Why Kearney? Why Middle East? Preference for Kearney over big 3

Hi there, 

On why Kearney and why Kearney over other firms, my two core recommendations would be to:

1. Do some introspection and think of the genuine reason why you'd find Kearney attractive. It could be things that you've heard, things that you've seen, anything in terms of how they present themselves or projects of theirs that you've heard about. It's important to be genuine about it because this will come across quite clearly in your communication.

2. Speak with people from Kearney. Ask what makes Kearney different for them and why they enjoy working there. Then you could refer to these things that you've heard from real Kearney consultants. 

In terms of how to conduct these networking calls / coffee chats, you can use the guide below:

• Your Guide to Consulting Coffee Chats

In terms of why Middle East, this depends on a lot on your profile and how you can make the connection between your profile and the target region. If you are keen on making this happen, feel free to reach out and we can connect to discuss your personal storyline and how we can present it in the best way for the interview.

Best of luck!
Cristian 

Luckily I wrote an article on this!

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

If you want help crafting a stronger story, honestly this can only really happen during coaching. This isn't upselling, just the truth. We need to have a full discussion around not just the reasons but how to tie it back to your and your experiences.

Remember, you can't just say “ah gee I really like you guys because of a, b, c”. Rather you need to sell yourself to them even while telling them why you like them. Make sense?

Additionally, you can't just list projects and hope to sell Kearney on why Kearney. You need to have genuine, researched, honest reasons. Otherwise, they'll be able to tell from a mile away you're lying. You can figure these out through 1) Networking and 2) Coaching

Hi,

I started my career in Kearney before making the switch to MBB. 

Happy to share some insights having experienced both. Drop me a dm if you'd like to connect.

Hey,

I worked at Kearney in Dubai. 

Here are a few okay arguments (won't leave a good nor a bad impression, given you communicate them well):

• Kearny Dubai office has a great dynamic (it went from ~300 to more than 500 consultants over a few years)
• Kearney Dubai is especially strong in some industries (e.g., healthcare major strategy projects are mainly BCG/Kearney)
• Consultants in the ME are shaping the region in so many ways (major role in mega projects like NEOM, with Ministries, with sovereign funds, etc.)
• Kearney has big logos / logos that get you excited to work for
• etc.

Feel free to DM me if you want to make it more specific to you so you are genuinely excited about Kearney Dubai and can “sell” it better. 

• Why Middle-East? Can be the easier of the 3 questions. Your reasons can be numerous and highly personalised. Regional proximity, cultural familiarity, new region to unlock, lifestyle & ambition, or anything else
• Why Kearney? As part of your networking and application process - I am sure you would have come to know about various aspects about Kearney. While applying, you would also have made a call on what really attracts to you about Kearney. Simply pour that out. If you are unclear so far - then best to speak to current staff in the specific ME office for Kearney to learn more about the office, its projects, etc. and then tie them to your experience, personal choices, and career ambition.
• Why Kearney over Big3? The only successful way out of this is to stick to the answer above. No point in having a separate answer for this. You will just have to needlessly and constants keep explaining yourself in an apologetic manner. Have a look at this question as well - https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/bain-atlanta-16271