Consulting, at some of India's top B-school campuses, is the most sought-after domain, owing to the steep learning curve and high packages offered by marquee firms. In this highly detailed interview, an IIM Indore student describes the complex and thorough process that she underwent to get selected for a summer internship with one of the world's toughest companies to get into - the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Here's how she did it!
Did you know, the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) was ranked third by Glassdoor in its report on the most difficult companies to interview with? That is how prestigious and difficult it is to work with a firm that has been consistently ranked amongst the top three leading Management Consulting firms in the world. So how does BCG hire top talent? What is the complete procedure that BCG follows to hire Summer Interns from India's top business schools? How many rounds of selection exist, and how do you prepare yourself for such a seemingly daunting interview process with BCG?
In this video, Simran Ahluwalia, a part of IIM Indore's PGP Class of 2020, describes with zest how she made it to the Boston Consulting Group as a Summer Intern. From zeroing in on Consulting as a career option and describing in detail her interview experience with BCG to expressing her ecstasy upon being selected, Simran shares with us her unforgettable BCG selection process. She talks about how the process she followed to tailor her résumé, how she prepared for the famous case-interviews at BCG, and how she tackled unforeseen challenges in her interview process.
For those unaware of the world of Management Consulting, Simran also shares exactly what a Management Consultant does, and what a day in the life of a Consultant looks like!
Here are five key takeaways from Simran's interview that all aspiring Management Consultants must keep in mind:
- When preparing your résumé for any interview, follow the RAC priority list, i.e., first, mention the Result or impact of your efforts, then present the Action that you took, and finally present the overall Context that lead to the impact that you created.
- When preparing your résumé for any interview, ensure that you quantify the impact that your actions created, such as the revenue that your efforts brought the company, or the reach and conversion rate of a digital marketing campaign you ran across various channels, etc.
- For case-interviews, it helps to prepare in groups. This allows for more intense and focused preparation, wherein your peers and you can exchange a wide variety of questions that could be asked in an interview, and can also share important tips and learnings from each mock interview session.
- Remember - all case-interviews revolve around communication with the interviewer. Don't hesitate to ask the interviewer any questions that can help you give a better structure to your solution to the problem. Not only is this an acceptable practice, but interviewers welcome it.
- To prepare for your actual Summer Internship at a Consulting firm such as BCG, ensure that you brush up on your Excel and PowerPoint skills, and ensure that you are well-versed with the latest current affairs and industry trends that may help you solve business problems from any industry.
You can find a detailed account of
Simran's interview experience here.
In a soon-to-be-released video, we re-live Simran's Summer Internship experience at BCG, as she walks us through her journey to a Pre-Placement Offer from the firm! Watch this space for updates.
In the meanwhile, watch this three-part series of insightful talks by Seema Bansal, Director at BCG and an IIM Calcutta alumnus, where she shares anecdotes and tips from her life at BCG!
Also, if you're looking to work with the Boston Consulting Group, we have prepared this Ultimate Guide To Get A PPO From The Boston Consulting Group!