MBASummerInternshipSeries

byDavidOhrvall
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Introduction Gettingofftoagoodstart Igotthejob!Cantwaittogoback. Igotthejob!ButIdontwanttogoback. Nooffer.Nowwhat?

1)Introduction
Beforeyouknowit,Whatareyoudoingforthesummer?willquicklyconverttoHowwasyoursummerjob?Thesummer internshipgoesbyfast.Onemomentyouarethrilledtohaveasummerposition;andthenextmomentyourewrappingitall up.AsasavvyMBA,itstimetoanalyzehowtotakeadvantageofeachstageoftheprocess.Makeplansnowtogetyour internshipofftoagreatstart,andstayfocusedonyourmaingoalafulltimeoffer.Thisarticleoutlinesseveralsituationsyou mayencounter,andshowsyouhowtoleverageyoursummerexperienceintothefulltimejobyouwant.

2)Gettingofftoagoodstart
Fiveweeksisallyouhave.IknowImbeingakilljoy.Butrealistically,ataboutthehalfwaymarkofatenweekinternship,firm partnerswillaskthemanagerstoidentifytheinternsmostlikelytosucceed.Thesameistrueoutsideofconsultingfirms:no marketing,financialorindustrygroupisgoingtowaituntiltheveryendofthesummertodecideiftheywantyoufulltime. Thatmeansyouneedtogetofftoasolidstartwithyoursummer.Herearesometipsforstartingstrong. BeallbusinessFindwaystocreatevaluerightfromthebeginning.Soakupthetraining,learnthetools,gettoknowthe typicaloutputs,andzeroinonsuccessfulpeerswhoare12yearsintothejob.Thereisalotofrahrahatthebeginningof everysummeranditiseasytobedistracted.Asyoutrytoabsorballthesethingsatonce,rememberthe80/20rule:mostof yourvaluewillcomefromafewthings.Personally,IworkedforBainformysummerinternshipandmymostimportantoutput wasapricingmodelthatIdevelopedearlyinthesummer.TheyapparentlycontinuedtouseitafterIwasgone.Bereadyto makesomethingthatleavesyourmark. ButbelotsoffunWhilegettingdowntobusinessyoualsohavetoplaythegame.Thatis,thegameofappearingtoenjoy yourself.ItmaybehardtodobecauseyouareSOSTRESSEDOUTABOUTGETTINGTHEOFFER.Somepeoplegoalittletoofar inthiscategoryandforgetabouttheirwork.Theybecomesocialbutterflies,caughtupintheofficefun,politicsand personalities.Strikingabalanceiscritical.Hereareafewguidelines: Nevermissanevent.Ifitwasplannedforyoursummerinternshipgrouporthewholeoffice,youmustgo.Andstay thewholetime.Dontletitbeknownthatyoushowedyourfaceforafewminutesandthensnuckbacktoyourcube todomorework.Everyonewantstoseeifyoucanbalanceyourworkandplay,somakesurethatyougivethefun eventsadequatetime. Nevergossip.Stayabovethefrayandneversayanythingbadaboutyourmanager,peers,theofficeorcompany. Remember,youarejustavisitorforthesummer.Youhavenorealalliancesandanythingyousaywilltravelfarand quickly. Participate.Ifeveryoneisplayingvolleyballbutyoureafraidtoplaybecauseyoureterribleatit,playanyway.Being abletolaughatyourselfisagreattrait.Noonewillrememberifyoucantservetheball,buttheywillrememberif yousitonthesidelines. Bereadytoburnthemidnightoil.Balancingfunwithhardworkis,well,hardwork,soplantoputinextrahours. Thatmaymeanyouquietlytakesomeworkhomeorstartextraearlyeachdaytostayontopofthings.Avoidfalling behind.Thesummerisveryshortanditcanbehardtocatchup.Trytokeepyoursocialandfamilyobligationslight. FocusonyourmanagerYourofferdecisionwillrestmainlyinthehandsofyourmanager.WhenIhaveclientswhodidnot receiveasummeroffer,theirstorytypicallycentersonaproblemwithhisorhermanager.Theirrelationshipsoureddueto

