How to prepare for management consulting interviews
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.
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 online case studies – most firm websites have plenty of cases (some like Bain even have video case studies). The key is to answer the question yourself before reading the suggested answer. There are good consulting websites with case study materials as well, including 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 most critical thing: practicing cases with current consultants. Don’t underestimate their ability 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 answering in front of a mirror – this helps familiarize you with body language, pacing, volume, and more
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. Dress in something that looks sharp and makes you feel good – first appearances are powerful. Dress like a business consultant, and you’ll look like you deserve to be there.
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!
