Preparing for consulting interviews can be challenging and exhausting. You need to master both case and behavioral questions, while also managing your time and energy. How do you balance these aspects and optimize your performance? Here are some tips to help you out.
The first step is to plan your schedule ahead of time and allocate enough time for each type of interview. Depending on your target firms and roles, you may face different formats and durations of case and behavioral interviews. Research the expectations and requirements of each firm and role, and create a realistic timeline for your preparation. Ideally, you should start preparing at least a few weeks before your interviews, and practice regularly and consistently.
The second step is to focus on quality over quantity when it comes to your practice sessions. It is not enough to just do a lot of cases and behavioral questions, you also need to do them well and learn from them. Seek feedback from peers, mentors, coaches, or online platforms, and identify your strengths and weaknesses . Work on improving your skills, such as problem-solving, communication, creativity, and leadership, and avoid repeating the same mistakes. Use a variety of sources and scenarios to expose yourself to different types of cases and behavioral questions.
Regarding research - If the target firm specializes in a specific industry, it helps to analyze the Financials/ 10K/ Investor briefing transcripts, etc. of some of the leading companies in the sector to understand the industry in general, the risks/ challenges, etc. faced by the industry. Knowing the industry (and some of the practical issues faced by the industry) certainly helps in discussions. In general, this approach also gives the candidate a good perspective of different industries - a definite plus during case discussions.
The third step is to balance your energy and avoid burnout. Preparing for consulting interviews can be stressful and demanding, so you need to take care of yourself and maintain your motivation and confidence. Find ways to relax and recharge, such as exercising, meditating, or spending time with friends and family. Avoid cramming or overdoing your practice sessions, and give yourself some breaks and rewards. Remember why you want to pursue consulting and what value you can bring to the firms and clients.
It helps to reframe every interview from "this is the one moment for which I worked so hard my entire life" to "every interview is part of a learning journey. If I am not ready today, I will be tomorrow".
The new consultants (even the experienced ones who are looking to switch between firms), should view consulting interview preparation as a marathon and not as a sprint. It is an exercise to sharpen consulting skills for a longer haul. Consistency is the key here. Spend some time periodically revisiting the consulting frameworks, problem solving techniques etc. Last minute crammings only add to stress.
It helps to reframe every interview from "this is the one moment for which I worked so hard my entire life" to "every interview is part of a learning journey. If I am not ready today, I will be tomorrow".
The fourth step is to adapt to the situation and be flexible. Consulting interviews are dynamic and unpredictable, so you need to be prepared for any changes or surprises. For example, you may face unexpected questions, data, or feedback, or you may have to switch between case and behavioral interviews in the same session. You need to be able to think on your feet, adjust your approach, and show your resilience and professionalism. Practice different scenarios and situations, and be ready to handle any challenges.
The better you know who you are and why you want work for a particular company, the better you can deal with surprises and distractions. One way to prepare is to use the "You" canvas that addresses exactly these questions in your preparation phase.
The fifth step is to showcase your personality and fit. Consulting interviews are not only about your skills and knowledge, but also about your personality and fit with the firm and the team. You need to show that you are passionate, curious, collaborative, and respectful, and that you share the firm's values and vision. You also need to show that you are interested in the firm and the role, and that you have done your homework. Research the firm's culture, history, projects, and clients, and ask relevant and insightful questions.
Just be yourself in these interviews - if you are yourself and they recruit you, you will enjoy the job and be successful If you are not, you may get the job but will very likely not enjoy the journey And if you are yourself and do not get the job, you will surely be disappointed short term but will have a better and more enjoyable career later…
In behavioral interviews, it’s as much about interviewing the company as it is about landing a job offer. The interview should be a two-way dialogue of exploration and confirmation of alignment.
The sixth step is to learn from your experience and improve . Consulting interviews are a learning opportunity, not a pass or fail test. Whether you get an offer or not, you can always benefit from the feedback and insights you gain from the process. Reflect on your performance, identify what went well and what could be better, and apply your learnings to your future interviews or career goals. You can also network with the interviewers, recruiters, or other candidates, and build relationships that can help you in the long run.
Often in interviews, candidates focus on specific instances of experiences to showcase a specific skill or capability. It is important to find a way to tell the holistic story of your journey and how and why you made the decisions that you made - it takes practice and intentional thought on how to get this across without being directly asked for this. Slices of experiences are never as powerful as holistic view of your personality and way of thinking.