Do you stumble when asked why you want to do consulting?

Are you terrified of solving Disney’s growth strategy for Brazil?

Unsure how to begin estimating the number of rhesus monkeys in India?

You’ve come to the right place.

Through Management Consulted, I’ve written article upon article about the consulting industry. From salaries to travel, from boutiques to MBB, I’ve helped people understand the job, write the perfect resumes, and ace the toughest interviews.

The Consulting Bible blows all of that content out of the water.

Through my resume editing and interview preparation, I’ve helped 50+ people land interviews and offers in the consulting world (including such esteemed firms as McKinsey, BCG, and Mercer). Through hours on the phone, I share every secret that I know – telling them exactly what fit questions to expect, the difference between good and great case study responses, and the interview answer techniques that separate offerees from the rejects.

The Consulting Bible is like a 50 hour phone call with me. And infinitely more entertaining.

Get The Consulting Bible today and be the smartest interviewer in the room.

In it, you’ll find:

• Over 50 key fit questions that will arise specifically in consulting interviews (there are important differences versus finance interviews). Why 50 and not 500? I firmly believe in quality over quantity. These will be 90% of the questions you’ll be asked. And I promise – memorizing these top 50 will give you the content and flexibility to destroy any fit question you’ll ever face.
• 3 sizing questions (what I like to call mini-cases) – including 2 where I provide multiple solution methods. These 3 are comprehensive, complex, and will be more challenging than any you’ll face from MBB
• 2 case studies with exhibits – found exclusively in this guide, these case studies are ground zero for mastering the skills needed to conquer the case

I not only provide specific tips on how to answer each question, but I tell you what the interviewer is looking for and offer an example answer that I’d be comfortable using myself!

Here is the Table of Contents and a sample page so you can get a glimpse of what’s inside!

Wow, it looks pretty good. What else can you tell me?

I’m not done yet. Read this guide and you’ll discover:

On fit and experiential questions…

• The 16 interview tips to make yourself stand out before, during, and after (pg. 6-7)
• One phrase that everyone encourages you to use but you should never say in an actual interview (pg. 6)
• The 5-minute investment on one skill that will make you better than 90% of interviewers (pg. 6)
• 4 secrets to answer any fit question that the best interviewers instinctively know (pg. 8)
• Why your business background prior to an MBA can hurt you, and how to prevent this from happening (pg. 13)
• The 2/4 point structure for tackling resume questions – and how to use this framework for any fit question (pg. 15)
• What to never say when discussing why you turned down return offers (pg. 18)
• 5 personal qualities that consultants universally respect and that you must convey (pg. 19)
• The worst mistake you can make when answering questions about your future (pg. 19)
• How to build rapport through your responses to personality questions (pgs. 21-23)
• 1 personality question where a great answer will knock their socks off (pg. 21)
• 1 topic you must avoid when asked about any question, and particularly about failures (pg. 23)
• An example response that I’d actually be comfortable giving for “Greatest weakness” (pg. 24)
• The 3 questions that if you’re not asked, then I was never a consultant (pgs. 26-28)
• The one component that people always miss when discussing their leadership (pg. 29)
• The toughest question you’ll encounter – and a response that will leave the interviewer eager to work with you! (pgs. 29-30)
• 3 traits to demonstrate a sincere interest in the firm and the industry (pg. 32)
• 2 topics you shouldn’t discuss when asked why you’re interested in management consulting (pgs. 32-33)
• 2 phrases that must be avoided when discussing why you want to work at their firm (pg. 34)
• The best way to answer the question of “Why a boutique?” (pg. 36)
• One critical topic that when explaining a move overseas (or, for international applicants, a move to the U.S.) (pg. 39)
• The 3 checkmarks you must earn in explaining your career change to consulting (pg. 40)
• The Cliff Notes method for sounding like an expert on today’s business topics (pgs. 43-45)
• How to sound like a consultant when asked about specific companies and industries (pg. 44)
• Be prepared for the one business topic that I guarantee will be discussed (pg. 45)
• What you should never say when asked questions about your recruiting status (pg. 47)

