Tips for successful answers
- Be succinct and coherent, and pause before answering, rather than launching into a rambling and incoherent response.
- Prepare responses of no more than two minutes to common questions.
- Structure your answers so that they are easy to follow.
- Use your personal experiences and examples.
Qualities of a Good Consultant
- Demonstrable Depth of Experience. A good consultant's depth of experience should be evident from the first conversation they have with a prospective client.
- Client-first Mindset.
- Analytical Problem Solver.
- Reliable in Word and Deed.
- Professional.
- Excellent Listener.
- Lifelong Learner.
- Driven.
Below you will find a list of core questions we recommend asking a consultant before engaging to ensure they are the right fit.
- How long have you been in business?
- How many clients will you manage at any given time?
- What is your process?
- What results can I expect?
- Who is on your team?
10 Questions to Ask a Consultant or Business Advisor Before
- Are you collaborative?
- Do you have knowledge of our industry?
- Can you tell me about your process for going about work?
- What do you think is the biggest change that has happened in (consultant's sphere of knowledge) the last year?
The 25 Best Weaknesses for a Consulting Interview
- Focusing too much on details and not enough on the big picture.
- Difficulty presenting effectively in front of large groups.
- Trouble working effectively with people that have different working styles.
In a nutshell, consultants provide expert opinions, analysis, and recommendations to organizations or individuals, based on their own expertise. They're essentially fixers, serving as objective troubleshooters, and providing strategies to prevent problems and improve performance.
Consulting Interview Questions – Overview
- What are consulting interviews?
- Types of questions in consulting interviews.
- What interviewers look for in consulting interviews.
- #1 – Good morning, how are you doing?
- #2 – What do you think about the office?
- #3 – Tell me about yourself/Walk me through your resume.
How to answer 'where do you see yourself in five years?'in an interview
- Get clear about your career goals. Take some time to brainstorm what your career goals are for the next five years.
- Find connections between your goals and the job description.
- Ask yourself if the company can prepare you for your career goals.
A consultant brings a lot of business expertise, understands the environment of the company/market, and suggests solutions that help your company achieve its objective.
You can do the work and deliver exceptional results. You will fit in beautifully and be a great addition to the team. You possess a combination of skills and experience that make you stand out from the crowd. Hiring you will make him look smart and make his life easier.
Strategy consultants are hired by clients to support them with strategic decision making, which includes the development of strategy and, to an extent, also the execution of strategic plans. In the case of HR, consultants can contribute to human capital strategies, including talent management business cases.
The best way to answer consulting behavioral interview questions is to tell stories. Stories are great because they stick in your interviewer's mind even after a day of meeting a dozen candidates. That gives you a leg up when decisions are being made.
Pre-consulting job preparations (4 months till BCG)
- Daily Reading. The Economist, The Financial Times, BCG/Mskinsey Insights.
- Industry deep-dives. Learn, in-depth, how the industries/companies your office advises, work. (
- Analytics tools.
- Excel.
- Powerpoint.
- Presentation skills / sharp communication.
The Top 10 Consulting Firms in North America, based on Vault's annual survey, are:
- McKinsey & Company.
- Boston Consulting Group.
- Bain & Company.
- Deloitte Consulting LLP.
- Oliver Wyman.
- Booz Allen Hamilton.
- EY-Parthenon.
- PwC Advisory Services.
Include the dates of your project or consulting experience as you would any other job. If you are including your entire consulting career, simply write something like, "May 2002 - Present." Describe your duties underneath where you list your title (see step 2) using bullet points or paragraph form.
Let's begin with a brief overview of what consultants do: Consultants work with client companies to solve specific business challenges. Consulting projects are often done in teams and can focus on a variety of areas, including strategy and technology implementations.
Some examples of strengths you might mention include:
- Enthusiasm.
- Trustworthiness.
- Creativity.
- Discipline.
- Patience.
- Respectfulness.
- Determination.
- Dedication.
How to Answer Case Interview Questions
- Listen carefully.
- Ask clarifying questions.
- Outline your approach.
- Think out loud (but take your time).
- Stay focused.
- Pay attention to feedback.
- Show off your quantitative skills.
- Wrap up and summarize.
Sample answer for fresh graduates:I've worked hard in my education and now I'm ready to apply my knowledge into practice. While I don't have any real-life work experience, I've had a lot of exposure to the business environment. A lot of my courses involved working with real companies to solve real problems.
- Stick to The Context. The essential thing to understand before introduce yourself is the context of the situation you are in.
- Talk about who you are and what you do.
- Make it relevant.
- Talk about your contribution.
- Go beyond what your title is.
- Dress the part.
- Prepare what you are going to say.
- Body language.
In terms of educational qualifications, a bachelor's degree is the minimum requirement for most employers in the consulting sector. You should try to pursue a major in the subject of your choice – marketing, finance, human resource development, etc.
A Simple Formula for Answering “Tell Me About Yourselfâ€
- Present: Talk a little bit about what your current role is, the scope of it, and perhaps a big recent accomplishment.
- Past: Tell the interviewer how you got there and/or mention previous experience that's relevant to the job and company you're applying for.
Positive words to describe yourself in any situation.
Words to Describe Yourself in an Interview.
| Resourceful | Focused | Reliable |
|---|
| Insightful | Disciplined | Organized |
| Results-oriented | Energetic | Ambitious |
| Engaged | Creative | Persuasive |
| Diligent | Thorough | Analytical |
In 5 years I see myself still in a consulting firm but with a lot of experience. I will be a senior manager after working very hard for 5 years. I will able to make decisions, manage a team, conduct a team project, and sign contracts. In five years I see myself in mentally and physically stable position.
