Consultancy Interview Questions & Answers

1st Round Interview and 3 Tests. 2 hours total

20 minute face to face interview on my history, motivation for consulting role, why I want to work for FactSet and a few competency based questions. I didn't like my interview much, I felt like my interviewer was just rushing through and not really bothering to listen or even converse with me much.
How did you come across FactSet?
Had you heard of FactSet before?
What do you know about FactSet and what they do?
Why do you want to work at FactSet?
Why do you want to work in finance?
What specific parts of finance are you interested in?
What do FactSet consultants do on a day to day basis?
Why did you choice you degree subject?
What transferable skills did your degree give you which would be relevant for this role?
What did you gain from your work experience?
Why are you interested in a technology/software based role?
Where else have you applied to?
How might an investment management or investment banker use FactSet programs?
Why FactSet is better than its competitors?

Which particular part of finance are you interested in?

Show a keen interest in finance and have a lot to say about it and really do your research about finance. This will be useful for the interview and the finance test. The finance test covered a range of topics. Moneyweek YouTube channel maybe useful or chat to friends who work in the industry. If you really impress with finance knowledge they are more likely to have you as it seems to be what they are looking for. The numeracy and excel tests were not hard granted you have used Excel sufficiently before. The numeracy test was not difficult, definitely not harder than GCSE level maths.

1 and a half hours to do a Numeracy, Excel and Finance test for the 1st Round assessment centre

Numeracy Test - percentages, ratios, fractions, foreign currency, algebra and problem solving questions.
x(x+3)=28

Excel test - formatting cells (Bold and date), formulae - MAX() SUM() MIN() STDEV, VLOOKUP, Freeze panes, making charts, conditional formatting

Finance Test - testing my interest in finanacial markets. This could be challenging or easy, it depends on your background. It was multiple choice though, which made it easier. CAC - French. also central banks change interest rates due to inflation.

The 2nd round assessment centre will feature a whole other range of tests, including a mini teach, exclusive to FactSet

The telephone part of the interview for graduate analyst positions at Accenture is conducted via HireVue, which is a webcam interview. The interviewers will tell you via email that ou have gotten through to telephone interview stage after you have completed your applications and situational judgment (CAN'T RECOMMEND ENOUGH, GO TO THEIR CAREERS EVENTS. You get a free moleskin journal, a chance to network with current employees and recruiters and FAST TRACKED through the application so the actual form is shorter and you can often skip out the preliminary testing and go straight to telephone interview). The recruiters then send you a link to the HireVue program which only is live for five days. If you're not going to complete it in that time, let them know. The actual HireVue consists of a question coming up on the screen for about 30 seconds and then it will start automatically recording you for a maximum of 3 minutes. You can stop it earlier than that if you finish speaking early but I took up the whole 3 minutes everytime. There are about five or six questions, very basic stuff like what do you know about Accenture, who are the competitors, how do businesses use technology, what makes Accenture different. Its over in a flash.

How do businesses use technology?

As I said, go to their recruitment events, you get so many good tips and it's good to hear about their business because its more in depth than it first appears and you can start using buzzwords about their different practises like instead of Accenture provide technological solutions, you can learn enough to talk about Accenture being the lead implementer of SAP and Oracle solutions.

I would clean your room! Take down posters if they're semi naked women, obvious stuff. I moved all my law books around so they were behind me and hid the mess of junk! Think about really why you want to work HERE and what makes them different. Look up some of their business areas and who are their competitors in those fields. Dress smart even if you are just going to be sat in front of the computer. Make sure you don't get disturbed. The webcam will display a outline going around for you to align yourself with like when you get your passport photos taken so make sure you're trying to stay within that instead of bobbing all over the place.

n/a

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.

We had three different stages in the day, the first was a group activity of about six of us. We were handed a pile of about twenty solutions to go through with a budget of 4.5 million and to agree as a group which ones to implement. We split them between us and fed back. There is a time limit on this as well.

After that, there is a project planning exercise which is basically a gantt chart of when you would implement aspects of a project like when you do plan to plot strategy, when on a 12 month plan do you plot what tech you're going to use. They have allotted blocks of time.

