prestigious schools that you have attended
• Brand name companies that you have worked for
• Significant impact in your work experiences
• Meaningful leadership positions in your extracurricular activities

For a step-by-step guide to crafting the perfect consulting resume, check out our comprehensive resume guide .

Consulting Cover Letter

The cover letter is less important than your resume, but can make the difference between receiving a consulting interview and not receiving one if your resume is on the borderline.

Your cover letter should be concise and straight to the point. Introduce yourself and then briefly explain why you are interested in consulting. Spend most of the cover letter explaining what qualities you have that would make you a great fit for the firm.

To avoid having a generic cover letter, include specific reasons why you are interested in the consulting firm you are applying to. Mention former or current employees that you have spoken to and what aspects of the firm you find most attractive.

For a step-by-step guide to crafting the perfect consulting cover letter, check out our comprehensive cover letter guide .

Referrals are not part of the official application process for consulting firms, but they are a quick way to make your application stand out.

If you have a friend or colleague that works at the consulting firm you are applying to, ask if they would be comfortable giving you a referral.

Getting a referral means that someone at the consulting firm will send your name and resume to the recruiter that is in charge of resume reviews. Your application will get a closer look and be viewed a bit more favorably.

Referrals are not required to get interviews, but can help a lot. For the McKinsey Insight Program, Bridge to BCG Program, and Bain ADvantage Program, referrals can make a big difference given how competitive these programs are.

Passing Consulting Interviews with a PhD / Advanced Degree

A few weeks after the application deadlines, you’ll receive invitations from consulting firms for the first of two rounds of interviews.

Passing First-Round PhD / Adv. Degree Consulting Interviews

At most consulting firms, the first round of interviews consists of two separate 40- to 60-minute interviews. These interviews will mainly focus on case interviews, but you will also get a few other types of questions.

There are three types of consulting interview questions :

Case Interviews

• Behavioral Interviews

Why Consulting? / Why this Firm?

We’ll briefly cover each of these types of consulting interview questions over the next few sections. Each section has a link to a more comprehensive, in-depth guide that you should read.

Case interviews are a special type of interview question that consulting firms use to assess a candidate’s potential to be a great consultant. In a case interview, you’ll be placed in a hypothetical business situation and asked to develop a recommendation or answer to a business problem. A case takes about 30- to 60-minutes to complete.

Here are some examples of case interview questions:

• How can Coca-Cola increase its profitability?
• What should Netflix do to increase customer retention?
• Should Facebook enter the smart phone market?
• How should Apple price its new iPhone?

Case interviews begin with the interviewer reading you the background information on the case. You’ll then get the chance to ask clarifying questions to better understand the business situation and case objective.

Next, you’ll develop a framework to help you solve the case. A framework is a tool that helps you structure and break down complex problems into smaller, more manageable components.

You’ll then be asked to answer quantitative and qualitative questions to build support for a recommendation. You may need to calculate expected profitability, interpret charts and graphs, or brainstorm and prioritize different ideas.

At the end of the case interview, the interviewer will ask you to deliver a final recommendation to address or solve the business problem.

Behavioral Interview Questions

Consulting behavioral interview questions ask you to give an example or story of a time when you displayed a particular quality, such as leadership, problem solving, or resilience.

Here are some examples of behavioral interview questions:

• Tell me about a time when you exceeded expectations
• Give me an example of a time when you had to persuade someone
• Describe a situation in which you resolved team conflict
• Give me an example of a time when you failed to meet expectations
• Describe a difficult or complicated problem that you solved

To prepare for these questions, develop a list of five different stories or examples that cover a wide range of positive qualities. You should select stories or experiences that are the most impressive and impactful.

When asked a behavioral interview question, mentally run through your list of prepared stories and select the one that is most relevant to the question that is asked.

You’ll want to share your story or experience by using the STAR method to ensure that you answer the question in a clear and structured way. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result.

Situation : Provide a brief overview of the situation and any context that is needed to understand the story better. Keep this section as concise as possible because it is less important than the other parts of the story.

Task : Describe what you were asked or required to deliver or achieve. Again, keep this section concise since it is less important than the other parts of the story.

Action : Explain what steps you took to handle the task or meet the goal or objective. This is an important part of the story, so focus on sharing exactly what you did.

Result : Describe the outcome that your actions had, quantifying the impact. Also describe your key takeaways from the experience and how it impacted or influenced you as a person. This is the most important part of the story.

For a step-by-step guide on how to best answer all consulting behavioral and fit interview questions, check out our complete guide on consulting behavioral interview questions .

You will almost certainly be asked the “Why Consulting?” question at some point during your interviews. Interviewers want to know why you are interested in consulting to see if you know what you are getting yourself into and whether you are genuinely interested.

As a PhD or advanced degree candidate, you will need to provide compelling reasons why you are choosing to pursue consulting instead of the field that you have spent years studying.

There are many reasons you can give for why you are interested in consulting:

• You want to make a larger impact on the world by working with large companies to solve their most challenging business problems
• You see consulting as the quickest way to develop the skills to transition to the business world and become a business executive
• You enjoy working closely in teams to solve challenging business problems
• You value the mentorship and personal development opportunities that consulting provides
• You want to tackle a wide variety of different problems and consulting allows you to work on projects in many different industries and functions

Use the following structure to answer this question:

• State that consulting is your top career choice
• Provide three reasons to support this
• Reiterate that consulting best fits your professional needs and goals

In addition to the “Why Consulting?” question, you may also be asked “Why this Firm?” This question assesses whether you are genuinely interested in working at the consulting firm that you are interviewing for.

Again, there are many different reasons you could give:

• You have loved the people that you’ve met from the firm and would enjoy working with them
• The firm has an empowering work culture where you feel you would thrive
• The firm has deep expertise in a particular industry or function that you are passionate about
• The firm places a heavy investment in mentorship and personal development, which you value tremendously
• Several of your mentors and role models have worked at the firm and have recommended that you work there

Make sure to structure your answer to this question so that your answer is clear and easy to follow. You can use a similar structure to the “Why Consulting?” question:

• State that the firm you are interviewing for is your top choice consulting firm
• Reiterate that the firm best fits your professional needs and goals

For a complete guide on answering this question, check out our "Why consulting?" article.

Passing Final-Round PhD / Adv. Degree Consulting Interviews

Consulting final round interviews typically consist of two to three separate 40- to 60-minute interviews. You’ll see the same three types of questions that you saw in your first-round interviews.

There are three main distinctions between consulting first-round interviews and consulting final-round interviews.

