Boston Consulting Group Interview Questions & Reviews

Interview Details – I submitted my resume and cover letter on my college's recruiting website and received a first round interview. The interviews were handled very professionally—we received a packet of information about the interviewers and process in the waiting room. Each interview was 45 minutes and consisted of fit, a relatively straightforward case, and time for questions. They let me know on the next business day that I had received a final round, and I received feedback from my first round interviewer that was crucial in helping me prepare, as well as a buddy from the office who ran through a practice interview with me. The final round was relaxed and fun, with a dinner the night before where the candidates got to meet current associates and relax. The final round was also two 45 minute interviews, with cases of about the same difficulty. They let me know about the offer by lunchtime that day.

Negotiation Details – After I received the offer, the company was extremely helpful, putting me in touch with a host of senior and junior people with similar interests and extending my offer until I knew enough to decide.

Interview Details – Standard process: 2 interviews in first round, 3 in final round, mix of case and behavioral

Interview Details – First round interview in Chicago. Second round interview in DC. The recruiting staff does a good job ensuring that the trips and office visits are pleasant and go smoothly.

5 interviews total between the 2 rounds. Each interview was 1 on 1 for about 45min and consisted of 10min of fit questions about leadership, teamwork, and interest in consulting followed by 30min of a business case and ending with time for me to ask questions. In each case interview the interviewers defaulted to having me pick which parts of my framework to investigate, but they intervened for the sake of time if I went too far off track or made serious math mistakes.

First round interviews consisted of 2 interviews by current Consultants. Both were friendly. One was open and easy to read, the other was not. Both cases were pretty straightforward, with a problem statement, a question about how to proceed, analysis of charts, some calculations, and recommendations. At the end they gave some good insights into the job and lifestyle when I asked.

Second round interviews consisted of 3 interviews by current Partners. The partners definitely came across as having high standards but were friendly, professional, and pretty easy to read. The business cases they used each seemed to be pet cases that were relevant to their own experience and that they'd used many times before. Two of these cases put extra emphasis on brainstorming and hypothesizing compared to the first round interviews. They very clearly appreciated creative and insightful answers and were clearly unimpressed by poor analysis and getting flustered by mistakes. The partners provided good insights into the company when I asked at the end.

Overall, the interviews were a positive experience. I like the case format's ability to convey analytical abilities, but it's tough to expand meaningfully on a resume in 10 minutes of fit questions.

Interview Details – Career center resume drop, followed by invitation to first-round interview, and finally a second round interview.

Reason for Declining – Had a better offer elsewhere

Interview Details – First round consisted of two interviews, one with a Project Leader and one with a Principal. A few fit questions and then moved into the case. The cases have lots of exhibits and are usually very unstructured.

The first case was a market entry and financial analysis with lots of exhibits to look through. The second case was a profitability analysis.

Second round consisted of four interviews - 3 partners and 1 principal.

One case just a bunch of confusing exhibits to sort through and talk about. Another case was about profitability and another was about growth strategy. The final case was written - they gave me an annual report for a company and an industry report and asked me to piece together a few talking points to brief the partner who was going to meet with the client CEO. They gave me half an hour to do it and walked in after 22 minutes to say wrap it up.

Reason for Declining – Not flexible on pay and position

Interview Details – 3 Interviews

Negotiation Details – They were amazingly flexible and open--I was incredibly impressed.

Interview Details – Very interesting: they called me right after my application to come by for interview.
Just prepared myself a bit with case in point, after all they don't want you to use a predefined framework, they want you to create a framework on the spot. The first round was rather hard, while the in basket case in the second round wasn't too hard.
Btw, you always need some luck to survive :)

Negotiation Details – no

Interview Details – I was called in via the recruiter and just had to meet with 3 people.

Negotiation Details – What were you able to negotiate? What advice would you give others considering an offer?

Interview Details – 2 rounds of case interviews; 1st round has 2 interviews with more junior-level managers; 2nd round has 3 interviews with more senior level managers

Negotiation Details – No negotiating -- standard package