Consulting Internship at Bain: A Comprehensive Guide

This article gives you an overview of consulting internships at Bain. Overall, landing an internship is as rigorous and competitive as securing a full-time consultant role, and interns handle a workload nearly the same as full-time consultants.

What does a consulting intern do at Bain?

By nature, consulting interns’ work is very similar to full-time consultants. In general, full-time consultants oversee the “manual” work of a project, while Case Team Leaders manage the big picture.

Both consulting interns and full-time consultants will act as “content ambassadors” between complicated client context and knowledgeable & expert consultant. 

The job of those “content ambassadors” can be summarized into two big tasks: gather and create content. While this sounds simple, in fact, the consultants will have to put in a large amount of work. They must be able to solve the problems first, then deliver the solution as a proposal to the clients, or their director. 

The process is usually like this:

• Problem-solving: A consultant would come to the client, gather data (through research, interviews with clients, mystery shopping, etc.), then analyze the situation, break it down into smaller pieces, and finally get a proper solution. That consultant can bring in experts who know best about a particular field (either function or industry experts) for support.

• Deliver technical expertise: After the long "problem-solving" process, the consultant consolidates every small item into the big picture and articulates everything into a specific proposal to the client.

To understand the work of a consultant better, you can watch this video: What the heck does a consultant DO, exactly? 

What kind of consulting internships does Bain offer?

Two main tracks: Undergraduate & MBA

Bain consulting internships typically fall into two main tracks: undergraduate and MBA. Undergraduates are generally recruited into Associate Consultant Intern positions, whereas MBAs are recruited into Summer Associate Intern positions. 

The titles of positions vary at different companies. For Bain, the Associate position is divided into two paths: first is Associate Consultant, then comes to the Senior Associate Consultant, before being promoted to Consultant position, quite different from the others. To have a better visualization of where these positions are among the consulting career path at Bain, you can look at the image below.

Undergraduate internships - Associate Consultant Intern

At the undergraduate level, as mentioned above, successful candidates are often assigned into the main track of the Bain Internship program - the Associate Consultant intern role.

In the Bain’s career website, you can see that intern positions opening for undergraduates can come under different programs. They can be Associate Consultant Internship or Associate Consultant Trainee.

In a project, Associate Consultant interns are usually assigned to support an Associate Consultant with a big workstream. In some rare cases, interns can lead a small workstream. If you, as an intern, are assigned to support an Associate Consultant, you will report directly to that person. If you lead a small workstream, you will report directly to the Case Team Leader.

MBA internships - Summer Associate Intern

At the MBA level, successful candidates are often assigned into the Summer Associate Intern role. Again, their work structure is very similar to that of full-time Consultant.

The Summer Associate intern position is an interesting position. Upon their entry, Summer Associate interns are already much more senior than other interns. Hence, even though Summer Associate interns are technically newbies in the Bain world, the company will make sure they enter senior positions very shortly.

Specifically, Bain does this by assigning more responsibilities to Summer Associate interns: they typically get to lead or semi-lead a workstream. Throughout the project, Associate interns report directly to Case Team Leaders.

Some other internships & programs

Besides the two main tracks offering Associate Consultant Internship and Summer Associate, there are some other internships that are offered only in some specific offices, and for some specific eligible students. Some of those are SkillBridge at Bain, Marketing Consulting Internship by FRWD and COOP Training Program. 

Besides the above internships, there are a host of programs available that give you the opportunities to experience Bain's working environment and culture, build up your network or get mentorship from Bain leaders. Some of those are ADvantage, BainConnect and Bainworks. They could last for one week or less, to one to several months. At the end of some programs, you will have a chance to attend the interview for a position at Bain or win a scholarship.

You should visit Bain's official website to get more information on these internships & programs.

Bain internship information - Duration, salary, acceptance rate and others

Bain internships are typically 10 weeks duration

In general, and in most locations, a Bain internship lasts around 10 weeks.

However, the duration can vary significantly, from just a few weeks to as long as a year, and can be both full-time and part-time. It depends on the role, office, and location of the position. Some extended programs are designed to align with specific projects, academic calendars, or regional hiring needs.

Be sure to check the recruitment updates from your target offices to confirm the exact details and have a proper preparation.

Bain internships salary and benefits are extremely competitive

The consulting industry is famous for its tremendous high salaries, especially at one of the most prestigious firms like Bain. 

Below are the salary figures Bain has published on its website. You can find this data on Bain's job posting details.

As can be seen from the figures, consulting interns earn nearly as much as full-time consultants. 

Besides the salary, according to Bain, interns are also provided 100% individual employee premiums for medical, dental and vision programs, offering one of the most comprehensive medical plans for employees without impacting their paycheck.