First, your interviewers will be more senior people. This means that the case interviews you receive may be less structured and feel more like a qualitative discussion. You and the interviewer may just be discussing your opinions and ideas on a business problem.

Second, there is more of an emphasis on assessing your personality and cultural fit with the firm. Interviewers will not only assess whether you can solve case interviews, but they will also assess whether they would want to work with you on a team. Interviewers want to see if you are coachable, collaborative, and easy to work with.

Third, your interviewers may read the notes that your previous interviewers wrote about you. If there is a particular area of the case interview that you struggled with, interviewers may specifically test you on it again to make sure it is not a weakness.

Overall, you should still use the same strategies that you used in your first-round interviews for your second-round interviews.

Receiving your PhD / Adv. Degree Consulting Job Offer

After finishing all of your interviews, all you have to do is to wait. Consulting firms typically call candidates to tell them whether or not they are being extended a job offer.

Some candidates receive a phone call with good news on the same day of their final-round interview. Other candidates receive calls within a few days.

Be patient while waiting to hear back from consulting firms. If you have not heard back within a week, you can send a polite follow-up email with the recruiter to ask for an update.

When you finally get your call, all that is left to do is sign your offer letter to secure your consulting job!

Recommended PhD / Advanced Degree Consulting Interview Resources

Here are the resources we recommend to land your dream consulting job:

For help landing consulting interviews

• Resume Review & Editing : Transform your resume into one that will get you multiple consulting interviews

For help passing case interviews

• Comprehensive Case Interview Course (our #1 recommendation): The only resource you need. Whether you have no business background, rusty math skills, or are short on time, this step-by-step course will transform you into a top 1% caser that lands multiple consulting offers.
• Case Interview Coaching : Personalized, one-on-one coaching with a former Bain interviewer.
• Hacking the Case Interview Book   (available on Amazon): Perfect for beginners that are short on time. Transform yourself from a stressed-out case interview newbie to a confident intermediate in under a week. Some readers finish this book in a day and can already tackle tough cases.
• The Ultimate Case Interview Workbook (available on Amazon): Perfect for intermediates struggling with frameworks, case math, or generating business insights. No need to find a case partner – these drills, practice problems, and full-length cases can all be done by yourself.

For help passing consulting behavioral & fit interviews

• Behavioral & Fit Interview Course : Be prepared for 98% of behavioral and fit questions in just a few hours. We'll teach you exactly how to draft answers that will impress your interviewer.

Land Multiple Consulting Offers

Complete, step-by-step case interview course. 30,000+ happy customers.

9 consulting firms where MBA and PhD students can earn more than $30,000 during their internship

• Management consulting has a 38% retention rate for interns, according to a 2017 LinkedIn report.
• Management Consulted's 2022 salaries data shows MBA and PhD interns can earn over $30,000.
• Internships are 10 weeks in the US, but can range from 8-12 weeks in Canada and EMEA.

Management consulting is one of the most competitive fields to break into, but one way to get your foot in the door and guarantee a spot after business school, is through a summer internship. 

Consulting firms have a conversion rate of about 38%, according to a 2017 LinkedIn report . And MBA graduates can make more money two years out of school than they had borrowed, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of federal student loan data for around 600 programs.

"Firms are seeing an explosion of demand for consulting services," Namaan Mian, chief operating officer of Management Consulted, previously told Insider. Starting base salaries for management consultants rose by close to 10% across firms and levels, according to Management Consulted's data for 2022.

Management Consulted collected its 2022 data from its "interview prep clients who received written job offers and firm representatives," according to its salaries report .

Here are the 9 highest-paying firms for MBA and PhD interns, per Management Consulted's data .

Weng Cheong contributed to an earlier version of this article.

9. Deloitte Strategy and Operations (S&O)

For interns: $30,000 and full second year of MBA tuition reimbursement for returning interns.

About the company: Deloitte is known as one of the Big Four professional services firms, and has the largest global professional services network in the world.

It is organized into three main service areas  that offer different salaries: The human capital division, the strategy and operations division, and the technology division. 

8. Strategy&

For interns: $31,730 (Dubai: $25,000) 

About the company: Strategy& is a subsidiary of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), and is a multinational strategy consulting firm that offers strategy-through-execution services for several industries including financial services, healthcare, and technology.

7. Boston Consulting Group (BCG)

For interns: $31,730 (Canada: C$40,000) (UK: £15,000)

About the company: Boston Consulting Group also belongs in the "Big Three" management consultancies, and is widely known for the "BCG Matrix,"  a framework  that helps companies decide how to prioritize their business by its profitability.

Consultants at BCG are knowledgeable in many areas, such as business portfolio management, sustainability, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and more.

6. ZS Associates

For interns: $31,730 + $5,000 signing bonus + potential cost of living adjustment/relocation bonus. Returning MBA interns get second year tuition reimbursed.

About the company:  ZS Associates is a global management consulting firm whose associates enjoy complex problem-solving. The firm's associates offer services and insights in sales and marketing strategy, operations, and execution.

5. Bain & Company

For interns: $32,000 (Canada: C$35,769)

About the company: Founded and headquartered in Boston, MA, Bain & Company is one of the "Big Three" management consultancies. Consultants work with public, private, and nonprofit organizations.

Bain & Company has been a frontrunner in  Glassdoor's ranking of the best places to work for more than 10 years. Keith Bevans, Bain's global head of recruiting, talked to Insider about how candidates of color can break into consulting at the firm.

4. Accenture

For interns:  $33,461

About the company: Accenture is a global consulting firm with innovation as one of its main priorities, and employs  more than 620,000 people  worldwide. 

Some of its core values are focused on global relationships and impact, and sustainability.

3. Accenture Strategy

For interns: $33,563 and an extra $5,000 for relocation expenses. Returning interns get up to $80,000 in tuition reimbursement ($50,000 after taxes).

About the company:  Accenture Strategy is a branch of global consulting firm Accenture, which serves over 40 industries, and has offices and operations in over 50 countries.

Consultants at Accenture are capable in technology, customer growth, supply chain operations, talent, and enterprise value.

2. McKinsey & Company

For interns: $33,750 (UK: £16,400 + up to £5,000 relocation bonus), and returning interns get a 50% reimbursement of their second year tuition.

About the company: One of the "Big Three" consulting firms, McKinsey & Company provides services in strategy, overall organization, policy, profit and costs, research and development, and management information.

1. AlixPartners

For interns:  $80/hour (target $34,000) + 1.5x overtime + $3,000 signing bonus

About the company:  AlixPartners is a global business advisory firm that specializes in corporate turnaround in urgent and high-impact situations. Consultants here also work to improve corporate performance and provide litigation consulting and forensic accounting services.

