Best questions to ask at the end of interview

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Anonym E fragte am 22. Juli 2018

Hello all,

I have a question regarding what insightful questions to ask the interviewer at the end of an interview that make you stand out?

Thank you.

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Benjamin
Experte
antwortete am 23. Juli 2018
ex-Manager - Natural and challenging teacher - Taylor case solving, no framework

Hi Anonymous,

This is the moment where you can confirm the good fit you had with the interviewer during the 1h itw.
I personnally suggest to avoid every question that can be asnwered by the firm's website, as well as other question related to firm that could be answered by a consultant you could contact from the outside (alumni from your school, personal network etc.)

Instead I will take this opportunity to really create a connexion with the interviewer as a person, and ask question about his own experience that can somehow relate to your own projection in the job. Therefore I would advise to

- Listen carefully the introduction of the interviewer : his profile, experience prior to consulting, and as a consultant. This will help for you to think about questions. You can even write down the question you have at this time for the end of the itw

- Ask questions related to his experience and personal appreciation / decision making : ex. if he joined consulting as experienced hire, ask about his previous job, the reason to move to consulting, and ultimately how he feels now in consulting compared to what he expected

- Ask questions about his consulting experience, especially if they are related to industries / topic that make sense for you : ex. more details about a job he has done in as FMCG industry if this make sense to you, and since this is an industry you are really interested in how strong is the firm in that industry and what are the perspectives at the moment for future business there / who is the partner, etc.

Hope this helps

Benjamin

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Sidi
Experte
antwortete am 22. Juli 2018
McKinsey Senior EM & BCG Consultant | Interviewer at McK & BCG for 7 years | Coached 350+ candidates secure MBB offers

Hi Anonymous!

There is a whole lot of great questions you can ask. My best advice is to really think through what interests you most about the job, the firm, or the industry! If you have a particular interest (industry sector, nonprofit area, social engagement, etc.) you can ask if there are touch points/adjacent areas in the firm you could explore. Also, make sure to relate your interests and questions to your background and/or career/life objectives.

Another good domain to explore is the background and interest of the interviewer: for example, one of my first round interviewers at BCG had listed playing music in a band as one of his hobbies, and since I had been a band musician myself for 10 years, this was a great topic to discuss against the backdrop of his consulting career.

All of that being said, here are a couple of example questions – but by no means exhaustive:

  1. "Can you tell me about your background, and in particular how you ended up as a [company name] consultant?" (if the interviewer has a rather exotic professional/educational background)
  2. "I’d be interested to hear what your most challenging case has been thus far in your career?"
  3. "What do you think are the biggest misperceptions that applicants have about consulting?"
  4. "I’m really interested in [particular interest, such as public sector consulting or renewable energy]. I’d be interested to hear what you know about that area at [company name]"
  5. "I’ve heard from various people who say your firm is [something good about the company] but also that [something bad about the company]. To what extent is this impression accurate?"
  6. "If the interviewer has enough tenure: From your position, how do you think the economic cycles have affected the consulting business over the years?"
  7. "What was your perspective on [company name] before you came in, and how was that changed in your time there?"
  8. "If you could recommend 2 books that all prospective management consultants should read, what would those be?"
  9. "When you think back to your university days, what would be the 2 or 3 things that you wish you’d learned that would have better prepared you for the job today?"

Cheers, Sidi

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Ian
Experte
Content Creator
antwortete am 16. Mai 2020
MBB | 100% personal interview success rate (8/8) and 95% candidate success rate | Personalized interview prep

Ask about them

People love to talk about themselves. Just ask them what they've worked on recently or what their journey at BCG has been like. Importantly, do your research beforehand - find out what they've done and try and pick something from their past that looks interesting to you. Tailor your questions just like they tailor their FIT questions to your resume."So, how did you end up in the Industrial Goods sector?"

Ask insightful questions

Ideally, your questions should also show them that you're insightful, inquisitive, bright, thinking about current topics, etc. For example:

"I saw you worked on a big digital transformation for a financial services company - I experienced one myself and it seemed so hard to move such a big organisation. What did you see as the major challenges and breakthrough moments?"