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differencesinpersonalities,workstyles,oranunfortunateclientsituation.Consequently,themanagerwouldnotstandupfor himorherattheendofthesummer.Makeyourrelationshipwithyourmanageratoppriority. BeaspiderSinceyourmanagerwillhavetoexplainhisdecisiontoothermanagersandpartners,buildawebofpeoplewho haveseenyourgreatwork.Ifyoufindyourselfisolatedbytheengagementorclientsituation,doyourbesttomakeothers awareofwhatyouaredoing.Otherseniorpeopleintheofficecanswayanonthefencedecision.Themoreconnectionsyou build,thegreateryourchancesofreceivinganoffer.

3)Lovedmyjob!Gotanoffer.Iplantogoback.Imayinterviewalittlejusttobesure.
Congratulations!YourenowpartoftheLuckySummerClub.Inmyexperiencetheonlypeoplewhoplantogobackforsureare theoneswholandedsummerswiththemostelitemanagementconsultingfirms(McKinsey,Bain,BCG)orbanks,andwhofit reallywellwiththatfirmsculture.Everyoneelsetypicallywantstoupgradebrands,getmoremoney,findanewlocationor justexplore.Assumingyouareinterviewinglightlyandarenotthatseriousaboutswitchingtoanotherfirm,heresagameplan thatwillhelpyouavoidgettingpummeledoncampusbyjealousclassmates,whilestrengtheningyourpositionwithyournew employer: KeepitlowkeyoncampusOK,ok,weknowyouhadagreattimewhitewaterraftingandhavingdrinkswiththemanaging partner.And,sure,itmustbegreattoknowexactlywhatyouwanttodo,nothavetogothroughinterviewstressalloveragain, andnotsuckuptoallthefirmrepsbutplease,chill.Yourclassmatescanonlybehappyforyouforalittlewhile.Likeabout5 seconds.Sotrytostayhumbleandbehelpful.Youreagreatresourcenowforfirminformation,andofcourseyoullmakea goodmockinterviewpartner.Butyourealsoaneasytargetforgossip:Hessodifferentsincethesummer....Trytostay aboveitallbykeepingalowprofileaboutyoursuccess. KeepyourbridgesstrongYoumadealotcontactsoverthesummer;dontletthoserelationshipsgocold.Youmaynotbe backatthefirmforanother12months,anditwillbeeasytoforgetaboutyou.Keepinmindthatawholenewsummerclass willbedivertingthefirmsattentionbeforeyouevenstartworkfulltime.Hereareafewtipsformaintainingstrong relationshipswithyourfirm. 1.Thankyounotes:Agratefulemailorthankyoucardwillgoalongwayinendingthesummerwell.Despiteyour stellarperformance,keypeoplehadtovouchforyoubehindthescenesforyoutogetthatoffer.Thankthem properlyattheendofthesummerandyoullkeepthedooropenformoreconversations 2.HowcanIhelp?Ifyouhavesaidyestotheoffer,younowbasicallyworkforthefirm.Youshouldoffertoidentify goodpeople(yourclassmates),attendfirmfunctionsandkeepupwithofficenews.Beagoodsportabouthelping outandyoullkeepthepositivemomentumgoingfromyourstrongsummer.Youcanbetheireyesandearson campusandtheyllappreciatetheextrafeedbackaboutstudents,eventsandthegeneraltoneatyourschool. 3.Twomonthcheckins:Dontforgettotouchbasewithyourbestcontactsandmentorsfromthesummer.Highon thelistshouldbethepeopleinrecruiting.Itstheirjobtoensurethatallthecandidatessayyestotheofferandare stillexcitedaboutthefirm.TheHRfolksareoftenthehubofinformation,sootherpeopleinthefirmwillkeeptabs onyouthroughthem.Ifyoudontkeepintouch,theresnothingtotalkabout.Keepyourpersonalbrandestablished intheirminds. InterviewhonestlyIfyouplantointerviewlightly,beasupfrontaspossible.Forinstance,ifyoudneverimagineworkingfor afirm,thendontwasteanyonestimebygoingtoacocktailreceptionordinnerjusttohangout.Yourfalseinterestisalose loseforeveryone:itcomplicatesyourlife,theinterestedfirmiswastingresourcesonyou,andyourclassmateshavelessair timewithyouthere.Instead,beveryfocusedonwhomyoutargetandbeupfrontaboutwhatyouareseeking.Becauseyou alreadyhaveagreatoffer,otherfirmswillseeyouashardtoget.Infact,dontbesurprisediftheydonttrytopursueyou. Theyknowtheoddsareagainstthem.

