Consultancy Interview Questions & Answers

Overall experience was very good.

The telephone interview was nice and simple. Someone called me after one week of applying and doing the online test. The phone interview involved questions relating to your knowledge of market research and the company (Kantar WP)-- best thing to do is research the company as much as you can. Also do some research on the industry.

There were two people at the final interview (both worked in different parts of Kantar worldpanel. They were very welcoming and kept a relaxed atmosphere. They asked questions that related to my degree (i.e. why did i study English Lit, and what makes me want to apply for a market research company). They asked me about previous experiences e.g. volunteering work, part time work etc. They also asked a lot of competency questions- make sure you have an example to back each answer.

Describe a situation in which you had to deal with a difficult client. How did you handle it and what was the outcome?

Don't be nervous, try to stand out from the crowd. Make sure to be yourself!! (important to be yourself, they even mentioned this a few times during the assessment). Do your research!-- make sure you understand what the job involves and what the company does.

The assessment centre lasted for the whole day (if you pass the first round). There are two rounds, first round involves presentations, logical reasoning test, and a hat game (where you have to discuss a question that is randomly picked out of a hat). IF you pass the first round, the second round involves a one on one interview and also a group exercise. The assessment was based in a lovely location in London and there were many applicants that attended (roughly 80-90 attendees).

The initial telephone interview was only about 20 minutes and was with the graduate recruitment team. It was a general and casual conversation asking questions like "tell me about yourself" and talking through experiences on my CV and also because it was a graduate position there were mostly questions on my degree and also my motivations of choosing my degree and if I would have chosen something different. It wasn't difficult as I had a relevant degree and modules it was natural to describe why I wanted to join the graduate programme.

In terms of difficult questions there wasn't anything that stood out to me as particularly challenging as the whole conversation was focused on my motivation for the role and how my degree choice reflected this. I found that the most difficult questions for graduate interviews are not competency questions, but those asking what influenced your choice in applying for that position or the industry and how this can be demonstrated in your CV. This can either be through degree subject or past work experiences and Internships.

For the general interview it's always a good idea to know your motivations for applying for the job and what you have in your CV that supports this. Not only does it answer the direct question of "Why did you choose your degree" but also reflects in the other answers candidates may give. For graduates, our biggest asset on our CV is our degree and we should be enthusiastic about where this leads us.

The assessment centre came after the successful phone interview and it took place at their London offices. It was a group of about 14 candidates (only about 3 girls). It was initially a group exercise which was to prepare for a presentation. We were in a group of 4 and were given the days copy of City AM and the task was to pick and interesting article and present it back to the team as a discussion. What I found interesting about this was that the task highlighted the different backgrounds which our team members came from. We had someone with an International Management, Computer Science, Psychology and Mathematics. This influenced which article we chose to present. The International Manager headed towards financial and economical news - which was surely a topic the other teams would go for. This was a problem because the rest of us had problems understanding the language in the article and seemed difficult to present on a topic 3/4 of the team had no knowledge about. In the end, we settled on the article which was discussing the issue around shops opening on Sunday during the Olympic Games. Instead of just reciting the article our group split up to argue the case for and against opening on Sundays.

Very easy, very standard phone interview. Basic questions, why FDM and why PMO. Followed with a few competency based questions. Lasted 10-15mins

Followed on with a numerical reasoning test which was fairly straightforward.

After completing this i was sent a programmer proficiency test. This was not assessed as i was not applying for a programming role but was supposed to be to give a base set of data for future results.

None. All as expected

Brush up on your simple mental maths and working out sums on paper. Also study venn diagrams and the different way these can be used.

For the programmer questions read the instructions and just try to follow these as accurately as possible. I have never done programming but must have done well enough!

As previously said, be as clear and concise as possible in the interviews and make sure that you answer the questions before the time runs out.

Finally, when shown the contract try to have a good read of it. They do explain it to you but it is still best to have a good read through yourself so that you understand all that it involves.

There were maybe 9-10 of us all applying for different roles and the day started off with a video introducing the company.

Following this there was a HR talk about the company and the contract. This is important as in this role and most with FDM, you have to commit to 10-12weeks of unpaid training in one of their offices. Following on from this you must work for FDM for 2 years otherwise you have to pay them back for the training which equates to about £20k. They lay this out pretty clearly and it is a win win situation as you get training and two years experience in a good role and they get cheap employees for two years.

After the HR talk there were quite a few tests. These consisted of simple numerical reasoning tests but also programmer aptitude tests and a test on venn diagrams. Each one lasted approximately 1 hour and were fairly challenging as you couldn't use a calculator.

