Interviews at consulting firms are often broken down into 3 segments:
- Fit Interview (~10 mins)
- Case Interview (~30 mins)
- Questions and Answers (~5 mins)
While the vast majority of content out there focuses on the case interview, it is worth pointing out that the fit interview should not be overlooked. Anecdotally, some candidates with poor fit interview responses have been dinged even before the case interview begins!
In this 4-article series, you will have the opportunity to learn about the following key topics pertaining to the fit interview:
- Strategy and Approach
- Motivation Questions
- Effective Storytelling
- Finessing Negative Stories
This article focuses on the first of these: the broad strategy and approach towards fit interviews.
Be Likeable: Pass the Airport Test
Unsurprisingly, interviewers are keen on accepting candidates who are likeable. This element of fit interviews is frequently analogized as an “Airport Test”: how would your interviewer feel about being stuck with you at an airport for a couple of hours? Would they relish the opportunity to get some 1-on-1 bonding time with an intriguing and intellectual individual, or would they dread every second of it?
While it is nearly impossible to break down how to be likeable, here is a simple DO and DON’T to avoid pissing your interviewer off:
- DO radiate enthusiasm. Excitement is often palpable. If you’re truly engaged in sharing a past experience of leading a team to a huge success, go ahead and speak passionately about it and let your eyes sparkle. The interviewer will sense your positive vibes, which contributes to your charisma.
- DON’T be an arrogant know-it-all. You might have some great consulting or leadership experience, but you are the interviewee after all. Instead of cutting your interviewer off or boasting at every turn, maintain a positive attitude and remain openly humble.
Be Authentic: Show your Genuine Self
No one likes to be lied to. I’ve heard countless anecdotes of applicants being rejected after being caught in a bald-faced lie. Bring your genuine self to the interview and trust that you will be valued for who you are. Of course, this really begins with your resume. Cast away that often familiar urge to exaggerate and lie! Everyone wants to put their best foot forward and present themselves in the best possible light, but you should definitely do so while staying true to your actual experience.
Again, here is a simple DO and DON’T:
- DO be candid and genuine. Whether you’re sharing your motivations or relating a personal story, try to be real instead of painting a rosy, flawless picture. Being open with the interviewers gives them an inside look into your thought processes and considerations. For instance, if you discovered the importance of a collaborative workplace because of negative experiences at a past internship, feel free to share your perspective in a respectful manner.
- DON’T make up leadership positions, internship experiences, skills, or interests. Interviewers are typically pretty sharp and will be keen to find out more about your unique characteristics. This might leave your lies open to be exposed. An ex-BCG Principal once shared a fit interview horror story of a candidate who proclaimed to be an avid professional photographer but didn’t know the first thing about different camera lenses — don’t be that guy!
Be Clear: Communicate without Confusion
Clarity of communication is the bread and butter of consulting. If you can’t communicate your thoughts and personal stories to one interviewer, how can you be trusted to convey complex recommendations to C-Suite Executives at Fortune 500 companies?
Clear communication begins from the preparation phase. Candidates who take the time to mull over the common fit questions are likely to have clear storylines charted out and content points ready to be shared — preparation leads naturally into clarity.
- DO take your time to speak confidently. Speaking at a comfortable pace with appropriate prosody for emphasis can help you to convey your message. Not only does this help you appear calmer and more collected, but it also gives you more time to think about what to say next.
- DON’T confuse yourself and muddle your message. If you (as the speaker) are confused, the interviewer (as the listener) will almost certainly become lost! Unclear communication can come in many forms. For example, when your response fails to correspond to your sign-posts. You begin by saying you will cover X, Y, and Z, but end up discussing Y first, followed by Z, then X. Or, you say you enjoy an autonomous work environment but go on to share a story where you floundered in this type of environment.
With these general rules of thumb in mind, in the next article we will deep-dive into the demands of motivation questions and offer a roadmap to navigate them.
Lucas Foo is a Philosophy and Linguistics Undergraduate at the University of Oxford. He enjoys drawing insights from ambiguity to create real and positive impact.
Image: Pexels
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