• Main content

Early Career

Make the most of your future by joining KPMG, where you can gain the skills, confidence, experience, and leadership training you need to learn, grow, and thrive.

Getting Started

Join us as an undergraduate and from early on, you’ll have hands-on, real-world experience that will help fulfill your potential. There is opportunity everywhere at KPMG – use the tools below to determine which opportunity is right for you.

Career Navigator

Degree matcher, how we hire, virtual career series.

Select your graduation date and find out which KPMG opportunities you may be eligible for.

Match your degree

Select your major and find out the KPMG practices you may be eligible for.

How we hire

Review our application and interview process details, next steps, and popular FAQ.

Attend sessions or watch playback videos hosted by recruiters and professionals on KPMG 101, how to Ace the Application, and more.

Pre-Internship Programs

This is where your journey begins. Our innovative national and local programs offer you exciting opportunities to network with KPMG professionals to get a head start on your career explorations.

• KPMG Ideation Challenge
• Ace the Case
• HBCU Talent+
• Rise Leadership Conference
• Global Advantage
• Women in Advisory

Internships

The KPMG Internship Experience is a terrific way to learn business skills, find a mentor, build your network, and gain real-world (even global) experience before graduation.

Search Internship Jobs search

Full-time Careers

A career with KPMG can give you the opportunity to be part of a team that values and encourages an innovative culture, where you can create lasting change.

Search Early Career Jobs search

At KPMG, we inspire confidence in our clients by empowering our people and their success. Our award-winning culture enables personal and professional development, collaboration, integrity, ethics, diversity, and inclusion. It’s one of the many reasons KPMG is widely recognized for being a great place to work and is consistently named one of Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For.” Join us and explore where your career can take you.

KPMG is one of the world’s leading professional services firms and the fastest growing Big Four accounting firm in the United States. With more than 75 offices and 40,000+ employees and partners throughout the US, we’re leading the industry in new and exciting ways. Explore

Benefits & How We Work

KPMG understands what matters most to our professionals. That’s why we’re proud to offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that promotes physical, mental, and financial well-being. Perks such as our comprehensive health insurance, 401(k), flexible spending accounts, mortgage assistance programs, etc. help you make the best decisions for yourself and your family. Explore

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

You are who you are, and that’s who we want. Your unique perspective, skills, and experience are invaluable and allow you to contribute to KPMG in ways no one else can. Grow the career you want while being the individual you truly are. Explore

Professional Development

Your career is just as important to us as it is to you. It’s the engine that drives our business. That means when you grow as a professional, the firm grows as an organization. Our innovative career development programs have won us multiple awards, including Training magazine’s Top 10 Hall of Fame. Discover how we can help your career both grow and thrive. Explore

Community Impact

At KPMG, our values define who we are and what we believe. They guide thousands of extraordinary professionals across the country to do what is right, act boldly and draw strength from our differences so we can better serve our clients and our communities. Values like our commitment to education and life-long learning allow us to empower our people to take control of their careers and professional development. Explore

Our clients look to our audit professionals to provide a high-quality financial audit, industry insights, and a valuable perspective on a variety of salient business issues.

Ranked as one of the world’s top tax firms, KPMG empowers our tax professionals to raise the bar for our clients and their careers.

Clients come to KPMG Advisory to improve their business performance, turn risk into opportunities, and embed powerful technologies throughout their organization. We bring deep knowledge and fresh perspectives across multiple disciplines and industries to address both customer and market demands. From AI to advanced analytics and automation, we help redefine what’s possible.

Business Support Services

KPMG’s business support professionals are the engine that drives our practices, providing the crucial support our Audit, Tax, and Advisory services require to operate effectively.

Innovation & Technology

At KPMG, innovation and technology are at our core. Our I&T professionals leverage new and existing technology to help our clients seize new opportunities. Explore the power of Big Data, AI, machine learning, and cloud computing while helping our clients prepare for whatever the future may hold.

Practice Areas

We’re looking for top talent who are excited by challenges and inspired to drive change in the following areas.

Innovation & Technology

Early career resources, guide to success.

It’s never too early to build your qualifications. Entering the professional world means not only having the knowledge but also acting the part. To succeed you not only need to have the technical skills to do your job, but you also need to master soft skills, such as communication, working with others, integrity, and enthusiasm. All of your actions both online and off impact your candidate profile and your chances of getting hired. Companies are looking for their future team members and need you to show them through your attitude, actions, interviewing, and social media presence, that you are ready to go and represent them accordingly.

Match Your Degree

Search jobs, get your cpa.

KPMG's CPA Incentive Program can help you get your CPA license within your first two years of eligibility, which is determined by each state based primarily on the number of educational credits you've completed. Getting your CPA early can advance your career in many ways, including freeing up your time for other professional opportunities.

KPMG awards $5,000 when you join KPMG with your CPA exam passed, or if you pass all parts of the CPA exam within your first year of employment or CPA exam eligibility, whichever is later.

KPMG awards $3,000 when you complete and pass your CPA exam during your second year of employment or CPA exam eligibility, whichever is later.

Meet Your Mentor

If you want the kind of networking that's got a real impact, consider a mentor. At KPMG, a mentor makes a long-term commitment to you and your future. With a mentor, you have regular, private communication that enables you to ask important questions, examine your goals and stretch your ideas about who you are and what you want to become. Commitment by mentors to give help, and willingness among mentees to take help, enable employees at all levels to benefit from the combination of inspiration and example that can create career champions.

KPMG Lakehouse

KPMG interns spend an exhilarating week of National Intern Training at KPMG Lakehouse in Lake Nona, Florida. No other Big Four firm offers a consistent national training experience for all Audit, Tax, and Advisory interns. You'll join your peers from around the country to enhance your leadership and communication skills and receive training specific to your chosen practice area. As an intern, you'll be paired with a KPMG mentor who is committed to you and your career. You'll communicate regularly to address important questions, examine your goals, assess your progress and stretch your ideas about who you are and what you want to become.

KPMG Master of Accounting with Data and Analytics Program (MADA)

An industry changing first-of-its kind program, MADA prepares students for the highly complex business landscape by combining the practical use of data and analytics (D&A) technologies with D&A-focused accounting curriculum. The MADA program gives you the tools you need to meet the challenges of the data age.

Total Rewards Designed for You

Of course, you want a great compensation package — and KPMG delivers. The firm is proud to offer a comprehensive, competitive benefits package, with options designed to help you make the best decisions for yourself, your family, and your lifestyle. At KPMG, we prioritize our people.