On sizing questions and mini-case studies…

• Why sizing questions can be trickier than case studies (pg. 49)
• 4 reasons why they’re asked – and the tips that will help you master them (pg. 49)
• Example questions that you can ask to sound smart without annoying the interviewer (pg. 50)
• Multiple approaches to each question so you see the best solution possible
• The one test that you must know and use with each answer (pg. 51)
• How to be 80/20…without being 50/10 (pg. 53)

On case studies…

• 5 case study principles that the best interviewers know by heart (pg. 57)
• 2 frameworks that must be memorized…and will be used repeatedly (pg. 57)
• 1 thing the best interviewers do that automatically makes you sound like a consultant (pg. 57)
• Example questions that you can ask to sound smart for each case
• Suggestions on creative responses – so you can be both structured and out-of-the-box
• Example differences between good answers and truly distinctive responses (pgs. 61-62)
• The 3 components of summary responses – aka, the elevator test
• Quantitative questions that cover market size, marginal profit, fixed and variable costs, and other key concepts that you must know

Of course, nothing’s perfect.

The Consulting Bible could have 100 sizing questions. 50 case studies. You know what? IT WILL SOON. And if you buy now, you’ll receive lifetime updates for free, straight to your inbox.

Here’s my guarantee to you – at least once every other month (6x/year), I’ll update this guide to add more fit questions; more sizing questions; more case studies. People who buy now – before the 2nd edition is out – will get lifetime updates for free. That offer ends when I release the 2nd edition

I’m already working on it – there will be at least 3 more case studies and 5 more sizing questions…not to mention 10s of additional interview questions.

60-day, 100% money-back guarantee

If you aren’t 100% satisfied, email me and I’ll personally refund your money. No questions asked. You get to keep the guide, and you’ll get a 100% refund.

This all sounds great. What’s the cost?

It’s only $25. It’s a bargain given how comprehensive it is. You can buy case study books – but they won’t include sizing questions, and they definitely won’t include fit questions. And there isn’t a single quality guide with interview questions dedicated specifically to consulting.

There’s no waiting. It’s an ebook (PDF file) – you download it immediately after purchase. No shipping, no hassle!

You’ll get free lifetime updates – which will be coming often. In fact, I’ll say it right here – I plan to release the 2nd edition by the end of February. It will be much more expensive than $25.

My final parting words:

The Consulting Bible is incredibly affordable for two reasons:

1. It’s relatively new, and I want to reward early believers

2. I want people to get 10x their money’s worth. Not 2x, not 5x, but 10x. I believe that after reading this guide and diligently working through each question, you’ll be 10x more prepared to ace interviews and land offers.

I want you to be successful – because your success will reflect well on me, The Consulting Bible, and Management Consulted

Hey, even I can be suspicious when it comes to spending money online. After all, we’re growing up in an age where many of the best services are free!

But trust me – this guide is worth every penny of that $25. I invested far more time than I planned – I pushed back the release date twice to add more content, more questions, and more insights.

Finally, if you purchase the guide and don’t agree with me 100%, you can always return it for a full refund. And if you do so, I only ask that you provide me feedback on how to make it better. Because I see this project as a lifelong investment – it’s going to get better, bigger, and more useful.

Get The Consulting Bible today and be the smartest interviewer in the room

Payments are processed through PayPal, which is 100% safe and secure

Click to purchase! Remember, it’s a PDF that’s delivered electronically. Buy it now, and you’ll immediately be able to start learning every secret I know.

Additional questions:

Will the guide be helpful for senior positions?

Absolutely. The tips for each section and many of the questions will be similar. There’s even a section on questions for experienced hires/career changers.

I’m interviewing for IT/technology consulting positions. How can the guide help me?

Your interview will naturally differ from the strategy consulting model – but they will ask questions about your resume, your background, your preparation for the job. All of which are covered in this guide.

Why are there no “technical questions”?

