8 answers
Johniyah
Student
Frisco, Texas
1
Question
Asked
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What are the best ways to prepare for interviews with top-tier management consulting firms McKinsey, Bain, BCG, mainly.?
Looking for both prep tips on the "case" questions, those puzzlers like "How many shaving razors are sold in the U.S. every year," and any personality "fit" questions. If there are any books or web resources, all the better. #interviews #consulting #mckinsey #bain #bcg
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8 answers
Chester Pennock
Consulting
3
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Chester’s Answer
Having interviewed with each of the MBB firms, one piece of advice I often give is to prepare for the "fit" portion of the interview as thoroughly as you prepare for the case portion. In particular:
- Ensure you know what skills and abilities the firms are looking for. These are published on their respective websites, and in my experience there are no tricks. Questions will be centered on one of those skills.
- Come prepared to demonstrate your skills and abilities via stories. What are stories / experiences from your life that show you possess those traits versus merely telling? In my experience, having a set of 3-5 quality stories related to impact you are proud of is sufficient to answer any questions thrown your way. Choose the stories that most genuinely represent you - don't feel like your stories need to be the most "impressive" you can think of.
- Prepare walking through your experiences and other common interview questions. Many open sources provide example interview questions. Practice your answers and ensure they are structured and concise. The STAR method is a great way to frame your experience. In preparing for my interviews, I recorded myself and practiced with others to get as much feedback as possible.
- Ensure you know what skills and abilities the firms are looking for. These are published on their respective websites, and in my experience there are no tricks. Questions will be centered on one of those skills.
- Come prepared to demonstrate your skills and abilities via stories. What are stories / experiences from your life that show you possess those traits versus merely telling? In my experience, having a set of 3-5 quality stories related to impact you are proud of is sufficient to answer any questions thrown your way. Choose the stories that most genuinely represent you - don't feel like your stories need to be the most "impressive" you can think of.
- Prepare walking through your experiences and other common interview questions. Many open sources provide example interview questions. Practice your answers and ensure they are structured and concise. The STAR method is a great way to frame your experience. In preparing for my interviews, I recorded myself and practiced with others to get as much feedback as possible.
Noah Schmeisser
Consultant
2
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Noah’s Answer
Great question! MBB consultant here. I'm going to break your question down into two parts -- 1) what consulting firms look for in successful interview candidates and 2) how one can best prepare to put their best foot forward.
Consulting interviews are designed to assess five key skills or areas: (1) your ability to break down a vague, complex business problem into specific, solvable questions; (2) your ability to think quantitatively; (3) your ability to brainstorm and think creatively; (4) your skill in communicating complex ideas; and (5) your emotional maturity and ability to deal with complex or difficult interpersonal situations. Interviews are designed to assess these five areas because each is an important aspect of being a successful consultant. The case portion of the interview will assess areas 1-4, and any fit or personal experience questions will examine areas 4 and 5.
So what are the best way to prepare for these interviews? To succeed in the "fit" interviews, you should come prepared with a great ability to explain your background, resume, and experience in a compelling manner. You should also have a strong reason that you're excited to get into a career in consulting. Finally, you should prepare several stories that demonstrate your leadership experience, impact, and ability to successfully navigate difficult interpersonal situations.
Success in the case interview process is all about preparation. Most successful candidates spend dozens, if not hundreds, of hours prepping for the casing process. Some simple best practices/schedule -- start by reading basic materials on the process online/in books. Management Consulted is a great online resource, and Case in Point and Case Interview Secrets are two classic books. Once you have a strong sense of how the whole process works, start practicing live cases with a partner. Aim to have practiced 30-40 live cases by your interview date, and supplement your case practice with consulting "drills" to brush up on specific areas of weakness, like math or brainstorming. Management Consulted has some excellent drills to help you brush up on specific skills.
Finally, have fun! The biggest key to the interview process is to just be yourself, and relax and enjoy the ride as much as you can.
Consulting interviews are designed to assess five key skills or areas: (1) your ability to break down a vague, complex business problem into specific, solvable questions; (2) your ability to think quantitatively; (3) your ability to brainstorm and think creatively; (4) your skill in communicating complex ideas; and (5) your emotional maturity and ability to deal with complex or difficult interpersonal situations. Interviews are designed to assess these five areas because each is an important aspect of being a successful consultant. The case portion of the interview will assess areas 1-4, and any fit or personal experience questions will examine areas 4 and 5.
So what are the best way to prepare for these interviews? To succeed in the "fit" interviews, you should come prepared with a great ability to explain your background, resume, and experience in a compelling manner. You should also have a strong reason that you're excited to get into a career in consulting. Finally, you should prepare several stories that demonstrate your leadership experience, impact, and ability to successfully navigate difficult interpersonal situations.
