Three lessons from my Bain internship experience
Three lessons from my Bain internship experience
A summer intern from our New York offices shares what she learned about recruiting, casework, and team culture
Luna Wang, a student at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, spent her summer as an associate consultant intern in Bain's New York office working across two very different cases: an industrial operational due diligence engagement in private equity, and a distribution case focused on sales strategy. Here, she shares three things that stuck with her, from what real client work looks like day to day to why the connections you make during recruiting matter long after the process ends.
Work hard on your case preps but also take the time to explore the culture and people to discover whether Bain is the right place for you.
Luna Wang
Associate Consultant Intern
1. Recruiting is a two-way street
I first heard about Bain from upperclassmen who spoke highly of the supportive culture, early ownership over work, and the opportunity to get hands-on experience across a variety of cases. To learn more myself, I participated in CREW, Bain's recruiting program designed to connect and support women in their path to consulting, and walked away with wonderful connections that stayed with me throughout the recruiting journey.
During the interview process, I loved how it was as much about me evaluating Bain as it was the other way around. I enjoyed the case solving and getting to know the interviewers, which gave me a real glimpse into what working at Bain would be like. And it was such a full-circle moment running into my interviewers around the office this summer.
Bain cares as much about who you are as well as how well you case. I'd take the recruiting process as a two-way street: work hard on your case preps but also take the time to explore the culture and people to discover whether Bain is the right place for you.
Grabbing a morning coffee with fellow ACIs is a great way to start the day.
Stopping by the ACI bay, a dedicated space where interns work side by side and build community throughout the summer.
2. No two days look the same – and that’s the point!
My time this summer was equally split across two very different cases: an industrial operational due diligence case in private equity, and a distribution case focused on sales organization strategy.
A typical day usually includes a morning workstream check-in, focused work sessions, client and leadership update, and coffee breaks with our lovely in-office baristas. There are also intern lunches with different partners, affinity group socials, and personal development chats sprinkled throughout the week. No two days looked the same, which honestly made it one of the most exciting parts of the summer!
A daily check-in keeps the team aligned on progress and what's coming next.
Interns regularly meet with partners across the firm for a chance to ask questions and hear firsthand about life at Bain.
3. The connections you make stay with you
What stands out most to me about Bain is how easy it is to grow professionally while getting to know the people around me. On my case teams, I've gotten to know everyone through one-on-one coffee chats and teamwide conversations about how we're feeling, team norms, and life outside of work. One of my favorite team traditions is ending each day with a “Team Fun” game (Draw Battle and Raddle were our favorites!).
Outside of my case teams, I was paired with a colleague who helped me get acclimated to the office and quickly became a good friend. Through Asian at Bain (AAB), I also found mentors across tenures who I've been able to turn to for both personal and professional advice. New York is one of Bain's largest offices, and having many familiar faces around makes it feel much smaller.
Don't underestimate the power of the connections you make along the way. Genuinely get to know everyone you meet throughout the process and stay in touch, because they could very well become your future colleague, mentor, or friend, inside Bain and beyond.
Luna catches up with her Asians at Bain mentor, one of the many ways our affinity groups connect interns with the broader Bain community.
Ending the day with a murder mystery dinner party is a great way to build team connections outside of work.
