Booz Allen Hamilton Senior Consultant Interview Questions & Reviews

Interview Details – The process was fast. I had an interview scheduled the day after my first phone conversation with a recruiter. The recruiter was pretty aggressive on the phone and tried to get an idea of what kind of salary I was looking for and why I was leaving my current job, which is pretty standard. I was then given 24 hours to fill in fairly detailed information about my history for their background check, so it is a good idea to have that info handy if you think you will be getting an interview. I interviewed with four employees, moving from one office to the next every 30 minutes. The first interviewer started off by verifying some of the technical skills listed on my resume. This went quickly because I answered the questions directly and specifically and then elaborated to show that I really knew what I was talking about. I have since been involved in interviews of other technical candidates, and when they give high level or general answers to technical questions, not only is it frustrating for the interviewer, there is very little chance an offer will be extended. After those few technical questions, the majority of the interview process focused on my personality and how well I would fit in with the team. I had an offer that same night.

Negotiation Details – Booz Allen will start with a lower offer but seem very willing to negotiate. I increased the offer by 6% just by explaining that I really needed 12% more to justify the career change. The recruiter tried to get me to accept a verbal offer, explaining that it is a real pain to get a partner to sign it, etc., but I insisted on a written offer which she overnighted to me without much trouble.

Interview Details – BAH had a very quick interview process. It was decently organized, but very cold and reflected the size of their company. You definitely felt like another number. When I showed up to check in they didn't even have record that I should be there that day, which isn't a good first impression for a potential employee. After an initial phone interview they bring you for a 1:1 interview with 3 managers you would be working with, each of which have a different focus (skills, personality, past experience, thought leadership, etc.).

Reason for Declining – Didn't like the culture, or that I was treated as another number right from the start. I prefer a more personal, smaller firm. The salary also wasn't as competitive as I expected.

Interview Details – Interview was not very structured as I did not fall in the college-recruiting process.

Negotiation Details – Definitely negotiate - they will try to make the lowest offer possible

Interview Details – The recruiter was professional. The face to face interviews were with six different Booz Allen employees from different ranks. They were vague about the job since they hire for a career path instead for a specific contract job. It was a good experience.

Interview Details – The phone interview was very easy and no preparation is required.

The in person interviews are set up at the Booz Allen headquarters in Virginia and take about 2.5 hours. A recruiter meets with you first to lay out who will interview you and to review your application. Three Booz Allen employees then interview you, each focusing on a different aspect of your background such as functional knowledge or leadership. They ask you repeatedly to tell them about a time when you used your skills.

Reason for Declining – Salary was too low.

Interview Details – Panel interview, met with 6 current employees from all levels of the organization for about 30 minutes each. Everyone was friendly and engaging. Just looking to check the box that you have requisite experience and have the right personality for consulting

Negotiation Details – Flexible, firm does have a reputation for making a low first offer

Interview Details – I worked my way in to a Booz Allen from some contacts that I had made while I was in the Air Force. Once I got my foot in the door I had an initial phone interview with the Hiring Manager for the local area. This interview really only covered my resume and my personality. From there a more formal interview was set up at their local facility. This interview would be a series of 1:1 interviews (5-30 min interviews back-to-back). The first 1:1 was really just to familiarize me with the project they were hiring me for and to allow me to ask questions. The second interview was a personality assessment and a further review of my resume. The third, fourth, and fifth interviews were primarily to see which part of the organization I would fit the best. All-in-all, the interview process was short, but to be fair this was also an industry and a product that I had a decent history with.

Negotiation Details – I guess more and more interviews these days are becoming the starting ground for offers. Right up front in the interviewing process they asked me what I was looking to make. This conversation was written down and used as the starting point for their initial offer. After a few back-and-forth conversations with the local hiring manager we were able to settle on an adequate compensation package with room for incentives as I finished my masters degree.

Interview Details – I was still on active duty in the military when I was called about an interview and since I couldn't just pick up and leave for an interview on the East Coast on short notice, my recruiter managed to set up a series of phone interviews with potential supervisors and fellow technical experts. I had three interviews spread out over two weeks, at which point I was offered, and accepted, the position.

Interview Details – I had applied through a recruiter then Booz decided to come to my school to interview the candidates instead. I had my interview with the HR recruiter, it was mainly about your background and your past experience. I was also asked why should I picked over other candidates and examples of leadership etc. They will ask you your salary expectations at the end and if there were any specific teams you want to work for/with. the recruiter was very laid back and nice, taking lots of notes. I do not believe I'll be getting called back right now because of my availability. They need someone available asap and I can't meet that right now. Otherwise, the recruiter seemed to like my experience and academic background.