Max’s Keys to Success for a Summer Engineering Consulting Internship
Hello! I’m Max, a BCG X engineer, and I have been at the Boston Consulting Group since 2018. I’ve had the pleasure of working with our interns since we welcomed our first engineering class in 2019. Every summer, I get asked by incoming engineers how they can make the most of their internship. To help answer that, I’ve put together my keys to success for a productive and enjoyable internship experience:
Own your onboarding Process
Taking charge of your onboarding process will set you up for success. Keep track of all the onboarding steps and their statuses. Use tools like Trello to create a checklist, which you can update during check-ins with your mentor. This not only helps you stay organized but also shows your initiative.
For instance, you might need to:
- Read through documentation, readmes, maybe slide decks from past large presentations
- Setting up your VPN
- Installing your developer environment (maybe that’s Python or NodeJS or both! As well as VSCode and your favorite extensions like Github Copilot!)
- Getting access to internal workspaces
Having these tasks tracked helps everyone know what you need and what’s pending.
Crush it on organization
While you might be new and still learning, being organized is a skill you can excel at immediately.
- Take great notes: Document your daily activities. If you get asked, “What did you do this week?” or even “this summer” you’ll have a clear answer.
- Maintain a to-do list: Use a tool like Trello or OneNote to track your tasks and their progress. Even if your team uses Jira or another provider, having your own list helps you stay on top of your work.
- Prepare for meetings: Look ahead at the calendar. If there’s an upcoming meetings, set up the initial shell deck to make it easier for your team to get started. Check the agenda and see if there would be anything you can do ahead of time to have ready.
Improve Documentation
You will likely get a wave of documentation when starting. The documentation is there for a reason, such as for new joiners, so use it! Documentation is crucial, and as a new joiner, you have a fresh perspective on what it may be lacking.
- Review documentation: Before starting your case, ask for any relevant documents or recordings. This helps you come prepared.
- Suggest improvements: If you find gaps in the documentation, note them and suggest improvements. This shows initiative and helps future team members. Documentation may even be part of the final deliverables for the client!
Own your work
Taking ownership of your tasks demonstrates reliability and competence.
- Thorough debugging: Test your work thoroughly and consider writing unit tests.
- Attention to detail: Ensure you meet all the acceptance criteria and consider edge cases.
- Think holistically: How does your work fit into the larger project and solve the problem we’re tackling? Ask yourself, “Is this hacky and just a short-term solution? Can it be made to be more scalable or reusable?” Even if you don’t make the changes to implement this, having some ‘potential next steps’ listed out could be helpful and show your forward thinking.
Embrace challenges
Engineering, especially in a consulting and client-facing world, requires A LOT of learning on the fly. But that’s also what makes it such a great experience!
- Document your efforts: When tackling a new task, keep a log of what you’ve tried. This will come in handy when you need to ask for help.
- Maximize mentor time: Prepare a list of questions and be ready to discuss them during your one-on-ones. Remember that delivering work for the client is your assigned mentor’s primary job, so there may not always be a ton of time to meet.
Don’t be afraid to ask any questions. You’re not alone as an intern; we’re here to help! But we also want to see how you do on your own first!
Focus on being a team player
Instead of asking how to get a full-time offer, focus on being a productive team member. The biggest question we’re trying to answer when considering an intern for a full-time offer is, “Would I be happy to staff this person on my case again?”
- Help your teammates: Whether it’s organizing notes, setting up meetings, or planning team events, find ways to make others’ lives easier.
- Be client-ready: Be mindful of your communication with clients and seek opportunities to present both internally and externally. Another key offer-evaluation question is “Are they ready to be client-facing on a case?”
Collaborate with fellow interns
Don’t forget, you have a whole cohort of other interns who may be struggling through and possibly already resolved the same question you might have! Create a shared communication channel with the other interns. They might have answers to questions you’re struggling with.
Be proactive in networking
Send invites to get on calendars for feedback and mentorship.
- Schedule regular one-on-ones: Meet with your mentor weekly and aim to connect monthly with principals, managing directors, or other leadership. One of BCG’s greatest strengths is its culture of open and reciprocal feedback.
- Network during free time: If you’re waiting for a case or have downtime, grab a coffee with colleagues to learn about their work and experiences.
Weekly summaries and planning ahead
Demonstrate your preparedness by sending weekly updates.
- Summarize your week: List your accomplishments, current blockers, and plans for the upcoming week.
- Set goals: Estimate the time for each task and prioritize important items. This shows your ability to manage work effectively. Lay out what a ‘successfull week’ would look like.
This can be a valuable way to show off your organization and also check if you have the correct understanding of your path forward.
Enjoy the experience
Regardless of the offer outcome, focus on maximizing your internship experience. Learn, grow, and take advantage of opportunities when they arise. Remember, not receiving an offer might not reflect your performance but could be due to external factors like hiring needs or the economy.
Good luck, and make the most of your summer internship!
Please please reach out with any questions, I am always happy to try and answer or point you to someone who can!
