Kellog Interview Guide

8/3/2019 Kellog Interview Guide

1/17

SFR

Consulting Fit Interviews:

What Firms Are Looking Forand How to Prepare

November 18, 2009


2/17

SFR

Importance of the Fit Interview

How to Prepare

Practice

Other Tips

Agenda


3/17

SFR

Fit is as much of a performance indicator asis the case

Cracking your case questions is essential, but firms alsocare about fit

They are not only assessing your analytical skills but also yoursocial and communication skills

This is where you have an opportunity to differentiate yourself

Will this person interact well with a client / different types of clients? Can this person interact confidently with partners?

Is this persons personality conducive to the demands of consulting?

Can he/she keep up a good conversation when were stuck in the airport?

Questions Running Through the Interviewers Head


4/17SFR

Fit is even assessed during the case

Examples of good case behaviors

Excited to be at the interview

Relentlessly try to solve the problem

View the case as a fun opportunity rather than work

Are comfortable to adapting on the fly

Do not get defensive if receive push-back

Professional, poised, composed, never shaken, etc.


5/17SFR


How to Prepare

Practice

Other Tips

Agenda


6/17

SFR

What is your story?

Now is NOT the time to be generic (everybody will say they like

the culture) Who have you met?

What, specifically, do you like about the firm (goals, mission,etc.?

What areas of interest do you have within the firm?

Why ThisFirm?

WhyConsulting?

What is the path that brought you to this point be detailed and

specific at first, trim it down later (45-60 seconds) Highlight critical decisions/experiences that led you here

20-30 seconds on what you want out of consulting

Why ThisLocation?

Work background, family, interests (must have a reason), etc.

Smaller offices are particularly interested in this question

Why You? Know your strengthsand weaknesses

How would you bring value?

Personality, evidenced through decisions and actions,

is the best indicator of how youll work on the job


7/17

SFR

Certain attributes are critical to convey

Achievement

You can make things happen

Example: If the situation is really hard, did you achievethe goal? How did you complete the job? What did youdo to make it happen? How do you adapt/learn? Whatwere the specific results?

Teamwork

How did you work with others to achieve a set target?

Key points: international or diverse experiences, crossfunctional teams, upwards/downwards influences

Leadership

How have you developed others, provideddirection/vision, managed others, and/or made a teamwork effectively?

Key points: be able to articulate your leadership style


8/17

SFR

Communicate your personal attributes

Know your resume backwards and forwards Your resume is free game ALL parts of it. Be prepared

to answer detailed questions about any item on it

Have a couple of favorites you may be given free reignto talk about one or more specific bullets

Prepare 2 stories for each attribute

Memorize content, not a word-for-word story

Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result)framework

Dont be modest (international students especially)Now is your time to highlight your accomplishments

Use the pronoun Inot We


9/17

SFR

Try using a matrix to put your storiestogether

Achievement Teamwork Leadership

Pre-Kellogg Work

Experience

At Kellogg

Undergrad orExtra-Curricular


10/17

SFR

Use CMC Resources

Mock Interviews Video-taped mocks

Counselor appointments

Case practice with real consultants

CMC Website

Resources Prepare for the Interview

Interview Questions:

http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/career_student/interview/questions.htm

General, consulting-specific, questions forrecruiters, and illegal/stress questions
http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/career_student/interview/questions.htmhttp://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/career_student/interview/questions.htmhttp://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/career_student/interview/questions.htmhttp://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/career_student/interview/questions.htm


11/17

SFR


How to Prepare

Practice

Other Tips

Agenda


12/17

SFR

Sample Fit Interviews

What to look for:

Non-verbal cues (demeanor, eye contact, etc.)

Do you see confidence and excitement?

What to listen for:

Concise and articulate story

STAR Framework results-oriented responses

Sincerity, engagement/relevance

Feedback?


13/17

SFR


What Companies Want

How to Prepare

Other Tips

Agenda

h


14/17

SFR

Your interview starts the moment your interviewersees you

Look the part

Professional Appearance

Smile (look like you wantto be there)

Dont underestimate small talk Be yourself

Read your interviewer

People tend to remember howyou said something,

sometimes even more than whatyou said, so beengaged and sincere


15/17

SFR

Other things to keep in mind

Be honest. Theyve interviewed lots of people, and they can tell if

you are not being sincere.

If youre asked something that you dont know how to answer, itsperfectly ok to take a moment to think. Say so.

Have specific examples for all of your answers. Saying that you like

the companys culture is not enough. Explain why. Remember that you are interviewing them as much as they are

interviewing you. Look at how they treat you, and how they treattheir co-workers. Would you be comfortable working for them? Onceyou get that offer you might use this as a decision driver.

Have a good couple of questions in mind to ask them. This iswhere you show how well you know the company, or howinterested you are. Again, be honest.


16/17

SFR

The questions you ask them matter, a lot!

Generic/Inappropriate questions What is the industry mix in the office?

What is the career progression?

What is the pay?

Do you have a formal training program?

Is there a lot of travel?

Better questions (not verbatim, but generally)

Tell me about your favorite/least favorite project

What about this firm has led you to stay on to this point?

What is the most valuable aspect of the training program?

What have you seen change over your career?


17/17

SFR 17CC Frameworks 10-04

Questions?

Kellog Interview Guide

Documents

Transcript of Kellog Interview Guide