How to Prep for Consulting Interview Questions

You’ve decided that consulting is the career for you and are preparing for an internship or full-time role at a top consulting firm. This guide will help you prepare for consulting interview questions, covering both case interviews and fit interviews.

Types of Consulting Interview Questions

The consulting interview process generally consists of two components:

• Case Interview: You’re presented with a business problem (a “case study”) and asked to solve it in front of your interviewers. Typically, you’ll complete two rounds of case interviews, each lasting approximately 45 minutes. The first 10 minutes are for introductions and small talk, with the remainder dedicated to the case study. You won’t have access to a calculator or pre-prepared questions.
• Fit Interview: Conducted with a partner, this portion focuses on less technical questions such as, “Why did you apply to this firm?” or “Why do you want to go into consulting?”

Why Are Consulting Interviews So In-Depth?

• Case Interviews: These are behavioral in nature, demonstrating how you solve problems. Interviewers assess your confidence, ability to handle client objections, and grace under pressure.
• Fit Interviews: These help the company understand your motivations and ensure alignment between you and the firm. Firms prefer candidates who are likely to accept an offer.

Consulting Interview Questions: Where to Start Your Prep Work

Preparation is critical. Start long before your interview or application:

• Research: Understand what consultants do and the specific type of consulting the firm specializes in.
• Skill Development:
  • Improve mental math (no calculator will be provided).
  • Stay updated on market trends and industry news.
  • Practice storytelling with a logical structure (beginning, middle, end).
  • Create hypotheses from business data.
  • Ask deep, meaningful questions—interviewers won’t provide solutions.
  • Explain your solutions clearly; don’t assume interviewers or clients will follow your reasoning.
  • Be comfortable with silence while formulating answers.
• Practice: Connect with classmates, join consulting clubs, or network with professionals who’ve gone through the process. Many firms offer practice tools, such as Deloitte’s interactive case interview simulator.
• Differentiate Yourself: Let your personality shine through to stand out from other candidates.

How to Answer Case Interview Consulting Questions

In a case interview, your goal is to solve the problem and present a well-reasoned answer as if the interviewer were the client. Interviewers assess:

• Strategic thinking
• Analytical ability
• Common sense
• Creativity

Step-by-Step Approach:

1. Understand the Problem: The interviewer presents a scenario (e.g., “Imagine you’re working in X industry, and the client wants you to solve Y problem.”). Take your time to think—silence is expected.
2. Develop a Plan: Write out a structured, logical approach. Define areas to investigate, questions to ask, and data needed.
3. Present Your Plan: Say, “I’ll solve the problem by looking at X, and the data I’ll need is Y.” Ask the interviewer (acting as the client) for the required data.
4. Analyze and Calculate: Use the provided data to perform calculations—without a calculator. Ensure your math is accurate; errors can disqualify you.
5. Explain Your Solution: Walk the interviewer through your reasoning. Be prepared for challenges or questions about your math or logic.

Case Study Interview Question Example

A common type of case interview question is market sizing, where you estimate the size of a market based on annual revenue or units sold. Example:

Question: “How many liters of vodka are sold in Poland every year?”

Approach: Use reasonable assumptions and easy-to-work-with numbers:

• Assume Poland’s population is 50 million (easier for calculations).
• Assume 30 million are of drinking age.
• Assume 50% of those are vodka drinkers.

Your answer must be well-reasoned, clearly communicated, and mathematically sound.