Kearney First Round Interview

Hi there,

Q: I would appreciate advice on how to make sure to ace the interview tomorrow and some tips from those who have experienced the interview at Kearney before.

Here are some last-minute tips:

1. Mental attitude: It’s great if you get the offer. But if you don’t, it won’t be the end of the world. If you really want to work in consulting, you can get there by interviewing again with other companies or with Kearney in 1-2 years if you don't succeed now. Additionally, there might be other/faster ways to get where you want in your career. If you see this as “the only option in your life” this would be (i) most likely, not factually true and (ii) increase stress a lot.
2. Practice: Stop doing new cases 24 hours before the interview and just review past cases/ material to avoid excessive stress.
3. Sleep: Go to sleep early and try to relax before that.
4. Energy: Have some snacks ready for breaks.
5. Breaks: Take a break between interviews if you have some time to relax a bit (eg. listen to music, read something).

For general case interview prep tips, you can check the following:

▶How to Prepare for a Consulting Interview

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the invitation from Kearney!

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

• First of all, it's great to hear you've practiced 50+ cases! Make sure to stay calm and confident; your preparation will shine through.
• Moreover, be clear and structured in your communication during the case interview. Remember, it's about how you approach the problem as much as it is about the solution.
• Lastly, for the behavioral interview, be authentic and connect your experiences to the values and work of Kearney. Show them why you're not just a fit for consulting, but specifically for their company.

You can find more about your (presumedly) upcoming final interview round here: How to succeed in the final interview round.

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

Hi there,

Congrats! Having (sucessfully) applied, I am happy to share some tips, although more on a general basis.

• Reflection time: You have done your homework, practicing 50+ cases. Do not go crazy about cases on the day before the interview. Rather, reflect on:
  • your most important learnings from the cases you did
  • your personal fit stories and answers. When I applied, the personal fit part as evaluated by a partner was what made the positive difference
• Company knowledge: Make sure that you are informed about the company. While you referenced it as A.T. Kearney, the company has to my knowledge entirely rebranded globally (happy to be corrected). My understanding is that is is plain Kearney everywhere including UK. 

Hope I could help. I wish you a successfull and pleasant experience!

Best,

Gero

Well done on getting the interview! You have done 50 case interviews so you are WELL prepared for a first round.

In my experience, if you are prepared, the best thing to do is to focus on being relaxed and calm.

Back when I was being interviewed, I would basically do nothing on interview days except attend the interview. I would wake-up early, go to the gym, eat something standard that I know suits me well, get dressed and arrive early to the interview. I would do nothing else on the day that could increase my stress levels. I definitely would not study more.

Best of luck!

Hi there,

Deep breaths :)

You've done 50 cases - that's fantastic!

Like an Olympian, you've trained for ages. Now, a day before the event, remember that it's about recharging, being calm, and prepping for the big day…. NOT cramming and last minute training.

One Thing to Remember: This is a CONVERSATION….NOT an interrogation. IT's a simulation not an examination.

Here's some more reading to help too: How to Shift Your Mindset to Ace the Case

Last tip: Don't worry about Kearney specific stuff. Every firm and every interviewer can do whatever they like. Stay away from the prediction game (it's a false sense of security that also hurts you).

Good luck, you've got this!

The one thing I would recommend would be on mindset. A lot of candidates go there with the perspective that they're being tested (which is true, but not the point here). 

A successful candidate typically goes to the interview with the mindset that they are going to help solve a problem.

Going with this perspective helps you be more relaxed, but also more empathetic, more interested on solving the problem, more collaborative, interact better with the interviewer, etc. Basically, more likely to act as a consultant would act in a client situation.

Hey there,

How did it go?

 For the second round, I would recommend practising some presentation style cases. 

Hope the interview goes well!

I've coached multiple candidates for Kearney offers (one actually got an offer for Kearney, ME, this week). 

In short, there are no huge differences in the recruitment process from other firms. 

Considering the short timeline you have until the actual interview, it might make sense now to work on mindset rather than actual skills. So go there rested, confident and calm and do your absolute best. 

If you would've had more time, I would've recommended you get a professional assessment so you know what to calibrate before the actual interview.

Best,
Cristian