What are typical "forward-looking" fit questions at Bain?

Hi there,

I always keep track of these!

The forward looking ones are things like:

• What makes a great leader?
• Where would you like to be in 5 years?
• Tell me something that's not on your CV
• What part of the consulting toolkit appeals to you

But, please remember, you're thinking about this completely wrong.

There is NO “LIKELY” to pop up. Everything is unlikely. Anything is possible.

Practice answering questions that surprise you. Period. BEcause whatever you actually study for is unlikely to be asked.

Think about the math behind this:

Possible questions asked: 5,000

Questions you can physically prepare for: 100

Odds the ones you prepared for appear: 2%

You want “control” over this situation…but that's just going to hurt you. Be flexile and adaptable to whatever comes your way.

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

Hi there,

Q: What are some examples of these forward-looking questions that are likely to pop up?

Some real fit questions with that structure that they asked at Bain (source: my previous candidates) are:

1. How would you deal with resistance from a client?
2. How would you motivate someone who reports to you?
3. What would you search for in your colleges when you join a new team?

If you need more help please feel free to reach out, I have a DB with 300+ real Bain questions for 30+ offices.

Best,

Francesco

Hi there,

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:

• First of all, even if it's called “behavioral interview”, I would highly advise you to still be prepared for general personal fit questions, as chances are high they will also be part of the interview.
• Moreover, one example for such a hypothetical behavioral personal fit question would be “If a team member is assigned numerous tasks and complains about the workload, how would you respond? Why do you think he/she confided in you?”.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on a longlist of authentic Bain behavioral interview questions or on how to best prepare for your upcoming Bain interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Just to add a few:

• When faced with an unexpected roadblock in a project, how would you adapt your approach and motivate your team to overcome challenges and meet project deadlines successfully?
• Suppose you encounter resistance or skepticism from the client regarding the proposed solutions. How would you build trust and credibility, ensuring the client is receptive to your recommendations and guidance throughout the engagement?
• How would you approach resolving conflicts within your project team in a way that promotes collaboration and maintains a positive working environment?

Hi there!

Forward looking questions are usually ‘situational’ questions, where you need to explain what you would do in certain situations. 

The most important thing to have in mind is that for these questions you still need to root them into an experience from your past (so you can recycle ‘PEI’ stories here as well). 

You can then reflect on how you acted in the past in that specific example and then show how you are likely to behave in the future or how you've changed your way of acting since then.

Best,
Cristian

———————————————

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