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

Hi,

The main objective is to have a good conversation and highlight your intellectual capacity and curiosity. Thus:

It is ok to ask:

• Questions that cause positive emotions and highlight consulting pros (e.g. Mck people, getting industry knowledge, becoming an expert in something, building a great network, etc)
• Questions on the topics you are excited about (e.g. data science, digital, etc)
• Topics related to the industry in which the interviewer specializes (hint: think of the most common industries in the particular office, go to the company's website and read the recent articles about these industries to come up with the good questions)
• Non-business questions (e.g. team retreats, office traditions and celebrations)

It's not ok to ask:

• Questions that can cause negative emotions (e.g. work hours, most difficult project, etc) - you don't want to finish on a negative note, right?
• The information you should learn before the interview (e.g. typical career path, etc)
• Questions that may show that you are unfamiliar with consulting work ("Will I be able to work specifically on strategic projects?")

Be prepared and good luck!

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!

(edited)

Here are some ideas for you, but honestly interviewers are humans, so I always loved the most candidates who asked me fun questions ;-)

About the Team:

• "Can you describe the dynamics of the team I'll be working with?"
• "How does the team collaborate on projects, and what is the communication style like?"

Company Culture:

• "How would you describe the company culture here?"
• "What values are most important to the team and the organization?"

Performance Expectations:

• "What are the key performance indicators for success in this role?"
• "How is success measured within the team?"

Professional Development:

• "What opportunities are there for professional development and growth within the company?"
• "How does the company support continuous learning and skill development?"

Project Variety:

• "Can you share an example of a recent project the team has worked on?"
• "How diverse are the projects typically assigned to the team?"

Challenges and Opportunities:

• "What do you see as the most significant challenges and opportunities for the team in the coming year?"
• "How does the company stay ahead of industry challenges?"

Feedback Process:

• "Can you tell me about the feedback process within the team?"
• "How often do team members receive feedback, and in what form?"

Lots of great answers below. 

The best questions are the ones that string from the discussion that you've been having with them throughout the interview. That of course depends on your skills as an active listener. 

The next best thing that you can do is to ask them about their own experience of being the firm and the advice they could provide you with. 

So something along the lines of ‘what would you advise somebody like me who is at the start of the career to focus on in order to have a good life in the firm?’

Best,
Cristian

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.

Hi there,

good questions at the end should include the following:

1. Should not be related to something you could easily find online.
2. Should not be related to the firm per se (eg how is XYZ in Bain), but to the experience of the consultant (How did you find XYZ in your experience as a consultant?) Ideally, you want the interviewer to feel important and/or share a positive experience. This is the easiest way to leave a final positive impression.
3. Should help you to understand the core values of the company; this will help to understand if that company is a good fit for you and evaluate your options in case you have multiple offers (if you don't have fit with the company, your growth there will be a lot more difficult).

In the first reply in the following thread, you can find some more information and some examples of questions:

https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/open-house-at-bcg-311

Best,

Francesco

Hi Anonymous,

the last part of the interview is often used by interviewers to confirm the impression they got over the first part of the interview, which means:

Situation A: They trust in your abilities and are likely to vote for you during the discussion round following the round of interviews - they expect you to show genuine interest in what the firm and its consultants do in order to figure out whether this particular consultancy is the right place for you

Situation B: They do not trust in your abilities and are likely to vote against you during the subsequent discussion round - they expect you to ask some general questions, but will be positively surprised if this last part of the interview turns out to be more interesting than expected and that may even change their overall impression

What does this mean for you?