Success in the case interview process is all about preparation. Most successful candidates spend dozens, if not hundreds, of hours prepping for the casing process. Some simple best practices/schedule -- start by reading basic materials on the process online/in books. Management Consulted is a great online resource, and Case in Point and Case Interview Secrets are two classic books. Once you have a strong sense of how the whole process works, start practicing live cases with a partner. Aim to have practiced 30-40 live cases by your interview date, and supplement your case practice with consulting "drills" to brush up on specific areas of weakness, like math or brainstorming. Management Consulted has some excellent drills to help you brush up on specific skills.
Finally, have fun! The biggest key to the interview process is to just be yourself, and relax and enjoy the ride as much as you can.
Judith-Ann Anderson
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) at AndeersonCounselingTexas( ACT)
106
Answers
Grapevine, Texas
Updated
Judith-Ann’s Answer
Johniyah, your question shows foresight and ambition. "Putting your best foot forward and making a good first impression" are old adages for interviews, but they still stand as important. Right? All of the suggestions offered thus far are excellent and I agree with them.
Targeting MBB is an excellent choice. History, prestige, and expertise are a few of the elements that make MBB the most sought after management consulting firms for business undergrads and MBAs, but there’s a huge list of other factors that attract the brightest business minds in the world – like insane training and development programs, Fortune 100 client interaction, and dream-like exit opportunities.
Be prepared with this thought in your mind for preparation for the interview: Where would you – as a consulting candidate with specific skills, personality, and goals – fit in best?
The answer to this question will give you confidence and direction as you interview the company as well.
Also, wear clothes that fit your ambition. You'll feel more comfortable. Some interviews take place online initially, so be prepared with good lighting, good background, good sound. Make sure your angle is flattering and catches your smile and your eyes. Practice in front of a mirror!
Google https://managementconsulted.com/mckinsey-bain-bcg/
You've got this Johniyah!
Targeting MBB is an excellent choice. History, prestige, and expertise are a few of the elements that make MBB the most sought after management consulting firms for business undergrads and MBAs, but there’s a huge list of other factors that attract the brightest business minds in the world – like insane training and development programs, Fortune 100 client interaction, and dream-like exit opportunities.
Be prepared with this thought in your mind for preparation for the interview: Where would you – as a consulting candidate with specific skills, personality, and goals – fit in best?
The answer to this question will give you confidence and direction as you interview the company as well.
Also, wear clothes that fit your ambition. You'll feel more comfortable. Some interviews take place online initially, so be prepared with good lighting, good background, good sound. Make sure your angle is flattering and catches your smile and your eyes. Practice in front of a mirror!
Google https://managementconsulted.com/mckinsey-bain-bcg/
You've got this Johniyah!
Judith-Ann Anderson
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) at AndeersonCounselingTexas( ACT)
106
Answers
Grapevine, Texas
Updated
Judith-Ann’s Answer
Johniyah, your question shows foresight and ambition. "Putting your best foot forward and making a good first impression" are old adages for interviews, but they still stand as important. Right? All of the suggestions offered thus far are excellent and I agree with them.
Targeting MBB is an excellent choice. History, prestige, and expertise are a few of the elements that make MBB the most sought after management consulting firms for business undergrads and MBAs, but there’s a huge list of other factors that attract the brightest business minds in the world – like insane training and development programs, Fortune 100 client interaction, and dream-like exit opportunities.
Be prepared with this thought in your mind for preparation for the interview: Where would you – as a consulting candidate with specific skills, personality, and goals – fit in best?
The answer to this question will give you confidence and direction as you interview the company as well.
Also, wear clothes that fit your ambition. You'll feel more comfortable. Some interviews take place online initially, so be prepared with good lighting, good background, good sound. Make sure your angle is flattering and catches your smile and your eyes. Practice in front of a mirror!
Google https://managementconsulted.com/mckinsey-bain-bcg/
Targeting MBB is an excellent choice. History, prestige, and expertise are a few of the elements that make MBB the most sought after management consulting firms for business undergrads and MBAs, but there’s a huge list of other factors that attract the brightest business minds in the world – like insane training and development programs, Fortune 100 client interaction, and dream-like exit opportunities.
Be prepared with this thought in your mind for preparation for the interview: Where would you – as a consulting candidate with specific skills, personality, and goals – fit in best?
The answer to this question will give you confidence and direction as you interview the company as well.
Also, wear clothes that fit your ambition. You'll feel more comfortable. Some interviews take place online initially, so be prepared with good lighting, good background, good sound. Make sure your angle is flattering and catches your smile and your eyes. Practice in front of a mirror!
