Consulting Summer Internship: Key Must-Dos Before You Start Work

Starting a consulting summer internship can feel exciting and intimidating at the same time, especially when you want to make a strong first impression and prepare the right way. Candidates often wonder what they should do before a consulting summer internship to feel confident on day one, and how to handle the core consulting internship preparation steps that set them up for success. Whether you are entering McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Big 4, or a boutique firm, the right preparation makes your ramp-up smoother. 

TL;DR – What You Need to Know

A consulting summer internship requires clear preparation that builds confidence, strengthens core skills, and helps you begin your internship with focus and professionalism.

• Candidates organize onboarding tasks and logistics early to reduce first week uncertainty.
• Interns build business awareness by reading credible news and reviewing industry trends.
• Students reconnect with consultants from recruiting to gather specific guidance before day one.
• Interns prepare attire and essentials to align with office expectations and client settings.
• Candidates practice key PowerPoint and Excel skills to support early project responsibilities.

What should you do before a consulting summer internship?

A consulting summer internship requires early preparation that helps you feel confident on day one and contribute effectively from the start. Before the internship begins, focus on building business awareness, reconnecting with consultants, organizing logistics, and strengthening core skills. These actions help you enter your internship with readiness and momentum.

Preparing in the weeks before your internship gives you a strong foundation. You want to know what to expect, who to contact, and how to set yourself up for impactful learning.

Start by understanding what firms expect from interns. Consulting teams value communication, analytical skills, teamwork, and professionalism. Building awareness of these expectations helps you prepare purposefully.

Key areas to prioritize include:

• Building business awareness through consistent reading
• Reconnecting with consultants you met during recruiting
• Completing administrative tasks and onboarding steps
• Strengthening your consulting internship preparation plan
• Organizing attire, travel logistics, and first day essentials
• Reviewing PowerPoint and Excel fundamentals
• Setting realistic and specific goals

These steps reduce early project uncertainty and help you align with what consulting teams expect from new interns.

How to prepare for a consulting internship in the weeks before day one

Preparing for a consulting internship in the weeks before day one means organizing logistics, clarifying expectations, and building a preparation plan that reduces first week uncertainty. This early consulting internship preparation helps you begin confidently and stay focused once project work starts.

A strong preparation plan begins with understanding your onboarding schedule. Welcome packets, HR forms, and setup instructions often arrive before your start date. Completing these tasks early prevents delays and reduces stress.

Set up a preparation checklist for the three to four weeks before your internship. Useful steps include:

• Confirming onboarding documents and HR requirements
• Reviewing commute routes or travel expectations
• Preparing for welcome sessions or training days
• Setting up your laptop, email, and required tools
• Completing your pre internship checklist

Most firms include a mix of training sessions, team introductions, and system setup during the first week. Understanding this helps you prepare mentally for a structured start.

Check your communication tools once provided. Reviewing calendar systems, messaging platforms, and email guidelines helps you adjust faster during the first days.

Stay aligned with your recruiter by asking about expectations, logistics, and any recommended preparation. This improves clarity and prevents surprises.

Building business awareness before your internship starts

To build business awareness before your internship, read credible business news consistently and review industry trends that shape typical consulting projects. Strengthening business awareness early gives you context for client problems and prepares you for informed conversations during training and team meetings.

Reading credible news sources helps you understand company strategies, market shifts, and global developments. This context makes it easier to understand why business challenges arise and how companies address them.

Explore industries that interest you. Doing so helps you follow conversations during staffing discussions or early project work. Look for insights related to:

• Growth trends
• Competitive dynamics
• Regulatory changes
• Customer behavior
• Regional patterns

You can also review annual reports or investor presentations to understand how major companies describe their strategic priorities. These sources illustrate problems that often lead to consulting engagements.

Business awareness is about comfort, not memorization. You want to recognize themes, understand key drivers, and contribute thoughtfully to discussions.

How to reconnect with consultants you met during recruiting

To reconnect with consultants you met during recruiting, reach out with a short message that shares your internship start date and asks for targeted advice. This outreach helps you build relationships, gain insights, and understand expectations before your first day.

Consultants who interviewed you or supported your recruiting process can provide valuable guidance. Many are willing to help interns prepare for office culture, project dynamics, or the first week.

Be specific in your message. Instead of asking broad questions, focus on topics such as:

• What to expect during your first week
• People to meet early in your internship
• Common challenges for new interns
• How teams structure project work

Keep your message short and respectful. Consultants receive many requests, so one or two focused questions lead to better responses.

These conversations help you understand norms and expectations in your office, making your transition more comfortable.