Bain internship acceptance rate is estimated at just 3-5%

Securing an internship at Bain is just as rigorous and competitive as landing a full-time position. Usually, only about 25-30% of applicants pass the screening stage and get to the interview round. From there, only 3-5% receive an offer.

Its acceptance rate is on par with the admission rates of the world’s top 10 most selective universities. According to the U.S. News, some of them include Harvard, Princeton, Stanford and Yale universities. This level of selectivity highlights the importance of thorough preparation and a standout application if you want to be among the few who receive an offer.

What if you fail applying for the internship?

According to Bain’s FAQs on Associate Consultant Internship and Summer Associate, if you are not selected for an internship, you can still apply for full-time positions. You can view the full statement in the image below or visit the links at the end of this section.

However, based on our information, if your internship application is not successful, you might face a reapplication ban of 1 to 2 years. During this period, you could be ineligible to apply for any other roles, including full-time positions. It’s important to keep this in mind when planning your application strategy.

To avoid any misunderstandings, be sure to carefully read all recruitment updates or directly contact the HR representatives at your target office to confirm the reapplication policy and prepare accordingly.

Read more from Bain’s Associate Consultant Internship job details: Associate Consultant Internship | Bain & Company

Read more from Bain’s Summer Associate job details: Summer Associate | Bain & Company   

Consulting interns at Bain can get a full-time offer

At Bain, interns who meet the firm’s performance expectations may receive an invitation for interviews or even an offer to return in a full-time role after graduation. This pathway allows outstanding interns to skip much of the usual application process and transition smoothly into a full-time position.

Even if an immediate offer is not extended, high-performing interns are often given priority over new applicants in the full-time recruiting process. This means your internship is more than just a short-term learning experience. It is also a valuable chance to prove yourself, build relationships, and secure a long-term career with the firm.

Where to find more Bain internship information?

If you’re interested in applying for a Bain internship, it’s important to look for information directly from official sources. Internship availability, application timelines, eligibility and program details can vary by office and change from year to year. To avoid missing out or misunderstanding any key information, make sure to check Bain’s latest recruitment updates regularly.

For the most up-to-date details on Bain’s recruiting process, visit their internships & programs page: Internships & Programs | Bain & Company. 

To find current internship openings, you should check Bain’s job search page: Find a Role | Bain & Company. 

When searching, try using keywords such as intern, associate consultant intern, summer associate or trainee to narrow down relevant opportunities.

Three-round recruitment process at Bain

Application round: Resume / cover letter screening

The first step in the Bain internship recruitment process is the application round. Application materials typically include:

• Resume: Summarize your experiences and highlight your leadership, achievements, and problem-solving skills.

• Cover letter: While optional, a strong cover letter can showcase your motivation and explain why you’re a good fit for both Bain and the consulting industry. 

• Academic transcripts: For undergraduate and master’s candidates, Bain often requires transcripts as part of the application.

Read more about consulting resume / cover letter here: Consulting Resume  / Consulting Cover Letter

Bain digital assessment: Bain SOVA / Bain TestGorilla / Bain HireVue test

After passing the resume screening round, you will be invited to take Bain’s assessment test. The test format is not standardized across all offices worldwide. The test provider, structure, and question types vary by location. Some popular formats Bain uses include the Bain SOVA test, Bain TestGorilla test, and Bain HireVue test. Your invitation email will specify which format you are required to complete.

The Bain SOVA test contains 4 main sections: Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Personality, with about 15 questions per section. There is no time limit and no timer displayed, although the amount of time taken is recorded.

The Bain TestGorilla test contains 4 main sections: Numerical Reasoning, Business Judgement, Leadership and People Management, and Problem-Solving, with about 12 multiple choice questions per section. It would be conducted in about 45-50 minutes.

The Bain HireVue test consists of 2 parts: 25 multiple-choice questions and 3 video questions. The first part would be conducted within 50 minutes to assess candidates' problem solving skills. And the latter one takes 20 minutes to assess business judgment and thought process.

Read more about Bain SOVA Test here: Bain SOVA Test

Read more about Bain HireVue Test here: Bain HireVue Test

Interviews: Fit interview and case interview

Typically, the Bain Interview process consists of 2 interview rounds: the first conducted by junior consultants or managers, and the second carried out by Bain partners to make a final decision. Bain interviews usually consist of two parts: the fit interview (behavioral interview) (10 minutes) and the case interview (30-45 minutes).

The fit interview assesses a candidate’s experience, competencies, motivations as well as personality fit. Bain fit interview questions are classified into 2 common types: Why-our-firm questions and Personality questions. The former type can come under the form of “Why are you joining the consulting industry?” and “Why are you interested in Bain?”. The latter one can vary from interview to interview, with the three most popular topics: hobbies and interests; workplace preferences; and values & plans/traits & skills.

