If you want to start a career in consulting, interviews are unavoidable. Especially at top consulting firms such as McKinsey, BCG and Bain, they are the decisive factor in the recruiting process. Unlike traditional job interviews, consulting interviews focus on case interviews, structured thinking, clear communication and strong problem-solving skills. This section gives you an overview of the consulting interview process, from preparing for case interviews at top consultancies like Roland Berger, Oliver Wyman, and Kearney, to different interview formats and typical tests such as the McKinsey Imbellus Game or the BCG Potential Test.. Let’s get started! 🚀
From CV to Cover Letter to Referral: How to Land Your Consulting Interview
With your first interview invitation, your path into consulting suddenly becomes very real. What was once just an application now feels like a genuine opportunity, and many thoughts start to surface at once. Alongside the excitement of being invited, doubts and uncertainty often appear, and your focus begins to shift. At this stage, it is important to understand what really matters in consulting interviews and how to prepare effectively for the next steps.
This is the phase where we support you step by step, offering clear orientation without adding pressure, so you know what to focus on before your interview and can approach it with confidence.
What Types of Tests Are Used in Consulting?
In addition to classic consulting interviews, many firms such as MBB or the Big Four use additional tests and assessments as part of the recruiting process. These can include online tests, logical and aptitude tests, numerical reasoning tests, case-style exercises or even gamified online assessments. For many candidates, these tests initially feel like another hurdle in the application process.
With a clear understanding of the different types of consulting tests, it quickly becomes easier to see what firms are evaluating and which skills they are looking for.
What Types of Consulting Interviews Are There?
Anyone preparing for consulting interviews quickly realizes that there is no single interview format. Depending on the firm and the role, interview types, structure and expectations can vary significantly. Case interviews, fit interviews, candidate-led and interviewer-led cases, market sizing questions and structured problem-solving tasks are all common parts of the consulting interview process.
Once you understand how these interview formats differ and what interviewers are looking for in each of them, you can prepare more effectively and approach each interview with greater confidence.
How Can I Best Prepare For Consulting Interviews?
Even before you refine your CV or solve your first case, the most important phase of the consulting application process begins: interview preparation. This phase lays the foundation for everything that follows. You start to build an understanding of the consulting industry, the interview process, typical requirements and the skills that matter most in consulting interviews.
Every preparation journey is different. What matters is gaining orientation, setting the right priorities and gradually building confidence for your interview.
What Should I Pay Attention to After My Consulting Interview?
After a consulting interview, the tension often fades and many candidates replay the conversation in their minds. This back and forth between feeling confident and questioning your performance is completely normal. With some distance, it becomes easier to assess the interview and your answers more clearly.
Whether you are waiting for feedback or preparing for the next interview round, this phase helps you stay calm and understand the next steps in the recruiting process.
