Interview Tips

Take a moment to think about the case to gain perspective. Putting together a structure and a framework will help you clarify each step and enable you to identify the analysis you may want to perform to reach a solution.

Take some time to organize your ideas; don’t jump too fast to conclusions.

Concentrate on the issues that will really make a difference and create value for your “client,” but make sure that you explain the reasons behind your choices.

Make suggestions on how to solve the key issues you have identified. The interviewer will be looking for the same things a BCG client would expect when working with us—innovative approaches that can change the rules of the game and creation of lasting competitive advantage.

Given that there is limited information available, the interviewer will ask you probing questions about your comments, hypotheses, or conclusions to test your capability to use your judgment.

At some point, the interviewer will ask you to make some simple calculations. Rather than testing computational skill, this is meant to see if you can use numbers to quickly form opinions and guide decisions. Your calculations should be accurate and integrated into what you have discovered so far.

At the end of the interview, you should summarize the key hypotheses and options you have developed. Then, conclude with your recommended solution to the client’s problem.

During the discussion, the interviewer will work with you to organize your thoughts and steer you toward a solution. Don’t be afraid to ask questions that check your understanding.

There is no right or wrong answer in our interviews, and you are not expected to know everything about business. The objective of the interview is for us to learn about your approach to solving business problems, so remember to discuss your line of thought with the interviewer.

If the interviewer challenges the solution you propose, don’t go on the defensive. Acknowledge the possibility that the interviewer has brought up a relevant perspective that you had not considered and reexamine your thinking accordingly.

The interview should be a dialogue between you and the interviewer, so make sure you communicate your logic and underlying assumptions.

Standard frameworks you have learned in school may appear relevant, but they may not hold up after closer consideration.

The case presented might sound familiar to you: BCG cases are sometimes discussed by people who have been involved in our interview process. Remember, however, that we attempt to use fresh cases in our interviews, so jumping to conclusions about the case before you have heard all the details could be distinctly disadvantageous.