International Students

KPMG early career opportunities include jobs that will consider qualified applicants who require visa sponsorship. To help you tailor your search, the list below outlines practices that historically consider candidates requiring visa sponsorship.

The posted job description will list the most up-to-date job qualifications. Please carefully review the job description before applying to ensure you meet all posted job qualifications.

Practices that historically consider candidates requiring visa sponsorship on a regular basis:

• Korean Audit Practice – fluency in Korean/English is required
• Japanese Audit Practice – fluency in Japanese/English is required
• Korean Business Tax Services Practice – fluency in Korean/English is required
• Japanese Business Tax Services Practice – fluency in Japanese/English is required

Practices that historically consider candidates requiring sponsorship on a limited basis:

• All Tax jobs
• Audit Data Engineering (fulltime opportunities only)

If you are interested in recruiting with one of our KPMG member firms outside of the U.S., please use this resource here .

Our Hiring Process

No need to wait for opportunity to knock; it’s already here. Open the door and introduce yourself to KPMG to discover what incredible opportunities await your career. Learn more about the process of embarking on your early-career experience at KPMG.

Before you get started on your application, you will need to determine which practice area and location is of the most interest to you. If you’re unsure about your fit, you can take the time to research what we do or use our Degree Matcher now. Give serious thought to your location preference. We strongly recommend applying to the location where you want to build your life and career long-term.

You can easily browse and apply to any open position nationwide in Job Search . You will also be able to filter by office location and business area to apply for your most preferred position. To complete the application, you’ll need approximately 10 minutes of time along with a resume and unofficial transcript if you’re currently a student or graduated with a bachelor's degree or higher in the past 12 months. KPMG recruits on a rolling basis. Candidates are considered as they apply, until the opportunity is filled. You are encouraged to apply expeditiously to one role for which you are qualified and is of the greatest interest. You are limited to a maximum of two active applications.

Soon after the application deadline, you'll be notified if you've been selected for an interview. If your application progresses, you will have two live video interviews with business leaders, which provides scheduling flexibility. To interview successfully via video, you’ll want to practice beforehand:

Make sure you understand the tech being used! Read the instructions provided ahead of time to understand the technology and use a compatible internet browser.

Test your internet connection, audio, and video with a friend to make sure everything is in working order.

Keep your device plugged in during your interview.

Place your phone on silent!

Turn off distractions on your computer such as text/email alerts and other notifications.

Try to use your laptop/tablet instead of a cell phone (to avoid the appearance of Face Timing a friend).

Wear professional clothing and accessories.

Speak clearly and look directly into the camera.

Be aware of your background and lighting, keeping it as professional and bright as possible.

You’ll be great!

Most decisions are made within two weeks of interviewing. Specifics vary by KPMG office, but after your video interviews, you’ll hear if we are extending a job offer or an invitation to visit one of our offices in person. When you visit, you’ll meet your potential colleagues, explore the office and experience the KPMG culture as well as our diverse and inclusive environment. We want you to be completely confident in your career decision!

How can I tell if I am eligible for a position?

You should match your educational credentials, graduation date, experience and interests with those required in the job posting.

How do I apply to KPMG?

You can easily search job postings and apply quickly for any job, for which you are eligible, on the KPMG website. Click “Job Search” in the toolbar above to get started. You’ll need 10 minutes, your resume and unofficial transcripts. Give serious thought to your location preference. We strongly recommend applying to the location where you want to build your life and career long-term.

Do I still need a resume?

Yes! You will still need your resume and you will be able to upload it during the application process.

Can I apply to more than one position?

KPMG recruits on a rolling basis. Candidates are considered as they apply, until the opportunity is filled. Candidates are encouraged to apply expeditiously to one role for which they are qualified, that is of the greatest interest. You won't be able to interview for multiple positions simultaneously. If you're unsure about what to pursue, take the time to research our practice areas. You are limited to a maximum of two active applications.

Where should I apply for an internship?

KPMG’s internship program is designed to convert high performing interns to fulltime opportunities in the geographic location of the internship. This allows interns to build beneficial relationships and knowledge with KPMG professionals, clients, and peers. As a result, you should pursue an internship in the location where you would like to build your life and career long-term after graduation. Location changes cannot be guaranteed at the conclusion of the internship.

When will I find out if I’ve been selected for an interview?

Interview selections are made as quickly as possible, typically within 2 weeks of applying.

Will I have multiple interviews?

You’ll participate in two live video interviews.

How long does the hiring process typically take?

Offer decisions are typically made within two weeks of interviewing. Interviews typically occur on a rolling basis until the opportunity is filled, and within one-two weeks of being selected to interview. Specifics vary by KPMG office, but you'll hear promptly if we are extending a job offer or an invitation to visit KPMG in person.

Do you have opportunities for international students?

If you are interested in recruiting with one of our KPMG member firms outside of the U.S., please use this resource{" "} here .

How many hours will I work?

Internships, unless otherwise noted, are 40 hours per week. Interns must be available to work during regular business hours (approximately 8am-5pm) and live within a commutable distance to the office.

Fulltime positions, unless otherwise noted, are 40 hours per week with overtime hours expected. You must be available to work during regular business hours (approximately 8am-5pm), plus overtime, and live within a commutable distance to the office.

