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2013
e-tray exercise
career motivation
interviews
management Consulting
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career motivation
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economic Consulting
e-tray exercise
analysis
situational judgement
e-tray exercise
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boutique firms
Strategy Consulting
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e-tray exercise
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case studies
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e-tray exercise
UCL Guide to
CONSULTING
Introduction and
Acknowledgements
The experience
stays with you
Assurance
Actuarial
Consulting
Deals
Tax
Technology
All degree subjects
Voted employer of
choice by students
in The Times Top 100
Graduate Employers
survey for ten
years running.
What we do
contents
6 |
what is consulting?
9 |
what are the types of
consulting?
company profiles
15 |
PwC
18 |
21 |
EY
25 |
Management Solutions
27 |
L.E.K
31 |
Mercer
35 |
39 |
Integration
application process
44 |
Before applying
45 |
48 |
Online tests
50 |
54 |
Competency interview
57 |
63 |
Application deadlines
Teamwork
What is CONSULTING?
persistence
ATTENTION TO DETAIL
Entrepreneurial
Drive Organisation
Achievement
Prioritisation
Analysis
Leadership
personal impact
PROBLEMSOLVING
numerical agility
Pathfinding
curiosity
RESEARCH
MULTI-TASKING
PASSION
COMMUNICATION
Creativity
A typical consulting
phase includes the
following stages:
Pitching this includes conducting secondary research to understand
the clients needs and the industry before coming up with a proposal deck
with the consulting firms proposed approach to the clients problem.
Kick-off this is the first meeting with the client to ensure that their
needs and problem at hand are interpreted correctly, and that they are
agreeable to the consultants proposed approach to solve the problem.
This is highly important to ensure that the project is kicked off with both
parties on the same page.
Research this phase refers to primary research which is conducted
through fieldwork. Generally, primary research can be qualitative
(interviews with several key opinion leaders / industry experts / niche
consumer groups) or quantitative (surveys with a larger group of
stake- holders). Armed with knowledge from prior secondary research,
consultants have to produce surveys and interview guides from scratch to
elicit the true opinions of the population that are pertinent in answering the
clients problem.
Analysis After consolidating the primary and secondary research
results gathered from the fieldwork phase, it is the job of the consultants
to then make sense of these results by giving their insights from these
numerical and qualitative data. Generally the whole team (from partner to
consultants) works together to analyse the big picture and details
and tailor these results to the initial problem that the client wanted insights
for.
Reporting The consultants will then take the analysis and present
it into a deck (PowerPoint slides) which will then be delivered by the
project manager to the client in the final presentation. Story-boarding of
the different bits of analyses will have to be done to ensure a coherent and
smooth flow of insights by the consulting team. A typical final presentation
deck also consists of many annexes, which include the results of research
or models that can be used to substantiate the findings when questioned
by the clients.
Economic Consulting
Economic consultants assist clients to understand and project market
trends, to evaluate the effects of new strategies and to persuade key
decision-makers and stakeholders. They often use micro-economic theory
and statistical, econometric and financial expertise to tackle some of the
complex and challenging business and policy issues. Combining modelling
skills with deep industry knowledge, they provide professional economic
advice to companies, regulators and government.
Examples of typical economics consulting engagements:
Limiting Potential Regulatory Risk for a Merchant Energy Firm
Measuring Consumer Credit Risk for a Large UK Retail Bank
Valuing fuel diversity in power markets
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Rural Post Office Branches
Strategy Consulting
Strategy consultants help consultants with their most complex strategic
challenges and build bespoke and tailored solutions in order to achieve
sustainable growth.
They often assist a firms senior executives to understand and face the
strategic challenges of running their organisation. It is not surprising that
a young analyst consultant meets a CEO of a big firm in his first ever client
meeting - that is just how these projects work within strategy consulting.
The common goal of strategic consultants is to drive a business to full
economic potential. They identify and discuss strategic needs and
potential pitfalls with their clients and more often assist clients in breaking
into emerging markets; helping them navigate through this unfamiliar
terrain and compete with multinationsl. Ultimately, they work with clients to
make big ideas actionable.
Examples of typical strategy consulting engagements:
Analysing why an electronics retailer generates lower sales per
square foot than its competitors
Understanding why West End theaters keep losing money and how
the theaters can reposition themselves to profit most from new
markets
Positioning a snack manufacturer to enter Brazil, determining types
of snacks most wanted, and assessing the markets willingness to
pay for snacks
Determining the value of a hard-drive manufacturer on a standalone basis and suggesting possible acquirers to help divest itself
of non-core businesses
Operations Consulting
Operation consultants often quote that they wish to do things, not only
do slides. To put it simply, operational consultants are interested in the
implementation of new recommended strategies.
