FIT Framework

Hi there,

Good question. The short answer is that there isn't one structure for everything. Fit questions tend to fall into 3 types, and each one works best with a slightly different approach.

1. "Tell me about yourself"
Walk through your background in order, keeping only the highlights, and finish with why you're here today. Keep it to about 90 seconds.

2. "Why consulting / why this firm"
Answer first, then give 2 to 3 reasons. Link each reason to something you've actually done or experienced, not just generic answers that you found on the firm's website. That's what makes it believable.

3. Behavioural stories
These cover things like a time you led a team, handled a conflict with a colleague, failed at something, or persuaded someone who disagreed with you. Firms ask them because these situations come up all the time in consulting, and they want to see how you'd actually react when it happens for real.

Use STAR. Here's an example for a conflict question:

1. Situation: in a university group project, two teammates disagreed on the direction, and we were falling behind.
2. Task: I needed to get us aligned and back on track before the deadline.
3. Action: I spoke to each of them separately to understand their view, then brought the team together to compare both options against the project brief. This is where most of your time should go, and the focus should be on what you did.
4. Result: we agreed on a combined approach within a day, submitted on time, and got the highest mark in the class.

Then add what you learned, for example: "I learned that most disagreements come from different assumptions, so I now try to get those on the table early." It's a small touch, but it shows maturity.

One last tip: don't memorise word for word. Know your key points well and let the wording flow, so you sound natural and genuine.

Best,
Hatem