BCG Project Leader interview

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the invitation from BCG!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your situation:

• First of all, are you applying for a specific practice and in which office?
• Moreover, based on the recent experience of my coachees, the interview process hasn't changed much for leadership roles.
• Lastly, your interviewers will certainly assess your leadership skills in more detail than they would for an Associate or Consultant candidate. I would advise you to prepare for scenarios that might involve managing difficult team dynamics, making tough budget decisions or strategizing business growth in the face of challenges.

You can find more on this topic here: How to succeed in the final interview round.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming BCG interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

My sister, tunnel rush, went through the BCG Project Leader interviews recently. She said that while they didn't do traditional case studies, they still tested problem-solving skills but in a more real-world context. They asked me to talk about managing teams, handling client relationships, and dealing with project timelines. It’s more about how you apply your leadership and management skills to real situations rather than solving a typical case.

Hi there,

This depends a bit on country/office but if they tell you already what type of interviews to face, I would trust their guidance.

In that case, some of the key aspects overlap (e.g., structuring) yet the focus is more on the managerial aspect of a problem.

For instance, while as a BA or Associate you need to structure your analysis, as a Project Leader you are expected to still do this on a project-scale yet also think about how to structure your team, delegate the work, communicate with the client, etc.

So, when you work on a traditional case, also think about the implications it has on the team, your leadership, client interactions, etc.

Cheers,

Florian

Hello there,

Some BCG office have typically adopted this for senior roles.

The major difference between this and the classic case interview is that this tends to emphasize skills expected from the Project Leader. How this plays out is usually in one of these 2 facets:

1. Classic case interview with specific focus on how you would structure the project, manage budget, team & timelines, align internal & external expectations, coordinate with clients, etc.
2. Similar to 1 but tailored towards how you delivered a specific past project 

Feel free to reach out if you have any further clarifications.

Fathu

Hi,

In my experience PL interviews at BCG don't differ much from other case interviews.

The only diffrence is that in the Fit part of an inteview they might ask more questions about your managerial skills and also test your industry knowlede. 

To gain truly effective practice in case interviews, it's crucial to approach your preparation systematically. Most candidates fail to grasp this and simply drift along, believing that reading books by Victor Cheng and engaging in random practice will lead them to an offer. In reality, interviews are much more complex than that, and generic advice like "think like a consultant" doesn't work. A clear system is essential; you can’t learn to drive a car by "thinking like a driver" or become a doctor by "thinking like a doctor." You need a transparent process for tracking your results. Here’s the system I recommend:

1. General Algorithms for Solving Cases: Focus on mastering fundamental skills such as asking clarifying questions, structuring your approach, analyzing information, and providing recommendations. These core algorithms will serve as the foundation for your case-solving abilities.
2. Comprehensive Case Types: Familiarize yourself with a diverse range of case types, including market sizing, market entry, growth strategy, pricing strategy, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), capacity expansion, public sector cases, operational cases, client journeys, and non-standard strategy cases. Understanding these will prepare you for any scenario you might encounter during interviews.
3. Industry Knowledge: Develop a foundational understanding of key industries relevant to consulting, such as oil and gas, banking, and retail. This knowledge will enhance your ability to analyze cases within the appropriate context.
4. Practice with Feedback: Seek quality feedback on your case performance. Practicing with peers often leads to reinforcing common mistakes, so it’s crucial to find a mentor or coach who can provide constructive criticism and help you navigate complex cases.

If you’re looking for personalized guidance or a structured preparation plan, feel free to reach out to me. I have successfully coached over 100 candidates to secure MBB offers, and I can help you navigate the complexities of the case interview process effectively.

Please note that managerial capabilities will still include problem solving skills. There is zero chance you will get an interview process that does not test any of your problem solving skills.

As a manager/PL, you are responsible for guiding, and sharpening your teams insights. And unfortunately in some cases, even having to do them yourself.

I have helped coachees land offers at BCG in the PL role before (see my reviews) - feel free to reach out for anyone who is facing a similar situation.