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So, you\u2019ve decided to pursue a management consulting career. You\u2019ve successfully created and submitted an impressive resume, and your favorite suit is pressed and ready to go. Now all you need to do is ace that interview. But how?\u00a0Consulting interviews are tough, and many aspiring consultants feel intimidated by the thought of interviewing at world-renowned consultancies, but if you prepare accordingly you\u2019re sure to come out on top.<\/p>\n
Here are some practical tips to help you prepare.<\/p>\n
Before you face the interviewer, you should do the following: <\/b><\/p>\nResearch the Company<\/h3>\n
Do your homework and find out everything you need to learn about your prospective firm. Familiarize yourself with all relevant information before you go to the interview. Know who their clients are and research them, find out what problems they handle as well as their preferred methodologies, and visit their website and follow their social accounts in order to connect with people who are associated with them. This information will give you some helpful insights which you can use during the interview.<\/p>\n
Yes, it\u2019s important to know how to answer questions during the interview. However, at some point you\u2019ll be asked if you have any concerns, which is your chance to ask insightful questions. Knowing how and what to ask will show your genuine interest in the job. You can ask about the interviewer\u2019s experience with the firm or what it\u2019s like to work as a consultant.<\/p>\n
Assess your skills and <\/b>reflect on how suitable you are for the job. Identify your weaknesses and focus on improving them in the weeks before the interview. You need to prove that you have the capability to perform the responsibilities of a consultant. Self-awareness is key to success; if you feel that you lack a few critical skills, work on honing them.<\/p>\nLearn the Consulting Frameworks<\/h3>\n
Memorize consulting frameworks. If you master the frameworks, you\u2019re likely to arrive at a pragmatic solution to any given problem. It\u2019s easy to get overwhelmed by the large amount of data presented; you may be confused about where and how to start. Understanding business frameworks can definitely guide you in generating sound recommendations. Make sure to take the time to master and apply different frameworks to various cases<\/p>\n
Top-tier consulting firms like McKinsey, BCG, Booz ,and Bain provide information for candidates on their websites about what they are looking for in an applicant. You can also take advantage of the review materials that they offer.<\/p>\n
You won\u2019t demonstrate to recruiters that you have what it takes to be a consultant if you don\u2019t stay on top of current events. Equip yourself with industry knowledge by reading news and magazine articles about the finance and politics sectors, both domestic and international. Also, and most importantly, keep yourself updated about the company that you\u2019re interviewing with.<\/p>\n
Build strong relationships with industry professionals. Networking is a powerful tool that can help you effectively prepare for the interview. The experts among your contacts can definitely guide you on how to break into this industry. Courteously ask for their advice. If lucky enough, you might even have the chance to make friends with someone who\u2019s worked there or is currently an employee in your target firm. Referral strategy has been proven to be a great way to land a job, so make an effort to grow your network of professionals. Join organizations and participate in LinkedIn and other networking sites.<\/p>\n
Consultants are expected to know how to make calculations and estimations; therefore you\u2019ll be presented with a great deal of numerical data in your case interview. Thus, it\u2019s imperative that you hone your mental math skills. Simulate the actual interview as you practice so you can gauge your speed and continue to improve.<\/p>\n
To be a good consultant, you must be excellent at interpreting charts, graphs, and tables. Regardless of how the data is presented, you should be able to come up with accurate recommendations. This is crucial to acing your interview with top-tier consulting firms. Devote ample time to reading graphical charts or data spreadsheets so you can improve your data analysis.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re still in school, you can look for consulting clubs and career service centers that offer case practice sessions. Take advantage of these events\u2014they will help you further prepare for the interview and may even provide some good review materials.<\/p>\n
