Roland Berger ME - Partner Interview

Hi there,

You need to stop trying to predict things.

It could be a 45 min case. It could be 0 case and all fit. You might get 100 charts/exhibits. Or you might get 0 data (or all verbal data). It could be an official case or it could be a series of brainstorming questions.

If you learn the interview/consultant skillset, it doesn't matter the exact format of the interview as you'll be ready for anything! You need to learn how to be objective-driven and have structured/concise thinking + communication.

Of course, the best way to get ready is to hire a coach that can both teach you this and pressure test you with a dynamic mock interview!

Here's some reading on casing: https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/how-to-shift-your-mindset-to-ace-the-case

And some reading on fit: https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/tell-me-about-yourself-interview-question

As others mentioned, this could really be anything and your existing prep for case and/or fit type interviews likely has prepared you already.

The only additional thing to be aware of for senior interviews is to just keep up to date about current affairs / news. In these more senior interviews I was asked (as a grad) things like:
- What do I think of the American election and who are the candidates (I am based outside the US)
- What stocks would I currently buy and why

No need to do massive research for these types of things (especially because you can't predict them), but just read the newspaper for 30 mins each day for the week leading up to the interview.

Hi there,

This level is completely unpredictable and the same for RB, MBB, or other firms. Don't waste your time and energy.

Let's assume there's an underlying scrip for conducting interviews - the more senior your interviewers get, the more they're likely to divert from this script and do their own thing.

Your best bet is to adapt a conversational style for all your interviews i.e. manage a 2 way conversation throughout. Also, make sure you're able to pivot quickly and don't overthink when it happens i.e. Partner quickly shifts from one thing to a completely different thing.

This is something I and most other coaches can help more with in a 1:1 setting if needed, let me know. 

Best of luck!

Hello!

I got two of those with one of the partners in the McKinsey Madrid offer, they are quite common in final rounds - more with senior people. 

The only way to practice is having done a lot of the traditional ones. It´s like the ballerina who has done so many barre hours, and then is asked to improvise to new music. 

Hope it helps!

Cheers, 

Clara