Should the "Why consulting?" question mention a desired industry focus

Hi there,

I would mention it, provided there is a clear logic tying your background to aviation and provided you pair it with genuine openness. So give them the why on aviation, then say that seeing a range of industries is a large part of what drew you to consulting in the first place.

The calibration is the point you raised yourself about the office. If that office does very little aviation, leaning on it can work against you, because interviewers start asking themselves whether you will be happy with the work they can actually staff you on.

Hope it helps and good luck with the process!

Federico

I think it's absolutely fine to bring it up, especially if you're an experienced hire with relevant industry experience. A credible industry interest can strengthen your story rather than make you seem too narrow.

That said, I'd save it for "Why McKinsey/Bain/BCG?" or "Why this office?" rather than "Why consulting?".

For example:

"I'm particularly interested in McKinsey because of its strong presence in aviation. Given my background and interest in the sector, I'd be excited to contribute to aviation projects while also gaining exposure to a broader range of industries and challenges."

As long as you present aviation as an area of interest - not the only thing you want to do - it can make your motivation more authentic and memorable.

Hi,

An industry preference is a secondary point, IMO. 

The first layer of logic/story is "Why Consulting" - which means you should be answering that question of why this industry (and not other industries).

There are tons of ways to answer the "Why consulting" question without a need to mentioning the industry focus. 

Lastly, why the fixation on Aviation? It's definitely good to have industries or topics you are interested in, but given your anxieties and rumination on this issue and how you know it might seem weird but still want to do it - it seems more like a fixation than a passion combined with a grounded and real understanding of how things work in MBB. The reality is that you have very little control over staffing. Speak to more actual MBB consultants, and perhaps you might get a more nuanced perspective. 

All the best!

hey there :)

I’d mention aviation only if it naturally fits your story, but I wouldn’t make it a major part of your “Why consulting?” answer. If you’re interviewing with a generalist consultancy, it’s better to emphasize why you want consulting itself: variety, problem solving, steep learning curve and exposure to different industries.

If the firm is specifically specialized in an industry, then absolutely highlight your interest. For example, if you were interviewing with an automotive focused consultancy, saying you want to build a career in automotive consulting would make perfect sense.

For an MBB interview, I’d frame aviation as an interest rather than a requirement. That way you show genuine motivation without making yourself sound narrow or difficult to staff.

If you want, feel free to reach out and we can practise your “Why consulting?” answer together.

Best, Alessa :)

Hi there,

You're a generalist so please make sure you don't give them an indication that you're not a “team player”. You need to show adaptability and flexibility in role assignment. Because that's what will have to happen.

Always be cognizant of how you're coming across! Of course you can say aviation interests you, but please don't make it look like that's all you care about.

I would keep aviation as a supporting point, not the core of your Why Consulting answer. Lead with why you want consulting, then mention aviation only if it naturally strengthens your story while making your openness to other industries clear.

Given the question, I would also recommend my Behavioral Interview course to help you structure and pressure test the story.

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the invitation!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:

• First of all, contrary to what other coaches have said, mentioning your interest in a particular industry does by no means help answering the question why you want to work in consulting. As you pointed out correctly, an interest in a particular industry can equally be pursued with roles in that industry.
• Moreover, please keep in mind that unless you come from a highly exotic background, it is rather unlikely that interviewers will question your motivation for the industry, and instead will much more be interested in your motivation for the specific consulting firm and office.
• Lastly, in case they ask for your motivation for the consulting firm and office, contrary to what other coaches have said, I would strongly advise you to mention your interest in aviation - as long as you come across as open to other industries - since consulting firms focus more and more on specialists and people who want to become them, even at junior levels. No one truly needs full-fledged generalists, whether in consulting or in the industry.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hi,

If you are interviewing for McKinsey specifically, you are very unlikely to be asked or evaluated on "Why Consulting" or "Why McKinsey". 

McKinsey sticks to PEI and Case as the evaluative components of the interview (especially in Round 1 which tends to stay within script). The spirit of McKinsey PEI is not to trip you up or to throw a curve ball at you, instead it is to say: 

"We would like to evaluate you, at your best, on your best day, and to that end, we want you to come prepared with your best stories. So, here are the specific PEI dimensions that we would like to hear about!"

Hope that helps!

Hi there,

That's a fair question. 

If you're genuinely interested in the airline industry, then you could mention it. Indeed, I would mention it as an interest among a broader sense of curiosity about other industries as well (since I'm assuming you're applying for a generalist role).

On a similar note - do try and think about the genuine reasons why you want to join consulting, what is specifically important to you. What you definintely don't want is your answer to sound template like. 

If you need any help on this, drop me a line and I'm happy to share some further thoughts. 

Best,
Cristian 

Hey,

as a junior I would usually emphasize why you are enthusiastic about Consulting and that you are open to a wide range of industries. 

You can mention briefly that you are passionate about aviation, but do make clear that you are aware that mgmt consulting is often industry agnostic in early years and you are eager to see different industries. 

Good luck!

Vincent

Hi there,

I would emphasize what it is about Consulting that interests you. After all, consultants might get staffed on projects throughout their careers that span a variety of industries and functional topics. So what about the Consulting job description motivates and intrigues you? Why do you want to work in Consulting instead of working for an aviation company for example?

I would lead with the answers to those questions.

Best of luck