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 4)Likedmyjob.Gotanoffer.Honestly,Ihopenottogoback.Plantopursuemydreamjob.
Welcometothemajority.Mostofyourclassmateswillhavehadagreat!summerandbereadytotalkaboutthehighlights. Butwhentimeallows,theywillconfessthattheydrathergosomewhereelseforafulltimeposition.Itsnaturaltousethe summertoassessyouroptionsandthenlookforabetterjobonceyourebackoncampus.Everyonefromyoursummerfirm expectsyoutolookaroundwhenyoureturn.Yourchallengeistokeepyourrelationshipsstrongwiththefirmwhileexploring youroptionswithothers.Hereareafewthingstokeepinmind: Stayhonestwithyoursummercompany Thetruthisyoudontknowwhatyouwanttodo.Andalmosteveryoneyoulldealwithunderstandsthatfeelingandhas probablygonethroughasimilarexperience.Whatcanbepotentiallydamagingiswhenacandidateleadshissummerfirmto believethathesreadytojoinandthendropsthesorrybombatthelastminute.Behonestaboutwhatshappening.Your summerfirmwontrenegeonyouroffer(theyreallycantwithoutseriousrecruitingconsequences)andyouarebeing aboveboardbykeepingthemuptodateonyourthoughtprocess. Bereasonableinyournegotiations Bigfirmshavelotsoflimits:strictsalaryandbonusbands,structuredtrainingandstartdates,definedrulesaboutinternational transfersandconsistentpoliciesforpromotions.Itsnotlikelythatyouwillbeanexceptiontoanyoftheserules.Keepyour rankandfilestatusinmindwhentalkingtothefirm.Opportunitiesmaybementionedorwelltryourbestmightbesaida fewtimes,buthonestly,theofferyouhaveinyourhandisaboutasgoodasitsgoingtoget.Ifyoupushtoohardforspecial treatmentyoullbetaggedawhinerfromdayoneanditmaytakeawhiletolosethatlabel.Sotreadcautiouslywhen negotiatingforanewrequest. Mineoutyourexperienceswhiletheyarefresh Sinceyouareinterviewingseriouslyforabetteroffer,takestockofwhatyoudidforthesummer.Mostofyourfitinterviews goingforwardwillcoveryoursummerexperience,souseittoshowoffyourtalentsandyourabilitytoworkthrough challengingsituations.Oneofmyclientsthissummerhitabumpinhisroadtoanofferwhenthemidtermreviewpraisedhis focusandsolidwork,buthighlightedhisneedtobeabetterteamplayer.SomehowhisseriousfocusonoutputandHBS (Harvard)credentialsrubbedpeoplethewrongway.Fortunatelyafteramonthofwarminguphisworkrelationshipsand spendingmoretimeconnectingwiththeteam,everythingendedfineandresultedinanoffer.Andnowhehasafreshexample forquestionsrelatingtohisweaknesses,overcominganobstacle,orconfrontingcriticism.Takethetimetothinkthroughwhat youlearnedthissummer,especiallythechallengingaspects.Pulloutasmuchdetailsasyoucannowwhiletheexamplesare stillclearinyourmind. Bereadytoexplainyourdesiretochangefirms SowhydontyouwanttogobacktoXYZcompany?Getusedtohearingthisquestion.Youllneedtowalkthefinelineof beingpositiveaboutyoursummerjob(andhowgreatthecompanywas)whileexpressingyourdesireforsomethingdifferent. Stayfocusedonwhatyouthinkyoullgainbyswitchingtoanotherfirmandtryyourbesttoknowtheuniqueattributesofthe companyyouretargeting.Everyinterviewerlikestohearthathisorherfirmisgreat(itreaffirmstheirowndecisiontogrindit outeveryday)anditshowsthatyouhavedoneyourhomework.Feelfreetoemphasizethespecificskillsyouarepursuing,but besuretoremindtheintervieweroftheskillsyoualreadyhave.