Eligible KPMG Practices

• Deal Advisory and Strategy: Accounting Advisory Services, Capital Solutions, Deal Advisory and Strategy Analytics, Financial Due Diligence, Strategy
• Consulting: Finance Transformation, Financial Services Risk Regulatory & Compliance, Forensic, Internal Audit and Enterprise Risk, GRC, Technology Risk
• Audit, Technology Assurance - Audit, Audit Data Engineering
• Business Tax Services, Economic & Valuation Services, Global Mobility Services, Ignition Tax, International Tax, Mergers & Acquisitions, State & Local Tax
• Finance & Accounting, Internal Audit, Risk Management
• Ignition Tax, International Tax, State & Local Tax
• Finance & Accounting, Internal Audit
• Deal Advisory and Strategy: Strategy
• Consulting: Financial Services Risk Regulatory & Compliance, Forensic, Internal Audit and Enterprise Risk, GRC, Technology Risk
• Ignition Tax
• Advisory National: Business Development Organization
• Deal Advisory and Strategy: Capital Solutions, Deal Advisory and Strategy Analytics, Strategy
• Consulting: CIO Advisory, C&O Commerical, C&O Health & Government, Enterprise Solutions
• Advisory National: Advisory Data Organization
• Digital Nexus, Enterprise Data Services, Firmwide Analytics
• Deal Advisory and Strategy: Infrastructure and Projects Advisory
• Business Tax Services
• Deal Advisory and Strategy: Infrastructure and Projects Advisory, Capital Solutions, Strategy
• Consulting: CIO Advisory, C&O Commercial, C&O Financial Services, C&O Health & Government, Finance Transformation, Financial Services Risk Regulatory & Compliance, Forensic, GRC, Human Capital Advisory, Internal Audit & Enterprise Risk, Managed Services, Procurement & Outsourcing Advisory, Technology Risk, Transformation Delivery
• Advisory National: Advisory Data Organization, Business Development Organization
• Audit*, Technology Assurance - Audit, Audit Data Engineering *Must be CPA eligible
• Economic & Valuation Services, Ignition Tax, International Tax, State & Local Tax
• Digital Nexus, Events & Meetings, Finance & Accounting, Innovation Lab, Marketing, Risk Management, Talent & Culture
• Consulting: CIO Advisory, C&O Financial Services, Finance Transformation, Financial Services Risk Regulatory & Compliance, Forensic, GRC, Human Capital Advisory, Internal Audit & Enterprise Risk, Procurement & Outsourcing Advisory, Technology Risk, Transformation Delivery
• Global Mobility Services
• Digital Nexus, Events & Meetings, Finance & Accounting, Firmwide Analytics, Innovation Lab, Internal Audit, Marketing, Risk Management, Talent & Culture
• Firmwide Analytics
• Consulting: C&O Commercial, Human Capital Advisory, Transformation Delivery
• Corporate Affairs, Digital Nexus, Enterprise Data Services
• Deal Advisory and Strategy: Accounting Advisory Services, Capital Solutions, Deal Advisory and Strategy Analytics, Strategy
• Consulting: CIO Advisory, C&O Commercial, C&O Financial Services, Federal Technology Enablement, Financial Services Risk Regulatory & Compliance, Forensic, GRC, Internal Audit & Enterprise Risk, Managed Services, Technology Enablement, Technology Risk
• Economic & Valuation Services, Business Tax Services, International Tax, Mergers & Acquisitions, State and Local Tax, Ignition Tax
• Digital Nexus, Firmwide Analytics, Tax Technology Practice
• Consulting: CIO Advisory, C&O Financial Services, C&O Health & Government, Federal Technology Enablement, Financial Services Risk Regulatory & Compliance, Forensic, GRC, Internal Audit & Enterprise Risk, Technology Risk, Technology Enablement, Managed Services
• Technology Assurance - Audit, Audit Data Engineering
• Business Tax Services, Economic & Valuation Services, Ignition Tax, Global Mobility Services
• Digital Nexus, Enterprise Data Services, Firmwide Analytics, Tax Technology Practice, Innovation Lab, Internal Audit
• Consulting: CIO Advisory, C&O Commercial, C&O Financial Services, C&O Health & Government, Federal Technology Enablement, Financial Services Risk Regulatory & Compliance, Forensic, GRC, Internal Audit & Enterprise Risk, Technology Enablement, Technology Risk
• Technology Assurance - Audit
• Consulting: CIO Advisory, C&O Commercial, C&O Financial Services, C&O Health & Government, Federal Technology Enablement, Technology Enablement
• Ignition Tax, Economic & Valuation Services, Business Tax Services, International Tax, Mergers & Acquisitions, State and Local Tax
• Tax Technology Practice, Digital Nexus, Enterprise Data Services, Firmwide Analytics
• Consulting: C&O Financial Services, Federal Technology Enablement, Technology Enablement
• Digital Nexus
• Enterprise Data Services, Firmwide Analytics
• Consulting: C&O Commercial
• Deal Advisory and Strategy: Accounting Advisory Services, Capital Solutions, Deal Advisory and Strategy Analytics, Infrastructure and Projects Advisory, Strategy
• Consulting: C&O Commercial, C&O Financial Services, C&O Health & Governent, Finance Transformation, Financial Services Risk Regulatory & Compliance, Forensic, GRC, Internal Audit and Enterprise Risk, Technology Risk
• Digital Nexus, Innovation Lab, Office of the Chief Economist
• Consulting: Human Capital Advisory
• Consulting: CIO Advisory, C&O Financial Services, C&O Health & Government, Financial Services Risk Regulatory & Compliance, Forensic, GRC, Internal Audit & Enterprise Risk, Managed Services, Procurement & Outsourcing, Technology Enablement, Technology Risk
• Digital Nexus, Firmwide Analytics, Innovation Lab, Tax Technology Practice
• Consulting: Financial Services Risk Regulatory & Compliance, Forensic, GRC, Internal Audit & Enterprise Risk, Technology Risk
• Events & Meetings
• Deal Advisory and Strategy: Capital Solutions, Corporate Finance, Deal Advisory and Strategy Analytics, Infrastructure and Projects Advisory, Strategy
• Consulting: C&O Commercial, C&O Financial Services, C&O Health & Government, Financial Services Risk Regulatory & Compliance, Finance Transformation, Forensic, GRC, Procurement & Outsourcing Advisory, Internal Audit and Enterprise Risk, Technology Risk
• Audit Data Engineering, Actuarial
• Business Tax Services, Economic & Valuation Services, Global Mobility Services, Ignition Tax, State & Local Tax
• Consulting: Transformation Delivery
• Consulting: C&O Health & Government
• Business Tax Services, Global Mobility Services
• Digital Nexus, Talent & Culture
• Deal Advisory and Strategy: Deal Advisory and Strategy Analytics, Strategy
• Consulting: CIO Advisory, C&O Financial Services, C&O Health & Government, Financial Services Risk Regulatory & Compliance, Forensic, Internal Audit and Enterprise Risk, GRC, Technology Risk
• Business Tax Services, Economic & Valuation Services
• Digital Nexus, Enterprise Data Services
• Consulting: CIO Advisory, C&O Financial Services, C&O Health & Government, Financial Services Risk Regulatory & Compliance, Forensic, Internal Audit & Enterprise Risk, GRC, Technology Risk
• Innovation Lab, Digital Nexus, Enterprise Data Services, Tax Technology Practice
• Consulting: CIO Advisory, C&O Commercial, C&O Financial Services, C&O Health & Government, Federal Technology Enablement, Financial Services Risk Regulatory & Compliance, Forensic, Internal Audit and Enterprise Risk, GRC, Technology Risk, Technology Enablement, Managed Services
• Business Tax Services, Global Mobility Services, Ignition Tax, International Tax
• Digital Nexus, Enterprise Data Services, Firmwide Analytics, Tax Technology Practice, Internal Audit
• Enterprise Data Services, Talent & Culture
• Business Tax Services, International Tax, Mergers & Acquisitions, State & Local Tax, Washington National Tax
• Corporate Affairs
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6 Steps to Land a McKinsey internship

An early route to get your foot at the door of McKinsey – one of the three most prestigious consulting firms , is to successfully land an internship and compete for a full-time offer while at the job. With a 1% acceptance rate and uncompromising recruitment criteria, how do you stand out as the cream of the crop? In this article, I will explain two types of internships at McKinsey, and reveal the six steps that you can follow right away to break into McKinsey as an intern.

