Consulting Interview Process & Preparation | Practice Cases

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Consulting Interview Process & Tips

Our interview process for consulting positions varies by location. Typically, however, you can expect at least two rounds of interviews—each consisting of one or more interviews or assessments. These interviews are commonly divided into three parts:

Knowing more about you.

We want to learn more about your background and personal experiences to see how and where you might fit in as a consultant at BCG. We'd like to hear about your experience of leading and making an impact in any field.

Understanding how you solve problems.

Working with your interviewer, you’ll analyze a case study and develop solutions to the client challenge it poses. The case will typically be based on a real BCG consulting project, giving you insight into what it’s like to work here. Often, there are no right or wrong answers; instead, we’re evaluating your thinking process, strategic skills, and ability to make a strong case for your recommendations.

Answering your questions.

This is your chance to ask questions about working as a consultant at BCG, including your interviewer’s personal experiences. Come prepared. Our interviewers will evaluate your ability to listen and communicate effectively, and whether you present yourself positively and persuasively. We value intellectual curiosity and creative thinking. Sometimes, though, we just want to find out what it would be like to spend a week on the road with you—so it’s best to simply be yourself.

How to navigate interviewing at BCG

Interviewing at BCG

First Impressions

The Interviewers

The Interview Process

What surprised you about the interview process?

How should you prepare for the interview?

How should you prepare for the case interview?

Mistakes Happen

No need to prepare for the Q&A…right?

The day of the interview

What are you looking for in an interviewee?

How does the interview process reflect BCG itself?

What is the feedback process like between rounds?

When did you know BCG was the right place for you?

How does the decision making process work?

Where were you when you got the offer?

What are you doing now?

Case Interview Tips

Listen to the interviewer and ask questions.

Your interviewer will explain a client’s situation. Listen carefully and take time to align your thinking. Ask clarifying questions and communicate how you’re approaching the opportunity or challenge. Your interviewer may also provide you with additional data and hints along the way, so be prepared to take notes.

Don’t rush into the analysis without developing an understanding of the problem.

During the discussion, the interviewer will work with you to organize your thoughts and steer you toward a solution. Don’t be afraid to ask questions that check your understanding.

Structure the problem and develop a framework.

Take a moment to think about the case and carefully define the problem being posed. Establish a relevant framework and identify the kinds of analysis you may want to perform to reach a solution.

Focus on high-impact issues.

Concentrate on the issues that will create value for your client, but make sure you explain the reasons behind your choices.

Think before speaking.

Take some time to organize your ideas; don’t jump to conclusions too quickly.

Generate a hypothesis and explore options creatively.

Make suggestions on how to solve the key issues you have identified. The interviewer will look for the same things a BCG client would expect when working with us—game-changing innovation that can create significant and lasting value.

Don’t stick to an artificial framework.

Standard frameworks you have learned at school or in preparing for your interview may appear relevant, but they may not hold up after closer consideration.

Demonstrate business judgment.

Given that there is limited information available, the interviewer will ask you probing questions about your comments, hypotheses, or conclusions to test your capability to apply your business judgment.

Make quick and accurate calculations.

At some point, the interviewer will ask you to make some simple calculations. Rather than testing your computational skills, this is meant to see if you can use numbers to swiftly form opinions and guide decisions. Your calculations should be accurate and integrated into what you have discovered so far.

Synthesize your thoughts and draw conclusions from your analysis.

At the end of the interview, you should summarize the key hypotheses and options you have developed. Then, conclude with your recommended solution to the client’s problem.

Don’t panic if the answer is not apparent.

Often, there are no specific right or wrong answers in our interviews, and you are not expected to know everything about business. The objective of the interview is for us to learn about your approach to solving business problems, so remember to discuss your line of thought with the interviewer.

Don’t defend your solution at all costs.

It’s important to stand up for what you believe, but if your interviewer challenges you, consider his or her perspective carefully before responding or becoming defensive.

Be transparent about your thought process.

The interview should be a dialogue between you and the interviewer, so make sure you communicate your logic and underlying assumptions.

Don’t circulate cases or use advance knowledge.

We integrate fresh consulting cases—and new data—frequently, so don’t assume that a case that sounds familiar, perhaps one discussed by a past candidate, would be best solved by the same approach. Think independently and draw your own conclusions.

Engage with your interviewer and be yourself.

If you find the conversation lively and stimulating, you'll likely enjoy being a consultant at BCG.

Avoid memorizing the hundreds of cases available online for your interview⁠—you should focus on engaging your interviewer in a real conversation. The interview cases you’ll encounter are likely to go beyond the standard market entry questions, and focus on topics such as emerging technologies, which requires you to actively listen and adapt. This accurately reflects our work today: the nature of work we face at BCG is constantly evolving.” - Nathaniel Kok, Associate, Singapore

Practice Case Interviews

Experience the role of a BCG consultant and see how well your unique skills apply. Choose a challenge to work through online. How would you keep an airline’s profitability soaring? Or help to market and price a revolutionary new drug?

BCG Interactive Case Library

Immerse yourself in our interactive case library and take on the perspective of a BCG consultant.

Explore the Interactive Case Library

Guided Consulting Cases

To supplement our interactive case library, we’ve created the following guided practice cases to help you prepare for your interview. Read through each case individually and consider how you’d solve the challenge that’s posed before reading our suggestions. The sample discussions are for illustration only; it’s unlikely that you could cover all the issues in the allotted time.

Driving Revenue Growth

Your client is GenCo, a large, international, diversified company with a health care division that produces a wide variety of medical instruments and related services.

Start the Case

Crafting a Distribution Strategy

Your client is the sugar cereal division of Foods Inc., a U.S.-based distributor and manufacturer of packaged foods.