3 Types of Questions That Are Always Included in Consulting Fit Interviews
So, you have a consulting fit interview soon? Well, you have clicked on the right article then.
Interviews can be a daunting experience, even for highly talented and motivated candidates. However, knowing the format of an interview and the type of questions asked can make things a heck of a lot easier.
In this article, we will discuss the three different types of questions that interviewers ask candidates during a consulting fit interview. At the end of the article, we will also share some foolproof tips to ace the interview.
Ready to roll? Let’s do it, then.
Here are the three types of questions you should prepare:
1. Walk Me Through Your Resume
Although this doesn’t look like a question because of the lack of a question mark at the end, your interviewer will almost certainly ask you to walk them through your resume at the beginning of a consulting fit interview.
How to nail this question?
Don't focus on qualifications and achievements that are not related to consulting. It’s understandable that one may want to mention how they volunteered during the university arts festival or talk about other extracurricular activities. But in a consulting fit interview, this could be a mistake. Remember, the firm that is interviewing you wants to know how you’re going to use your consulting skills to provide value to their clients.
It’s hard to be aware of consulting firm culture if you have never worked as a consultant. But, the interviewers are likely to be highly experienced, and they want you to quickly point out things in your resume that are relevant to consulting.
“But I was the captain of the football team at my university, can I mention that?” Well, you should be able to somehow relate it to consulting, for example, by saying, “I have led my college football team, and I’m experienced in mentoring and supervising a small team.”
2. Behavioral Questions
Of all the consulting fit interview questions, behavioral questions are probably the most important ones. In fact, some people use the terms consulting fit interview and consulting behavioral interview interchangeably.
As the name suggests, behavioral questions are designed to understand how a candidate ‘behaved’ in a particular situation. The interviewers may use this information to evaluate how you’re likely to behave in case a similar situation arises again and assess if you will be a good fit for their consulting firm culture or not.
Here are some examples of behavioral questions in a consulting fit interview:
- Describe a situation in which you disagreed with your manager
- Describe a challenging situation that you faced at work and tell us how you handled it?
- Tell us how you dealt with a difficult client in the past?
Although it’s better to prepare for these questions beforehand, giving rehearsed answers and being inauthentic might not be the best thing to do. The interviewers are smart and can tell if you’re being honest or not. So, act accordingly.
3. Motivation Questions
These consulting fit interview questions are designed to learn your motivation behind becoming a consultant. The interviewer would want to know why you chose the consulting industry, why you chose a particular category of consulting, for instance, strategy consulting or operations consulting, and why you chose to apply for a job at their firm.
Here are some examples of motivation questions in a consulting fit interview:
- Why did you choose to become a consultant?
- Why did you choose our company?
- What do you know about our company’s background?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a consultant?
Now, you may be wondering: “Why are interviewers so keen to learn about my motivation behind becoming a consultant?” Well, even though consulting is a rewarding job, it’s not for everyone. The hiring process itself is very lengthy and time-consuming. For this reason, companies do not hire unmotivated candidates—the ones who are not likely to be able to handle the responsibilities that come with a job in the consulting industry.
How to Ace Consulting Fit Interview Questions
Now that you know the different types of consulting fit interview questions, let’s discuss how to give your best during the interview.
Understand what they’re looking for:
The interviewer wants to make sure that you can work with people well, have the right motivation, and have a problem-solving mindset. Your answers should demonstrate these qualities.Do not give rehearsed answers:
As mentioned before, being fake during a consulting fit interview is a bad idea. It may be your first or second or third interview, but interviewers, especially in top-tier consulting firms, have years of experience interviewing dozens of candidates.Rehearse for the interview:
Yes, you should rehearse. There is a difference between giving rehearsed answers and preparing for the interview in front of a mirror. Rehearsing for the interview alone or with a coach is definitely a good idea. But remember not to give pre-planned answers. You should be more natural and relaxed during the actual interview.Ask questions:
Just because you’re the interviewee doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to ask questions. In fact, asking the right questions may impress your interviewer and give you a competitive edge. But make sure you don’t ask any personal questions or questions whose answer is obvious, for example, “When was this firm first established?” You should already know when the firm was established before you even apply for the job. You must also refrain from asking questions that are negative or the ones that may seem confrontational, for instance, “Another firm is offering me $10,000 extra, why should I join yours?”
In conclusion, consulting fit interviews are not difficult if you’re talented and truly passionate about becoming a successful consultant. However, you should at least know the format of the interview and the type of questions they usually ask. We wish you all the best for your next consulting fit interview. Go, rock it!
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