Hi all,
I have an upcoming interview at Bain for an AC role (first round). I have been told the behavioral interview will be CV blind and expected to be 45 mins.
What can I expect other than the main leadership/ convincing a group/ failure/ teamwork/ major success questions and what should I focus most on?
Any tips on what questions to ask the interviewer?
Thank you in advance
Hi there,
Congratulations on securing an interview at Bain for an AC (Associate Consultant) role. The behavioral interview is an important part of the selection process, and preparing for it is crucial. While the specific questions can vary, here are some additional topics you might expect in a behavioral interview:
1. Problem-solving: You may be asked about a time when you encountered a complex problem and how you approached finding a solution. Prepare examples that highlight your analytical and critical thinking skills.
2. Adaptability: The interviewer may want to know how you handle change or unexpected situations. Be ready to share a time when you had to adapt quickly and how you managed it.
3. Communication: Expect questions about your communication skills, both written and verbal. Be prepared to discuss instances where you effectively conveyed information or dealt with a difficult communication challenge.
4. Time management: Bain values time management, so be prepared to talk about how you prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and handle competing priorities.
5. Initiative and drive: You may be asked about instances when you took the initiative to go above and beyond what was expected of you or how you demonstrated a strong work ethic.
6. Client focus: Bain is a client-focused firm, so anticipate questions about your ability to build relationships with clients, understand their needs, and deliver exceptional service.
7. Conflict resolution: Prepare examples that demonstrate your ability to handle conflicts or disagreements within a team or with clients in a professional and constructive manner.
In addition to preparing your answers, it's important to have thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer. This shows your interest in the role and helps you gather information. Here are some questions you can consider:
1. Can you tell me more about the culture and values of Bain?
2. How does Bain support the professional development of its associates?
3. Can you describe the typical career progression for someone in the AC role?
4. What is the most exciting or challenging project that an AC has worked on recently?
5. How does Bain foster collaboration and teamwork among its employees?
6. Can you share some examples of how Bain has made a positive impact on its clients?
Remember to also research Bain and the specific industry or sector you're applying for to show your knowledge and interest during the interview.
This can be a helpful guide for preparing for behavioral interview questions. It offers a list of common behavioral questions and provides tips on how to approach them.
Hi there,
Congrats on approaching the interview!
There are three parts usually to these interviews:
Best of luck!
Cristian
Hi there,
Bain is currently transitioning to a new interview format, both for the case and the fit interview.
With regards to your question about the fit interview, they are moving more towards a typical McKinsey PEI (more on that below), still keeping a couple of elements of more traditional elements of the fit in the mix.
Prepare for the typical fit questions
Prober longer story format questions
Learn how to develop stories that are deep and insightful using a proper framework. While the article discusses the McKinsey-specific dimensions, the way content should be created, structured, and delivered would also be the same for the new Bain format: https://www.preplounge.com/mckinsey-pei
Bonus → prepare for the new case format
It makes sense then to become familiar with interviewer-led formats: https://preplounge.com/mckinsey-interview
Cheers,
Florian
Hi there,
I think this is an interesting question that may be relevant for many people. I would be happy to share my thoughts on it:
If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to address your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.
Best,
Hagen
(edited)
Hi there,
1) What can I expect other than the main leadership/ convincing a group/ failure/ teamwork/ major success questions and what should I focus most on?
Common fit questions you may expect in a consulting interview are:
Questions about personal experience (4, 5 and 6) are standard at McKinsey, but other companies may ask them as well.
2) Any tips on what questions to ask the interviewer?
Generally speaking, good questions I would recommend are related to:
In the first reply at the following link you can find some examples:
▶ Good Questions to Ask in an Interview
Good luck!
Francesco
Hi there,
The Bain first round behavioural interview is indeed CV blind and you will not be asked any question such as “Tell me about yourself”, “Walk me through your CV”, “Why Bain”, etc.
The interview looks to assess specific behavioural characteristics and will ask you to share some stories from your past experience (academic or professional) or think on the go how you will behave in certain hypothetical situations the interviewer will describe.
There will also be some time reserved at the end for you to ask questions.
Good luck,
Lilit
Hi there,
Anything!
They might ask “Explain nuclear energy to my 7 year old daughter”
They might ask “where do you see yourself in 5 years”
Make sure you're not going in with a set view of what to expect….rather be flexible and adaptable coming in so that you're able to react to whatever happens.
Finally, you are missing your 3 Whys as well…make sure you've properly prepared these!
https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/tell-me-about-yourself-interview-question
