Navigating the Slalom Consulting Internship: A Comprehensive Guide

Slalom Consulting, a prominent business and technology consulting firm, offers an internship program through its subsidiary, Slalom Build, providing students with an exciting opportunity to delve into the fast-paced world of management consulting. This article offers a detailed look into the Slalom Consulting internship, covering its structure, requirements, benefits, and overall experience.

Introduction to Slalom Consulting

Founded in 2001, Slalom Consulting has grown to encompass nearly 12,000 employees across 52 offices in 12 countries. The firm operates at the intersection of business and technology, serving a diverse range of clients across various industries. Slalom distinguishes itself through its commitment to local teams, with consultants typically working from home and at client sites within their city, minimizing travel.

Slalom Build Internship Program: An Overview

Slalom has an internship program through its subsidiary, Slalom Build. The 10-week summer program is highly selective and designed to provide interns with hands-on experience in software and technology product development. The program aims to be the best place for future builders to launch their careers. Interns collaborate within cross-disciplinary teams, including solution owners, software and automation engineers, designers, and automated testers, utilizing Slalom's Product Engineering Methodology. They are fully supported by full-time builders throughout the program.

What to Expect During the Internship

As an intern at Slalom Build, you'll be contributing to real projects with real-life expectations and deadlines, working alongside experienced team members. This isn’t just fetching coffee; it’s about building actual products. Past intern projects have included creating custom mobile experiences for Slalom’s time and expense management and developing a candidate experience application for recruiters.

Key Responsibilities and Activities

Interns can expect to:

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Support the design and construction of AI tools and accelerators.
Collaborate with a multi-functional development team in an agile environment.
Help develop user stories to support key functionality requirements.
Develop AI code, prompts, and agentic workflows using a combination of tools and platforms.
Participate in brainstorming sessions and contribute creative ideas.
Stay updated with AI development trends and best practices.
Advocate for Slalom’s values as one of the Best Places to Work.
Learn and apply new concepts in a team setting.
Build a network within Slalom.

Locations

Slalom Build offers internships in several tech-focused cities:

Seattle
Chicago
Toronto
Houston
Boston
Atlanta

Compensation and Benefits

Slalom prides itself on helping team members thrive in their work and life, investing in benefits such as paid holidays. The target hourly rate for interns ranges from $20 to $25, with actual compensation dependent on skills, experience, qualifications, location, and other factors.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Slalom is seeking budding technologists, nascent developers, and aspiring engineers who are ready to begin their careers. While Builders come in all stripes, Slalom is typically looking for Software Engineers, Quality Engineers, Solution Owners, Experience Designers, Data Engineers, and DevOps Engineers.

Key Skills and Qualifications

A successful candidate will typically possess:

A strong interest in learning about AI architecture and development.
Advanced skills and experience in relevant tools, including Python, Bedrock, ChatGPT, Claude, and GitHub.
Excellent communication skills for audiences of all levels.
Desire and flexibility to explore new areas and skills.
Proven ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks.
Resourcefulness and the ability to learn new concepts quickly.
Strong analytical and interpersonal communication skills.

The Interview Process

Slalom is currently conducting virtual interviews. While the company hires undergraduates, it places more of a focus on candidates with some professional experience already under their belt. As part of the interview process, candidates may be asked to deliver a 60-minute case presentation to the Senior Leadership Team.

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A Look into Slalom's Culture

Slalom’s culture starts at the top with CEO Brad Jackson. Slalom differentiates itself by ensuring that most consultants live and work in the same city, promoting a strong sense of community and minimizing travel. The firm is committed to sustainable resource usage and has set ambitious 2030 sustainability and impact goals related to the planet, their communities, and their people. Slalom also prioritizes diversity, inclusion, and equity (ID&E) through various programs.

Career Trajectory at Slalom

Working at Slalom doesn’t come with the “up or out” pressure that exists at many top firms, which is great for long-term career seekers. However, because of the limited brand recognition that Slalom has in the industry, you’ll be hard-pressed to make a move into top strategy consulting firms like MBB.

Slalom in Rankings

Slalom Build has been recognized in Vault's Best Internships Programs. In 2022, it ranked No. 48 on the Best 100 Internships list. It also received high scores in specific categories:

3rd - Best Internships for Quality of Life
5th - Best Internships for Software Engineering & Development
5th - Best Tech & Engineering Internships
18th - Best Internships Overall

Slalom’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Slalom is an equal opportunity employer committed to inclusion, diversity, and equity in the workplace. The firm welcomes and encourages applications from individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations during all aspects of the selection process.

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