The best way to prepare for a consulting interview at a top-tier firm is to conduct a mock interview. Yes, it\u2019s important that you study on your own first, but to test whether all your hard work is paying off, you need to conduct a mock interview with a qualified person. This is important to remember: Conduct mock interviews with people who have knowledge about the consulting industry. This will help you improve your ability to convey structured ideas as well as your ability to handle pressure. Take it seriously and simulate the interview conditions. Afterwards, ask for some valuable feedback that will help improve your performance.<\/p>\n
The key to being prepared for the interview is to start early. \u00a0The earlier you prepare, the more cases you\u2019ll be able to study. Take your time learning how to approach and solve different types of cases. Remember, procrastination is often the cause of one\u2019s failure.<\/p>\n
Indeed, you have to thoroughly prepare for your consulting interview. However, be careful not to over prepare. This requires some judgment on your part. Practicing is great but not to the extent that you\u2019ll sound \u00a0rehearsed. You don\u2019t want to demonstrate to your interviewer how good you are at memorizing a rehearsed speech. Top firms want to know how you think, so be careful not to make the script too obvious.<\/p>\n
Here are some tips to remember on the day of the interview:<\/p>\n
To give your confidence an extra boost, you should wear standard professional business attire to your consulting interview. Be neutral and try to keep your fashion as simple as possible. Avoid wearing flashy ties or accessories. Based on CareerBuilder.com\u2019s annual survey, 51% of hiring managers said that dressing inappropriately is the most common and damaging mistake a candidate can make during the interview. So in order to make a good first impression, you need to convey a polished and professional look.<\/p>\n
The <\/b>interview process in top-tier consulting firms is very intense. You need to remain poised. Don\u2019t let them upset you with abrupt or unfriendly behavior\u2014keep a positive and professional attitude and smile! Remember, you\u2019re not there to make friends; you\u2019re there to impress them and get the job. Besides, they might be testing your ability to deal with nasty clients and co-workers.<\/p>\nMake Eye Contact<\/h3>\n
Be confident and maintain eye contact. According to an infographic titled, \u201cWhat You Wish You\u2019d Known Before Your Job Interview,\u201d 67% of managers said that failure to make eye contact is a common nonverbal mistake applicants make during interviews. (The statistics were taken from a survey of 2,000 managers.)<\/p>\n
Many aspiring consultants fail to do this during the interview. Keep your focus so you won\u2019t miss important hints or questions that are dropped during the discussion. One common issue among interviewees is writing too much. Don\u2019t get too fixated on the details. Write down only a few words, not everything. Some words and phrases are there to confuse you. Remember, good consultants can easily spot the key facts. Listen and think carefully about the implications of the details presented.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t sound defensive. If your interviewer seems to challenge your recommendation, acknowledge that what he or she said may be a relevant viewpoint that you haven\u2019t considered. Good consultants know that there are many potential solutions to a single problem, so try to keep an open mind during your interview, and trust your instincts when presenting a persuasive proposal.<\/p>\n
After you\u2019ve been provided with information about the case, be sure to ask intelligent questions. It\u2019s best to start an engaging \u00a0dialogue. Consultants are expected to be engaging in team problem solving situations. Be inquisitive as curiosity is a persistent trait of successful consultants, and add some intelligent thoughts in order to generate hypothesis driven questions.<\/p>\n
Structure the problem using your own methodology. You can (and should!) use a consulting framework as a starting point, but no framework will fit your case problem to a tee. You may ask the interviewer for a minute to formulate your thoughts before you answer. As you think it through, try your best to systematically break the question down into digestible pieces. Make sure your structure is logical and each piece doesn\u2019t overlap the other. Although what you learned in class or from a book may guide you, try to incorporate your own method of showcasing your problem solving prowess, and try your best to sound original.<\/p>\n
Toward the end of the discussion, be prepared to take a final stand. Yes, you might have been provided with limited data and time to tackle the underlying issues, but never hesitate to make a call. Consulting firms want to know how you\u2019ll draw a sound recommendation based on the information you were given.<\/p>\n
Preparation is a fundamental requirement to success, particularly in a very competitive industry like management consulting.<\/p>\n
For more helpful insights on how to craft a winning job application, download our free guide to consulting career<\/a> and learn how you can outshine the competition!<\/p>\nReferences<\/h2>\n