Should you connect with recruiters or other firms before your internship?

You should connect with recruiters or other firms before your internship only if you expect to explore full time recruiting later. Staying connected helps you understand timelines and expectations while maintaining professionalism.

If you want to participate in full time recruiting after your internship, early communication keeps you on the radar. Recruiters may share event invitations, application windows, or preparation tips.

Focus on positive messaging. Express enthusiasm for your consulting internship while stating your interest in long term opportunities at other firms. Conversations should remain brief and professional.

Avoid criticizing your internship or sharing confidential details. Instead, show appreciation for the upcoming experience and interest in staying in touch for future cycles.

This approach builds relationships without creating conflicts and keeps your options open.

Preparing attire and essentials for the first day of your internship

To prepare attire and essentials for the first day of your internship, confirm your office dress code, organize professional outfits, and gather the items required for onboarding and client settings. This preparation helps you look polished and manage early responsibilities confidently.

Check the dress code for your specific office. Some teams expect formal attire, while others follow business casual. Select neat and neutral outfits that align with expectations.

Prepare your wardrobe in advance. Useful items include:

• Two or more reliable professional outfits
• Simple and comfortable shoes
• A practical bag for your laptop and documents
• Neutral clothing that matches easily

Bring essentials such as identification, notebooks, pens, a laptop charger, and any required documents. Personal items like mints or tissues can also be helpful.

If travel becomes part of your internship, wait for staffing guidance before purchasing luggage or travel accessories. Many firms provide travel standards after staffing is confirmed.

Preparing early helps you feel confident and organized from day one.

Essential PowerPoint and Excel skills to learn before you start

To build essential PowerPoint and Excel skills before your internship, practice core functions that help you complete common tasks quickly and support team deliverables. These skills reduce early learning curves and help you contribute effectively to project work.

In Excel, focus on practical tools rather than advanced analytics. Useful functions include:

• Sorting and filtering data
• Building tables for structured analysis
• Using SUM, AVERAGE, IF, and simple lookups
• Creating basic charts
• Applying conditional formatting

For PowerPoint, practice creating clean and structured slides. Review how to align elements, use templates, and build charts that support a clear narrative.

Recreate slides from public business articles or corporate reports to strengthen your visual communication skills. This improves formatting, logic, and consistency.

Early proficiency in these tools allows you to support your team from the first week.

Learning consulting language and communication basics

To learn consulting language and communication basics, review common consulting terms and practice structured communication that answers questions clearly and logically. Developing these skills early helps you integrate smoothly into your team.

Become familiar with terminology related to project structure, analysis, and client communication. Understanding these terms helps you follow discussions during meetings and training sessions.

Consultants value clear and structured communication. Practice summarizing ideas concisely, presenting arguments logically, and answering questions directly. These habits support effective teamwork.

Observe how consultants communicate in public reports or strategy documents. Their phrasing, structure, and clarity offer reliable models for new interns.

Strong communication skills help you build credibility early in your internship.

Setting specific goals for your consulting summer internship

To set specific goals for your consulting summer internship, choose a short list of skills, relationships, and experiences you want to prioritize. These goals help you stay focused and intentional during your limited time as an intern.

Choose goals that align with your interests and long term aspirations. Examples include developing a specific skill, exploring a practice area, or meeting individuals in areas you want to learn more about.

Organize your goals into categories such as:

• Skills to improve
• People to meet
• Practice areas to explore
• Communication or project capabilities to build

Start with achievable goals. Consulting internships move quickly, and schedules often change. Flexible goals help you stay proactive without feeling overwhelmed.

Review your goals midway through your internship. Adjusting them as you learn more ensures you make the most of every opportunity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How should you prep for a consulting internship?
A: You should prep for a consulting internship by organizing onboarding tasks, reviewing expectations, and building a simple consulting internship preparation plan that strengthens your readiness for early project work.

Q: What should you bring on the first day of a consulting internship?
A: You should bring identification, your laptop and charger, notebooks, pens, and a basic pre internship checklist that covers essentials you may need during onboarding.

Q: What should consulting interns wear to the office?
A: Consulting interns should wear neat professional clothing that aligns with business casual or formal guidelines and follows typical business attire for consultants in that office.

Q: How can beginners succeed in a consulting internship?
A: Beginners can succeed in a consulting internship by preparing core skills early, asking clear questions, and following structured guidance that supports how to succeed in a consulting internship as a beginner.

Q: Should you contact other firms before starting your internship?
A: You should contact other firms before starting your internship only if you plan to recruit later and want to stay aligned with consulting firm recruiters about timelines and expectations.