FIT Preparation for Roland Berger

Hey Jan!

Congrats on your interview with Roland Berger! Here are two key things to prepare for the Fit part:

1. Know the question types and themes: Roland Berger emphasizes three core values: Entrepreneurship, Empathy, and Excellence. These values are further detailed in their "9 Pledges," which include commitments to fostering innovation, creating a respectful and collaborative atmosphere, and contributing positively to society. You’ll likely get questions on these and related topics like leadership, teamwork, entrepreneurship, impact, and problem-solving. Think about examples that highlight these skills or mindsets in your past experiences.
2. Structure your answers: How you deliver your answer is crucial. Use a clear framework like STAR (Situation-Task-Action-Result) or SCS (Situation-Complication-Solution) to keep your stories concise and impactful. Practice a few examples so you can answer confidently without sounding too rehearsed.

Best of luck with your interview!

Hi there,

Congrats on the interview! :-)

Question types

You need to prepare for four types of questions

• Resume-based questions (introduction of your background, questions about specific experiences)
• Simple fit questions (why you, why consulting, why our firm, what can you bring to the table?)
• Domain/technical questions (if you are interviewing for a specific practice)
• Story questions (show traits important in consulting such as leadership, stakeholder management, persuasion, and impact in longer stories, not just brief answers)

Answer format

Focus on three things:

1. Structure: You don't need the STAR framework for this but could still number your points and signpost them before diving deeper into it - similar to a case framework you present. For story questions use the SCR or the SCORE (which I developed)
2. Authenticity: It's not about being cliche or not. It's about being authentic and discussing intrinsic and extrinsic motivation honestly. Interviews can spot if an answer is genuine (e.g., you are motivated by seeing progress in the people you are working with)
3. Examples: Provide examples from your life to support these statements (e.g., you remember a situation where you coached a fellow student and saw them improve on a specific topic)

Reach out! I just launched a 5-hour fit interview masterclass, which is also relevant for Roland Berger.

Cheers,

Florian

Hey Jan! 

Congratulations on getting an interview with Roland Berger! I’ve been through RB interviews and mentored many candidates for Roland Berger, so I’m familiar with what they’re looking for. Roland Berger is known for having hour-long interviews where the fit part can be quite intensive, sometimes even conducted by psychologists. Here are some specific tips to help you prepare:

Roland Berger’s fit questions are very thorough, focusing deeply on your personality, motivation, and alignment with their values. Make sure you’re ready to clearly articulate why consulting, and specifically why Roland Berger, is your choice. Familiarize yourself with Roland Berger’s core values like entrepreneurship, excellence, empathy, and partnership, and be prepared to provide concrete examples from your life or past work experiences that demonstrate these qualities.

Expect questions like “Why consulting and why Roland Berger?” or “What sets Roland Berger apart from other consulting firms in your view?” You should also be prepared for behavioral questions such as “Tell me about a challenge you’ve overcome,” or “Describe a time when you worked in a team and resolved conflicts.” Since Roland Berger highly values leadership and teamwork, having strong examples in these areas will be crucial.

Another important tip is that because psychologists may be part of the interview, they could ask deeper questions about your personality traits and soft skills. They want to see how you think under pressure and how self-aware you are. Finally, if you have any specific questions, feel free to reach out—I’ve guided many mentees through Roland Berger interviews and know the types of questions they tend to ask. Good luck!

Best, Alessa :)

Expect four types of questions:

1. Icebreaker or resume-related questions to get to know you better. Don’t forget to add a human touch by mentioning interests, hobbies, or personal anecdotes.

2. Motivational questions, often referred to as the three whys: why consulting, why the firm, and why the region. Prepare three solid reasons for each.

3. Behavioral questions that ask for situational stories to assess your soft and technical skills. Focus on stories about leadership, handling conflict, delivering impact outside your comfort zone, and persuading others.

4. Stress-test questions designed to gauge your reaction under pressure, such as “Why should we hire you?” or “What is your biggest weakness?” These are less common now but still worth preparing for.

Best,

Alberto

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Explore my latest case inspired by a real MBB interview: FastFashion - Customer Loyalty

Hi there,

Congrats on your interview invitation. I conducted many interviews for Roland Berger during my time there. Feel free to reach out to me directly.

Best