Hello
I got selected for a phone interview for the Senior consultant-Automotive with Roland Berger. The interview will be conducted by HR. I am expecting questions like:
Walk me through your resume?
Why consulting ?
Why now (given that I have >5 years of experience in a non consulting position)?
Why roland berger?
Any other insights on what should I expect ? I have an advanced degree (PhD) with >5 years experience in the auto industry from a global OEM.
Hi, I confirm an introduction to your cv, and motivational questions will be asked. I would also prepare some impactful stories about your background (automotive expertise, leadership, entrepreneurship) and final questions you want to ask to the recruiter.
Best,
Antonello
Hey there,
congrats on the interview!
The questions you posed are in the right direction. You can expect also questions about salary expectations (so familiarize yourself with salary structure at Berger). But above all you will probably be tested on your top-down communication skills as your background (phd and industry) has trained you more towards an explanatory way of communicating/solving problems. For example:
- What are the top three skills you think a consultant needs to have? Do you have them?
Since you already have a signifcant amount of work experience + phd they will also be testing whether you'll soon be capable of leading project teams. Therefore be prepared to talk about specific situations in which you have encountered a problem...and helped to solve it. Or in which you had a conflict with a team member/manager and how you solved it...
Let me know if you need help prepping for this - maybe I can help at the interface of OEM and topmanagement inhouse consulting.
Best,
Torben
Hi there,
For an initial phone screening with HR, those kinds of questions can be expected. It will also be about aligning expectations around the role and assessing whether that would be the right fit for you given your experience.
HR does typically not conduct case interviews. These will happen in a follow-up stage of the application process with consultants. Find below a few practice cases that are representative of the Roland Berger style of the recent years across various interview rounds:
Best
Hi there,
Great that you are preparing those questions! You should absolutely expect at least one from that list to appear.
In addition to that, you need to be prepared to talk to your resume, and, specifically, be ready to answer "Tell me about a time" questions. How do you prepare these?
Step 1 - Categorize the main stories
There are 5-10 "themes" you need to prepare for. i.e. Leadership, teamwork, challenge, etc. Figure out this list and make sure your stories cover this range (PM me and I can provide you with a template for this list)
Step 2 - Create FLEXIBLE stories that cover a range of categories
You need to create 4-6 stories that each cover a range of topics. They need to be powerful stories that can be adjusted and adapted based on the question asked.
One of my "core" or "killer" stories was usable for Initiative, Achievement, Leadership, Challenge, Change of direction, AND Persuasion.
Write down these stories along STAR or similar format...use bullet points
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Step 3 - Organize these stories so you know which ones can be used for what and PRACTICE
Make sure you cover the whole gambit. Then, practice getting asked a question and thinking of which stories apply. I can assure you, no-one is coming up with full stories in a few seconds. Rather, they have practiced how to adapt an existing story to the question asked.
Hello!
If you want to deep dive on the topic, the "Integrated FIT guide for MBB" has been recently published in PrepLounge´s shop (https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/tests-2/integrated-fit-guide-for-mbb-34)
It provides an end-to-end preparation for all three MBB interviews, tackling each firms particularities and combining key concepts review and a hands-on methodology. Following the book, the candidate will prepare his/her stories by practicing with over 50 real questions and leveraging special frameworks and worksheets that guide step-by-step, developed by the author and her experience as a Master in Management professor and coach. Finally, as further guidance, the guide encompasses over 20 examples from real candidates.
Furthermore, you can find 5 free cases in the PrepL case regarding FIT preparation:
Feel free to PM me for disccount codes for the Integrated FIT Guide, since we still have some left from the launch!
Hi,
I would love to connect with you as I have my interview scheduled this week. We can prepare together.
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