A.T. Kearney MBA Internships: Interview

<p>My internship was a great experience and gave a real taste of my current role, rather than a contrived summer experience. As a Summer Associate, I was given responsibility at, and held accountable to, the same expectation as a full-time Associate.</p><p>I worked on two projects, the main one being to support development of a full-scale "model" office to simulate a real life situation. The aim was to test out an entirely new organization design before implementation, and in so doing, find gaps in technology, resources and people skills to improve efficiency and productivity.</p><p>The whole experience was really interesting for me, mainly stemming from the fact that I was new to consultancy and enjoyed the different analytical thinking and problem-solving angles to which I was not accustomed.</p>

<p>One of the key benefits was that the firm offered the full training and development program typically offered to a full-time Associate over one year within the ten-week internship. I'd describe it as a core consultancy toolkit. It focused on all the major skills you need on the job, notably, problem-solving, communication structuring and presentation skills, and it definitely gave me a jump-start when I took on the full-time position.</p><p>It was also good for me, having come from a totally different background, to gain exposure to a new way of thinking, dealing with ambiguity, and an altogether higher strategic level of thought.</p>

<p>Yes, without a doubt! Of course, given the time frame, I wasn't given exposure to the full breadth of opportunities that exist throughout the firm, but in terms of the level of the work in which I was involved and the contact with people and departments in the office I was offered, it was a mirror of what I am experiencing now.</p><p>What is noticeable, and is great, in terms of understanding A.T. Kearney's view on internships, is the huge effort put in to the recruitment of interns. The recruitment process for interns was no different from the full recruitment process for a full-time Associate. They give you a great feel for the culture and values of the firm, and the investment on the part of the firm, in terms of training and development shows that they have taken you on with the potential of a full-time position down the line.</p>

<p>My decision was clear-cut. Key to it was the strong relationships I had built during my internship. It was also an added incentive to already know many of the very smart and incredibly talented people who would be my colleagues.  Also, the management buy-out from EDS that was taking place in late-2005 also meant it was a very exciting time for the firm and the energy of the entrepreneurial environment that A.T. Kearney was becoming was a big attraction for me.</p><p>Source: <a href="/why-mba/publications/career-guide-2013">QS TopMBA Career Guide</a></p>