These days most firms offer both strategic and operational consulting. This
entails advising clients on new strategies and then helping them make the
changes i.e the full package. The core business of operation consultants
is to help clients lead major change projects by working on the full change
lifecycle, from strategy to implementation.
They often investigate customer service response times, cut operating or
inventory backlog costs, or look into resource allocation.
So lets say, for example, that we have a project with a more strategic side
like pricing or the definition of a new organization.
A standard management consulting firm might just go in and make a
recommendation on how to change pricing for products and services.
In operational strategy consulting they would actually help them make the
change, implement it for different customers and geographies, and assess
what impact the change has made and what to do differently.
Human Resources
Consulting
Human Resources (HR) consultants maximise the value of employees
while placing the best people with the relevant skills in the appropriate
roles. This branch of consulting aims to effectively utilise personnel, or
human capital, to achieve the goals of the organisation.
Clients hire HR consultancies as part of departmental or organisational
restructuring, systems implementations, and ongoing initiatives and studies
(e.g. diversity and work/life balance). HR consultants also provide technical
advice. This advice is largely based on number crunching and additionally
focuses on restructuring benefits packages and valuating compensation
structures. At its best, HR consulting helps to develop a human resources
model that addresses the specific needs of the business in a manner that
serves the best interests of both the company and the employee work
force.
Examples of typical human resources consulting engagements:
Boutique firms
We must be clear that being a boutique firm is not synonymous for being a
small firm; a boutique is determined not by size, but by focus.
These three firms have stood out from other competitors and have consolidated
themselves as the top-tier of consulting business.
All this said, we should note that many boutiques are indeed small,
ranging from 200 employees to a single consultant. Often, boutique
consulting firms grow from the expertise and client relationships of one to
five founding partners, and unless it sells a consistently large flow of work,
the firm has no compelling reason to grow quickly. If you are especially
interested in a particular industry or type of consulting problem, definitely
do your homework on the outstanding boutiques in that field. If you find the
right company to match your interests, you will spend all of your time doing
the work you dreamt of, and that is a much harder goal to achieve within a
more diverse consulting firm.
Examples of boutique consulting projects:
A consulting firm with a well-known shareholder value
methodology helps a beverage company establish value metrics in
its business units
The Big 4
Though the Big 4 generally refers to the top tier auditing firms, all of these firms
have seperate successful consulting divisions.
What we offer
We offer two distinct graduate routes into Consulting. If you want a
broad range of experiences across a number of disciplines, then join
Management Consulting and train on a two-year structured programme
that builds a range of core skills. Or, if youre interested in one of our
specialist consulting practices Strategy, Economics or Sustainability and
Climate Change then you can apply directly to that area and develop
your skills quickly through strong project responsibility and in-depth
training.
Who we are
Join us
Get online. Decide on your area of Consulting and the skills you can
bring, and apply online. Well then ask you to take some online tests and
youll get the results within 48 hours. Youll find out if you have a first stage
interview once the deadline has passed.
Type of Consulting
Multiple focus
Company website
www.pwc.co.uk
Contact information
08081001500
e-recruitment.processing@uk.pwc.com
Vacancies
Insight programmes, summer
internships and graduate
opportunities available
www.pwc.co.uk
UCLU Business Society | 15
Who we are
Simon-Kucher & Partners is the number
one strategy consultancy in the field of
marketing and sales, and we are widely
regarded as the worlds leading expert
in pricing strategy. We are consistently
ranked in the top 10 in the Vault Guide to
Consulting.
Type of Consulting
Strategy and Marketing
Company website
www.simon-kucher.com
Contact information
recruitment.london@simonkucher.com
Vacancies
internship?
Join us
Our consultants come from a diverse range of personal, academic and
professional backgrounds. They take the initiative and are eager to direct
their own career development. We look for dynamic, pro-active individuals
who will thrive in an entrepreneurial environment. Successful candidates
have strong analytical, quantitative, leadership and communication skills.
