I joined McKinsey as an intern in 2011, working as a business analyst in my summer holiday while studying for a degree in engineering design at the University of Bristol.
Why consulting?
I was attracted by the thought of working on a variety of projects in a range of sectors. I function best under pressure, so the idea of moving to a completely different project every few months really appealed to me. I was intrigued by the type of projects that consultants work on, and inspired by the huge scale of the challenges involved. Beyond the work itself, I love meeting people with different outlooks and learning from other cultures, so the chance to travel was a big plus.
Getting to know people
During the McKinsey recruitment process I noticed how friendly, open and unassuming the people were. Being interviewed is usually stressful, but they made it enjoyable. I decided this was the kind of environment I wanted to work in, and that’s exactly how it turned out. Now I’ve graduated I’m looking forward to returning as a full-time business analyst and working with a whole range of new teams, as well as seeing friends and colleagues from last year.
Doing a real job
I knew I would be given responsibility as an intern, but I didn’t know how much, or how I would be spending my time from day to day. At some companies interns simply shadow a member of staff as they do their job, but this was the complete opposite: I was put straight onto a team and treated exactly as if I was a permanent business analyst just starting in the job. Because the pace of work was fast, I accumulated experience and knowledge much more quickly than I’d expected.
What I learnt
My summer at McKinsey taught me how to digest information quickly and work with people from many different nationalities and backgrounds. It taught me a huge amount about myself too. McKinsey operates on the principle of continual feedback, and all the input I got from colleagues gave me confidence in my strengths and showed me how I could progress in a consulting environment. Apart from the skills I learnt, being an intern also gave me insights into what a career at McKinsey would be like and the chance to find out if it was a setting I would enjoy and thrive in.