After that is a one to one with senior manager who will re-ask competency questions, ask how you think you've done through the day and also to defend your project plan.

Evaluating your own contribution is difficult but don't make you were awesome if you weren't And if your plan gets pulled apart, at least come up with reasons why its still not the worst thing in the world.

Work as a team, make sure you're heard, stick to time constraints, don't talk over people, make a note of what your contribution was, what solutions you wanted to implement because you'll need the numbers later, really sell why you'll be a great addition to Accenture.

Group exercise, one to one interview, project plan.

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

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.

One interview happened at the assessment day. This was very relaxed. We discussed how I thought I had performed in the Assessment Day, and my background in a very general way. Importantly I was asked why I wanted to join IBM which I had a few prepared reasons, avoid the typical 'Big company, lots of opportunities' answer.
Second/final interview was more in depth. Skills and competency based questions. Going through my CV and asking for examples of where I have shown leadership/ dealt with a difficult client/ how I would deal with certain situations.....

Describe an occasion where you have thought outside the box to come up with a new way of doing something?

Prepare for the numerical tests - they are hard! Read up on the company, make sure you know about its history and its current state. Stay on top of any news articles about IBM and what it is currently working on. Speak to people who work there if you can.

Spilt into groups for two group activities - planning a client event and a task going though information and deducting an answer. A short numerical test. A business based small group exercise and an interview.

Why you chose to study the modules you did at university?
What do you do in your spare time?
About my pervious work on my CV?
Why I want to work in property?
Why did I apply for this job?

First was a phone interview, once though to that we were invited to the head office where we were greeted and watched a presentation about the company, the perks and jobs available. We were then asked to 'mingle' with the directors and other interviewees whilst people were in one on one interviews. The one on one interview lasted about 20 minutes, formal/casual! We were then asked to return to the room after the one on one interview. All together lasted about 2/3 hours, dress code very smart!

You find out the next day whether you got the job or not! Which is great! No waiting around for weeks!

About my pervious work on my CV? - Being a graduate, I did not have much - but luckily I have worked within the property industry before, therefore held well.

Dress code very smart!

Be yourself! Make sure you are passionate and communicate clearly.

Be prepared to ask you about what you think the role contains! Read the current workers thoughts on the jobs on the Foxtons website!! Prepares you for what to expect in the office.

All the interviewees were put in a room with 6 senior management/ directors and asked to 'mingle'. They were basically assessing our personalities and communication skills, which I thought was done in a very good way as interviewees felt conformable. In addition a one on one interview, it was very quick - but once again management made employees feel very comfortable and relaxed.

The interview consisted of 3 parts:
1) Knowledge about Accenture, recent client stories and its competitors.
2) Competency-based questions. (the usual things)
3) Mini case study.
Overall, it lasted for 50min and it was pretty simple.

The mini case study was basically about a water supplier that had customer complaints about leaking pipes. The problem was that it was hard for the company to identify which fieldworker is closest to the problematic pipe. After that the company would call the worker to assign the task of fixing the pipe. Then, the workers had to call back to inform about the work that was undertaken at the site. All this information was written down on paper and sometimes documents would go missing.

Questions:
-Identify the 3 main problems of this company.
-Suggest solutions to the problems.
-How could the company fix the problem quickly (ie. quicker that the suggestions you already made)
-What will the result be after the problem is fixed.

What was your greatest achievement?

This question is a bit tricky because on one hand you want to answer it on the other you don't want them to think that you're showing off.

Find out as much as possible about the company, what they offer, their structure, client stories etc.
It is especially important to know how Accenture can help clients with technology!

Also, when replying to competency-based questions try to use various examples from different parts of your life rather than just focusing on the academic side. Examples are internships, volunteer work, sports, societies, trips etc. They like to hear variety otherwise they feel that you don't have enough experience.

I was invited to the assessment centre but it will be tomorrow!

The good thing is that you are given the contact details of an analyst that is assigned as your "Recruitment Buddy" and you can ask for tips and advice.

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.