General Interview Tips

Recruiting time line and tips for internships

Most consulting firms recruit on campus.  The COC requires you to have your resume ready for the resume book in late September.  Firms host "get to know you" receptions starting early September.  Occasionally, firms come back in November/December to hold a reception specifically for first year students interested in obtaining a summer internship.  At that time, students can submit their resume online through Symplicity so that the firms can preselect candidates that they would like to interview. 

Summer Internship interviews are typically held between late January and mid-February.  If you are invited for second round interviews, they usually take place at the firm's office.  Offers usually arrive in February/March.  If you decide to do your own search, start early! Just because some firms don't recruit on campus doesn't mean that they don't hire interns from other schools.  You should start in November with your internship search.  An exception may be found in smaller, e-commerce firms, which rarely hire interns before mini-4, if at all.  In both cases, networking is the key, since few firms will select you solely on your resume. 

The Interview Process

Consulting interviews are a combination of case and behavioral interviews.  During the interview, you may be asked to solve 1-3 cases and answer 1-2 behavioral questions.  For cases an interviewer typically will tell you about a business problem.  It is then up to you to tell the interviewer what you would do.  Depending on the firm interview style, you may have to “drive” the interview where you ask questions and the interviewer will steer you in a certain direction.  Alternatively, the interviewer may “drive,” where you have to answer questions and solve problems in stages within the case interview.

Consulting firms prefer using case interviews to see what your thinking patterns are and how well you do under pressure and adversity.  Students who have not prepared with the Consulting Club find this form of interviewing agonizing.  However, case interviewing can be learned and if you do it well, can set you apart from other candidates.  The key is to PRACTICE, PRACTICE, and PRACTICE.  The Consulting Club organizes a range of events and initiatives to prepare Tepper students for the case interview process. 

Contact Sanin Rahman for details on case preparation.

Contacting firms

It is a good idea to establish contact with people at the firms in which you are most interested.  Keep in mind that consulting firms are ultra-professional, meaning if you call, be brief and concise, since many consultants do not have a lot of time on their hands.  Also remember that consultants do talk to each other.  If you ask one consultant a question that can be answered one time DO NOT ask 3 other consultants from the same office the same question.  This will reflect poorly on you.

Your best bet is to start with alumni or find out who is on the Tepper recruiting team.  These people will be most interested in talking to you. 

Also, expect a very formal process during recruiting events and interviews.  Most recruiting events are business casual, but maintain a high level of professionalism during these events.  After all, they evaluate you as much as you evaluate them.  The interview process is always business attire - expect a very formal and well-organized process, especially from the larger firms.  All expenses are typically reimbursed in a timely manner.  The Consulting Club will be going over professional development.