Tell us a bit about your path to Bain!
I joined Bain in July 2023 after receiving an offer following the True North Workshop in Summer 2021. Between TNS and Bain I completed my degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Oxford and went travelling to Central America and South East Asia.
What was your experience of the True North Scholarship?
The True North Scholarship for women was a great introduction to consulting. The two days of the workshop were really helpful in giving me an understanding of what consulting was and why Bain would be a great company to work for! The sessions were a mix of informative talks and group activities, where we got to practice useful skills for the upcoming interviews and chat more casually to Bain consultants. Additionally, TNS provided me with a supportive network of women who were also interested in a career in consulting, I was able to practice cases with them, as well as seek advice throughout the process which was very useful.
How did taking part in the True North Workshop help you decide in a career in consulting? / Do you need to be certain about a career in consulting before applying for True North?
Prior to TNS I had developed an interest in a career in consulting due to the broad nature of industries that I would learn about and skills I would develop. You definitely do not need to be certain that consulting is the right career for you, in fact TNS is the perfect opportunity to learn whether consulting is what you want to do with your career. Whilst I had an interest in consulting prior to TNS I wasn't sure what the day to day of being a consultant would entail, by giving me the opportunity to chat to current consultants TNS gave me a far deeper understanding of what consulting actually was. The exercises we did during the workshop, which mimicked real life cases, also helped me see what being a consultant would be like.
What are some of the most important things you learnt at the True North Workshop?
I learnt a lot about Bain’s culture during TNS, particularly on the opportunities that you're given at the firm and the values that they encourage. Learning about all the flex options that they offered, such as externships, LOAs and office transfers made me really excited about the prospect of working at Bain. Hearing from current consultants about their experience working at Bain and how much the Bain culture shaped and improved their day to day work lives further confirmed to me that Bain would be a great place to work.
What was your highlight from the True North Scholarship?
My highlight from TNS was getting to meet all the other women during the workshop and at the offeree event after! I’ve been lucky enough to stay friends with some of these women through my time at Bain. These friendships meant I started at Bain with various connections already formed which were really useful for answering any questions I had in the first few months.
What would be your best piece of advice for someone thinking about applying?
In the initial application process draw on any experiences that highlight your unique skillset. You in no way need to have experience in consulting before and the skills Bain are looking for can be found in a variety of different activities. When describing these activities focus on the impact you had in whatever role you played and try to quantify this where possible so that the importance of your role is tangible to whoever reads your CV.