Vacations To Cabo San Lucas

I’ll focus on the 10 crucial steps to prepare for business consulting interviews. As overall advice, by far the best way to become a top interviewer is to get live interview experience - precisely the reason why you should spread a broad net in your search for the right consulting firms to apply to.

Case study prep

1. Read Case In Point - a thorough, 100% case study-focused resource

2. Review Victor Cheng’s www.caseinterview.com - as an ex-McKinsey consultant, Victor has a strong grasp of successful case study strategies and tactics

3. Practice case studies through the Internet - most consulting firm websites have plenty of real cases (some like Bain even have video simulations). The key step is to try answering the question yourself before reading the correct answer. There are several consulting websites with case study materials as well, one example is Rice’s Consulting Club

4. Practice case studies with friends - if no friends have relevant experience, search Craigslist, consulting forums, and the like for practice buddies

5. Practice guesstimation/sizing questions in spare waking moments (eg, if you see a Ford while driving, think about how many Ford cars are manufactured in Mexico). It seems silly, but this is exactly how to become an expert at case studies

The most critical thing: practicing cases with current consultants. Don’t underestimate their ability to help.

Experiential/behavioral interview prep

1. Create simulated interview questions and outline sample responses - avoid straight memorization, but outline your main points.

2. Practice answering in front of a mirror - this helps familiarize you with body language, hand gestures, tone, etc

3. Practice with friends and colleagues - ideally have them ask you unexpected questions. Becoming good at improvising is crucial to acing consulting interviews

General interview preparation advice

1. Wear something that looks sharp and makes you feel confident - first appearances are incredibly powerful. Dress like a consultant to convey the right message.

2. Talk to current and former consultants - the better you understand the job and lifestyle, the more comfortable you are with consulting lingo like “on the beach” and “5,000 mile view“, the better you’ll do. It’s also great for recruiting and networking

That wraps up our tour of how to prepare for business consulting interviews. Good luck!