Business consulting interviews: 10 important steps to prepare
Posted on May 5th, 2009
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. Read Case In Point – a thorough, 100% case study-focused resource
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 with friends – if no friends can be found, search sites like Craigslist, consulting forums, and the like for suitable partners
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 responding in front of a mirror – this helps you with body language, pacing, hand gestures, and so on
3. Practice with friends and family – have them ask you questions where you don’t have prepared responses. Improvisational interview skills will serve you well for 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!
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