Title: From Doubt to Deloitte: Lessons Learned from Consulting Recruiting

Bennie Chang (SFS’26) is a Georgetown Storyteller from San Jose, California, and studies regional studies, international business diplomacy and art.

I was racing to take notes in a meeting when my phone buzzed in my pocket. After a week of waiting anxiously, my Deloitte recruiter was calling. I tried to stay calm, but the moment my meeting wrapped up, I stepped outside and dialed her back. Hearing the words, “We would like to offer you an internship,” I could hardly contain my excitement. 

This summer, I will be joining Deloitte’s Government & Public Service practice. For three months, I poured my energy into the recruiting process, a journey that had its fair share of excitement, stress and self-reflection. 

Even though recruiting was far from perfect — I often found myself stressed and spending too much time thinking about the process — I genuinely enjoyed the experience. Meeting new people, learning about industries I had never known, and sharpening my logical thinking through case interviews were my favorite parts. I even met new friends who were in the recruiting trenches with me. With that, I wanted to share more about my recruiting journey and what helped me along the way.

Finding My Path

During sophomore year, I spent a lot of time reflecting on what I wanted to do. I knew my work had to be both impactful and challenging, a role where I would learn every day. Though I enjoyed my experiences in public service, I wanted to step into something new, a challenge that would expose me to different industries, skill sets and perspectives.

After months of exploration, I was drawn to consulting last July, which was the perfect time because it’s when firms often open applications for internships the following summer. The field’s fast-paced environment, diversity of projects and constant opportunity to learn appealed to me. I was hooked on the idea that consulting could refine my skills and offer clarity about where I wanted to go next.

My genuine interest in consulting made it easy to give my all to the process. Earlier in the year, I had recruited half-heartedly for another industry, only to stop midway when I realized I would not enjoy the work. Reflecting on what I wanted then helped steer me to my path. It took months, but it was worth every moment.

Beginning My Consulting Recruiting Journey

I began my recruitment process by exploring the Cawley Career Center’s industry guide and familiarizing myself with the consulting field online. Once I determined consulting was something I was interested in, I dived into recruiting by:

1. Perfecting My Resume: The resume is foundational. I turned to Cawley Career Center industry advisors and friends for feedback and revisions.
2. Networking Extensively: This meant a lot of time on LinkedIn, meeting with recruiters and Georgetown alumni to learn about firms I was interested in.
3. Writing Tailored Cover Letters: Using what I learned from networking, I wrote cover letters explaining not only why I wanted to work for each firm but also why I would be a strong fit for their team. I would recommend checking out Management Consulted’s guide!

Practicing Case Interviews, AKA “Casing”

Casing, a critical part of consulting interviews, involves solving a business problem in real time. Everyone I spoke with emphasized the importance of mastering this skill, and they were right. Taking their advice to heart, I made casing practice a regular part of my daily routine. Here is how I approached it:

1. Listening to Practice Cases: I started by listening to cases in my free time, getting used to their flow and structure. I learned a lot from this playlist by Management Consulted!
2. Reading Case Strategies and Frameworks: Before diving in, I wanted a solid foundation, so I read Victor Cheng’s book Case Interview Secrets and studied the common frameworks.
3. Jumping into Cases with Friends: My go-to casing partner and I practiced regularly, but I also worked with others who were going through or had been through the process. My favorite casebook of practice cases was from UVA Darden.
4. Practicing Mental Math: Quick mental math was something I had to brush up on, so I made sure to practice every day.
5. Giving and Receiving Feedback: The feedback was essential, helping us all target specific weaknesses and address them through practice.

Preparing for Interviews

Once interviews were set, I had a routine for preparation:

1. Reviewing My Notes: I went through my networking notes on the firm’s recruitment process and any case types they might pose.
2. Researching the Firm: I wanted to bring a tailored answer to behavioral questions, so I studied each firm’s culture and industries of focus.
3. Scheduling Practice Cases: These helped me stay sharp leading up to the interview day.

I also found that mindset was key. In addition to preparing the material, I tried to stay relaxed by listening to music and watching funny YouTube videos before interviews.

Interviewing and Receiving My Deloitte Offer

Most firms have two rounds of interviews, but Deloitte combined both rounds into one interview, which I appreciated. I spoke with three interviewers: a managing director, a senior manager and a manager. Each conversation brought a different perspective and tested my skills in unique ways.

A week or two later, in mid-September, I got a call back from my recruiter: I had the offer. Deloitte gave me two weeks to accept, so I spent time talking to other Hoyas who had interned or were working there. Their positive experiences and stories about the firm convinced me that Deloitte was the right fit for me.

Lessons Learned

Looking back, there are a few things I would do differently:

1. Start Casing Earlier: It is never too late to start. People say that mastering casing takes running through 15-25 practice cases.
2. Ask for More Referrals: I was often too shy to ask for referrals after coffee chats, but they can potentially be the difference between receiving an interview or not.
3. Enhance My Cover Letter from the Beginning: If I had dedicated more time to this from the start, I would have felt more confident submitting my applications.

Looking Ahead

Now that recruiting is behind me, I am turning my focus back to other aspects of life that took a back seat over the past few months, like reading and painting. I am also looking forward to studying abroad in Florence next semester!

Next summer for my internship, I will be living in the Burleith neighborhood in DC with friends and commuting across the Key Bridge to Rosslyn for work on the Georgetown University Transportation Shuttle (GUTS). I cannot wait to meet my Deloitte team, and the mid-summer retreat in Texas is something I am particularly excited about!

Thank You and Final Thoughts

I am grateful to everyone who supported me along the way—Georgetown alumni, friends and family. This journey had its highs and lows, and I hope sharing my story has helped you as you consider your own path. A quote I love when deciding if something is worth pursuing is, “Hell yes, or no.” Today, I am thrilled to say, “Hell yes, Deloitte!”