Visit our website to complete the application tool and upload your cover
letter and CV. If you pass our screening, you will be invited to go through
the interview process. Preliminary rounds involve online tests and a short
telephone interview. Assessment day interviews usually have two main
parts: the first part explores the candidates CV and motivation, the second
is a case study presentation and discussion with a Simon-Kucher Director/
Partner.
www.simon-kucher.com
UCLU Business Society | 20
What we offer
Because Advisory is a diverse and fluid business area youll be involved
in a huge variety of work. This will involve delivering wide-ranging and
constantly changing ideas to our clients across a broad spectrum of
industries and locations. As a matter of course, your experiences will be
wide and varied. Youll quickly be given responsibility to deal with complex
business problems an excellent way to build the skills youll need for a
long and fulfilling career. The size and variety of the clients we work for will
mean your career develops faster here than in most other businesses.
Within Advisory you can choose to work in one of eight areas: Actuarial,
Financial Services Advisory Consultant Programme Performance
Improvement, Advisory Consultant Programme - Performance
Improvement, Advisory Consultant Programme Risk, IT Advisory
Consultant Programme, Financial Services Advisory Consultant
Programme Risk, Financial Services Advisory Consultant Programme
Information Technology Advisory (ITA), Financial Services Advisory
Consultant Programme - Information Technology Risk Assurance (ITRA)
Who we are
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax,
transactions and advisory services. Our
167,000 people are united by our shared
values, which inspire our people worldwide
and guide them to do the right thing, and our
commitment to quality, which is embedded
in who we are and everything we do.
Our Advisory service line focuses on
helping clients to improve their performance
and manage their risks more effectively.
Particularly important in a challenging
and uncertain business environment, with
escalating competition. We work with clients
to address their specific circumstances and
help turn strategy into reality. Whether its an
improved finance function, enhanced supply
chain or superior customer management,
were able to offer added value. This is why
Advisory is our fastest-growing service line
and an energetic, fast-paced environment
with nearly 20,000 professionals around the
world.
Type of Consulting
Multiple focus
Company website
www.ey.com
Contact information
ukstudentrecruitment@uk.ey.com
Vacancies
Insight programmes, summer
internships and graduate
opportunities available
Join us
Our application is made up of two parts. First of all, you will need to
complete our online application form. This is your chance to tell us about
yourself and achievements to date. Then you should complete an online
strengths assessment, which will ask you to read a series of scenarios
and then choose how you would respond in each scenario. The questions
will require you to select one response, or rank your responses in order.
Providing you are successful at application you will be required to
complete an online psychometric test which tests your verbal, numeric
and diagrammatic reasoning ability. Next you will be invited to attend
an interview that will ask you to demonstrate your strengths and your
motivation for joining EY. We want to get to know you, so relax and be
yourself. At the Assessment centre you will take part in various activities
such as a team meeting, a written report and an interview. This will give
you a better feel for EY and helps us learn more about you.
www.ey.com
UCLU Business Society | 21
Why did you decide to join Advisory work with the project team outside of my
normal role and responsibilities. Further to
at Ernst & Young?
What we offer
We offer the possibility to join the firm that offers you everything
necessary to develop your potential to the full, by working in some of
the most relevant consulting projects in the industry, for the largest
companies, leaders of their respective markets, side by side with the
industrys top management as they tackle local and global projects, and
as part of an extraordinary team of professionals, whose values and
corporate culture are a benchmark for the industry.
Who we are
Management Solutions is a leading provider
of business consulting services for regulated
industries. We have more than 1,300
professionals working in offices in the UK,
Spain, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Italy,
Portugal, the US, the most representative
countries in Latin America, and China.
Our consultants have the opportunity to
develop personally and professionally
integrating in teams in projects relating
to Strategy, Sales and Marketing
Management, Risk Management and
Control, Management and Financial
Information, Organisation and Processes,
Applied technology.
Type of Consulting
Business Consulting
Company website
www.managementsolutions.com
Contact information
0207 469 6800
human.resources@msunitedkingdom.com,
Vacancies
On-going recruitment for
graduate positions, no fixed
quota.
Join us
You must me a final year student or recent graduate with at least a
2.1 in a discipline preferably relating to Finance, Economics, Business
Administration, Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics
or Physics. We are looking for someone, who is mature and hard working,
integrates easily into multidisciplinary teams, and is willing to travel.
Applicants for employment in the UK must possess work authorization
which does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa.
We look favourably on the knowledge of foreign languages (Spanish,
Portuguese, Mandarin Chinese and/or German), postgraduate studies
and specialised courses, knowledge of Financial Products and Markets,
Treasury and Investment Banking environments, proficiency in the use of
MS Office applications.
