Accenture Business Strengths Interview

Hi there,

The Accenture Business Strengths interview is typically a mix of light case-style discussion and strengths-based questions. In the first half, the client scenarios are usually high-level and conversational rather than full cases, focused on how you approach ambiguous problems, communicate with clients, and think commercially rather than doing deep analysis.

The second half is strengths-based and explores what energizes you, how you naturally work, and how you behave in real situations. Questions are often open-ended and experience-based, so it’s important to be honest, reflective, and consistent rather than trying to force “consulting-style” answers. Focus on clarity, structure, and authentic examples.

Best,
Evelina

hey there :)

the interview is typically quite relaxed and feels more like a discussion than a test. In the client scenario part, they mainly look at how you approach a problem, how clearly you explain your thinking and whether you keep the client perspective in mind. It is less about getting to a single correct solution and more about structured, logical reasoning. In the strengths section, they want to understand what drives you, how you naturally act in different situations and what kind of environment you perform best in, so being genuine and using real situations from your own experience is key. Overpreparing scripted answers can actually hurt here. Let me know if you want to go deeper on this.

best,
Alessa :)

That’s a great breakdown of the structure. Accenture often uses this specific format, particularly in the London office, to rapidly screen candidates for client readiness before handing them off to Partner-level interviews.

The first half, the client scenarios, is less about deep quantitative case solving and entirely about demonstrating sound business judgment and communication under pressure. Since this is often conducted by an HR manager or a generalist, they are not looking for a sophisticated DCF model. They are looking for structure. If the scenario is "A key client is seeing declining revenue in their European division," your response needs to immediately structure the problem (e.g., Is it a demand issue, a cost issue, or a supply issue?) and outline 3-4 logical, high-level next steps. They are checking if you can communicate in a MECE-lite structure. Spend 60 seconds organizing your thoughts before speaking.

The strength-based portion is highly specific and often aligned with a proprietary firm model. The goal is to identify your natural energy and motivation, not your learned skills. Recruiters are trained to spot when you are describing something you are good at versus something you are energized by. If you say your strength is "problem-solving," be prepared to explain why that activity intrinsically recharges you, linking it directly to consulting work. Focus your prep on mapping your core strengths (e.g., Connecting the dots, Resilience, Driving change) to 1-2 minute stories (STAR format) that vividly illustrate those traits in action.

Ultimately, your goal in this 60 minutes is to prove you have the foundational structure for the scenarios and the genuine passion/fit for the strength portion. Do not try to fake enthusiasm for a strength you think they want; they will see right through it.

All the best!

Hi there, 

I've coached multiple candidates into Accenture but the format you're describing differs from the typical. 

Do I understand correctly that the first half is meant to be a situational case? Or is rather a situation set of fit questions? 

How will they be assessing your natural strengths in the second half? Through a case? Live? Written? 

I recommend you reach out to the recruiter to clarify these because preparing for the wrong thing could be disastrous. Then feel free to repost the question and I'm happy to provide a perspective.

Best,

Cristian

You have got the format right. Two parts, 30 minutes each roughly.

For the client scenarios, expect practical situational questions. Things like "a client pushes back on your recommendation, what do you do" or "you discover a problem with the data midway through a project, how do you handle it." They are not looking for perfect answers. They want to see you think through messy situations calmly and show good judgment. Be structured in your response but keep it conversational. Talk through your reasoning out loud.

For the strengths half, this is not a trick. They genuinely want to understand what energizes you and where you naturally excel. Expect questions like "tell me about a time you felt really in your element" or "what kind of work do you find draining." Be honest here. Do not try to guess what they want to hear. Accenture uses this to see if you are a fit for consulting work and if your natural style matches the role.

A few tips. First, have a few good stories ready that show you solving problems, navigating tricky people situations, and staying calm under pressure. Second, be specific. Vague answers kill you in these interviews. Third, relax a bit. This is not a case interview. They are assessing you as a person as much as your skills.

You will be fine. Just be yourself and think out loud.