35 Questions for Consulting Interviews: Case Interview Prep Guide

This increasing demand means more individuals are preparing for consulting interviews, which are famously known for their challenging questions. Whether you’re aiming for McKinsey, BCG, Bain, or a boutique firm, preparing for these interviews is crucial for landing a role in this competitive field.

In this article, we will break down 35 essential questions for consulting interviews and explore their importance, how they help in preparation, and tips for effectively answering them.

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What Are Consulting Interview Questions?

Consulting interview questions are designed to test a candidate's problem-solving ability, critical thinking, communication skills, and overall business acumen. Consulting firms use these questions to determine whether a candidate has the potential to succeed in a client-facing environment.

These interviews typically fall into two categories:

1. Fit (or behavioral) questions – These assess your interpersonal skills, leadership abilities, and cultural fit with the firm.
2. Case study questions – These test your ability to solve real-world business problems, break down complex issues, and provide actionable recommendations

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Why Consulting Interview Questions Are Important

The reason consulting firms place so much emphasis on interview questions is that they replicate the challenges consultants face daily. When working with clients, consultants often have to handle ambiguous problems with limited information. Therefore, a candidate's performance during the interview gives firms a strong indication of how they’ll fare in a real-world consulting environment.

Here are some of the benefits of mastering consulting interview questions:

• Preparation leads to confidence: The more familiar you are with the types of questions asked, the more confident you'll feel when facing them during the interview.
• Demonstrates problem-solving skills: Case questions showcase your ability to break down complicated issues and think critically, a vital skill in consulting.
• Helps you stand out: A well-prepared candidate not only answers questions correctly but also brings unique insights that help them stand out from the competition.

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Categories of Consulting Interview Questions

1. Fit (Behavioral) Questions

These questions are designed to gauge how you handle workplace situations, manage teams, and fit into the company culture. They’re essential in determining your interpersonal skills and leadership capabilities.

Here are a few examples of fit questions:

1. Tell me about a time when you led a team.
2. Describe a situation where you faced a significant challenge and how you overcame it.
3. How do you prioritize your tasks when working on multiple projects?
4. Why do you want to work in consulting?
5. How do you handle conflict in a team setting?

2. Case Study Questions

Case studies are the cornerstone of consulting interviews, and firms use them to evaluate your ability to solve complex business problems. These cases could revolve around market entry strategies, profitability, or even operational efficiency.

Examples of case questions include:

1. Our client is a mid-sized electronics manufacturer. Their profits have been declining. How would you help them turn the business around?
2. A major retailer wants to expand into a new market. How would you advise them on the best strategy?
3. How would you help a telecom company improve its customer retention?
4. Estimate the size of the smartphone market in Europe.
5. What are the key factors to consider when launching a new product line in a highly competitive market?

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Types of case interviews

There are three main types of case interviews:

• Market sizing cases: These cases ask you to estimate the size of a particular market or industry.
• Business strategy cases: These cases ask you to develop a business strategy for a company or organization.
• Profitability cases: These cases ask you to analyze a company's profitability and identify ways to improve it.

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How to Approach Consulting Interview Questions

Answering consulting interview questions successfully requires a blend of structure, analysis, and clear communication. Here’s how to tackle them effectively:

1. Use the STAR Method for Behavioral Questions

For fit questions, using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is a great approach. This method provides a structured way to respond and ensures you cover all necessary details while highlighting your skills.

For example, if asked, "Tell me about a time when you led a team," your response could follow this format:

• Situation: Describe the context (e.g., leading a project at a previous company).
• Task: Explain the task or challenge you faced.
• Action: Discuss the specific actions you took to overcome the challenge.
• Result: Highlight the outcome and how your actions contributed to the success of the project.

2. Break Down Case Study Questions

For case questions, structure is everything. Most consultants use a framework to break down complex problems into smaller, manageable components. Some common frameworks include:

• Profitability framework (Revenue and Costs)
• Market entry framework (Market size, Competition, and Risks)
• 4Cs Framework (Customer, Company, Competition, and Costs)

For example, if asked how to help a company expand into a new market, you could structure your answer by analyzing market size, identifying competitors, and discussing potential risks and customer needs.

