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.