To apply, please send cover letter, CV and unofficial university transcripts.
www.managementsolutions.com
UCLU Business Society | 25
What we offer
Graduate training programme
We operate a very comprehensive training programme which is structured
over three years. New joiners will have an initial two-week full time training
programme, followed by continuous monthly training sessions, which are
tailored to the needs of your position. L.E.K.s training covers the full range
of technical, analytical, strategy, communication, project management
and relationship building skills. Combined with on the job training, this
gives you an excellent range of commercial skills and a solid grounding in
business fundamentals.
Who we are
Type of Consulting
Strategy
Company website
www.lek.com
Contact information
0207 389 7200
Vacancies
Join us
Graduate vacancies in London: 40-50. Application deadline: 10th
November 2013
Summer internship vacancies in London: 10 (8 week internship starting in
July 2014). Application deadline: 16th January 2013
To apply please visit www.lek.com and submit an online application
www.lek.com
UCLU Business Society | 27
What we offer
If you join us, you will be
Working with the worlds leading companies and organisations to help
them meet their most critical business challenges Mercer counts 9 out of
10 Fortune 100 companies among its clients
Working with the best and brightest people, colleagues who are committed
to exceeding the high standards set by our clients and by ourselves
Working for a company that offers a vast array of learning and
development opportunities
Working for a company that conducts business with the very highest
standards of integrity
Who we are
Join us
Mercer is the global leader for trusted HR
and related financial advice, products and
services. In our work with clients, we make
a positive impact on the world every day.
We do this by enhancing the financial and
retirement security, health, productivity and
employment relationships of the global
workforce.
Mercer has more than 18,000 employees
serving clients in over 180 cities and 40
countries and territories worldwide.
Type of Consulting
Human Resource and
Investment Management
Company website
www.uk.mercer.com/home
Contact information
graduates@mercer.com
020 7626 6000
Vacancies
Graduate and summer
internship vacancies available
www.uk.mercer.com/home
UCLU Business Society | 31
What we offer
Who we are
The Social Investment Consultancy (TSIC)
is an international consulting firm using the
latest models of social enterprise, revenue
generation, impact investment and venture
philanthropy to help businesses, charities
and philanthropists maximise their impact.
We believe in risk and evidence in equal
measure, and think that doing good can
reinforce rather than compromise
ways of generating profits and creating longterm shareholder value.
TSICs dynamic teams in Dubai, London
and New York come from a mixture of
traditional management consultancy,
international development and public policy
backgrounds, bringing best practice from
some of the worlds top consulting firms,
charities and policy units. The integration of
skills and expertise from across the public,
private and third sector forms the basis for
a range of professional services that drive
social impact and organisational change.
You will have a chance to join the TSIC Team, which is a group of dynamic,
creative thinkers whose experience ranges from traditional management
consulting and finance to social entrepreneurship and international
development. Our diverse backgrounds and range of expertise are coupled
with a passion for innovation that fuels everything we do for our clients.
Join us
Type of Consulting
Social innovation
Company website
www.tsiconsultancy.com
Contact information
0207 239 8935
tsic-uk@tsiconsultancy.com
Vacancies
Check website for current
openings
www.tsiconsultancy.com
UCLU Business Society | 35
What we offer
We make sure that you have everything you need to succeed in your
new career. Every new analyst and consultant completes an extensive
induction programme, including two weeks of training in Brazil and half
a year of monthly training sessions in London. Integration also pairs
you with a senior mentor to guide you in your day-to-day professional
development. Your development doesnt stop there, however throughout
your time at Integration you will be exposed to new challenges that allow
you to grow, and you will always benefit from intense, honest and personal
mentoring from senior leaders.
Who we are
Join us
Integration is a consultancy in Strategy,
Management & Operations, and we have
come a long way since our foundation in
Brazil in 1995. We now have around 300
consultants in offices in Sao Paulo, Rio
de Janeiro, Mexico City, Buenos Aires,
Santiago and London.
We have a different approach to consulting.
Our passion for helping our clients means
that we go the extra mile to ensure
our projects deliver more than just a
recommendation our advice is realistic,
implementable and drives the results our
clients need. We design every project with
implementation in mind to guarantee our
recommendation is translated into results.
Consultants from our London office travel
all over Europe and the world to help our
industry leading clients tackle their most
pressing issues. Although we are divided
internally into areas of expertise, our
analysts start as generalists and learn how
to approach problems across a variety of
industries, project types and geographies.
Our London office is growing fast, and we are recruiting people with an
entrepreneurial spark who can make a difference for our clients, and for us.
