Fabricio pursued a Bocconi MBA with a clear goal: recruit into consulting in Europe without defaulting to the standard internship track. Instead of betting everything on one "correct" process, he kept his funnel broad and chose a timeline that fit his constraints. By May 2023, he secured a full-time offer from Allianz Consulting, starting in October. This story breaks down why he skipped the internship path, what improved his interview performance, and how to protect your MBA strategy while recruiting.
Who this story is about
Fabricio is a Bocconi MBA graduate who targeted consulting roles in Europe. His approach centered on optionality: widening the set of viable roles and geographies while keeping his narrative consistent and defensible in interviews.
Why he chose a full-time recruiting path over an internship
Unlike many peers, Fabricio chose to pursue a full-time role instead of an internship. "Initially, I wanted to go directly into a full-time position, as the offers for internships weren't the best." While Bocconi offered strong connections, he didn't treat internships as automatically "better"—he evaluated them based on role quality and fit.
For him, the strategic risk wasn't "skipping the standard track." The risk was spending time on low-signal processes that didn't strengthen his candidacy or move him closer to the work he wanted.
By May 2023, Fabricio had already secured an offer from Allianz Consulting, with the role starting in October. "Given the opportunity to go straight into a full-time role, I decided to pursue that option."
- Strategic takeaway: "Internship vs full-time" is a signal-and-risk decision, not a default rule.
- What to pressure-test: Will this internship materially improve access, credibility, or learning for your target roles?
- Common mistake: optimizing for what's "normal," even if it weakens your story or timeline.
What actually helped him perform in interviews
Fabricio emphasizes that interview performance wasn't about having a "perfect" CV—it was about presenting it with clarity and confidence. "Presenting my CV confidently was key." After handling the initial questions well, he felt at ease for the remainder of the conversation.
His preparation combined fundamentals with practical feedback loops: leveraging AI tools for iteration, studying company financials, and speaking to industry professionals. "Positive critique from other MBAs was also insightful," he shares.
His core interview principle is simple: "Be as transparent as possible during interviews."
- What most candidates underestimate: interviewers are testing narrative integrity, not just competence.
- What "confidence" usually means: you've pressure-tested your story and can explain tradeoffs without overexplaining.
- How to practice: rehearse with people who will challenge your assumptions (MBAs, consultants, industry peers).
How to protect your MBA strategy while recruiting
Recruiting can expand to fill all available time—especially when you treat "optimization" as the goal. The smarter approach is to decide what "enough" looks like: a focused funnel, repeatable preparation, and a narrative that stays consistent across roles.
If you're constantly rebuilding materials, switching targets weekly, or chasing every process, you're paying a hidden cost: weaker execution, lower energy, and a story that starts to look reactive.
- Good sign: your funnel is broad enough to reduce anxiety, but narrow enough to execute well.
- Red flag: incremental tweaks are replacing real reps (calls, cases, mock interviews, outreach).
- Strategic constraint: your MBA should still deliver learning and relationships—not just applications.
What readers should take from Fabricio's outcome
Fabricio's result wasn't driven by a single tactic—it came from aligning decisions across timeline, role quality, and a story he could defend under pressure. He avoided overcommitting to one recruiting "script," focused on interview readiness, and chose a path that matched his constraints.
- If you're early in the MBA journey: your recruiting plan should inform how you shape your MBA strategy (geography, targets, and narrative).
- If you're in recruiting now: keep your funnel intentional and your story stable; don't confuse motion with progress.
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