• Prepare: Prepare a structured set of questions, i.e.
  • Projects (e.g. Does your firm focus on any particular topics / industries, Is there any particular topic that is particularly popular among clients right now?)
  • Team & Culture (e.g. how would you describe your culture, what made you start with this firm, what is the typical background of consultants working with your firm)
  • Skills & Role (e.g. in your opinion, what skills are required to be successful within the firm, how does the training schedule for a junior consultant look like, how much responsibility may junior consultants typically take on?)
  • etc.
• Don’t hesitate to ask the questions you prepared: it is important that you figure out during the interview whether this is a firm you can imagine to work for (that also includes any questions regarding work life balance!) - this is also what the interviewer wants, there is no point in hiring someone who did not dare to ask questions and is disappointed once he starts to work for the firm
• Add questions that came up during the interview, e.g. based on what the interviewer told about any projects he did or his background - this shows the interviewer that you are not only reading out a ready made list of questions but that you are having a real conversation

The key to any job interview is to be prepared - that includes not only cases and the personal fit part, but also the final Q&A part.

Good luck!

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

Like Vai mentioned, there have been a lot of discussions on this in the past on this Q&A panel. Do take a look at those.

In short, it would never go wrong if you ask about: company culture, interviewer's experience in the firm, development opportunities (but don't ask very obvious questions that you can just google).

Best,

Emily

Hi there,

I will firstly caveat that in my experience the final part of the interview has never been a "make it or break it" scenario, and in 99% of cases by that point the interviewer will have already decided if he will pass you or not. However, the final questions can still be an important part of the interview. In my view there's two types of questions you should be asking:

1) Genuine information about the firm you could not find online: you should really take this as an opportunity to ask questions that you genuinely want to know the answer to. However, you shouldn't ask questions that can easily be answered with a google search, as this will make you seem unprepared/not that committed to the firm.

2) Personal questions about the interviewer: Chances are, the interviewer will have either introduced himself and given a short bio at the start of the interview, or you will have a received an interviewer bio before the interviewer. You should tailor your questions to them, and their experience.

Did they do a 6 month transfer to an office in Asia? Ask them about it and how the two offices differed. Was he/she a lawyer before doing an MBA? Ask about it and what made them switch to consulting.

People will much prefer talking about themselves than generic facts about the firm they work for. You are also much more likely to build a rapport with the interviewer this way - therefore, he is more likely to remember you and vouch for you if needed during the recruiting (of potentially, even when you join the firm).

(edited)

A question I find interesting for people who stayed in same firm for more than 5 years is asking for what is making them stick around. Both in the industry, since it can be grueling in the long term with all the travel, but also in the specific company. Another question I think you can get a great perspective on is what characteristics they see in consultants (first level post-MBA) that stick around long term. Finally all questions about industry evolution (strategy shop expanding their solutions offerings, etc) are great.

In general this is the moment to ask things you are curious about but that are not “dangerous” - in the sense that they uncover unpleasant answers and might make question the partner on whether you did the proper due diligence about the job. This because at this point in time (well actually always) partners objective is to sell you on the job if they think you are a great addition to the company.

hope this helps,

andrea

Hey Andrés,

You don't find much information on how to structure the final questions to ask to the interviewer... because there's not supposed to be one at all.

Candidates are increasingly trying to approach that final part of the interview as an alternative opportunity to impress or ask very smart questions, but most of the consulting firms are clear on what they want with it: give an opportunity to candidates to ask about whatsoever is really important for them! So, the best questions are the ones about what you are really curious and interested to know and that you can't easily find online (through a 2min google search).

Best

Bruno

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.

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

Hello!

Try to use this time to connect better with the interviewer.

Hence, ask for their experience, the practice/industry they work for, etc.

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

Actually this question has already been discussed quite extensively in these forums. You can look for some suggestions here:

https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/best-questions-to-ask-at-the-end-of-interview-2035

Cheers,

Great response from Vlad.

I did want to clarify for the benefit of others: 100% of my first- and second-round interviews with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) were scheduled with disclosure of the interviewers' names complete with personal and professional biographies. It would appear then that Bain & Company is not alone in this practice.

These biographies in the case with BCG were always shared up to 48 hours in advance (sometimes longer), and I tailored all of my post-session questions for each to the information contained in their biographies, and to other information gleaned from third-party sources.