Table of Contents

McKinsey internship overview

McKinsey Internships are divided into two main tracks, undergraduate internships and MBA internships . This internship typically lasts 10 weeks, sometimes one week more or less. Salaries are as high as that of major tech companies like Google or Amazon (at nearly $7,000 per month ). The work of consulting interns is very similar or identical to first-year full-time consultants. There are six steps to land an internship at McKinsey:

• Step 1: Build up skills and qualifications

Step 2: Build networks early on

Step 3: pass resume and cover letter screening.

• Step 4: Pass the McKinsey PST test 
• Step 5: Pass the McKinsey PEI interview 

Step 6: Pass the McKinsey case interview

Mckinsey internship – recruitment & salary.

Take a look at the snapshot below where I’ve summarised salaries, duration, application deadlines, and eligibility criteria for the two routes of McKinsey internships – Undergraduates and MBA:

The particular features of an internship are reliant upon many factors. For instance, compensation or consulting work may depend on the office you applied to, the business function you are assigned, and your work experiences.

Regardless, these differences normally spread along a discernable line. To summarize, there are three essential facts about McKinsey internships that you should know in advance.

McKinsey internships are divided into two main tracks

McKinsey internships typically fall under two tracks: undergraduate internships and MBA internships .

Undergraduates are recruited into Business Analyst Intern positions, whereas MBAs are recruited into Associate positions. If you’re unfamiliar with these titles, check out this article I’ve written on the career path in consulting for a visual overview.

For now, keep in mind that Associate positions are one level above Business Analyst positions at McKinsey, although this might not be the case at other consulting firms because of different namings.

McKinsey internships typically last 10 weeks in the summer

For both Undergraduate and MBA routes, an internship at McKinsey lasts about 10 weeks , not always but usually in the summer. This is why deadlines for McKinsey summer internship positions are very early (typically 7 months prior to the internship).

At the undergrad level, you need to submit applications around mid-October . At the MBA level, your applications should be submitted in the first couple days of December, if you enrolled in an MBA program in the US .

McKinsey intern salaries are extremely competitive

For the Undergraduate Internship, McKinsey pays its interns around $6,700/month, adding up to nearly $17,000 in total for the 10-week period. This rate is extremely competitive, being just slightly under rates at famously well-paid tech companies, such as Facebook, Amazon, or Google.

8 highest-paying internships

Source: Glassdoor

For the MBA Internship, McKinsey compensates its interns an impressive total of $32,000 for 10 weeks, a similar rate at  Big 3 consulting firms . To put into perspective, this means that in just 10 weeks, a typical MBA intern at McKinsey makes approximately 70% of how much a typical American in any industry makes a year .

Now that you have an overview of the essential facts about McKinsey internships, the next step is to understand a typical intern’s work and the skills needed to do well. Having a deep understanding of what you will actually be doing is very useful because you can tailor your application to what is expected of you.

If you make it into the case interview round, you can even leverage these insights in solving cases to show the interviewer you can get work done, excellently. This will undoubtedly give you a better chance of getting an offer.

McKinsey Business Analyst Internship (Undergrad)

At the undergraduate level , successful candidates are often assigned into the main track of the McKinsey Internship program – the Business Analyst intern role.

Nature of work

By nature, Business Analyst interns’ work is very similar to full-time Business Analysts . In general, Business analysts oversee the “manual” work of a project, while Engagement Managers manage the big picture.

Specifically, when interns first receive a new project, they start collecting data about the client company and industry. They then meet the client, interview the client, and gather more insights using data from the client and from similar cases in the past. Data collected is typically used as input for excel models to analyse the problem and find root causes.

If this all sounds generic, check out this video where I broke down detailed work processes of my first project as a McKinsey Business Analyst intern.

Responsibility & report line

In a project, Business Analyst interns are usually assigned to support a senior Business Analyst or Associate with a big workstream. In some rare cases, interns can lead a small workstream. If you, as an intern, are assigned to support a Business Analyst or an Associate, you will report directly to that person. If you lead a small workstream, you will report directly to the Engagement Manager (EM).

McKinsey Business Analyst Internship (MBA)

At the MBA level , successful candidates are often assigned into the Associate Intern role. Again, your work structure is very similar to that of full-time Associates.

Just like Business Analyst interns, the work of Associate interns and full-time Associates are similar. Interns do what real consultants do, typically the “manual” work of a project, whereas Engagement Managers oversees the big picture. For more in-depth insights, check out this video .

The Associate intern position is an interesting position. Upon their entry, Associate interns are already much more senior than other interns. Hence, even though Associate interns are technically newbies in the McKinsey world, the company will make sure they enter senior positions very shortly .

Specifically, McKinsey does this by assigning more responsibilities to Associate interns: they typically get to lead or semi-lead a workstream . One common practice is that the Engagement Manager will assign another lower-ranked yet senior employee , e.g. a Business Analyst , to help show the McKinsey way around. Throughout the project, Associate interns report directly to Engagement Managers.

Six steps to land a McKinsey internship

Now that you have grasped the key information about McKinsey Internships, let’s dive straight into the 6 steps you can take to land one of these lucrative offers.

Step 1: Build up skills, experiences, and qualifications

Here’s the cold hard truth – you need to be the “creme-de-la-creme” to even have the slightest chance at the top consulting firms. This is ESPECIALLY true at McKinsey, a firm often considered a league of its own even among the Big Three consulting firms (MBB) .

Apply only when you’re ready! McKinsey, like many other consulting firms, has a 2-year ban on failing candidates. That’s why it’s important to start early and devise a strategy to maximize your chances beforehand.

Prepare as early as possible

Consulting prep is ideally a long process. You may spend a year or even more learning the fundamental skills and embracing the mindset, and at least 2-3 months preparing for the resume screening , the tests and case interviews.

I’ve had customers who passed the recruitment process with very little preparation, but that’s more the exception than the norm. So if you are running out of time, you might still have a chance – by quickly learning the “killer tips” offered in the Case Interview End-to-End Program . But in general, it’s always good to start early.

