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 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 case studies with friends – if no friends have relevant experience, search Craigslist, consulting forums, and the like for practice buddies
5. Practice guesstimation/sizing questions in spare waking moments (eg, if you see a Ford while driving, think about how many Ford cars are manufactured in Mexico). It seems silly, but this is exactly how to become an expert at case studies
The most important thing: practicing case studies with current or former consultants. Never underestimate their willingness to help.
Experiential/behavioral interview prep
1. Create example fit interview questions and prepare example replies – avoid simple memorization, but outline your key talking points.
2. Practice responding in front of a mirror – this helps you with body language, pacing, hand gestures, and so on
3. Practice with colleagues – make them ask you questions with no prepared responses. Improvisational skills will serve you well in your business career
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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