I will add that I never stated to my interviewers that I'd researched them. Personally, I feel this runs the risk of coming off as obsequious.

I had great experiences with the following variations on the theme:

- what was your fav case at <firm> so far and why?

- what was your most important learning exp so far?

- what did you discover about yourself as a consultant that you did not know before and was surprising to you

- looking back on your career, what do you want to tell yourself on your first day of job

You can ask some questions about their work - you will get info about their background and industries on the interview day. Another idea is trends of the industy, e.g. do they see more trend towards specialization early on? Do they think generalist consultants will survive? Do they see move to loval vs regional/global staffing?

Some helpful tips on what to ask interviewers - even the senior ones are as follows

1. Questions related to the role - examples here include asking how staffing decisions are made, how much ownership you can expect to have on your workstreams, what it takes to succeed etc.

2. Questions related to their profssional journey - what excited them about the firm, what got them there, what are some interesting problems they are working on

3. Questions on culture - for example, how does the firm promote diversity, is there a formal mentorship program to help newcomers succeed, how does the firm ensure its values are upheld

4. Questions on projects that interest you and is relevant to the interviewer - for example if you read something interesting where the interviewer had a critical role to play, express your interest and ask meaningful questions

Questions to avoid

1. Anything personal

2. The usual no-nos (salary, benefits, hours worked etc.)

3. Anything you can answer yourself via google search

4. Questions that are overtly negative - such as negative press

Also, I would assume that depends on the country/culture. So some questions may be ok in Germany, but less ok in the US, or vice versa.

So a bit of context may be helpful.

Also: You have to feel out the person across from you. If they are funny and laid-back, you might want to go with something more lighthearted than with someone who is a lot more formal. Same goes for you - if you feel uncomfortable with lighthearted small talk, try to stay clear. If talking about pro bono work is a good segway to a volunteer project you are passionate about, that's a good place to start.

Recommendation: Listen/read Tim Ferriss' blog posts and podcast episodes on "how to ask better questions".

Hi there,

I would say it depends on the profile of the interviewer, stage of interview, anything "interesting" that the interviewer may have said earlier, and of course what you are really interested in learning about.

When I was recruiting, the ultimate goal I had in mind was to give the impression that I am eager, curious and also someone who listens and can hold a conversation well.

As such, I would have a few buckets of prepared questions but try hard to tailor the question depending on some of the factors above. For example, I would usually try to start the question by linking it to something particular about the interviewer's background or something the interviewer said.

For example:

1. [For a partner / later round interview] I loved hearing about your consulting experience earlier - if I was also looking for long term success in this profession, what do you think were some of the key things that you think is important to being a successful consultant in the long term?

2. [For a more junior consultant / early round interview] As you know I am just starting out in my career, so learning and development is really important for me - how have you found the amount of learning and development you've had at Firm X? What do you think were some of the biggest learning areas?

Hello there,

Some insightful and critical questions to ask:

• Their professional journeys - what are the ups and downs? what made them stays? what is their original career aspiration and how it changes overtime?
• What do they personally like of the firm? - culture, ways of workings, the colleagues, job desk, client exposure, etc.
• What is their aspiration for the firm?
• What is their vision for future successors of firm's leaderships?
• How are they able to balance work with their lives? - whats's their hobbies? etc.

Hope it helps.

Kind regards,
Nathan

Hi,

Questions about interviewer experience are always great, showing your curiosity in her motivation and expertise. If you have the chance to know before the name of the interviewer (you can ask it to HR the day before or discovering it in the waiting room), look at her LinkedIn profile to develope some tailored questions (e.g. about the MBA, the industry or practice specialization, etc.)

I also recommend you not to make questions about the firm that you can easily find online or through friends/other candidates (e.g. clients of the office, projects, typical workday, international opportunities, client exposure, your role, numbers of the office, ...).


​Best,
Antonello