A candid guide to nailing your consulting interview!

Much like most 20-something-year-olds, I was contemplating what I wanted to do after graduating. After several candid conversations with friends and kind strangers on LinkedIn, I decided to pursue Consulting. Making your way into the competitive space is tough enough but imagine doing it in the middle of the pandemic! As a recent interviewee, here are my two cents on coming out victorious at the end of the consulting interview process:

1. It’s never too late except in this case(!) it might be – start your case prep now: As an aspiring consultant, you must be familiar with guesstimates & case studies, and their importance in cracking that role you’ve had your eyes on. These interviews are your chance to flaunt your problem - solving mindset and show the interviewer how you would be an asset on their team when solving complex problems for F-500 clients. Pro tip: Don’t wait for interview calls, start prepping now & don’t forget to be creative!
2. Don’t leave any stone unturned – online or offline: When you land an interview, make sure to thoroughly understand the 5Ws (& how) of the firm! Use their online presence and employee network to your advantage and arm yourself with all that knowledge. Pro Tip: Read their published intelligence to gain targeted insight into the kind of work they do!
3. Your interviewer has studied your CV, time for you to reciprocate: In most cases, you'll know who your interviewer is, beforehand. Read up about their background & what they do at the firm and use this information to establish a personal connection with them during the interview. Pro tip: Your interviewer’s past projects, research & expertise are great tools and conversation drivers – guaranteed to set you apart!
4. Curiosity creates opportunity – ask questions: You’ll always get a chance to ask questions; use your knowledge on the firm and the interviewer to understand more about them (firm culture, the work, their mission etc.). Pro Tip: Avoid asking questions for which you could have found answers online – Your questions reflect your interest in the firm, your mindset and professional attitude!
5. Strong communication is key (to your interviewer’s scoresheet): Consultants are the brand ambassadors of the firm they work for. Confident, structured & engaging conversations not only help in retaining your interviewer’s attention but also reveal your client-readiness.?Pro Tip: Focus on structure & process flow – from your introduction to your analysis!

And of course, remember that one interview lost is not the end of the road. Don’t give up - consistency & self-belief go a long way. Good luck & see you on the other side!

To learn more about the work and team at Kepler Cannon, head over to our?website .