Bain case interviews are often candidate-led. At the most extreme of this format, the candidate “leads” the problem-solving process breaking down the problem through an “issue tree” and hypothesizing for the root causes. The interviewer assists the candidate by supplying data to test their hypotheses.

Some Bain offices also use written interview cases. A written case interview is a case interview where you receive the questions and data, as well as deliver your recommendations in written forms of communication. Bain Written Case is normally 20-to-30-slide long, one-hour prep and 40-minute interview, with handwritten form.

Read more about Bain Interviews here: Bain Case Interview: Process, Criteria & Preparation (2024)

How to prepare for the Bain recruitment process?

Some big-picture preparation advices

Prepare as early as possible

Consulting prep is ideally a long process. You may spend a year or even more learning the fundamental skills and embracing the mindset, and at least 2-3 months preparing for the resume screening, the tests and case interviews.

To equip yourself with the most well-rounded skill set for consulting, read up and practice on the following topics:

• Management Consulting: Job, firms, industry and culture (especially the firms you target)

• Consulting Math: Math in business context, mental math, and chart-reading

• Tests: McKinsey Solve, BCG Potential Test, BCG Casey, Bain Online Test, etc.

• Case Interviews: Interviewer-led and candidate-led case, tips and techniques

• Fit Interviews: Stories to suggest your outstanding, consulting-fit qualities

Build networks early on

A big part of the Bain internship selection process involves case interviews conducted by managers. These interviews are expensive because they take away revenue-generating hours from said managers.

To make the most out of these expensive interviews, consulting firms highly favor candidates with positive reviews from inside the firm or the alumni network. That’s why networking is especially important in the early stages. If you can connect with a mentor, ideally a current or former consultant at your target firm, it’s even better. Beyond the potential for a referral, they can offer valuable insider advice to strengthen your application and interview performance.

So when should you start networking? As early as possible, because relationships take time to build. If you’re still in school, network a year before career events to be one step ahead of the competition, then try to get referrals. Referrals increase the chances of your CV being reviewed by recruiters in the first place.

Below are three common methods, but are less effective in general:

• Networking through acquaintances: Start with the consultants you know, followed by anyone your colleagues, friends and family can introduce. The biggest limitation is accessibility – you might not find any potential lead.

• Networking through events: This method is most convenient for applicants from target schools. Consultants here are complete strangers, but they do expect applicants to approach them after the events, so you do have a higher chance than the next method.

• Cold-emailing/Cold-calling: The least effective, but the most scalable method. You find them through LinkedIn or similar means, send emails to establish contact and request for a meeting. Most of the time, you will be rejected, but if you play the cards right, you will get someone on your side.

How to prepare for the resume / cover letter screening round?

Read the full guides here: Consulting Resume  / Consulting Cover Letter

One thing you should keep in mind while preparing the resume and the cover letter is that these papers must be written in the consulting style. In both of these papers, explicitly but objectively show off your consulting attributes: leadership, achieving and problem-solving.

The content

Whatever stories you tell in your resume and cover letter, they must emphasize the three attributes mentioned above. They must either be about leading and influencing people, doing analytical work, achieving the extraordinary, or any combination. 

More importantly, you must be highly specific and result-oriented. Instead of rambling on with your list of experiences, show the screener quantifiable results of your work, which shows you are the best.

For example, even if you flipped burgers, say something like “Set the new speed record for flipping burgers, surpassing the previous record by 50%”. Specific statements are thoroughly more impressive and more trustworthy, even outside the consulting industry.

The presentation

Regarding the format, there is no other option but black-and-white. You should keep it absolutely formal and professional. Fancy-looking resumes might get you creative jobs, but will get you cold rejections in the conservative consulting industry. Same goes for the cover letters.

Regarding the structure, every bullet point in your resume must contain similar parts. The language of these bullets must be totally formal as well. Communication must be top-down, both in resumes and cover letters.

How to prepare for the Bain digital assessment?

To prepare for this stage, you should follow these steps:

Step 1: Verify test format

The first step you should do is to do prior research, use connections, and contact the target office to confirm the test format and rules. Once you know the test format and rules, you can follow the next preparation steps in a more focused and effective way.

Step 2: Practice answering the questions correctly

The second step is to answer all the test questions correctly without time pressure. You should practice on each question type to get yourself familiar with the question’s structure and logical foundation.

Step 3: Practice answering the question quickly

Actually, there will be no turning point indicating that it is the time you should move to this step. However, you should gradually try to answer the question both correctly and quickly. You can increase your speed by increasing your mental math, reading speed, or even using some hacking tips.

