MBB + Strategy& Middle East; I am told that the final 2 rounds (with partners) would decide whether I join as a Manager or a Sr Associate? What Questions can I expect in reference to that. Context: I was an associate with McKinsey for 2 years & a manager with a tier-2 consulting for 4+ years

Wow, the stakes are high then. 

It's not the questions they will ask, but the level at which you will answer them. 

What that means in practice is that somebody at the manager level will provide answers to a case with a higher degree of sophistication than somebody who is at the Associate level. 

Aside from this, here are a few other differences to keep in mind for the final round interview:

1. Work on the feedback provided in the previous rounds. Most firms communicate the feedback from the previous rounds to the final interviewer. It's important then to show the final interviewer that you have a growth mindset and are reactive to feedback. This matters immensely. Make sure you are clear on your development areas and that you get the right support to polish them before the final interview.
2. Expect less structure. Senior interviewers already have the confidence that you are a decent candidate, your skills having been already vetted by their younger colleagues. They are rather more interested in your as a person and your way of thinking. So they might present you with an unusual case, or one that is created on the spot or no case altogether. Expect anything.
3. Focus on excellent communication. Senior interviewers care a lot about how clearly you communicate and how you manage to forge a connection with the interviewer. It's important to be top-down and concise as much as possible with your answers, while allowing the conversation to flow in a natural way.
4. Put yourself in their shoes. The one question senior interviewers are asking themselves throughout the interview is what will happen when they'll put you in front of a client they've groomed for years? Make sure that even based on this first impression you seem somebody who can be trusted and who can work with any client regardless of how difficult they might be.

Good luck!
Cristian

Hi there,

Under my experience within PwC and McKinsey and your background, you should be eligible to the Manager position.

The main markers to decide if you can get the Manager position are:

• Leading and coaching team members to deliver tailored results for each client
• Establishing relationship with senior clients beyond the project scope
• Communicating effectively with all type of audiences, specially senior / difficult clients
• Creating and developing opportunities beyond the current project (i.e., new project proposals)
• Bringing distinctive knowledge in an area of expertise, functional (operations, strategy, digital, etc.) or by industry (telco, banking, retail, etc.)
• Contributing to your office development (i.e., practices, knowledge codification, trainings, etc.) beyond your project

Expect any question around these areas and prepare good stories to prove that you are ready for the Manager role :)

Best,

Alberto

—

Check out my latest case based on a real MBB interview: Sierra Springs

Hi,

Agree with Cristian that it's hard to quantify. They will assess your general seniority level. Be prepared to spin your story in such a way that highlights your managerial experience as opposed to your associate experience.

As an example, one of my students applied for a Consultant position but ended up receiving a Project Leader offer from one of the MBBs a couple years ago. The Partners who made the decision cited her seniority level as the dealbreaker (she had just received a Senior Manager promotion at the Big4 firm she had been working at the time and her work experience was very relevant to this particular MBB).

Good luck!
Nick

Hi there,

Please hire a coach.

If your interview determines your rank, you are gambling with 40k+…and that's in just the FIRST year (i.e. doesn't account for that fact that every year you will now be on a higher salary than if you started lower).

Seriously, invest $1k-$2k to increase your chances of getting hundreds of thousands of $ more over your lifetime.

I have a list of the questions asked around the world. Real questions. Real firms. Yes, this includes MBB/Strat& in the Middle East.

Feel free to reach out for these questions to get an idea.

And, of course, remember what I always say: Prep for ANYTHING so that you're ready for everything.

Here's some initial reading to help you ace those final 2 rounds:

The Most Common Pitfalls in Case Interview Preparation
 

Dos and Don'ts in a Case Interview
 

How to Shift Your Mindset to Ace the Case
 

Candidate-Led Cases: What to Expect With Example Cases