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5)Didnotlikemyjob.Didnotgetanoffer.WhatdoIdo?
Yes,youareinatoughspot.Notonlydoyounothaveanoffer,butyoualsoprobablydidnthavemuchfunthissummerand areunderstandablydiscouragedaboutyourcareer.Unfortunately,youcantjustforgetaboutitbecauseitsonyourresume.A fewofmycoachingclientslandedtheirdreamsummerjobsbutdidnotgetafulltimeofferattheendofthesummer.Wehad tostrategizecarefullyhowtohandlethe2ndyearinterviewseason.Withlotsofplanningupfrontandafewpeptalksfrom friends,youcancomeoutoftheprocesswithagreatfulltimejob.HerearethesametipsIgavethem: Writeoutyoursideofthestoryandsticktoit Thereareundoubtedlymanyanglestoyoursummerstory.Avoidthetemptationtoexplaineverything.Youllonlysoundoverly defensive.Keepyourresponsesbriefandstraightforward;youdontwanttheinterviewertobeconfusedaboutwhat happened. Convertyourstoryinto15,30and60secondanswers Youllhearthisquestionfrequentlyinthefall:So,areyouthinkingaboutgoingbackto(yoursummercompany)fulltime? Developseveralshortanswersofvaryinglengthtoaccommodatethelevelofinterestcomingyourway.Mostpeoplearehappy withabriefexplanation.Whenthequestionarises,bereadywithsomeofthesetopics: 1.Whatyoudidwrongandhowyouhavelearnedfromit. 2.Whatyoucouldhavedonedifferently. 3.Afewfactorsthatmadethesummerchallenging(e.g.noclientmap,asmallteam,anabsentmanager,an extremelyundefinedproject) 4.Howyoutriedtofinishstrongandmakethebestofit Understandthefirmssideofthestoryandwhattheyllsayifasked ManyindustrieshaveatightexMBAnetworkofpeersandfriends.Dontbesurprisedifoneofyourtargetfirmscallsyour summercompanyandasksyoursummermanagerwhathappened.Beupfrontwithyoursummercompanyandfindoutwhat theywillandwillnotsayaboutyoursituation. Haveabackupopportunity Recruitersareconservative;theyliketolookforevidenceoffuturesuccess.Evenifthisnewfirmloathesyoursummer company,theywillsomewhatrespecttheircareandevaluationofyouoverthesummer.Becauseyoursummercompany deemedyounotworthyofanoffer,yourtargetcompanymaytakeonthesameopinion.Incaseyoukeephittingoppositionin yourindustryofchoice,haveabackupinanareathatwontcareasmuch.Forinstance,abankmaynotcareasmuchasa consultingfirmthatyoursummerconsultingfirmdidntgiveyouanoffer.Althoughthissecondindustrymaynotbeas appealing,itisgoodtobeprepared. Putthewholethingintoperspective Everyoneyoullbedealingwiththisinterviewseasonhasbeenthroughachallengingcareersituation:aprojectthatdidntgo well,atoughboss,adissatisfiedclientorapoorreview.Infact,duringmynineyearsinconsultingIexperiencedeveryoneof thosesituationsatleastonce.Youwillfindagoodfulltimejoband,inthelongrun,thisbummersummerwillnothavemuch bearingonyourcareer.

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