Visit to office - smart questions

Hi there!

A great open question is to ask them what advice they give somebody who is just now starting in the industry. 

This will allow them to reflect positively on their own experience and it will make them feel good to share wisdom. 

But most importantly, don't aim to have ‘smart questions’ but rather to ‘connect’ with the interviewer. The better you do that, the better the outcome of the interview will be.

Sharing here a guide on how to conduct these sorts of chats with consultants:

• Free Guide: How To Handle Networking Calls and Get Referrals

Best,
Cristian

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Practicing for interviews? Check out my latest case based on a first-round MBB interview >>> SoyTechnologies  

Hi,

of course thinnk about what you are really interested in and want to know. But to give you some inspiration, here are some concrete categories and examples.

About the Firm:

• "What are the key differentiators that set your firm apart from other consulting firms?"
• "How does the firm foster a culture of innovation and problem-solving?"
• "Could you share some recent client success stories or unique projects the firm has been involved in?"

Recruiting and Application Process:

• "What qualities or experiences does the firm look for in potential candidates during the recruiting process?"
• "Are there any specific areas or skills that the firm values in applicants?"
• "Can you provide insights into the application timeline and key deadlines?"

Professional Growth and Development:

• "How does the firm support the professional development and growth of its consultants?"
• "Are there opportunities for international assignments or cross-functional experiences?"
• "What types of training and mentorship programs does the firm offer to its employees?"

Team Dynamics and Collaboration:

• "Could you describe a typical team structure on a consulting project?"
• "What is the balance between client-facing work and internal firm initiatives?"

Industry and Market Insights:

• "How does the firm stay at the forefront of industry knowledge and expertise?"
• "Are there opportunities for consultants to specialize in specific industries?"

Partner's Perspective:

• "Could the Partner share insights into their career journey and experiences at the firm?"
• "What advice would the Partner offer to aspiring consultants looking to excel in the industry?"
• "What excites the Partner the most about the firm's future direction?"

Summer Intern's Experience:

• "What has been the most rewarding aspect of your internship experience at the firm?"
• "How has the firm supported your professional growth during your internship?"
• "What advice would you give to someone preparing to intern at the firm in the future?"

Remember to actively listen to the responses, engage in meaningful conversations, and express genuine interest in the firm and its people. This will help you leave a lasting and positive impression as you prepare to apply in the fall.

Hello,

This sounds like a great opportunity! Here's some advice:

• Do your research beforehand - google all of the people you will be meeting, and look at their LinkedIn if they have one. Learn about the work they do.
• Is there anything you have in common with them? If so, that might be a natural place to try to steer the conversation towards to connect with them.
• There's more to leaving a mark than just asking “smart” questions - though you should do that too - try to leave a good impression! Have you heard of the airport test? This is what you should be trying to target. Be warm, friendly, and enthusiastic - you want to give the energy someone they would enjoy having a conversation with and eventually hiring.
• Regarding questions, I would ask them about their experiences working at the MBB, what kind of projects they work on, what some of their favorite work has involved, what it's like working in that office, and their favorite/least favorite things about working for the MBB. The key to these is always 1) not to ask them anything that HR could answer (e.g., application timeline); 2) ask about their personal experiences.

Hi there,

Let's try and avoid a red flag here. This is not the time to try and show off how smart you are by asking ‘smart questions’. This is an opportunity to be genuine and build a connection.

• Don't be that person: As a McKinsey interviewer or firm representative at recruitment events, I got asked so many silly questions that were supposedly smart. Not only could I not answer the question a lot of the time, but the people weren't even interested in the answer when I gave one. This does not reflect good on candidates at all.
• Be this person: What I do remember positively is when people had the courage to ask simple questions, even if I heard them million times. But that's because people genuinely care about certain things e.g., career progression, work-life balance, etc., and so it's totally OK. 

Just stick with what you really care about and want to know and go with that!

Best of luck!

Moritz

Hi there,

i'm with Ian here, this is a great opportunity, where it's crucial to be yourself. 

Many candidates think they have to do / say special things and ask “clever” qustions to leave an impression - it's not really about that. Just make sure you…

• Show genuine interest in the firm and location and ESPECIALLY in the people you interact with and their stories
• Have REAL conversations rather than asking random “smart” questions just to tick the box
• Stay friendly and humble - this is not the time to show off but to absorb as many impressions as you can
• Enjoy the experience! This is a great way for you to get to see and feel the company culture behind the scenes 

Hope this helps.
 

Regards, Andi

Hi there,

Phenomenal opportunity!

#1 advice: be yourself. As in, as much as you can (nervousness aside), try not to “pretend” or ask rehearsed/robotic questions.

Rather, have conversations. Good questions aren't one-off. They follow-on with prior items said. They tie 2 previous points together. They bring in what someone said and relate it to the real world. They clarify on nuances.

Hi there,

Q: I am visiting an MBB's office at the invitation of a recruiter. I thought this could be a great idea to ask some “smart” questions and leave a mark. What would you suggest?

Generally speaking, good questions to ask should:

1. Not be related to something you could easily find online or that shows you don’t know much about consulting.
2. Not be related to the firm per se (e.g. how is XYZ at Bain), but to the experience of the person (How did you find XYZ in your experience?).
3. Be related to a positive experience (i.e. avoid questions related to negative emotions).

I agree with Sofia that if you know who are the people you will meet, it makes sense to do some research on their background in advance.

As mentioned by Moritz, I would also recommend asking questions about topics you really care about, as it is relatively easy to understand when people ask questions just to leave an impression and not for a genuine reason.

Good luck!

Francesco