Urgent. Should I ask for a different Partner to interview with?

Question

Hello,

I was scheduled for an interview yesterday with a Partner at Oliver Wyman who specializes in government and public relations, which aligns closely with my background and experience. However, due to his unavailability, I was rescheduled to meet on Monday with a Partner specializing in finance—a field in which I have no prior experience.

I reached out to HR to explore the possibility of postponing my interview until the original Partner becomes available, but I was informed that he won’t be available until after the holidays.

I’m concerned that my lack of alignment with the finance Partner’s expertise might impact both the behavioral fit and the case interview. I worry that not having a shared background could hinder my ability to establish a connection during the behavioral portion, and that the case could be finance-heavy, which is outside my comfort zone.

Is this a reasonable concern, or should I proceed with the finance Partner as scheduled and focus on adapting to the situation?

Answer 1

Hey there & congrats to getting to the Partner interview stage!

As a former interviewer, I would recommend you to adapt to the new situation for two reasons:

1. while OW will appreciate your expertise, they also look for flexibility in adapting to new situations. You never really know what to expect with a new project... and this situation will be a chance for you to show you can manage uncertainty

2. it may make you seem like a "complicated" candidate; this shouldn't impact a hiring decision, but it may tip the scale for some interviewers

What you can do: make the best out of the situation :-)

- check on Linkedin and the OW homepage for info about the partner. What are some common interests or shared backgrounds? Maybe he just published an article you find interesting & have a perspective on

- if in the interview the questions become more technical, provide context to your expertise "I am not an expert on topic from XYZ, but based on ABC, I would recommend ..." to show that your common sense gets you to the answer

I hope this helps & good luck with your interview!

Answer 2

Hello and many congratulations on the Partner interview.

As others have suggested, it is not a great sign from a candidate to ask for a different interviewer. Firstly, the industry of the interviewer should not impact how they view you, especially if they understand your background and interests. Secondly, you will need to show that you are able to speak to people from different backgrounds and with a variety of interests that may or may not overlap with your own.

It is best to let this one go, maybe read up on finance as well (enough to know what is top of mind in the space and what people are excited about in the new year).

Best,
Udayan

Answer 3

Hey!

It’s a reasonable concern, but it’s also common for interviews to be with Partners from different backgrounds. Focus on demonstrating your adaptability and problem-solving skills during the case interview. While it’s understandable to want a Partner who aligns with your background, many candidates face similar situations, so try to make the most of the opportunity.

Alessa

Answer 4

Are you interviewing for a generalist position or a specific position in the public sector practice?

The answer to that question defines everything.

If it’s the first, you’ll need to demonstrate the ability to handle any interview in any situation.

If it’s the second, Oliver Wyman has experience tailoring interviews for specific roles.

Best,

Alberto

—

Explore my latest case inspired by a real MBB interview: TitanTrail - Operations Outsourcing

Answer 5

Hi there,

Definitely not.

Why?

Consulting firms are looking for problem-solvers and not domain expertise. This is what they test during the interview.

Hence, focus on learning how to case, not on specific industries!

The key reason why candidates fail their case interviews and don't improve with practice is because they never learn the right approach and techniques to begin with. They might go through 30-40 cases, just repeating the same mistakes over and over again. There is often no strong baseline.
Make sure you understand and learn the basics for each part of the case (structuring, charts, math), which is
- A replicable step-by-step for each part of the case interview
- The right thinking techniques around the individual parts (e.g., what's a framework, what is evaluated, how can I ensure I think about it the correct way, what are some shortcuts to get to the answer quickly, etc.)
- Simple communication templates to help you communicate your insights as well as ask for data in the right way to drive the case forward
There are several approaches you can take, such as hiring a skilled coach, reading the right materials, or enrolling in relevant courses. For example, while some chatbots may suggest a list of books, my book, The 1%: Conquer Your Consulting Case Interview, provides direct guidance tailored to modern case interviews. It covers all the essential points mentioned here, and more, while also offering a detailed preparation plan. You can find it on Amazon
Avoid generic advice and framework memorization approaches. This will only hurt your performance and waste a ton of time (why -> check out the first post here: https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/how-goodrelevant-is-the-case-in-point-book-for-case-prep-1984)
Once you have that baseline it's time to practice and internalize the skills to create the right profile, polishing your strengths and lifting your weaknesses to a robust-enough level
Practice drills alone (structure, chart, math) and practice full cases with other excellent candidates that know the right habits and approach. It is crucial that you are practicing with really good peers, otherwise, it's a waste of time. Practicing drills on your own is a huge effectivity and efficiency booster since you can go over many more questions in a shorter amount of time compared to practicing with peers. Do both in parallel! You want to spend your time where it is most useful, e.g., if you struggle with math focus on math drills, etc.
Focus on quality over quantity. Doing 50+ cases does not mean much if you are not applying the right habits to score high and do a detailed debrief after every case to improve. You want to move from bad to good for your weaknesses and good to great for your strengths --> use the feedback from your previous experience and tailor your prep accordingly
Consider booking at least an initial coaching session to get a detailed and objective evaluation of your performance + learn the right habits for every case regardless of context and framework + get a tailored preparation plan out of the session that will set you up for an effective and efficient prep.
Don't forget the fit interview part. Prepare answers for all the typical fit questions and stories (3-5 hours) and rehearse them a couple of times (5 hours)

All the best and fingers crossed,

Florian

Answer 6

Hey there, Similarly to the full-time hiring process, companies such as the MBBs and tier 2 tend to recruit from sele... (read entire answer)

Hey there, Similarly to the full-time hiring process, companies such as the MBBs and tier 2 tend to recruit from select universities and schools (Target Schools), and their Midd... (read entire answer)