Google https://managementconsulted.com/mckinsey-bain-bcg/
Dino Ubalde
Educator/Psychologist/Life Coach
158
Answers
Tracy, California
Updated
Dino’s Answer
Hello Johniyah, thank you for connecting with us. That's an excellent question! It takes me back to when I was in your shoes, preparing for my own interviews. As a psychology graduate, I can't stress enough how crucial it is to understand yourself during the interview process.
Being aware of your strengths and weaknesses is key, especially when faced with situational questions. Prepare yourself to showcase qualities like effective time management, resourcefulness, tenacity, thoroughness, teamwork, ability to work with minimal supervision, strong work ethics, adaptability, and a willingness to learn and be coached. These are some of the buzzwords that often come up in interviews.
In addition to your academic knowledge or your college program, other soft skills are also taken into account during job interviews. Your potential for leadership is also something that the interviewer will be assessing. These traits are vital for all job applicants to exhibit.
But remember, it's not just about you. Doing some research about the company you're applying to is equally important. Interviewers often want to see if you've taken the initiative to learn about their company's vision, mission, and even their community outreach programs.
Being punctual for your interview is a must. Aim to arrive at least 15-30 minutes early for your appointment. Dress appropriately - remember the saying, "dress for success".
Most importantly, be yourself during the interview. Speak honestly and sincerely. Good luck! The world is ready to embrace your talents.
Being aware of your strengths and weaknesses is key, especially when faced with situational questions. Prepare yourself to showcase qualities like effective time management, resourcefulness, tenacity, thoroughness, teamwork, ability to work with minimal supervision, strong work ethics, adaptability, and a willingness to learn and be coached. These are some of the buzzwords that often come up in interviews.
In addition to your academic knowledge or your college program, other soft skills are also taken into account during job interviews. Your potential for leadership is also something that the interviewer will be assessing. These traits are vital for all job applicants to exhibit.
But remember, it's not just about you. Doing some research about the company you're applying to is equally important. Interviewers often want to see if you've taken the initiative to learn about their company's vision, mission, and even their community outreach programs.
Being punctual for your interview is a must. Aim to arrive at least 15-30 minutes early for your appointment. Dress appropriately - remember the saying, "dress for success".
Most importantly, be yourself during the interview. Speak honestly and sincerely. Good luck! The world is ready to embrace your talents.
Janis Ransom
Resume Writer, Interview Coach and Career Strategy Consultant
23
Answers
Indianapolis, Indiana
Updated
Janis’s Answer
Make sure to thoroughly study the job description to spot the clear correlations between the job and your resume. Highlight any accomplishments that show not only your understanding of that part of the job, but also any recognition you received for your outstanding work.
Keyston Rice
Supervisor
180
Answers
Lawrence, IN
Updated
Keyston’s Answer
Although I didn't take the college route, I've learned that for those interviews, researching the firms thoroughly is essential. Practice the case questions to develop problem-solving skills. As an example, I would show how my experience as a supervisor in facility maintenance taught me teamwork and leadership, which aligns with their needs. As for resources, "Case in Point" and "Case Interview Secrets" could be helpful for you. Good luck!
Shashank Kalucha
M&A Operations Manager
4
Answers
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Updated
Shashank’s Answer
Johniyah,
A typical top tier management consulting interview judges you on the following parameters: Problem Solving, Communication skills, analytical skills
You need to show you're good with numbers. Practice "Guesstimates"
You need to show you're good at solving problems - practice consulting case studies. You'll find plenty when you search for them. A book I'd recommend is Ace the Case.
Communication Skills: Work with someone who is in the field. There is some business/consulting jargon you can inculcate in your vocabulary. Firms are looking for confident polished speakers as you will be working for clients which in most cases are the biggest companies in the world. These firms also charge really high billing rates so the consultants on the ground are not only smart, but also sound smart. You could have all the brains but if you can't communicate succinctly, that doesn't work. This may well be the single most important thing for your interview.
As mentioned in the other answers, be presentable. If I had to keep it short, the search is for Alpha personalities. That's what needs to come across on your Resume and in the interview.
A typical top tier management consulting interview judges you on the following parameters: Problem Solving, Communication skills, analytical skills
You need to show you're good with numbers. Practice "Guesstimates"
You need to show you're good at solving problems - practice consulting case studies. You'll find plenty when you search for them. A book I'd recommend is Ace the Case.
Communication Skills: Work with someone who is in the field. There is some business/consulting jargon you can inculcate in your vocabulary. Firms are looking for confident polished speakers as you will be working for clients which in most cases are the biggest companies in the world. These firms also charge really high billing rates so the consultants on the ground are not only smart, but also sound smart. You could have all the brains but if you can't communicate succinctly, that doesn't work. This may well be the single most important thing for your interview.
As mentioned in the other answers, be presentable. If I had to keep it short, the search is for Alpha personalities. That's what needs to come across on your Resume and in the interview.