How to prepare for recruiting event & first round of interviews at BCG?

That is a fantastic invitation—congratulations on clearing the initial screen for the Murnau event. Your engineering background is a serious asset here; firms actively seek out candidates who naturally default to highly structured, analytical problem-solving. The challenge now is understanding the mechanisms of the screen and translating that structured thinking into the language of business quickly.

You essentially have two hurdles before you. The first is the online assessment/interview component. Regardless of your insight or structuring ability, many highly quantitative candidates from non-business backgrounds stumble because they lose speed on the numerical processing sections. This screen is often a blind, pass/fail gate. Before you touch a single complex case, you must drill mental math—percentages, fractions, ratios, and complex multiplication—until it is second nature. Speed and precision are paramount here.

For bridging the business knowledge gap, you do not need to memorize years of BWL coursework. Your goal is fluency, not encyclopedic knowledge. Consulting frameworks (like 3 Cs or Porter’s Five Forces) are simply the vocabulary we use to describe problem structuring, which you already do daily. Take every significant engineering or construction example you have—managing a budget, optimizing a schedule, selecting a complex vendor—and force yourself to map it to a classic business concept. This instantly translates "reducing material waste" into "cost optimization" or "improving profit margins." This is how you prove business fluency.

Finally, remember that the physical event in Murnau is a high-touch environment. They are assessing chemistry and executive presence. Make sure your fit preparation is razor-sharp. Every engineering example needs a clear business or leadership element attached, and you must have a compelling narrative explaining why you are pivoting from building things to advising leaders. Show genuine interest and ask thoughtful, targeted questions about BCG's work when you engage with Partners and Principals.

Hope this helps you strategize the next few weeks! All the best.

Hallo,

Glückwunsch zur Einladung, das ist ein starkes Signal. Das Einstiegsevent in Murnau ist weniger ein klassisches Assessment Center, sondern eine Kombination aus Kennenlernen, Vorselektion und Erwartungsmanagement. Entsprechend sollte deine Vorbereitung zielgerichtet, aber nicht überzogen sein.

1. Vorbereitung auf den Online Teil
Der Online Schritt dient primär dazu zu prüfen, ob grundlegende Voraussetzungen da sind. Fokus sollte sein:

• Strukturiertes Denken und saubere Logik, nicht ausgefallene Frameworks
• Solide Zahlenarbeit unter Zeitdruck, insbesondere Prozentrechnung, Wachstum, einfache Profit Logik
• Klar kommunizieren, was du tust und warum, auch wenn es online ist

2. Case Vorbereitung mit Ingenieur Hintergrund
Dein Vorteil ist stärker, als du denkst. Ingenieure sind oft sehr gut in Problemanalyse, aber verlieren sich manchmal zu sehr im Detail.

Empfehlung:

1. Trainiere wenige, universelle Strukturen, z.B. Profitabilität, Markteintritt, Wachstum
2. Übe bewusst Top Down zu starten und erst dann zu vertiefen
3. Frage dich bei jeder Zahl: Was bedeutet das fürs Geschäft

Ein guter Transfer für Ingenieure ist:

• Problemdefinition wie bei einem technischen System
• Hypothesen aufstellen
• Daten gezielt nutzen, um Hypothesen zu testen

3. Business Denken ohne BWL Studium

Du brauchst kein BWL Wissen auf Vorlesungsniveau. Was du brauchst:

• Verständnis, wie Unternehmen Geld verdienen
• Kosten vs Erlöse
• Fixe vs variable Kosten
• Skaleneffekte
• Wettbewerb und Kundenlogik

4. Verhalten auf dem Event
Unterschätzt viele Kandidaten:

• Sei neugierig, nicht angestrengt
• Stelle durchdachte Fragen
• Behandle andere Kandidaten nicht als Konkurrenz

BCG achtet sehr darauf, mit wem man gerne arbeiten möchte.

Melde dich gerne, wenn du noch Fragen hast!

Congrats on the invite. The Einstiegsevent is a great opportunity. Here's how I'd approach it.

On the online assessment:

BCG typically uses a mix of numerical reasoning, logical reasoning, and sometimes a written case or video interview depending on the format. Focus on:

• Mental math and data interpretation. Practice percentages, ratios, and reading charts quickly under time pressure. SHL-style tests are good practice.
• Logical reasoning. Pattern recognition, constraint-based problems. GMAT integrated reasoning or LSAT logic games help here.
• If there's a video component, practice speaking through your thinking clearly and concisely.

On preparing from a non-business background:

Your engineering background is actually an advantage, not a weakness. You already think analytically and solve complex problems. The adjustment is learning business language and frameworks.

A few things that help:

• Understand basic business concepts. Revenue, costs, profit margins, market share, customer segments, pricing. You don't need an MBA, just the fundamentals.
• Read business news for 15-20 minutes daily. The Economist, Financial Times, or even BCG's own insights page. This builds your intuition for how businesses work.
• Learn the common case types: profitability, market entry, growth, pricing, M&A. Know the basic structure for each. Don't memorize frameworks, but understand the logic behind them.

On case structuring:

Start with the question. What are they actually asking? Break it into logical parts. Your engineering brain already does this. A profitability case is just inputs and outputs. A market entry case is just evaluating options against criteria.

Practice 15-20 cases before the event. Start easy, then increase difficulty. Practice out loud, not just in your head. Record yourself and review where you stumble.

On fit preparation:

Prepare 3-4 strong stories covering leadership, teamwork, conflict, and impact. Use the STAR format but keep it natural. Know why BCG, why consulting, and why now. Be specific and genuine.

On balancing everything:

I'd split your time roughly:

• 40% case practice
• 25% fit stories and personal narrative
• 20% online assessment prep
• 15% business fundamentals and reading

For the event itself:

These events are partly social. Be yourself. Show curiosity. Ask good questions. Connect with consultants and other candidates. They're assessing whether they'd enjoy working with you, not just your technical skills.

Your engineering background gives you a unique perspective. Own it. Show how you think differently and what you bring to the table.

Good luck.

Hi there,

For the online part, brush up on your quant skills by doing drills. There are loads of platforms out there they provide practice tests that mimic the assessments. 

For the event itself, coming from engineering is not a disadvantage at all. Lean into it. Show you can break down messy problems, make reasonable assumptions, and communicate simply. You don’t need deep industry knowledge, just strong logic and business common sense.

In terms of balance, I’d prioritize case fundamentals and communication first, fit second, and business knowledge last. A few well practiced cases, a tight personal story, and comfort speaking confidently will take you much further than memorizing frameworks.

Go in curious and engaged, not stressed. They’re assessing potential and coachability as much as performance.

Honestly, I would prepare for it as if it were an interview. 

Why? 

Because even if most firms say these events are non-evaluative, to a certain extent, they are. 

They do spot people who have a lot of potential, and they do try to prioritise them in the hiring funnel. 

So assume this is an actual interview, and with that in mind, prepare accordingly. 

At a minimum, this should mean you should cover both case prep and personal fit (here, including you being able to 'tell your story' in a natural, coherent way in both formal and informal setups). 

If you need any help with the above, please reach out, and I'm happy to take you through the process.

Best,
Cristian