Unlike finance, management consulting interviews rarely ask technical questions. The closest you’ll come are questions about current business topics (which are addressed). The technical skills needed for consulting are tested in sizing questions and case studies – which this guide discusses in-depth.

I summarized the management consultants recruiting process in this post.

This is the beginning of my deep-dives on each piece of that recruiting process and will be focused on the “execution specifics” – showing you exactly how to master the recruiting process.

The overview:

Far more common if you’re currently in school (undergraduate, MBA) where consulting firms ranging from BostonConsulting Group to Mercer HR to Deloitte will swarm campuses, giving presentations and holding social mixers in an effort to publicize their firm and identify “high-potential” candidates. Handling a company presentation is like being the heavy favorite as a nationally ranked, Division 1 team in a game against an unranked, Division 2 team. In other words – there are 10,000 ways you can mess up, but very few ways to truly beat expectations.

Your goal:

#1 To make an impression on consultants involved in your recruiting process
#2 To gather valuable information about the company, its culture, and its people
#3 To develop firm contacts that will be sources of advice, interview and case prep, and potential references

How to be prepared:

Follow my Key Do’s and Key Don’ts from this post. Dress sharp and avoid mingling with friends and prior associates. That’s 80% of the work.

Who are the important players:

The consultants – focus on getting to know the consultants, not the recruiters. While recruiters are helpful when you have questions about firm particulars, they play a limited role in the decision-making process when deciding who receives interviews and offers.

If this is a university information session, look for consultants from the same university and/or from nearby offices. These are good indicators of their involvement, and resulting influence, on the your university’s recruiting processand applicant pool.

If you’re at a UC-Berkeley campus mixer and find yourself speaking with a consultant from the Chicago office who graduated UPenn, you can bet they probably won’t be heavily involved with your application come decision-time

This may seem too prescriptive for some, but avoid spending too much time with the most senior/white-haired consultants in the room. Most likely they are partner-level, and they come into contact with so many potential applicants that it’s hard to separate yourself from the pack unless you’re in an intimate setting or it’s a very longinformation session and they’re not swarmed with other applicants

Exactly what to do at the information session:

Meet at least 4-5 consultants. Follow my above guidelines to choose whom.

When speaking with a consultant,

#1 Introduce yourself with your FULL NAME. This is the most important, as you want them to remember your name when they’re screening resumes
#2 Ask several interesting, open-ended questions
#3 Stay for no longer than 10 minutes, unless you have particularly good rapport
#4 Shake hands at the end, and ask for a business card. No exceptions.

What questions you should ask:

Have solid, open-ended questions prepared. It’s ok to ask the same questions of different groups. Good ones include:
-What was your background before working at Boston Consulting Group?
-What’s been your most challenging project since joining Bain?
-Have you noticed any significant changes affecting McKinsey since the economy started struggling?

The “quality bar” for these questions is lower than for post-interview questions, because there are idiots at companypresentations who ask all sorts of silly/inane/time-occupying questions

What you should do after the session’s over:

You now have 4-5 business cards. FOLLOW-UP THE NEXT DAY. It’s like dating – email them too soon, and they’ll be a little surprised. Take too long to email them, and they’ll forget.

Your email should,

-thank them for their time
-mention one or two topics you discussed with the consultant at the firm event
-if you have a burning question, ask them. Otherwise, simply say “I hope to stay in touch with you during the recruiting process” and follow-up with them later if you have news to share (for instance, you were selected for an interview, you received an offer, etc)
-include fullname in the signature

What are the benefits to you:

#1 You’ve made a positive impression on several consultants who influence the resume screen and interview process
#2 Through your questions, you’ve learned valuable lessons about the company, its employees, and the managementconsulting business. It’s ok to back out now if you realize consulting is not for you
#3 You’ve begun building relationships with firm employees – which will be helpful should you have specific questions that recruiters can’t address; further, the majority are willing to help you prep for interviews and serve as unofficial mentors/guides through the recruiting process. Take advantage of this.