We then had a break for lunch after which we had interviews. These interviews were split up into 3 separate 5 minute interviews with different interviewers. Each interview focused on a different set of competencies and probed deeply into your examples. In each interview you were asked 4 questions in the 5 minutes so you had to be clear and concise with your answers. If you do not get finished in the time limit they will stop you and move you on to the next interview.

Online Application
Fill out form online. Read about Accenture case studies to help you structure the answers. Contact people on Linkedin who work for Accenture to get some idea about what type of things work. Main thing is to show an interest in technology and understand how Accenture helps firms.

Online Situational Judgement Test
Consider what capabilities are liked by Accenture. Look at all the information on the Accenture recruitment website and try to make those qualities stand out. This is more based on your determination to work long hours, work independently, work collaboratively. Getting the balance right between leadership and team work is vital.

Phone Interview
Few competency questions and then case study. For competency questions just be sure about Why accenture? Why consulting? Why you? Have your answers planned according to S.T.A.R - Situation - Task - Action - Result. The Case Study is all about showing you can think analytically and systematically. Analyse wider issues etc.

1. Describe a situation you found difficult to work in a team?
2. Describe the toughest decision you have made in the last year?

1. Know Accenture and name drop Case studies

2. Connect with employees to get inside knowledge

3. Be confident and prepare well

4. Even if it says "informal" conversation - you are being interviewed at all times - remember that

1. Meet and Greet
Be friendly and confident

2. Case Study Group Exercise
Show leadership and teamwork

3. Individual Exercise
Be friendly and professional - answer specific questions

On the phone the lady made it seem like I had a massive chance of getting into the job and work for themselves. When it came down to the video and answering the questions on a timed video I think the time was very off putting as I couldn't construct a good answer to what they were asking me, and with dyslexia, i found this was unfair. in the end, i dint get another conversation just an email telling me I had not met the standards.

they were all quite difficult for the time frame they had put together, and I had mentioned to the woman on the phone before about my dyslexia.

maybe make sure that people with a learning disability are not discriminated on the video time limit, give them a little longer or even give the question out to the candidate and then let them have time to form their answer together and let them press when they are ready to record.

n/a

The interview process began with a 15 minute telephone interview with the head of 'Talent Acquisition'. After this, I had to complete an online numerical test.
Finally, I was invited to an interview at their office in London: It began with an interview with the head of 'Talent Acquisition' who I'd spoken with on the phone, which involved questions about my CV and me as a person. Then, after about 15 minutes, she brought the Consultant from the head of the department they were recruiting for into the room. I had to present to the panel the 20 minute presentation that I'd been asked to pre-prepare, demonstrating the skills that would be required for the role, and that was then followed by another interview. This final interview involved more role-specific questions and lasted another 20 minutes or so.

I was asked to describe the statistical methods used to analyse data, and the methods used to assess the strength of the conclusions made.

As a Mathematics graduate they expected me to be able to talk about these confidently, however my degree contained very little statistics and I was expecting to learn on the job. I recommend brushing up on your statistics and data analysis methods such as A/B and multivariate testing before the interview.

1) Communicate as well as you can: it is a crucial skill in consultancy.
2) Know your project: in the presentation, make sure you know your project inside out so that when challenged you can answer competently, and get back on track without feeling put-off or distracted.
3) Brush up on your statistics knowledge (I was not clear enough on the exact processes an analyst goes through, and consequently was not prepared for these types of questions. I asked for feedback on my interview and they responded that this is why I did not get the job).

I was asked to give a presentation on one of their clients webpages and how I would perform tests to improve it. Although it was a formal set-up, as there were only three of us in the room it felt slightly more relaxed. In addition, there were regular interjections from the consultant, questioning my ideas and challenging my choices. I personally found this made the presentation less intimidating, as I was able to expand on the thoughts behind my ideas, further demonstrating my knowledge and research.
In the interview, as well as testing my statistics knowledge, I was asked to describe my weaknesses and problems that I have encountered and overcome.

The process began with a telephone interview which I was successful in and this was followed by an assessment centre. The assessment centre included tasks such as; group presentation, numerical tests and two on one interviews.

What is your biggest achievement to date?

Brush up on current affairs related to the company/job role.

We were split into 4 groups early on and were told to prepare a presentation. This was followed by two on one interviews which lasted approximately 15 minutes for each candidate. The day ended with a numerical and literacy test.

Initially three sets of psychometric test were completed which took around 2 hours. I was then invited to an E-Tray day where two tasks, one including fictitious emails and another including a business case study, were completed.

Next I was invited to an assessment centre which contained a task reviewing a potential client and an interview with a senior manager.

Current thoughts on a specific client undertaking which I hadn't reviewed.

