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Boston Consulting Summer Associate Interview Questions & Reviews

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Web: www.bcg.com | HQ: Boston, MA

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Updated Feb 8, 2012 – Interview questions and reviews posted anonymously by interview candidates.

Difficulty Rating [?] Based on 16 ratings

3.8

“Difficult” Interview

Interview Experience [?] Based on 16 ratings

Positive	62%
Neutral	38%
Negative	0%

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4.0

Difficult Interview

Overall Neutral Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Jan 2012 in Toronto, ON (Canada) (took 2 weeks)

For summer internship position while in undergrad
Applied through BCG website.

Went to information session.
-everyone was very friendly and had a relaxed attitude.
-There was enough time to talk with employees and learn about the office

Offered first round interview
-had scheduling issues and they were very accommodating
-actual interview had two case questions and behavioral test
-the case questions were very similar
(there is a problem here [industry, product etc] -> break down major factors -> one of major factors was problem -> breakdown again -> make recommendation
-I had prepared for much more variety and the mental math was an issue since I have been working with variables for a long time now.
-had drawn a flow chart of possible issues to address at beginning and worked with it through the case
-found issues and made recommendation.
-the behavioral questions were exceedingly simple (only had two: tell me about *points to most relevant thing on resume* and tell me about a team experience where there was a challenge)
-interviewers were very friendly and relaxed although one was in a rush and left 30 min in
-was not offered second interview for lack of organization on the case interview

Interview Questions

Tell me about a team experience where you faced a challenge.

Answer Question

Other Details

The interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

4.0

Difficult Interview

Overall Neutral Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Jan 2012 in New York, NY (took 1 week)

I was offered an interview on Thursday evening via email for the following Friday. Two 45 minute interviews, around 3-4 behavioral questions, 30 mins of case, a little bit of time at the end for questions.
Be careful, some behavioral questions can be difficult if you do not prepare, for example "Describe a recent business case you have encountered and how you would have approached it as a BCG consultant"

Interview Questions

Describe a recent business case and how you would react as a BCG consultant?

View Answers (1)

Other Details

I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview, a Skills Test and a Personality Test.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

4.0

Difficult Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Jan 2012 (took a day)

Very nice people, but difficult case with tricky math.

Interview Questions

Tell me about a leadership experience when not everything went as planned.

Answer Question

Other Details

I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Jan 2012 in New York, NY (took a day)

Very nice people. Helpful throughout the case interview. 2 interviews, both had fit questions (why consulting, tell me about a time you were on a time, etc.) and then went through a full case. One case was a lot harder than the other -- initially a profit case, which was easy, but suddenly switched to a complicated market sizing case which is what threw me. Overall good experience and the people were very friendly.

Interview Questions

Why are you interested in consulting?

Answer Question

Other Details

I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

4.0

Difficult Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Feb 2011 (took 2 weeks)

1st round was on campus and consisted of two back to back 45 minute interviews. 15 min was fit 30 min was a case. Both cases were relatively qualitative and the math was very simple. 2nd round occurred a week later in the office I requested. Same format, two 45 min interviews. Cases were a little more vague, but still very qualitative. After a received an offer, I got flown out to spend a weekend with the office with a bunch of free meals and activities. They definitely sell themselves well.

Interview Questions

Maker of labels experiencing declining revenues. Why and what should they do.

Answer Question

Milk producer trying to decide whether or not to distribute milk themselves or outsource

Answer Question

Other Details

I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

4.0

Difficult Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Feb 2011 in Philadelphia, PA (took 1 week)

Recruiting manager from office called to set up the appointment, and was very friendly. The firm was flexible on both the date and time. The day consisted of 2 interviews, each including a case and a behavioral portion. Cases were straight-forward and what you would find in various books. They were also very interviewee driven, so be prepared to ask (appropriate) questions to drive the conversation.

Interview Questions

What do you bring to the firm?

Answer Question

What do you want to do after consulting?

Answer Question

Other Details

I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

4.0

Difficult Interview

Overall Neutral Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Jan 2011 (took a day)

My interview lasted one day only (a morning to be exact) and it consisted of a personal interview about my resume that was followed by a one-on-one case study interview. The case study interview was very similar to that included in the emailed packet (you'll get a packet to prepare you for the case study interview). The interviewers were nice, I think I did ok on the personal portion but struggled to do the quantitative reasoning on the case study part since I didn't have a calculator and I'm not a business student.

Interview Questions

There was a business case question about a cheese manufacturing company in which I was asked how this company could increase its market share against a competitor.

View Answers (1)

Other Details

I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a 1:1 Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

4.0

Difficult Interview

Overall Neutral Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Feb 2010 in Chicago, IL (took a day)

accepted from school, tough case interview didn't get offer

Interview Questions

how many tennis balls fit in a 8 x 8 room?

View Answers (1)

Other Details

The interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview and a Personality Test.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Jun 2009 in Toronto, ON (Canada) (took 2 weeks)

First round: Got two interviews, one with a project leader, the other with a consultant. Both were 45 minutes, 10-15 minutes behavioural, the rest case. One case was very technical and highly quntitative, the other was less framed and required me to come up with a creative solution. Both were typical interviews that could have been predicted. Both behavioural was about my resume.

Interview Questions

When working on a team, do you take the role of a leader, or that of a team player?

Answer Question

Other Details

I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Jan 2011 in Boston, MA (took a day)

I had two case interviews. Both interviewers were friendly and overall the experience was positive. I received a call by the next morning letting me know I was not being considered for second round interviews.