"I know that x big trend is happening. I also know that y types of companies exhibit z traits. How do you reconcile this difference when ensuring y companies adopt x trends?

Summary: Ask about THEM and ask insightful questions!

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Vlad
Experte
antwortete am 22. Juli 2018
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

The main objective is to have a good conversation and highlight your intellectual capacity and curiosity. So it's not the best idea to ask for the feedback. Here are some guidelines:

It is ok to ask:

  • Questions that cause positive emotions and highlight consulting pros (e.g. Mck people)
  • Questions on the topics you are excited about (e.g. data science)
  • Non-business questions (e.g. team retreats)

It's not ok to ask:

  • Questions that can cause negative emotions (e.g. work hours)
  • Information you should learn before the interview (e.g. typical career path)
  • Questions that may show that you are unfamiliar with consulting work (Like are you specialized in strategy or operations?)

Be prepared and good luck!

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Anonym antwortete am 24. Dez. 2022

A few options could be:

  • Something about the case you did and what happened in real life - they normally give cases that they worked on
  • Something on their background / where they worked if they give you their CV beforehand
  • Something about the firm that you can't find online, which you are genuinely curious about given your background.

 

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Anonym antwortete am 22. Mai 2020

Dear A,

Ideally, there are questions hat could show your intrinsic interest in the company, person, or both ideally. So one of the greatest question could be for example the following:

"Now, look at your career XX long, what is the one project assignment, by looking back, makes you very proud of accomplishing smth great?"

Hope it helps,


Good luck,

André

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Anonym J antwortete am 4. Juni 2023

When it comes to asking insightful questions at the end of an interview, it's essential to demonstrate your genuine interest in the role, the company, and the interviewer's perspective. Thoughtful questions not only help you gather valuable information but also showcase your enthusiasm and engagement. Here are some suggestions to make you stand out:

1. Ask about the company's future plans: Inquire about the company's growth strategy, upcoming projects, or initiatives that are relevant to the role you're interviewing for. This shows that you are forward-thinking and interested in the long-term prospects of the organisation.

2. Seek insights on the team dynamics and company culture: Ask about the team structure, collaboration practices, or the company's approach to fostering a positive work environment. This demonstrates your interest in the team dynamics and your desire to thrive in a supportive and collaborative culture.

3. Inquire about the interviewer's experience: Ask the interviewer about their own experience working for the company. You can ask what they find most rewarding about their role or what they appreciate the most about the company. This not only helps you understand their perspective but also shows your interest in learning from their expertise.

4. Discuss opportunities for professional development: Ask about the company's approach to employee growth and development. Inquire about training programs, mentorship opportunities, or any resources available to support professional advancement. This demonstrates your commitment to continuous learning and self-improvement.

5. Request feedback on your qualifications: Politely ask the interviewer if they have any concerns or reservations about your fit for the role based on the interview. This shows your openness to feedback and your willingness to address any potential gaps or concerns.

Remember to tailor your questions to the specific context of the interview and the information already provided. Avoid asking questions that can be easily answered through basic research or those that focus solely on salary and benefits.

For a comprehensive list of behavioral interview questions that can help you prepare for interviews, you may find this resource useful.

Asking insightful questions not only helps you gather information but also demonstrates your engagement and enthusiasm. Choose questions that align with your genuine curiosity and reflect your interest in the company and the role.

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Rushabh
Experte
Content Creator
antwortete am 26. Nov. 2022
Limited Availability | BCG Expert | Middle East Expert | 100+ Mocks Delivered | IESE & NYU MBA | Ex-KPMG Dxb Consultant

Hello,

Here's what I typically ask:

1) Something that is happening in the market right now connected to their industry or geography. Asking them thir thoughts on that shows that you are aware of what's going on in the consulting space now

2) Any genuine concerns, questions you have about working at the firm. Note that these questions need to be nuanced and not something generic which you are expected to know

3) Experience questions: Ask them about their favourite project, ask them when the firm's values really stood out to them, ask them what motivates them every single day

All the best!

Rushabh

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Benjamin gab die beste Antwort

Benjamin

ex-Manager - Natural and challenging teacher - Taylor case solving, no framework
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