May 11, 2009
Management consultant interviews: 10 critical preparation steps
Here, I’ll focus on 10 important steps to prepare for business consulting interviews. As an overall piece of advice, the best way to become a strong interviewer is to interview in live situations frequently – thus the reasoning behind spreading a very wide net and applying to many different consulting firms.
Case study prep
1. Buy Case In Point – a strong, 100% case-focused manual
2. Peruse Victor Cheng’s website www.caseinterview.com – as a former McKinsey consultant, Victor has a strong grasp of successful case study techniques and strategies
3. Practice case studies through the Internet – most consulting firm websites have plenty of real cases (some like Bain even have video simulations). The key step is to try answering the question yourself before reading the correct answer. There are several consulting websites with case study materials as well, one example is Rice’s Consulting Club
4. Practice a lot with friends – if no friends have interest, search consulting forums and other recruiting hubs like Vault for partners
5. Practice sizing questions as you’re walking (eg, if you see a BMW while driving, think about how many BMWs are manufactured in Europe). May seem silly to you, but this is how you become fast and flexible in your thinking
The most important thing: practicing case studies with current or former consultants. Never underestimate their willingness to help.
Fit/experiential interview prep
1. Create simulated interview questions and outline sample responses – avoid straight memorization, but outline your main points.
2. Practice responding in front of a mirror – this helps you with body language, pacing, hand gestures, and so on
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 get ahold of – the better you understand the day-to-day job, the more comfortable you are with consulting phrases like “deck” and “scope“, the better you’ll do. It’s also great for job hunting and networking
That wraps up our how-to article on preparing for management consultant interviews. Good luck!
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