We recently caught up with Ellie who has completed both the Mentorship Programme and the Insight Programme with BCG. Ellie told us what both programmes involved, the key skills she learned and shared her tips for how you can follow in her footsteps.
What stood out to you about BCG?
Initially it was the name. But then I learned about their really great culture and the diversity programme which I thought was really good, especially for such a big company. It was a dream getting my foot in the door so early with such a large employer.
One of the greatest things I’ve found about BCG is that they really do try to widen participation. I’ve found that London firms want to hire people from London and don’t take on people from other parts of the world, not because they don’t want to, but because of the cost and the barriers. I was offered 3 or 4 Spring Insight weeks with other companies in London, but BCG were the only ones not only willing to pay for my travel, but also for me to stay in London. They even let me come a day early to enjoy London before the Insight Programme began. BCG was the only company who wanted to break down barriers and actually helped me do it.
What did the Mentorship Programme involve?
The Office Day ran like a networking session. We got to know BCG and ask questions with no judgement which was really useful. The programme included team building exercises, how to increase your skills, how to get into the company after the programme, how to complete case study interviews. I found it really useful!
One of the best parts of the programme was the hands-on and personalised approach with one mentor per person. BCG were great with getting the mentors - they found me someone who’d been to the same university as me. I thought this was really, really cool because they had thought about who could support me best. I felt they wanted the best for me and everyone else on the programme.
What was the most useful skill you learned from the Mentorship Programme?
How to ace an interview. With the mentee programme, they taught us how to do the case study interviews. Alongside this, they taught me more character building skills too through screening the CV and teaching me how to take ownership of my achievements. For example, they taught me to recognise my individual contribution while working as part of a team.
How did you then join the Insight Programme?
When you join the Mentorship Programme, you get a guaranteed interview for the Insight Programme. This was really helping when trying to stand out against others who had applied. By having this interview, I was able to showcase the skills I’d learned in the mentorship programme. It was a great way for me to show and improve my skills while still progressing with BCG.
What did the Insight Programme involve?
It ran through lots of similar aspects to the Mentorship Programme including networking and case studies. But I thought the case studies were amazing - we did a really hands-on project including having the chance to simulate a call with a CEO to understand the case study better. It was very interactive and helped me get to know lots of people in the company.
Did you enjoy the Insight Programme?
I loved it! It was so fun. Everyone there was of such high calibre, both the applicants and the staff, that I learned so much.
What are your plans for the future?
I’ll definitely apply for the Summer Internship! It’s a bit daunting because it’s really competitive, but I have a lot of time to prepare. Plus, everyone who has completed the Insight Programme is invited to London to do another case study workshop to make sure you’re at your best just before the Summer Internship interviews, which I love. They try to get you involved in BCG from start to finish and really do try and nurture you.
What are your top three tips for Bright Network members wanting to follow in your footsteps?
- Be yourself. BCG really does value creativity. I absolutely flunked my first case study and got everything wrong, but when you have the chance to correct your answers and put my own creative spin on it is how I got through. Don’t be afraid to put your own spin on answers and don’t put yourself in a box.
- Take ownership of what you’ve done. Don’t be afraid of talking about your accomplishments - they want to excel, so BCG will take what you’ve learned and to make you the best version of yourself.
- Speak to people in the company. If you get the opportunity, even at networking events, take any chance to speak to an employee. You will learn so much about the company. Talk about your hobbies with them because they want you to be an individual.
Let us know where you've secured your work experience, internship or graduate role. We want to celebrate your success with a gift from us and exclusive invitations to evening networking drinks throughout the year.
