Business consulting interviews: 10 important steps to prepare
Here, I’ll focus on ten critical steps to prepare for management consulting interview rounds. As general advice, by far the best way to become a distinctive interviewer is to get live experience - thus the reason why you should spread a wide net in your search for different consulting firms.
Getting ready for case studies
1. Browse Case In Point - a very high-quality, 100% case-focused preparation guide
2. Browse Victor Cheng’s site www.caseinterview.com - Victor’s a former McKinsey consultant who provides great case tips and techniques
3. Practice case studies online - most company sites have plenty of real cases (some like Bain even have video run-throughs). The key is to answer the question yourself before reading the suggested answer. There are several consulting websites with case study materials as well, one example is Rice’s Consulting Club
4. Practice case studies with friends - if no friends have relevant experience, search Craigslist, consulting forums, and the like for practice buddies
5. Practice estimation questions in spare moments (eg, if you see a Chrysler while driving, think about how many Chryslers are manufactured in the U.S.). It seems silly, but this is how you become quick and agile in your thought process
The key here: practicing as many cases as you can with actual consultants. Don’t underestimate their capacity to help you
Experiential/behavioral interview prep
1. Create simulated interview questions and outline sample responses - avoid straight memorization, but outline your main points.
2. Practice answering in front of a mirror - this helps familiarize you with body language, hand gestures, tone, etc
3. Practice with friends and colleagues - ideally have them ask you unexpected questions. Becoming good at improvising is crucial to acing consulting interviews
General interview prep tips
1. Wear something that looks clean, sharp, and makes you feel confident - first appearances are deceptively powerful. Dress like a management consultant, and people will think you deserve an offer.
2. Talk to as many consultants as you can - the better you understand the actual job, the more comfortable you are with consulting terms like “5,000 mile view” and “good client hands“, the better you’ll do. It’s also great for consulting job networking
That wraps up our tour of the necessary steps to prepare for management consulting interviews. Good luck!