To equip yourself with the most well-rounded skill set for consulting, read up and practice on the following topics:

• Management Consulting : Job, firms, industry and culture (especially the firms you target)
• Consulting Math: Math in business context, mental math, and chart-reading
• Tests: McKinsey PST , BCG Potential Test , Bain Online Test , etc.
• Case Interviews: Interviewer-led and candidate-led case, tips and techniques
• Fit Interviews: stories to suggest your outstanding, consulting-fit qualities

Devise a strategy to maximize your chances

Top consulting firms often recruit from the big brand name educational institutions such as the Ivy League in the US or the equivalent in other countries, and McKinsey is not an exception.

Recruiters like big names under the assumption that only super high achievers get into the top schools. More importantly, big names impress clients.

Now what does this imply? It means if you’re from one of the target schools, congrats, your chances are already much higher than the people who aren’t. However, if you’re from a regular school, it means you have to put extra effort into networking and practice . That said, even if you come from a target school, consulting prep is always a challenging process.

There is no official statement from any firm about their target schools, but we can make fairly good guesses. Below is a list of top schools contributing significant percentages of consultants at McKinsey – according to a 2018 analysis of Wall Street Oasis users.

Percentage of McKinsey consultants by Universities/Colleges

Source: Wall Street Oasis

Why is networking early on so important?

A big part of the McKinsey internship selection process involves case interviews conducted by managers – these interviews are expensive because they take away revenue-generating hours from said managers.

To make the most out of these expensive interviews, consulting firms highly favor candidates with positive reviews from inside the firm or the alumni network – hence the importance of networking in the initial rounds. If you can find a mentor – a current/former consultant at your target firm – all the better, because besides the referral, he/she can provide you with invaluable insider advice.

Now you can find a mentor here at MConsultingPrep with our coaching service. You can have a personal meeting with veteran coaches who will tell you about their own experience at consulting firms and give you sound advice on how to get a McKinsey internship. Let’s find your own coach!

When to start networking?

So when should you start networking? As early as possible – relationships take time to build.

If you’re still in school, network a year before career events to be one step ahead of the competition, then try to get referrals. Referrals increase the chances of your CV being reviewed by recruiters in the first place.

Who to network with?

Anyone from any practice can refer you, so don’t worry too much about applying for one practice while being referred by people from other practices.

What really matters is the seniority of your contacts. Often, one referral from a Partner is equivalent to multiple referrals from non-partners. So the bottom line is: if you can’t get a referral from a Partner, be sure many non-partners in that office are willing to vouch for you.

How to network for a McKinsey internship?

Now, how do you go about networking?

Often overlooked, the most effective way to network is to build connections with alumni at your school’s consulting clubs, who got into McKinsey. Connections made through this channel are easy to access and quite personal, giving you good chances of getting mentorship and referral.

• Networking through acquaintances: Start with the consultants you know, followed by anyone your colleagues, friends and family can introduce. The biggest limitation is accessibility – you might not find any potential lead.
• Networking through events: This method is most convenient for applicants from target schools. Consultants here are complete strangers, but they do expect applicants to approach them after the events, so you do have a higher chance than the next method.
• Cold-emailing/Cold-calling: The least effective, but the most scalable method. You find them through LinkedIn or similar means, send emails to establish contact and request for a meeting. Most of the time, you will be rejected, but if you play the cards right, you will get someone on your side.

Whatever you choose, once you set up an appointment, you need to be concrete about when and where to meet, what you want out of a meeting, and how you will get it (i.e.: what you will ask). Being explicit with your contact will increase the chance of them saying yes to you, and make a good first impression ( consulting culture values being explicit).

After networking (or you might bypass this step and apply through online portals – which is more convenient, but much more competitive), the next step is to prepare for all the parts of the consulting recruitment process.

Read the full guides here: Consulting Resume / Consulting Cover Letter

The first step in the McKinsey internship recruitment process is resume screening, and even this early, your resume and cover letter must be written in the consulting style. In both of these papers, explicitly but objectively show off your consulting attributes: leadership , achieving and problem-solving .

The content

Whatever stories you tell in your resume and cover letter, they must emphasize the three attributes – they must either be about leading and influencing people, doing analytical work, achieving the extraordinary, or any combination. More importantly, you must be  highly specific and result-oriented . Instead of rambling on with your list of experiences, show the screener quantifiable results of your work, which shows you are the best.

For example, even if you flipped burgers, say something like “Set the new speed record for flipping burgers, surpassing the previous record by 50%”. Specific statements are thoroughly more impressive and more trustworthy – even outside the consulting industry.

The presentation

Format-wise, there is no other option but black-and-white . Keep it absolutely formal and professional. Fancy-looking resumes might get you creative jobs, but will get you cold rejections in the conservative consulting industry . Same goes for the cover letters.

Structure-wise, every bullet point in your resume must contain similar parts. The language of these bullets must be totally formal as well. Communication must be top-down, both in resumes and cover letters.

Step 4: Pass the McKinsey PST Test

Read the full guide here: McKinsey PST Ultimate Guide / McKinsey Imbellus Game Guide

What is the McKinsey PST Test?

The Problem Solving Test (or PST) is a paper-based test used at McKinsey & Company to select candidates for the case interviews. The PST is conducted after resume screening and assesses candidates on data interpretation, mental calculations as well as verbal, numerical and logical reasoning.

How to prepare for the McKinsey PST Test?

The key to preparing for the McKinsey PST Test is to break down the question types and learn how to answer each type individually. Do this while reinforcing your verbal, numerical and logical reasoning skills.

Breaking down the question types helps you learn quickly and efficiently, while skill training ensures long-term flexibility should the test format be changed (which is unlikely in management consulting – a highly conservative industry).

After you have practiced thoroughly with each question type, the next step is to do mock tests to self-assess and develop a test strategy. I would advise you to select mock tests harder than the actual tests – if you can do them well, the real ones will be a breeze.

These are the same approaches taught in all of my test-related products – McKinsey PST Comprehensive and BCG Potential Test Comprehensive .

How to prepare for the McKinsey Problem-Solving Game?

McKinsey rolled out the new Imbellus Problem-Solving Game in 2020.

This test works as follows. First, it collects data about a candidate’s skills and behaviors throughout the testing process to build a profile. Second, it compares the profile to that of employees in the firm – the more similar a candidate is to the best employees, the more likely he/she is selected.

