Hi everyone! I have question about the consulting recruitment process for experienced hires.
I've been working in consulting for 2 years now (came in at entry level), and I'm looking at roles at other firms that are one level above mine. Just curious what the interview process might look like, if it is at all different from the standard MBB-style I went through when I first started looking at consulting roles.
Thank you!
Hi there,
For Level 2 or experienced hire consulting roles, the recruitment process is usually similar in structure to entry level but with higher expectations. You’ll still see case interviews and fit interviews, often in the same MBB style, but interviewers will probe more deeply into your prior project experience, judgment, and ability to drive work independently.
Cases tend to be slightly more complex or open ended, with more emphasis on prioritization, synthesis, and practical recommendations rather than just clean structure. Fit questions also go deeper, focusing on leadership, conflict and influence rather than pure motivation.
Happy to help you on your journey to secure a role - feel free to reach out
Best,
Evelina
That's a smart question. While the structure of the interviews (fit + case) remains the same, the actual evaluation criteria for a Level 2 experienced hire role—what we often call the Consultant or post-MBA role—is drastically different from entry-level recruiting.
Here’s the essential difference: Entry-level recruiting evaluates potential and capacity to learn. Level 2 recruiting evaluates proven competency and immediate impact. When you apply as an experienced hire, the firm is generally hiring to fill a very specific, near-term operational slot, not joining a large cohort pool. This means the bar is often less forgiving and the timing must align perfectly with headcount needs.
The biggest shift is in the case interview and the behavioral portion. For the case, they are looking beyond perfect structure; they want to see you manage ambiguity, drive the conversation like a peer, and quickly prioritize (they assume you can already do the math). For the fit portion, your answers must pivot from describing tasks you completed to detailing impact you drove, specifically focusing on client management, team leadership, and dealing with complex internal politics. You need to demonstrate not just how you solved a problem, but how you owned the client relationship and mentored junior staff.
Therefore, your preparation needs to focus heavily on synthesizing your two years of experience into powerful, high-stakes leadership stories, rather than just drilling generic case math. You are demonstrating that you can skip the training ramp and deliver value immediately.
Hope this helps outline the pivot needed! All the best.
