Making the cut - getting a consulting interview

What are they assessing?

Consultants solve complex problems, and a demonstrated high level of academic capability is important. That doesn't mean you need to be top of your class, but any consulting firm needs to be confident that you will be able to cope with the complex analysis that is often required.

We often have candidates approach us who are concerned that their grades may not be good enough to get through the consulting screening process. However, the academic bar for consulting is not as high as you might think, and most candidates can be presented in a sufficiently positive light that this need not be a barrier to a consulting interview (why not check out our range of application support services if you would like some help with presenting your own academic background).

What are they assessing?

Consulting can be a tough job, often involving long hours, travel away from home, demanding clients and stressful deadlines. Consulting firms therefore look for candidates with a high level of drive who will have the requisite resilience when times get tough. 

Expect them to pay careful attention to your extra-curricular activities, as a strong track record of accomplishment is a good indicator of drive. Make sure you therefore get involve in some activities outside of your studies, and look for opportunities to get involved in a leadership capacity. With the number of clubs and societies on offer, you’re sure to find something where you can make an impact.

What are they assessing?

To be a good consultant, it isn't enough to be clever, you also need the commercial smarts to make the right judgement calls that reflect the commercial realities your clients operate within.

Business acumen is an important focus of the case interviews, but consulting firms will also be looking for evidence of an interest in business at the application stage.

Evidence for business acumen can be found in a number of areas. Certain degrees like business studies, economics or finance are inherently more relevant. There are however plenty of ways to demonstrate an interest in business, including universities societies, your personal interests, and any work or entrepreneurial experience you have undertaken in the past.

What are they assessing?

Consulting is a team-based career, where the contribution of everyone in the team, from the lead partner to the most junior associate, is valued and plays an important role in the successful delivery of the case. To be a successful consultant, you therefore need to be comfortable operating in a team environment. It doesn’t mean you have to be an extrovert (most statistics I have seen suggest that consulting firms are roughly 50/50 between extroverts and introverts), but you do need to be able to get on with other people and function effectively within a team environment.

Some consulting firms include group-based exercises as part of their evaluation process (normally in a final assessment centre round), but even where the interview stage does not involve group exercises, they will still be looking for evidence of teamwork on your CV.

What are they assessing?

Consulting is pretty well paid, but it’s not the kind of job you can really do just for the money. The demands and level of intensity involved in the work means you have to have a more innate inner motivation to get you through the challenging times you will undoubtedly face during your time as a consultant.

Consulting firms will therefore look for evidence that you have a genuine interest in the field as part of their screening. At the very least, you should turn up to their events on campus to demonstrate interest. Also highlight any ways you have tried to gain exposure to the industry. Most universities have business case competitions or other events that give you real experience of working on the kinds of cases consulting firms deal with.

What are they assessing?

The work consultants do is often highly technical, requiring advanced analytical techniques and involving complex recommendations. To ensure that client teams are able to apply the recommendations in their business, it is critical that the work is presented clearly and logically. Consulting firms therefore invest a lot of time and effort into developing presentations to explain their recommendations, and pride themselves on the structure and logic flow of their material.

To be a successful consultant, you therefore need to be a good communicator, both in written form, and also when delivering verbal presentations of your work. Communication skills are assessed during the interview rounds, but even during the application screening stage, the consulting firms will be looking for indicators of your capability in this area.

Make sure your cover letter and CV are laid professionally, that lines align where they should, the spacing and formatting look clear, and the documents are free of spelling and grammar mistakes (if you need a second opinion on your application documents, or help drafting them to a professional standard, consider our application services for consulting candidates).

So you know what the consulting firms are looking for, what now? For each of the criteria, I suggest you write down 2-3 points that illustrate how you meet the criteria. If you’re weak in some of the areas (and don’t worry, the perfect candidate is very rare!), then think of one or two actions you can take to improve how you score in that area (maybe it’s time to finally get round to doing that volunteering trip you’d been putting off).

If you have a CV already, review it and check that the points you wrote down against each criteria are explained clearly in the CV. Then pick those areas you are strongest in and make sure they feature prominently in your cover letter.

It’s also a good idea to get your CV and cover letter reviewed by someone with a professional background who can give you an honest assessment, and identify any mistakes you may have missed. If you need more help, check out the consulting application services we provide for aspiring consulting candidates. Also, if you found this article helpful, consider signing up to our newsletter for further hints and tips delivered weekly to your inbox.