First round interview :Siemens advanta consulting

Hi there,

Q: I was wondering if anyone who has gone through the process could share their experience and provide any tips on what to expect in terms of the first round questions?

I haven’t gone through the process myself but you can find below a previous question on the same topic:

What Kind of Questions Does Siemens Advanta Consulting Ask?

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi there,

I am very familiar with Siemens Advanta's recruiting process through my personal network and my coachees.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on it, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hi there,

First off, good luck in the interview!

Now, the #1 thing to remember is that you should expect nothing.

These interviewers could give you questions you've read, or they could give you completeley new ones.

So, train your skills, rather than studying like you do for a Biology exam in college.

I haven't supported candidates in this area but it looks like Siemens doesn't do cases, but rather does technical + fit interviews.

As such, the case portion of this site/Q&A won't be as helpful to you, but the fit/behavioral would be.

I recommend you lookup the types of technical questions Siemens asks, and practice getting asked those questions (recruit a friend).

Here's some reading to help you in your prep (I would also recommend a coach)

https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/pitfalls-case-interview-preparation

https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/how-to-shift-your-mindset-to-ace-the-case

https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/tell-me-about-yourself-interview-question

1) what sorts of Cases to expect;

ANY and ALL. Please don't go in expecting anything. If you expect, it's more likely you will be wrong than right.

 2) what mistakes to avoid,

Doing what everyone else does.

Don't go in expecting x and y. Don't go in with the mindset of “taking a test”. Go in with the mindset of being assessed as a consulting!

Oh, look here, just so happens I've written about the 4 most common mistakes to avoid :)

1. Waiting until you have an interview to prep
2. Using the wrong resources
3. Going cheap
4. Trying to boil the ocean

Here's some mindset shift reading that's important for you to absord 

3) what values and soft skill sets to emphasise

Here's my sentence for an optimal candidate (what you're trying to demonstrate to them):

"Someone who can approach a complicated problem and think + communicate in a structured way in the right context+objective of the case, while being personable, adaptable, and coachable, so that, ultimately, the interviewer can see themselves working with this individual and putting them in front of a client."

4) what kinds of questions would be best for ME to ask at the conclusion of each interview.

Genuine questions. Have a conversation. Ask about them. Ask about the topic. No different to any of your past interviews! I have a list if you need ideas.

Final Note: Don't “expect” things

It's great you're doing your research! But, just remember, actual interviews are fluid/dynamic and depend on the person interviewing you.

Just as a reference, check out how this interview with McKinsey went for one of my recent candidates (you know, the McKinsey PEI that is “set in stone” and you can “100% gaurentee these will be the 3 questions they ask”)

Hi there, 

It's always best to reach out directly to the recruiter with questions regarding the format of the interview. The more you know in terms of what you can expect, the better prepared you'll be. 

Best,
Cristian

Hi there,

I do have experience - pls reach out via dm in case interested.

Andreas