Hello,

The position you are considered for depends on how strong and relevant your profile is. The HR may choose to either downgrade or upgrade the position to match your actual experience.

The position you are offered, in addition to your profile's strength,  also depends on your actual interview performance (case + fit) and the overall seniority level that you demonstrate.

Therefore, excelling at a selection process = convincing your interviewers that you can do the job.

Good luck!
Nick

 

(edited)

Hi there,

Interview prep is the key. Once you're invited for the interviews, they already believe that you have the right background. From then onwards, it's all about interview performance.

You will need to prepare in order to excel in case interviews and personality interviews. Depending on the firm, preparation for both varies quite a bit and it helps to be as targeted as possible.

The interviewer doesn't question your suitability. They just score your performance based on internal criteria. It's really as simple as that.

If you're not confident, get a coach. I have helped many people from non-business backgrounds get into McKinsey (lawyers, doctors, biologists, etc.). This is not a problem at all with the right prep.

Hope this helps a bit. Best of luck!

Moritz

Hi,

The interview itself is already designed in a such a way that tests your ability to get the job done.

If you are able to ace both the fit + case portion, then you would have convinced the interviewers of your ability to perform on the job.

At this stage, I would focus on 2 things

1. Working to ensure that you have a strong application and can land an interview
2. Preparing for the interview 
   • This is easier said than done - and the numbers prove it
   • Don't underestimate what is needed to perform consistently well in the consulting interview

All the best!

Hi there,

Hire a coach - Seriously!

If you really want to figure out how to tell your story best and frame your background/resume in the best light, get a professional to help you.

Apart from that, you need to ace the case. The proof is in the pudding so to speak…it's pretty obvious who is ready for consulting and who isn't based on how well they perform on the case.

Here's some reading to help:

https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/pitfalls-case-interview-preparation

https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/how-to-shift-your-mindset-to-ace-the-case
 

https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/dos-and-donts-in-a-case-interview
 

https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/candidate-led-cases-what-to-expect-and-example-cases
 

https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/tell-me-about-yourself-interview-question

Hello there,

Here are some tips on how to convince an interviewer that you are the right fit for a senior consulting role without prior experience in the consulting field:

Learn about consulting and the role.

• Take the time to research the consulting industry and the specific role you are interviewing for. This will help you understand the skills and experience that the interviewer is looking for, as well as the challenges and rewards of the job.

Highlight your transferable skills.

• Even though you may not have direct consulting experience, you have likely developed a number of skills in your previous roles that are relevant to consulting. For example, you may have experience in problem-solving, communication, teamwork, and project management. Be sure to highlight these skills in your interview and explain how they would be valuable in a consulting role.

Show that you are a quick learner.

• One of the key skills for consultants is the ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations. In your interview, emphasize your willingness to learn from experienced consultants and to use the firm's resources to develop your skills.

Demonstrate your enthusiasm for consulting.

• Show the interviewer that you are excited about the opportunity to work as a consultant and that you are eager to learn from them and other experienced consultants. Your enthusiasm will show the interviewer that you are serious about the role and that you are a good fit for the firm's culture.

Overall, the interviewer is looking for someone who is intelligent, adaptable, and eager to learn. If you can demonstrate these qualities in your interview, you will be well on your way to convincing the interviewer that you are the right fit for the job, even without prior experience in the consulting field.

Hope this helps!

It's really about case performance. If you can see the problem from a broad perspective, are structured, show attention to detail, and always focus on the big problem you are trying to solve, you show the mindset required to be a senior consultant.

In short, it starts with preparation. 

But it's a bit difficult to provide you with exact guidance without knowing you exact situation. 

The thing is, when you're applying for a generalist position, what they're intersted in are your skills, not your knowledge. 

So what you actually need to show during the interview are consultant-like skills. These skills should also come across in your CV (that's what increases your chances of passing screening). 

You can read about some of these here:

• Expert Guide: What Do Management Consultants Do? 

Then, you need to develop an application strategy. Here's how to do it:

• Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

Last but not least, you need to find case partners. They'll help you to up your game, be they other candidates or coaches.

Best,
Cristian

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Practicing for interviews? Check out my latest case based on a first-round MBB interview >>> SoyTechnologies  

Hi there,

Transitioning from technical roles to consulting is a move I've seen quite often. Consider the following:

• If you are invited to the recruiting process, your previous tech skills and work experience would play a significant role so don't run away from them
• You need to understand how recruiting and interviews work at the consulting firms you apply and have a plan to be ready
• You have to focus mainly in two areas: fit interview (convince interviewers about wanting to work with you) and case interview (how to structure, analyze and solve business problems)
• Get a coach to help in your preparation and maximize your success chances

Happy to keep talking about this. Just send me a message.

Alberto

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Check out my latest case based on a real MBB interview: Sierra Springs