BCG Round 2 Interview - Opinion how it went?

Question

This was my second interview with a Partner. The case started post a quick 2 min introduction. During the case I followed the structure but got stuck in few places.

Found the interviewer not very helpful, although this may be due to the fact that he was travelling and over the telephonic conversation had few disturbances (voice went blank etc.). I was explaning my thought process however whatever I said was shot down by the interviewer. I could not zero in the cause of the problem and interview ended post 30 mins with interviewer stating that he will get back to the HR.

Post interview anlaysis, I have a feeling that he was making it stressful on purpose unlike the round 1. Moreover, being over the call didn't help me as I could not read his body language.

Any thoughts from the experts would be helpful especially if a stress interview is usual (why would the Partner take a stress interview over a call). Is there any silver lining for me or I should accept a ding (partially I have accepted the ding)?

Answer 1

Hello,

It's not uncommon to have a stress interview made by a partner during the second round. The only way to inderstand how it went is to focus on your performance:

Were you able to solve the case?
Whenever the interviewer shot you down, did he add something to the solution? Did he "help" you in the case resolution or he was only trying to challenge your solution without any impact on the solution process?
Did he let you to ask some questions after the case resolution? In that phase it's common to see the interviewer calming down and making you to undertand that he was playing a role during the case resolution.

Anyway, feel free to contact HR for an informal feedback within few days, they are there to help and can give you some hints.

I wish you the best of luck,
Luca

Answer 2

Hi,

elements described are not a clear signal of success or failure of the interview and the only thing at this point is waiting for the HR response: about it, I recommend to contact them without worrying about bothering them, they are there to help.

Pressure interview is a standard in second round, it often happens to handle one of it, but it is only a role play. The important aspect is to keep the confidence in your recommendations without getting defensive.

Hope it helps,

Antonello

Answer 3

Hello!

First of all, I would not even trust too much your impressions, since your own stress can distort very much reality! Could be that you felt yourself hesitant and not very agile but was the opporsite (of, unfortunately, vice-versa)

None of the things you describe seem very determinant to see how it went. As you said, he could be doing bad cop.

I would focus more on if you solved the case or if you made clear mistakes in the math to get an impression "as real as possible".

Good luck!

Cheers,

Clara