interview question

Hello! 

Step 1: Understand the differences between the firms

While the firms are similar in many ways, there are nuances to each - both in how the firms operate and culturally. In order to answer this question in an informed way, you have to understand what makes each unique. 

Pro tip: A great way to learn this is by reaching out to current or former employees of the firm and asking them why they chose BCG (or whatever firm you're prepping an answer to this question for) and it will help you understand what each emphasizes. This is also a great way for you to get a sense of which might be the best fit for you personally! 

Step 2: Select the points that are genuinely best aligned with your goals/interests

After you understand what makes each unique, think about what matters most to you in a potential employer and highlight the points that align well with that. You can always hear the difference in a candidate who is saying what they think we want to hear vs. what is authentic to them. Again, this is also a great thing for you to do to help you identify where may be a good fit for you once you're through the process and selecting a firm. 

Step 3: Structure your answer, bucketing your points into your top 2-3 reasons 

After you know what you want to say, now think about how you want to say it. I always tell candidates that interviewers are assessing your ability to structure a problem just as much in the fit section as they are in the case. Tactically, I would suggest picking 2-3 reasons and delivering them in order of priority

Pro tip: In this answer, also use it as a way to show you have done your research. By this I do not mean listing everything you know about the firm, but rather dropping in a few specific points or examples to show you have put in the effort to really learn about the firm.

Hi there,

Luckily, not only have I written an article on this, but I also have a video walkthrough!

Check out both by clicking the links above.

When you answer, focus on why BCG, but then flag lightly that the others don't have it at the same level.

Why x company

• Start with a "mini" why consulting
• Then have 2-3 reasons why x company is your target
• Every "reason" needs to incorporate 1) That you know they value x 2) That you not only value x but have exhibited it and done it in the past
• Be very very mindful of what they want you to want

Why BCG Specifically

People - Out of the box thinkers, creative, quirky, humble, kind, “nerdy”

Thought leaders - BCG Insights publications. Showcase speaking. Pushing the envelope on thinking

Mentorship - Assigned a staffing manager, a career development advisory, culture of supporting/help

Career Development - BCG Labs, continuous feedback, formal review every 6 months AND at the end of each project

Exposure - Generalist model, wide variety of projects

Home-office model - Ability to connect with local office/culture, but still travel

Hi there,

Q: How would you answer the question why BCG not Mckinsey or Bain? 

I think you can divide the answer into two parts, first why BCG and then why not others.

1) Why BCG

As a starting point, I would recommend considering why they ask this question in the first place.

Consulting companies know that most candidates apply to multiple companies. Thus why such a question?

The key reason is that they want to see if you are able to do due diligence in advance on your target/prospect. If you don’t know how to answer this question, chances are you might not do due diligence before meeting a client as well.

Thus the question translates into how you can show you have done due diligence on the company. 

Potential options include the following (I would pick 3):

• Sectors of interest: specific focus of the company in areas interesting to you. 
• People you met and culture: specific people of the company you talked with and the things they shared about the company. 
• Company potential: how much the company grew in the last year, which is an indication of options for you as well. 
• Your growth opportunities: specific programs of the company you heard about to enhance your growth. 
• Size/reputation of the firm: smaller companies usually offer a more entrepreneurial culture, with higher growth potential internally. Bigger companies have more resources, support staff and international recognition. 

Ideally, you want to connect the points to your previous personal experience as mentioned by Benjamin so that the reasons sound authentic.

Whatever topic you choose, you can apply a simple rule of thumb: if you can change the name “BCG” with another and the answer still makes sense, it means your answer is not specific enough.

To be specific, I would recommend referring to specific numbers/people/topics unique to that company. This will require some time to prepare for this question. But it will also allow you to stand out, as very few people invest the time preparing for this.

2) Why not McKinsey/Bain

I actually got the same question as “Why not McKinsey” when interviewing with a different consulting firm. 

To answer I used the approach below, which is the one I would recommend.

You can pick some specific points used for “why BCG” which are not present for McKinsey and Bain at the same level. Then, I would mention you would also like to ask a few questions based on the interviewer’s experience.

Example:

“I think all three companies are great and can offer an interesting career in consulting. I believe my possible final decision would be based on how each company would help me to grow, as this would be one of the most important elements for me. I already know that BCG is great for [SPECIFIC REASONS AS THE ONES EXPRESSED FOR POINT 1 ABOVE]. I think from this point of view, it is the most interesting company at this stage for me. Based on that, I also wanted to ask you a couple of questions later on about your experience at BCG and how it allowed you to grow as a person and from a career point of view.”

In this way, you can make a transition from your reasons to the interviewer's reasons for choosing BCG and have him/her share their point of view on that.

Best,

Francesco

Hi,

When answering the question about why you prefer BCG (or any other consulting company) over other consulting companies, I would suggest highlighting three key areas:

1. Types of projects and the industries BCG specialises in and how it aligns with your professional experience or aspirations;

2. The people you know working at BCG and how much they have grown professionally working there. Ideally, if you are personally acquainted with them through working or studying together etc.

3. The corporate initiatives BCG provides for its employees and how meaningful they are to you and your career.

Just make sure you research about these areas specifically for BCG in the geography where you are applying in order not to provide generic answers to this question.

Hope this helps,
Nick

Dear, 

Thank you for posing this question. I appreciate it greatly as it unveils the true motivations of a candidate wishing to join a particular company.

The crux of the matter here lies in building relationships. It's crucial to invest time connecting with individuals already employed at the company you're interested in. Engage in genuine conversations to grasp a deeper understanding of the company's culture, team dynamics, and ongoing projects.

Providing tangible examples derived from these interactions is a compelling way to express your interest in the company.

Should you have an interest in McKinsey, I am open to engaging in a conversation.

Best,

Antonio

Hi,

Great question. I think many candidates struggle with this and the answers they often give can be applicable to any of the other 2 MBB firms.

In my experience, 2 things make your answer differentiated and authentic:

1. Being able to tie the reasons closely to a deeply personal experience(s) and your own backstory
2. Being able to substantiate your perspective or impressions with actual quotes and engagements with consultants from that firm

What applies/works for someone else may not work for the nuances of your story. The only way is to spend time really reflecting deeply and also to network (its tough, that's why doing it will differentiate you).

All the best!

Hi there!

Take a step back to think of what are your actual reasons for choosing one above the other. 

Then package them in a way that is polite and makes sense. 

Aside from this, it always makes sense to get inspiration for the differences between firms from networking calls with consultants who work in these firms. This way you can also back your claims with some sort of data. 

Here's how to conduct these calls:

• Expert Guide: How To Handle Networking Calls and Get Referrals

Best,
Cristian

Hi there,

On top of other great responses I suggest that you keep a good balance between being polite and natural. Try to shortlist the reasons that truly make sense to you and your background and tell them in a way the interview truly believes those are your reasons and not a pre-made list that previous 100 candidates have already repeated.

Good luck with your interviews!

Alberto

Try to come across natural, everyone knows that its a very personal choice in the end (and that you'd likely also accept an offer elsewhere if it is strong enough). What is the real reason for you? Personal connections like friends working at BCG already? A particular event you attended and created sense of connection for you? The brand values? Any of these arguments will be fine as long as it sounds genuine. Warm regards, Frederic