ADL First Round

Hi there!

Worked with a few candidates for ADL and actually a good section of my candidates overall tend to be from ME, so happy to provide a perspective. 

Let me take the Qs one by one:

1. interviewer-led or candidate

Typically candidate led. But do check with the recruiter. Often there are differences in the structure of the interview between different regions and roles. It's always best to have your info straight from the source.

2. what kind of fit questions to expect

Typically you should expect at least: tell me about yourself, why consulting, why ADL. Aside from this, discuss with the recruiter whether you will also have a ‘story’ component to the personal fit part of the interview.

3. what differentiates ADL (why ADL?)

This is a great networking question. You should definitely speak with people who are now at ADL, because then you can quote what they said during the interview. This way it shows that you've done your research and that you have an intiminate understanding of the firm. 

Here's how to identify these contacts and then chat with them:

• Expert Guide: How To Handle Networking Calls and Get Referrals
• Expert Guide: How To Get Referrals Via LinkedIn? 

Best,
Cristian

Hi there,

Congrats on getting the invite to the interviews. To your questions:

Q1: Interviewer led or candidate

ADL interviews on a candidate-led basis. In this type of interviews, you receive a case prompt and you need to structure how to solve the case and guide your interviewer step by step on the solution, while the interviewers might be providing additional pieces of the case from time to time.

Q2: what kind of fit questions to expect

Fit questions are usually around several categories so prepare for all of them:

• Why consulting and this firm in particular
• Why you
• Checks on consulting toolkit (leadership, problem solving, conflict resolution, teamwork, change management, stress management) - usually checked through short personal or professional stories

Q3: what differentiates ADL (why ADL?)

Check their website and values and select the ones that truly resonate with you! If you don't make them your own, the interviewer will notice (honestly, we notice when you provide a pre-made answer)

Happy to keep talking in private if you need help with the preparation process. Just send me a message.

Best,

Alberto

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Check out my latest case based on a real MBB interview: Sierra Springs

Hi there,

First of all, good luck!

1. interviewer led or candidate

Generally candidate-led.

Here's some reading to help: Candidate-Led Cases: What to Expect With Example Cases

2. what kind of fit questions to expect

Any! Always! Just like a date or a conversation with anyone, please don't go in with a view of exactly what will happen. They're allowed to ask you anything…so practice answering “anything”!

3. what differentiates ADL (why ADL?)

This article should help you formulate this answer: Tell Me About Yourself – Interview Questions

Hi there,

congrats on your interview invite.

1. You should prepare for candidate-led as that requires a more proactive approach on your end. The switch to interviewer-led (if needed) will be much easier than the other way around
2. Check the typical fit questions around the topics that every firm asks about (e.g. team work, leadership, motivation, personal growth/challenges, conflict resolution). Prepare personal stories for these dimensions with specific examples of what the situation was, what you did and what the outcome was
3. What made you apply to ADL? Choose some of the things you read or heard that convinced you to apply to them. 

Best of luck

Hi there,

1) Interviewer led or candidate

The candidates I helped for ADL Dubai had both. I would expect candidate-led to be more common though. Plus if you are used to the candidate-led approach, as mentioned by Dennis you should not have issues with the interviewer-led one.

2) What kind of fit questions to expect

Common ones are the following:

1. Tell me about yourself
2. Why consulting
3. Why ADL
4. Give me an example of when you led a team
5. Tell me about a time when you had to convince someone
6. What has been your major achievement so far
7. Tell me about a time when you failed
8. Why should we hire you

3) What differentiates ADL (why ADL?)

You can choose three points out of those below to structure an answer:

• Sectors of interest: specific focus of the company in areas/products interesting for you
• People you met and culture: specific people of the company you talked to, and the things they shared on the company
• Your growth opportunities: specific programs of the company you heard about to enhance your growth
• Company potential: how much the company grew in the last year and its recent development in new areas, which is a good guarantee for your future career as well
• Size/reputation of the firm: smaller companies usually offer a more entrepreneurial culture, with higher growth potential internally. Bigger companies have more resources and support staff, and more prestige in terms of exit.

I would recommend doing your own research on the points you choose. If you use predefined answers, the interviewer will very likely feel you are not sincere.

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the invitation from ADL!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your situation:

• First of all, please do not fall for the fallacy of “interviewer- vs. candidate-led” case studies, as you need to show case leadership either way. The only slight difference is that after proposing the next step in the analysis, it might be the interviewer to decide whether to go your proposed step or conduct another analysis.
• Moreover, for fit questions, expect queries about your motivation for consulting and the firm, and examples demonstrating your problem-solving and teamwork skills. Be authentic and concise in your responses.
• Lastly, I would highly advise you to reach out to current consultants at ADL for (virtual) coffee chats to learn more about the firm and find out what differentiates ADL for you, as there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hello! Congratulations on securing a first-round interview with ADL Middle East. Here's what you can expect:

Format: ADL typically follows an interviewer-led format for their interviews. The interviewer will guide the conversation and ask a mix of behavioral and case-based questions.

Fit Questions: ADL places importance on assessing your fit with their firm culture and values. Expect questions that explore your motivation for joining ADL, your understanding of their industry focus, and how your skills align with their consulting approach.

What Differentiates ADL: ADL prides itself on its unique approach to consulting, known as the "ADL DNA." They emphasize their deep industry expertise, innovative problem-solving, and collaborative client partnerships. Be prepared to articulate why these aspects resonate with you and how they align with your career aspirations