Massive amounts of research on the current clients of the firm.

Presentation and a group task giving pitches on a potential client, followed by an interview with a senior.

The interview was the final stage of the assessment centre. It felt almost like an informal chat as opposed to sitting down in front of a board of senior management staff. The interview was with a senior manager, and questions were asked as part of the informal chat. Whilst I would say that it is important to still conduct yourself in a professional manner, the informal aspect of it eases you into the interview, making you feel comfortable. I would like to note at this point that should you make it to this stage, be careful not to mistake this for a light hearted chat, as it is one of the most important stages in their interview process for getting to know you and for assessing your competencies and interpersonal skills. The questions were fairly generic but required good preparation. Some of the questions which come to mind include,
- "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"
- "Tell me about a time when a client had a problem that you were able to create an innovative solution for."
- "Describe a situation where you demonstrated leadership skills/led a group to a solution to a problem (school/personal/work experience)"
The interview lasted approximately 45 minutes but it felt like 5.

"Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"
I found this particularly difficult as I had neither prepared for it nor was I aware of how one would realistically progress in a company within 5 years and what position they could reach if they worked hard and consistently. I would advise that you ask anyone you know who has been working for a company for 5+ years how they progressed to get an idea of what you should be aspiring to.

Revise assessment centre and interviewing tips online or by talking to others, be well aware of what your job duties would be and ensure that you are well prepared to answer questions on the role itself. Be aware that you everything you say and do is being taken into consideration, so be sure to behave in a professional manner. When answering questions, try not to go off on a tangent or ramble. Keep answers concise and pertinent. Also have a few relevant questions to ask the interviewer, such as "What does a day in your shoes within the company entail?". This should give you an understanding of what it's like to work with the company. Other than that, stay calm, drink some water and just prepare as best you can.

The day began by meeting at their London headquarters at 8:45am. All of the other applicants were there and began to chat and get to know each other. I made a conscious effort to remember each of their names as I wanted to be able to converse with each of them during the group assessment sections, and also to be aware of my competition. It also helps to know their names to demonstrate your ability to be an active team player. At 9:00am, we went to a conference room and were shown a brief presentation detailing the company's history, its different functions and an introduction to each of the senior management staff who were present. We then began with a brief ice-breaker exercise. The group was then split into two groups of 6. The other group left to complete their group exercise in another room. We were given 50 minutes to review a briefing, consider it amongst different aspects (consider the different options for development on a site, evaluate the different considerations which were required etc.) and finally prepare a 10 minute presentation explaining why a client should hire EC Harris as their consultants. After we carried out a brainstorming session to identify and understand each aspect which needed to be covered, we delegated our roles within the group and began working on our individual sections. We made our presentation and answered questions from the senior management staff who acted as the client.
Following this, we were then given 30 minutes to write an individual report to the board members of the client organisation explaining why they should select EC Harris as their consultants.
The next stage was the individual presentation stage. In our email, we were given the following topic to develop a 5 minute presentation: ???Discuss a work situation or educational project when you have delivered an innovative or create a solution to a client/ customer need. Explain how you generated the idea and how your expertise enabled you to deliver a positive outcome for your client/ customer.??? We were allowed to use prompt cards but no additional material was permitted (hand-outs, visual material etc.). The senior management staff proceeded to ask each individual questions following their presentation. After this we went for lunch in the cafeteria and mingled with staff.
The final stage of the assessment centre was the interview with a member of senior management. Whilst waiting to be interviewed, we were given the opportunity to talk with graduate staff from the previous year to learn about their experiences and ask them questions about the company and the roles. Prior to the interviews, they gave us a tour of the offices before leaving. All in all, the experience was extremely beneficial, and also helped me prepare for future assessment centres should I ever be faced with them.

The interview which I had done with hays was about many different things. First of all I was asked my qualifications and outline all the relevant GCSE's and A Levels.

Then I was asked about my skills which I have achieved in so many years of studying whilst also doing some part time job. The skills which they really are searching for in a candidate for recruitment consultant is the drive to work really hard endlessly and putting in that extra effort to keep on learning.

I was also told that it's a very fast moving job as everyday we get to learn more. The main skills which I had outlined were team work, communication skills, motivational and great time management as reflected in my CV.

The most difficult questions was present to me to when I was compared to other candidates. The question was:

What makes you stand out better then other competitive candidates for this job ?

Practical advice to anyone for the interview would be to ensure that you have done enough background research on the company and have great communication skills reflecting in ur cv and in the interview.

Personal questions were asked.
Questions about the skills which I have gained.
Was given few scenarios and needed to provide answers on how to tackle them.