Behavioral / Fit Interviews
How do I explain wanting MBB after a Big Four internship?
In an MBB internship interview I was asked why I didn't stay with my previous Big Four employer and why I wanted another internship at MBB. I enjoyed the previous role, so I didn't want to criticise the company. I said I wanted a broader perspective, but the interviewer wasn't convinced. How should I explain the move and talk about what I did and didn't enjoy?
Ian’s Answer
This is really just a masked "Why us" question! You should always be prepared for "why x company".
If clear from your answer that you weren't quite prepared for "why MBB" and that's where you struggled. I'm not going to give you the answer here (you need to reflect on it yourself, and it changes based on the individual), but it can be anything regarding breadth of exposure, depth of exposure, training/learning/development, culture, impact, type of work, etc. etc.
In terms of the "What enjoyed in past role" types of questions, you need to be sure to remain positive and demonstrate learning/development during that time! So, talk about a,b,c being good, and these things should all be traits that MBB looks for in candidates (so, client work, teamwork, problem-solving, etc. etc.). Then, segway into 1-2 things that were missing. By missing, I mean not there (i.e. bredth of exposure). I do not mean "these things sucked about the company". Again, keep it positive and with a "forward-looking" view!
Related Questions
Behavioral / Fit Interviews