3. ACE THE INTERVIEW

If we've done our job correctly, then you've just landed an interview with the consulting company (or companies) of your dreams. Now it's easy, right? Well, think again. Because the consulting industry is one of the most competitive industries for recent college graduates, the interview is constructed specifically to separate the wimps from the killers. "Oh no! That means the business school kids are gonna walk away with all the jobs!" Calm down. Consulting firms hire English majors, religious studies majors, math majors and philosophy majors alike. They are typically not overly concerned with your knowledge of decision trees and CAP-M models (nonsensical business terms). First and foremost, they are concerned with your thinking ability.

The typical consulting interview has three to four parts. We'll take you through each part and discuss methods of acing them, but keep in mind that each interview will be a little different. So before you enter your interview, see if you can grab a friend who has already interviewed with the company and ask him/her what it was like.

  1. The first 5 minutes: This is what's known as the "getting-to-know-you" part of the interview, and it may be your only opportunity to casually mention that you won the Nobel Peace Prize last year. The interviewer (who will be a consultant or partner with the firm) will have your résumé in hand and may ask you a few softball questions about your job or education experience. Expect the interviewer to ask you about these areas, and have your terrific answers ready (like how your part-time job at The Gap taught you the benefits of teamwork and cost accounting). Your answers should sound casual, however, and not too forced. The interviewer will probably introduce him/herself as well, so be sure to stay awake at this point, and pay attention to his/her experiences, because these will be important later. It also kinda torpedoes your chances for landing a job if you forget his/her name halfway through.

  2. The next 5-10 minutes: The next part of a consulting interview often consists of a simple estimation question. It may or may not be immediately obvious whether or not the interviewer is asking you an estimation question, so if you're unsure at any point, casually ask, "Would you like me to work out actual numbers for this question or should I just approach the issue theoretically?" Brownie points. Lots of 'em. You've just shown your propensity for clarification. Assuming the person is looking for actual numbers, don't do this:

    Interviewer: "How many miniature golf pencils are in New Jersey?"

    You: "Oh, around 46,000."

    Don't call us, we'll call you. Reaching the number is important, but it is not the first part to tackling the question, even if you're 100% confident that you know the answer (don't worry, you won't). Rather, you should approach the question from a demand point of view (250 million people in the U.S., a certain percentage of whom are in New Jersey, a certain percentage of whom play mini-golf, which leads to a number of courses, etc.) or a supply point of view, which works from the reverse angle. Whichever side you start with, be sure to work your way down from the largest possible number to the most streamlined end point. Be sure to evaluate your answer to make sure it's realistic (you wouldn't want to announce that you thought there were 5 trillion pencils when you meant 5 million). And that's it. Simple and logical. Again, the interviewer won't care how close you are to the right answer . . . he/she is rather analyzing your thinking process, and what factors you'll consider when you make your calculations.

  3. The next 15 minutes: Assuming that you're still composed and not sweating or crying, then it's time for the case interview. This is the most complained-about part of the interview process, but it also gives a glimpse into what consulting is actually like. The question will typically be long, involved, and number-heavy, but you can ace it by following these tips:

    • Use a sheet of paper, jot down the story, and ask the interviewer to repeat anything that you miss.

    • When the interviewer is done telling the story and presenting the question, take a couple of seconds to review your notes and recap aloud the information that the interviewer told you, as well as the problem they want you to solve. "Just to clarify," you assure them. More brownie points, baby.

    • The most important thing to remember during the case is to be structured. So before you go down a path, make sure you know where you're going. There's nothing that spells disaster during a case interview more than just shouting out a series of ideas. Ask a lot of questions and ask follow-up questions. Write the useful answers down to construct a map for your solution.

    • If you get stuck, just reiterate what you have discovered so far and where you're going. It's a stalling technique, but it's very much accepted and can often help you get back on track.

    • Listen to what the interviewer tells you. If he/she says something is "not important," then throw it out (it's not going to be a trick question). Back up and try a different path. The key thing to remember is to just clear your head and think as if you were the manager facing the problem. What kind of information would you want to know and how will that information help you make a decision? Do this and you're well on your way toward success.

  4. The final 5 minutes: This is the part where the interviewer congratulates you on a job well done with the case (they are excellent liars, so it's gonna be difficult to tell if you've done well or wasted his/her time) and asks you if you have any questions before leaving. If you say no, that's the same as shooting yourself in the foot. Have questions, and make them interesting. Consider asking about the case you just answered; it's most likely based on a real project on which the interviewer worked, so ask what the consultants found out, what their recommendations were, and how it all turned out. You can also ask questions about the interviewer's experiences at the firm. He/she was in your shoes a few years ago and was just as concerned about the same things that you are now. No question is a stupid one, unless you ask it stupidly:

    Interviewer: "Do you have any questions for me?"
    You: "Yeah, so how much do you pull in during a year at this joint?"
     Be respectful and conversational and you'll make even the most seasoned interviewer proud.