I'm currently penultimate year doing politics and looking into getting into consultancy. I've applied to a few banks and consultancy firms like bcg, oc&c, oliver wyman unsuccessfully. My options for the summer are try to get an internship with a blue chip firm or small consultancy. I've also got a 2 week work experience with a small consultancy firm in Easter. I'm wanting to apply for strategy consultancy later this year for grad roles. What is the best course of action for the summer? blue chip? or attempt to find an internship at a consultancy?

Since you are studying politics, why not NGO's like Transparency International (TI) , some summer weekend at the UN in Geneva (I know that my fellow students at the University of Liverpool organized a week at the UN in Geneva).A second or third language would come helpful.Additionally, I recommend looking for the smaller ones- sometimes these offer better pay and better opportunities.PS: Being in your penultimate year and having just 2 weeks of work experience is quite.....bad.

"PS: Being in your penultimate year and having just 2 weeks of work experience is quite.....bad."Ill-informed remark. Very few large firms offer any internship opportunities other than usually a summer placement to penultimate year students and it's not like the person in question hasn't applied for said positions. I do however recommend, as suggested, looking at smaller firms, you'll get better exposure. It's very much a case of looking for what's still out there and focusing on roles that a) you might enjoy and b) you feel you have a realistic chance of landing.

I never said that I'll only have 2 weeks worth of work experience. Last summer I worked in a business start-up. My 2 week work experience could be extended to an internship but I would prefer to work for a larger firm for my internship or a niche player in the industry. My view was that I could get into a large firm, industry or consultancy which could give me exit opps for grad jobs. I mean if I've got nothing else I could extend it into an internship. How well regarded would a 10 week internship at a very small strategy consultancy be?

"How well regarded would a 10 week internship at a very small strategy consultancy be?"Well, it depends how you put it on your CV. If you mention client exposure, or ERP system implementations, business process analysis, etc. thats the stuff that comes good.

A friend of mine did two internships at well known consultancies and has now landed a top job at a very well known and respected consulting firm in London. I recommend you do the internship - it will really be good for you. You&apos;ll learn loads about what consulting is, and gain great experience for your CV. Have a look at <a href="http://www.wikijob.co.uk/">WikiJob.co.uk</a> for some more information, or check <a href="http://http://www.wikijob.co.uk/forums/">WikiJob Forums</a> to talk to other graduates in your position. Good luck! Ed