Does BCG conduct HR interviews before first round?

Hi there,

Few offices are doing it, most are not.

However, you need to prepare for fit interviews in any case as they will be part of the assessment later done by consultants.

I would read a proper guide on fit interviews (e.g., my book where I cover this topic extensively), prepare your answers, then practice fit interviews with peers based on the criteria and types of questions (general and difficult ones).

You want to practice with challenging mock interviewers that monitor your delivery, content, and structure.

All the best,

Florian

Hi there,

I think this is an interesting question that may be relevant for many people. I would be happy to share my thoughts on it:

• It depends on the region, country, office, and role you are applying for. I have heard of shorter, 30-minute HR interviews, especially for senior hires.
• When it comes to preparing for any interview, I would highly advise you to prepare and practice both your general and behavioral personal fit questions.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to address your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hi,

In Asia this does not happen for campus hiring, but may happen for experienced hires, and typically for more senior roles. Most often the calls (if done by recruiting) are used to

• Gauge your motivation
• Validate your expertise/aspects of your CV
• Discuss your concerns

All the best!

Hello A,

It depends on the specific office and region, but in general, BCG does not typically conduct HR interviews before the first round. Instead, they tend to use a resume screening process (and in some cases the online chatbot case) to select candidates to invite for first-round interviews, which are usually conducted by BCG consultants. 

However, some offices or regions may have slightly different interview processes, so it's always a good idea to research the specific office you're applying to and try to understand their interview process.

Best of luck with everything!

Hi there,

Sometimes they do sometimes they don't.

You need to be ready with your 3 Whys (why me, why consulting, why the role). You also need to be prepared to ask questions if they give you the chance. Remember, they're basically screening to make sure you're consultant material and can speak/communicate clearly and have the background required for the role.

Here's a bit of reading to help with your 3 Whys: https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/tell-me-about-yourself-interview-question

Hey,

This could depend per geography. From my experience interviewing with BCG Middle East, they do not conduct specific HR interviews. 

However, they do 1-1 coffee chats to answer specific questions that you may have about the firm, and they could note down insights about your candidacy in their system.

Best,

Rushabh

Hi there,

HR screening interviews are nothing uncommon at all, and they usually happen, when recruiters are not sure…

1. whether your CV meets what the firm is looking for; and/or 
2. how to calibrate your experience with the roles available; and/or
3. whether your motivation to move into consulting is genuine 

Note that regional nuances apply and such interviews are become more common the more senior the role you apply to (as a rule of thumb).

In terms of prep, typically just standard HR questions where they understand parts of your CV / application in further detail to answer above questions.

Feel free to reach out, if you'd like to learn more on how to best prepare for that.

Regards, Andi