Interview experiences - Fall 2009

To serve the intention with which this blog was started, this entry is something I have been intending to write since a while. Thanks to my friend, Mr. Sharma for inspiring me to finally write it! :) It is specifically targeted towards all aspiring Management Consultants and is meant to give a brief on-the-ground picture of fetching a Management Consulting job - the competition, the numbers, the expectations and of course, the self-realization. :)

Management Consulting (MC) is a dream career for thousands of MBA students. According to a survey by MBA Admissions conducted in 2007, more than 30% of the entering class in all top 20 US b-schools had McKinsey & Company selected as their 'dream company'. More than 40% of these had an Investment Bank tied for this position, but unfortunately, the bank no more exists. And to add a little icing over the cake, now you also get a chance to compete with laid-off VPs and Directors who spent 10-15 years of their lives slogging behind a company only to be handed a pink slip one fine morning. Phew! These people, if fit enough to work efficiently for 10-12 hours a day, are like a bonanza package for MC firms. They not only make MC firms look great in front of clients through their years of industry experience, they also bring in those industry-wide contacts - and as we all know, America runs on contacts. I remember one of my friends saying, it's more about who you know than how much you know!!

I entered the b-school with similar aspirations as well, only to realize that Case Interviews were not as simple as they sounded. And... being in a country where businesses run so differently than your home country does make a lot of difference! If I recall the past, I think my first year internship interviews were a disaster, they make me feel how stupid I was in my first year! :) I somehow managed to get a near-MC internship which actually started building my foundation of how businesses run in the US. Summer 2008 not only re-affirmed my interest in MC, I also found myself much more confident with cases. But than came the year when many things crashed! :) Fall 2008 and Spring 2009 saw the number of open MC positions shrink to half and the competition quadruple.

A year later - in Fall 2009 - although the on-campus recruitment scene was still pathetic, I knew there were ways to fetch interviews with these firms. And this is the biggest takeaway I had in the two years. Even if a top notch MC company does not recruit from your campus, or they are not recruiting from your campus this year - you can still fetch their attention. And just two words for doing that - smart networking. Try to find out what are the hot things in the market, work on your resume and cover letter, and tell those companies how YOU can add value to their firm. I remember 'networking like a dog', literally, thanks to which I was able to fetch interviews with four of the top five firms in my field.

The good thing with case interviews is that you get better with time, your confidence grows with every case you crack. However, the bad thing is that there is only a certain level you can reach - you canNOT crack all the cases you get. The key is to note down and remember lessons from every case you bomb and keep building your tool kit.

First Round Interviews:

Generally, first round cases aren't usually very twisted, unless you get an over-smart interviewer. And I think not many students totally 'bomb' first round cases, if they are well practiced. So then how are you evaluated? Although all firms have different criteria - I think I could confidently generalize the basic ones, for the first round, into two buckets. First, your thinking process and second, your comfort with numbers. Of course, you need not be a walking PrecisionTree or a walking calculator - but showing solid strength in these areas definitely impresses most people in this industry. And then comes the lighter stuff such as your creativity, the way you carry yourself, your behavioral answers, 'the airport test' and the list goes on...

Final Round Interviews:

Firms differ a LOT in the way they give final round cases as well as the way they evaluate you. You typically deal with Partners in final rounds and so you expect to get high level 'strategic' cases. But don't let this expectation fool you. Partners in these firms can get more analytical and numbers oriented than you can ever imagine. After all, they are Partners for a reason! While all first round parameters are still important, you are also evaluated on your ability to 'influence the client'. And I think this is where experience comes into play. You either need to be a super-genius or a master in your field if you were to 'influence' C-level executives. However, here is the toughest part about cracking a final round interview day - you need to display that you rank consistently high in all these skills, 'consistent' being the key word here.

When times are tough, most 'human beings' rely on safest choices, they do not want to take chances. Management Consulting firms are no exceptions these days. They will take you only if you are CONSISTENTLY GREAT. However, if you are like me and you find Management Consulting to be your passion, don't ever give up. It might not be your first job after b-school, but consider getting into a MC firm to be your short-term goal. Take up a job opportunity that would help you get into your dream firm - something that either has a big brand name or something that is directly related to the work your dream company does. Form a solid network while you are in school - with your consultant classmates, with consultant alums, with managers/parters you meet during your interviews (assuming you did not totally bomb their case) as well as Consulting recruiters. Try to remain in touch with them all. Follow consulting magazines such as KennedyInfo/ConsultingMag and finally, keep practicing those cases! Remember - success is a journey and not a destination. Plan your journey in small steps that are aligned to your ultimate goal - whatever it is.

While I near my graduation date May 10, 2010 - I am thinking how far have I come, and its actually kinda funny! :) From someone who had very unclear motives behind attending a b-school in US to someone who exactly knows what he wants in life. It looks like pursuing my desire to fetch a Management Consulting job has actually changed me. I will now leave you with a screenshot I would definitely show my son (or daughter) if he (or she) decides to do an MBA.. haha.. :)



Take care, everyone!