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Tips for Answering Consulting Interview Questions

1. Ask Clarifying Questions: Don't hesitate to ask for more details if a question is unclear. Clarifying questions demonstrate that you're thinking critically and want to ensure you understand the problem.
2. Take Time to Structure Your Thoughts: Especially in case questions, take a moment to organize your thoughts before answering. It's better to take a pause than to jump into a disorganized response.
3. Use Data and Examples: Whenever possible, use data to back up your answers. Also, include relevant examples from your previous experiences to illustrate your points.
4. Practice Is Key: The best way to get comfortable with these questions is to practice. Simulate mock interviews with friends, mentors, or even yourself by recording and reviewing your responses.

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Wrapping It All Up: A Sample Consulting Question and Answer

Let’s walk through an example of a case study question:

Question: "Our client is a large grocery chain. They have noticed declining profits over the past three quarters. How would you go about diagnosing the problem?"

Sample Answer:

• Clarify the problem: Is the profit decline due to lower sales or increased costs?
• Analyze costs: Break down fixed and variable costs, and see if there have been any changes over the last three quarters.
• Investigate revenue streams: Look into customer traffic, pricing strategy, and competition.
• Provide recommendations: Once the root cause is identified (e.g., rising supply costs), suggest strategies like renegotiating supplier contracts or improving marketing efforts to increase customer traffic.

By using a structured approach like this, you'll be able to showcase your analytical and problem-solving skills effectively.

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35 case interview questions

Here are 35 case interview questions that you may be asked:

1. How many golf balls would fit in a Boeing 747?
2. Estimate the size of the market for disposable diapers in India.
3. Develop a business plan for a new online grocery store.
4. How would you improve the profitability of a struggling restaurant chain?
5. What is the value of a company with $100 million in revenue and a 10% profit margin?
6. How would you determine the optimal price for a new product?
7. Estimate the number of piano tuners in New York City.
8. Develop a marketing strategy for a new line of athletic shoes.
9. How would you increase the sales of a struggling department store?
10. What is the value of a company with $50 million in revenue and a 5% profit margin?
11. How would you determine the optimal price for a new service?
12. Estimate the number of hairdressers in Los Angeles.
13. Develop a marketing strategy for a new line of luxury handbags.
14. How would you increase the sales of a struggling airline?
15. What is the value of a company with $20 million in revenue and a 2% profit margin?
16. How would you determine the optimal price for a new software product?
17. Estimate the number of gas stations in the United States.
18. Develop a marketing strategy for a new line of electric cars.
19. How would you increase the sales of a struggling cable television company?
20. What is the value of a company with $10 million in revenue and a 1% profit margin?
21. How would you determine the optimal price for a new pharmaceutical product?
22. Estimate the number of Starbucks stores in the world.
23. Develop a marketing strategy for a new line of smartphones.
24. How would you increase the sales of a struggling fast food restaurant chain?
25. What is the value of a company with $5 million in revenue and a 0.5% profit margin?
26. How would you determine the optimal price for a new book?
27. Estimate the number of McDonald's restaurants in the world.
28. Develop a marketing strategy for a new line of video games.
29. How would you increase the sales of a struggling hotel chain?
30. What is the value of a company with $2 million in revenue and a 0.2% profit margin?
31. How would you determine the optimal price for a new piece of jewelry?
32. Estimate the number of Subway restaurants in the world.
33. Develop a marketing strategy for a new line of beer.
34. How would you increase the sales of a struggling movie theater chain?
35. What is the value of a company with $1 million in revenue and a 0.1% profit margin?

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Additional tips for preparing for a case interview

In addition to the tips mentioned above, here are a few additional tips for preparing for a case interview:

• Be prepared to think on your feet. Case interviews can be challenging, and you may not always have all of the information you need to solve the problem. Be prepared to think on your feet and to come up with creative solutions.
• Be organized and structured in your approach. When solving a case interview problem, it is important to be organized and structured in your approach. This will help you to stay on track and to avoid getting lost.

Be confident and articulate. It is important to be confident and articulate when presenting your findings to the interviewer. This will show that you are capable of communicating effectively and that you believe in your recommendations.