Finding Success with The Help of Johnson’s Consulting Program

by Kevin Wang, MBA ’13

Johnson’s Consulting Program was invaluable in helping me convert my summer internship in New York, with a major international consulting firm, into a full-time opportunity post-MBA. In many ways, the Consulting Program simulated a real consulting experience in terms of the work that I was expected to deliver and the pace of the profession.

The Consulting Program is a concerted joint effort between many components of Johnson’s MBA Program, some of which include: the Career Management Center (CMC), the Consulting Club, and the Management Cases course. By participating in the recruiting preparation activities hosted by the CMC and the Consulting Club, such as the Case Boot Camp, Mock Interview Trek, and Career Work Group meetings (functionally-aligned sessions led by second-year students that help prepare students for recruiting), I thoroughly understood the interview process, and was successful in securing my internship with a major firm, focusing on healthcare industries.

While the recruiting activities helped with the process of getting a summer internship, the Management Cases course prepared me well for my day-to-day job during the summer. Throughout the entire semester, I was exposed to business cases that business consultants faced on a daily basis, on topics such as M&A, market entry, and leveraged buy-outs. Each weekly assignment consisted of a client-ready PowerPoint deck and a presentation to the professor and class.

At the end of my first year, because I had invested the necessary time in the Program, I felt very confident about my skill set. I was proven right during this past summer. Because I was already comfortable with a high-paced consulting work environment, I proactively asked for additional responsibilities shortly after I started my internship. As a result, I got staffed on two client projects in New York, and one strategy project with the China team in Shanghai. This was a rare case, as MBA interns typically only work on one project during the summer. All three projects were different in nature as well: an operational improvement for a major hospital in New York, a risk assessment for a medical device maker in New Jersey, and the exploration of the mobile health landscape in China.

Looking back, the Consulting Program required a significant amount of dedication and time; however, it was well worth it. When I got the call from my Partner toward the end of the summer informing me that I was extended a full-time offer, I felt a sense of relief and gratitude: I certainly could not have done it without Johnson’s Consulting Program.