This is a game-changing move because the emphasis is no longer on getting the right answers, but to look like a consultant in the process. However, the basic approach remains the same – decipher the mechanisms and identify efficient strategies, while also working on improving your consulting skill set.

Step 5: Pass the McKinsey PEI Interview/ Fit Interview

Read the full guide here: McKinsey Case Interview

McKinsey interviews usually consist of two parts:

• The PEI or Personal Experience Interview (10 minutes)

Back when I first joined McKinsey, fit interviews were not that important. Now the game has changed – even though case interviews are still the key to an offer, you must also excel in PEIs, to show that you’re a good fit.

What do they ask in the McKinsey PEI?

As suggested by its name, the Personal Experience Interview is about “that one time in your life” when you did something extraordinary.

In the 10-minute PEI, the interviewer will ask you to tell one story, then drill down to extract insights about your soft skills and personal traits.

• Tell me about a time when you overcame a significant challenge
• Tell me about a time when you convinced people to change their viewpoints
• Tell me about a time when you resolved an important disagreement with your teammates
• Tell me about a time when you lead your team through extraordinary hardship
• Tell me about a time when you successfully handled conflict within your team

Variants of the question “Why consulting/Why McKinsey?” might also come up. You don’t need a story for these, just give them a valid and authentic reason. Do research, understand the industry, the company, and how they fit with your own values and capabilities – that’s how you get the best answers for these questions.

How to prepare for the McKinsey PEI?

Sometimes, each question type above will be used for the same kind of story. This means that, even if you draft 10-12 stories, 2-3 for each question type, you may only use only one story for every question.

Instead of preparing on a question-answer basis, a more efficient approach would be to focus on the stories. My take on the PEIs is to prepare three to five stories  and make them as detailed, all-rounded, well-presented as possible. View them from every possible angle, each corresponding to a trait required by McKinsey , or to one of your personal values.

With such an approach, you also gain flexibility – with well-developed stories, you can respond to ANY kinds of questions, even the unexpected ones, and you’ll have more stories per question type (3-5).

How can you prepare such stories? Spend your efforts on three layers of a story – the content base, the plot, and the style

For best practice, let’s do fit questions with consulting experts. At MConsultingPrep, you can choose from a selection of former consultants. These coaches will reveal must-know answers to fit questions that help you overcome McKinsey PEI.  Get yourself personal coaching today!

What are case interviews?

Case interviews are job interviews where the candidate is asked to solve a business case or problem. At McKinsey, case interviews often last 30-45 minutes each, and candidates often go through 2 to 4 case interviews.

What are McKinsey case interviews like?

McKinsey case interviews are often interviewer-led. At the most extreme of this format, the interviewer “leads” the problem-solving process by asking separate questions related to the case context. The candidate cannot decide how to approach the problem. In actual cases, however, the candidate may be given some autonomy depending on the interviewer.

McKinsey case interview questions

Case interviews in McKinsey internship recruitment can be methodically prepared for by arranging the possible questions into the following 8 predictable categories. 

• Framework/issue tree questions
• Market-sizing and guesstimate questions
• Brain teasers
• Chart insight questions
• Value proposition questions
• Information questions
• Math problems
• Solution-finding questions

I have written a detailed guide on these question types – you may want to check out that article for more insights. For each type of question, there is one example – suggestions and answers are at the end of this section, but try to answer them on your own first!

How to prepare for McKinsey case interviews?

To prepare for McKinsey Case Interviews, I recommend following this track:

#1: Familiarize with interviewer-led case examples

To grasp how McKinsey cases “flow”, I encourage you to go out there and find as many examples of interviewer-led cases as possible. There are four such examples on the McKinsey website with suggested answers.

• Diconsa Case
• Electro-Light Case
• GlobaPharm Case
• National Education Case

Here at MConsultingPrep, we also have a few interviewer-led case examples in our Case Interview E2E Secret Program , complete with detailed feedback on every aspect from content to presentation, all in video format.

#2: Practice consulting math

Consultants work with quantitative data dozens of times a day. It simply takes too long to pull out a calculator every time they need to calculate something, and doing so in negotiations looks really bad. This is why interviewers place such high emphasis on the  mental math skills of prospective consultants.

In the beginning, consulting math can be difficult for some; nonetheless, I have a few tips for you to ease the process and still practice effectively: 

• Use Your Head: Do all your daily calculations mentally unless an EXACT answer is required.
• Flatten the Learning Curve: At the start, a piece of scratch paper and a 5% margin of error really help; once you are confident, discard the paper and narrow down the margin.
• Establish a Routine: Allocate some time for daily practice this may seem hard at first, but once you’ve overcome the inertia, you can literally feel the improvement.

#3: Develop business intuition

Having business intuition significantly sharpens your performance in case interviews.

Working on any kind of intuition is a gradual process that takes practice every day. You can improve your business intuition in two ways:

• Written Sources: I suggest reading business papers daily; you can also visit McKinsey, Bain, and BCG websites for their excellent articles. Beware though – it’s not the pages you read that count, but the insights you draw from them.
• First-hand Experience and Observations: Don’t just come to your workplace to work; try to examine what senior managers are doing – what’s the rationale for their decision, and how has it impacted the organization?

#4: Learn the case interview question types

The key to conquering interviewer-led cases is in methodically mastering each and every basic question type; then you will be ready to tackle the more complex and less predictable ones.

For each type, there are always tips and techniques to deliver an ideal answer; you can refer to the previous section, or check out an even more comprehensive guide in our Case Interview Questions .

The key takeaway is to treat interviewer-led questions like mini-cases, and take a structured, MECE approach to each.

#5: Perform mock interviews

The best way to train on something is to do it.

Well, you CAN’T simply come to McKinsey and ask them for a case interview, but you CAN find a partner to conduct mock interviews for you. It’s better if you can find a former consultant to do it – they’ve been through countless case interviews, both mock and real.

Make the best of every mock interview you do by recording them, then replay again, and again, and again. You’ll realize a lot of mistakes you made, and how you can fix them.

Just a few years at McKinsey completely changed who I am, both personally and professionally. In a positive way, that is. I also see it changing the lives of almost all the colleagues I ever know. I sincerely believe you can and you should do it. Nobody said you have to stay there forever. But the lessons, the toughness, the desire, the structured mindset, etc. will remain.

It’s ridiculously difficult to even get your foot in the doors of the top management consulting firms . Most applicants don’t even get to see the interviewers, and the few that do must undergo the most strenuous, high-stake job interviews existing on this planet.

However, with systematic and careful preparation – in the same manner that consultants approach their projects – I believe anyone can make it to consulting.

Are you a believer?

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