Once getting all the correct answers without clocking, you should put yourself under time constraint.

Step 4: Do the mock test develop personal strategy

This is where you can assess yourself and develop an ultimate test strategy. Do this multiple times until you can nail every question every time.

How to prepare for fit interviews?

Read the full guides here: Fit Interviews at MBB: Categories and Requirements 

Sometimes, each question type in the PEI will be used for the same kind of story. This means that, even if you draft 10-12 stories, 2-3 for each question type, you may only use only one story for every question.

Instead of preparing on a question-answer basis, a more efficient approach would be to focus on the stories. You should prepare three to five stories and make them as detailed, all-rounded, well-presented as possible. View them from every possible angle, each corresponding to a trait required by Bain, or to one of your personal values. With such an approach, you also gain flexibility. As with well-developed stories, you can respond to ANY kinds of questions, even the unexpected ones.

How can you prepare such stories? Spend your efforts on three layers of a story - the content base, the plot, and the style.

You can read our full guides with the link above for detailed and step-by-step prep guidance.

How to prepare for case interviews?

Read the full guides here: Case Interview 101: The Online Guidebook

To prepare for case interviews, especially Bain case interviews, we recommend you to follow these steps:

#1. Get familiar with some case examples

To grasp how Bain cases “flow”, we encourage you to go out there and find as many examples of candidate-led cases as possible. There are two such examples on the Bain website with suggested answers.

• Coffee Shop Co.

• FashionCo.

There’s also an official mock case video from Bain that you can watch and expect what would happen in a real case interview: Video: Associate Consultant Mock Interview | Bain & Company 

On Bain’s website, there are also some more tips and tricks available. You can check it out here for better preparation: Interviewing | Bain & Company 

#2. Practice consulting math

Consultants work with quantitative data dozens of times a day. It simply takes too long to pull out a calculator every time they need to calculate something, and doing so in negotiations looks really bad. This is why interviewers place such high emphasis on the mental math skills of prospective consultants.

In the beginning, consulting math can be difficult for some; nonetheless, we have a few tips for you to ease the process and still practice effectively: 

• Use your head daily: Do all your daily calculations mentally unless an EXACT answer is required.

• Flatten the learning curve: At the start, a piece of scratch paper and a 5% margin of error really help; once you are confident, discard the paper and narrow down the margin.

• Establish a routine: Allocate some time for daily practice. This may seem hard at first, but once you’ve overcome the initial resistance, you can literally feel the improvement.

Read more about consulting math: Consulting & Case Interview Math Practice Guide.

#3. Develop business intuition

Having business intuition significantly sharpens your performance in case interviews.

Working on any kind of intuition is a gradual process that takes practice every day. You can improve your business intuition in two ways:

• Written sources: I suggest reading business papers daily; you can also visit McKinsey, Bain, and BCG websites for their excellent articles. Beware though – it’s not the pages you read that count, but the insights you draw from them.

• First-hand experience and observations: Don’t just come to your workplace to work; try to examine what senior managers are doing – what’s the rationale for their decision, and how has it impacted the organization?

#4. Learn fundamentals and question types

As a consulting intern at Bain, you will need to tackle real business problems. Hence, knowing the fundamental concepts of consulting problem-solving is crucial. In the candidate-led case interview, particularly, make sure to master the use of hypotheses, issue trees, MECE principle – they are the backbone of this interview kind.

The other key to conquering interviewer-led cases is in methodically mastering each and every basic question type; then you will be ready to tackle the more complex and less predictable ones.

For each type, there are always tips and techniques to deliver an ideal answer; you can check out an even more comprehensive guide in our Case Interview Questions. The key takeaway is to treat interviewer-led questions like mini-cases, and take a structured, MECE approach to each.

#5. Self-practice solving the case examples 

When getting the fundamentals of a case interview, you can try to solve case examples by yourself first. With Bain’s official practice cases, you should solve the case based on what you’ve learned, then compare your answer with Bain’s official answer. 

In that way, you can both get familiar with the process of solving a case, and find out your weaknesses in case-solving at the same time. Besides, you can also broaden your problem-solving angles by learning from the new approach of the official answers.

#6. Perform mock interviews

The best way to train on something is to do it.

Well, you CAN’T simply come to Bain and ask them for a case interview, but you CAN find a partner to conduct mock interviews for you. It’s better if you can find a former consultant to do it – they’ve been through countless case interviews, both mock and real.

Make the best of every mock interview you do by recording them, then replay again, and again, and again. You’ll realize a lot of mistakes you made, and how you can fix them.