McKinsey Personal Fit Preparation interview

The preparation for your case interview in management consulting requires a lot of work, ...

Consulting interviews are not just about your skills and knowledge — companies also want to see how well you align with their culture and values, often called "personal fit". This part of the interview is your chance to show you’re a natural addition to the team. Here’s a look at three common personal fit questions and some tips on how to answer them confidently and thoughtfully.1. Why Do You Want to Work in Consulting?One of the classic questions in any job interview is, "Why do you want to be a consultant?" Many candidates respond with generic answers, such as the chance to work on exciting projects across various industries, the opportunity to travel, or the potential for continuous personal growth. However, these answers often fall flat.Instead, aim to articulate your response more precisely and highlight personal motivations:Identify Your Areas of Personal Development.Focus on specific development areas that are crucial for consulting and reflect your personal motivations. For instance, you might mention that you value leadership and teamwork in multicultural environments, emphasizing how international projects allow you to enhance your skills in engaging with diverse cultures and backgrounds. You could also express your enthusiasm for tackling complex challenges: explain how you view these projects as valuable opportunities to sharpen your analytical and structured thinking skills.Share Personal Experiences.Talk about concrete experiences that demonstrate your ability to apply these skills successfully. If, for example, you led a multicultural team in a past project or overcame a challenge in a new field, relate those experiences to your goals in consulting. This approach shows not only your capability but also your readiness to thrive in the consulting environment.Highlight Specific Learning Goals in Consulting.Emphasize what you hope to learn or which skills you would like to deepen in your consulting career, and explain why consulting offers you the best opportunities to achieve those development goals. This connection shows how your interests align with the demands of the consulting profession.👉 Curious how the PrepLounge community would tackle the question "Why consulting?" Check out the discussion in our Consulting Q&A.