Hey there,

Most second-round interviews are like the first rounds. You will be evaluated on the same criteria, and metrics, with the same types of cases and questions.

Now, that's the theory. :-)

Quick reality check!

That being said, partners sometimes employ their way of doing interviews based on their personal preferences, which means that sometimes the final round with them can be less predictable.

Some focus on the case, others focus solely on the fit part, and some stick to the standard format. I had a client last year who had to go through two cases and one of them was made up on the spot, which made it very tricky.

In general, the more senior the partner, the more likely are they to deviate from the standard interview format because they a. can b. have their own way of doing things. :-)

So now you know the practice. Be prepared for everything!

One more word of caution: Many candidates feel that the second round is harder than the first purely based on the perception that the interviewer is more senior (yet the case difficulty is the same). Be also aware of this perception!

What does this mean for you and your preparation?

Not much.

Continue with your preparation, meaning

• Rehearse and finetune your fit answers with a coach or peers who know what they are talking about
• Hone your case interview skills that are relevant for BCG (structuring, math, exhibit interpretation) with coaches and drills
• Pay special attention to the areas where you received negative feedback in the first round or in your case, where you felt less prepared or worse during the first round. Second-round interviewers are aware and will dig deeper into these specific areas

During the interview

• Stay cognitively flexible
• Do not be surprised if the format deviates from what you expect
• Stay calm and collected no matter what happens
• Stay enthusiastic, engaged and portray the impression that you are happy to be here (partners love that...)

If you managed to pass the first round, you should have it in you to pass the second round as well.

Fingers crossed!

Cheers,

Florian

“same” as first round in that anything can happen!

I've seen an interviewer skip the prompt/framework.

I've seen an interviewer give a two framework prompt

I've seen an interviewer spend 20 minutes just on the fit.

So, stay flexible and adaptable.

Now, I actually track the questions my candidates get. Feel free to reach out for support!

Congrats on getting to the final round!

In short, if you didn't get any developmental feedback, you should focus then on being at least as good as the last time. 

In terms of how final round interviews tend to be different, bear these things in mind:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Best,
Cristian

Hey,

In general, at R2 expect the same interview structure as R1 with a more emphasis on the FIT part, since the partners nest to determine your general eligibility for the firm/practice.

Good luck!
Nick