So maybe you’ve gotten to the second round, maybe you’re still waiting to hear back, or maybe you’re hoping to interview again in the next recruitment cycle. Regardless of whichever bucket you fall into, it always helps to see things from the interviewers’ perspective.
Here are the top three things they’re looking for:
1. Intellectual Capability
Some firms, like the MBB (McKinsey, BCG and Bain) will go as far as requesting your GPA, test scores and the names of your undergraduate institutions. Most, though, will test your capabilities through the case interview.
But what exactly are they testing for?
First, it’s your ability to quickly digest the problem. Are you able to synthesize the information the interviewer gave you, probably on an industry you’re unfamiliar with, and understand the case you need to crack?
Second, it’s whether you’re able to develop a plausible hypothesis and insights given marginal information. Based on the bit of information presented to you, can you logically connect the dots and recommend a sensible solution as you work through the case? The point of this is to gauge your business sense, and your ability to tackle real world solutions that consultants deal with.
Third, are you able to think clearly and analytically? They want to see if you can structure your thoughts, and articulate how you’d approach a solution. This is why you want to bucket the areas you’d like to explore and think in a MECE (mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive) way.
Fourth, and perhaps the easiest way in which points might get docked, can you do mental math – accurately and fast? While none of the math will be Ph.D-level hard, doing math and talking through it in front of an interviewer can be nerve-wracking, to say the least. So make sure to practice your fast math, your quick arithmetic, and percentages. Don’t forget to memorize some key formulas (like breakeven and ROI), and learn to become familiar with complex graphs and charts.
Finally, a part of your intellectual capability is your ability to learn and be coachable. As your interviewer provides hints and new information, they’re testing to see if you process that new information and grow from it. Similarly, if you happen to go down the wrong path and the interviewer course corrects you, they want to see that you’re able to adjust based on their feedback.
2. Presentation Skills
The behavioural and case interviews are one way to assess your presentation and communication skills, and your ability to think on your feet – a skill that’ll come in handy when you’re presenting in front of clients. And while an interview is not quite the same as a client meeting, it has a similar sort of pressure.
This is why structuring your case, talking through your math, wrapping up with three concluding points, and using the STAR method for your behavioral stories are so important. It shows that you’re able to think and speak clearly without hesitation.
Speaking of hesitation, make sure you project confidence. I’ve given over two dozen mock interviews in the last month, and you can tell when someone isn’t sure. Try not to say “I think.” Don’t hesitate mid-sentence. Remember, the interviewer’s judging you every second, and they may have already decided whether you’re moving onto the next round or getting an offer in the first two minutes. So don’t give them anything that would make them doubt your ability to be a consultant.
Pro tip: practice and record your behavioural stories on your phone! It might feel awkward and cringey, but it’ll most definitely help you get better! Just think – an hour or two of cringey-ness is totally worth getting a second round or an offer.
3. Cultural Fit
Though most consulting firms seem the same on the surface, they all have their own organisational structure, culture and quirks. It’s best to try to understand as much as you can about the firm and what they’re like before going into an interview. So make sure you’re prepared to talk about how you fit in. This point is as much about your interest and capacity to get to know the firm beforehand as it’s about you asking additional questions about the firm during the interview. Try not to ask generic questions. Try to get to know the firm and the teams ahead of the interview. And don’t forget to be personable. Remember, the firms are putting you through the airport test. Would they want to be stuck in an airport with you for a couple of hours or more to and from an engagement?
In a similar vein, your interviewers are also judging to see if you can handle the gruelling life of a consultant. Do you have the leadership and motivation necessary to succeed? This is where your behavioural stories, your resume walk-through, and anecdotes about past experience will come in handy.
Conclusion
Maybe you have 85% of all of these skills, or maybe you’re 95% of the way there on two and 80% on a third. Regardless, everyone has something to improve, so keep practicing. It’s helpful to continue to do some math problems on your own, case practice with friends and strangers alike, and talk through your behavioural stories on your morning commute.
Remember, it’s the whole picture that counts. So keep at it, and best of luck!
Min Kim is currently an MBA student at NYU Stern School of Business where she is specializing in Product Management, Business Analytics and Finance
Image: Pexels
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