Type of Consulting
Company website
www.integrationconsulting.com
Contact information
4. partner interviews.
Vacancies
Graduate positions available.
Apply before 4th Nov 2013
www.integrationconsulting.com
UCLU Business Society | 39
Integration?
Application Process.
Although assessments that consulting firms use to sift through candidates
vary a lot, generally the application process looks like this:
online application
competency
interviews
Before applying
Before diving into a long and sophisticated consulting recruitment process, make sure you
are familiar with this industry and its specifics. There are a lot of useful web resources out
there to help you learn about various types of consulting and determine whether it is the
right career path for you. Once you realize that consulting is definitely your thing, select
and research the firms you are most interested in. You might also want to start following
their Facebook and Linked-in pages to get a deeper understanding of what it is like to work
there. In addition, it is always useful to stay up to date with business news: it does not only
help you build extensive commercial awareness, but also allows you to start thinking as a
consultant, i.e. analyzing issues that different companies are facing right now and coming
up with possible solutions.
Useful links:
Vault, a career portal with consulting sections and firm rankings:
www.vault.com
Graduate Consulting, an online portal including general information,
FAQs and application tips:
www.graduate-consulting.com/Consulting
Management Consulting Prep, another extensive consulting platform:
www.mconsultingprep.com/before-apply/
Career portals:
www.glassdoor.com
www.wikijob.co.uk/
case
interviews
Consulting Job Secrets, the step-by-step guide to getting hired by a consulting firm:
www.consultinsider.com/
Attend company presentations and events held by the UCLU Business Society. You can
find the accurate schedule on: www.uclubusinesssociety.com/events.php
Name
Address
EDUCATION
Highlight academic strengths and performance: recruiters look for outstanding academic
records - a first or 2:1 at university (expected or achieved) + top A-level and GCSE grades
at school
Location
Location
Location
Dates
OTHER
Language and IT skills
Interests and hobbies and how they exemplify your character and personality
UCLU Business Society | 45
Online Tests
Introduction:
Who are you and which university you are attending/have you attended? Why do you want
to work for this firm? What is it that attracted you to apply for this firm and/or role?
Relevant experience:
What consulting experience do you have? If this firm has a specialty (e.g. a technology
consulting firm), explain why you are interested in that specialty.)
Interest in consulting:
Most consulting firms use aptitude tests as part of their selection process to filter out
candidates and thus reduce the number of interviews they need to conduct. It is also
believed that these tests give an accurate reflection of candidates abilities. They are
usually administered online, but you may be asked to re-sit them at the subsequent
interview or assessment centre to confirm your result. Consulting firms use such test
providers as GTIOS, SHL, or PSL.
Briefly discuss what is it that attracts you to consulting. Is it the competitive environment?
The dynamism of the industry? The large and diverse clientele base?
Closing:
Always thank the reader for his/her time and consideration.
useful links:
www.shldirect.com/en
www.kenexa.com/Solutions/Assessments
www.assessmentday.co.uk/
www.psychometric-success.com/downloads/download-practice-tests.htm
www.savilleconsulting.com/products/aptitude-preparation-guides-and-advice
www.indiabix.com/online-test/categories/
www.jobtestprep.co.uk/Default.aspx
Numerical reasoning
Tests on inference from data such as tables, graphs and reports. It is imperative that you
are able to analyse data, spot trends and follow numerical logic.
How to prepare: revise the basics of mathematics both with and without a calculator.
Visit financial and business sections of quality newspapers: study graphs and tables, try to
establish relationships between the numbers.
www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise.
Develop your maths skills through a variety of fun games.
www.caseinterview.com/math/home.php.
Victor Chengs maths practice tool.
Logical reasoning
You will have to be able to distinguish information or rules that are relevant to solving
problems in a systematic and analytical manner. These tests are usually given as
sequenced patterns and you will be asked to predict the next pattern in the line.
How to prepare: obtain any abstract or shape-based puzzles that will require you to
identify the sequence by analyzing the information given to you.
Verbal reasoning
Tests that measure your ability to digest and evaluate the logic of verbal information. Such
skills usually include that of summarizing.
How to prepare: read more articles from newspapers and journals and practise
summarising the key points.
Situational judgment
Tests that present applicants with a realistic scenario that they might face when employed
in a certain role. Candidates are asked to respond in the way that they feel is the most
appropriate to the situation. There are usually four or five different options given, although
often there is not one single correct answer.
How to prepare: research the culture of the firm to ensure that your answers are in
line with its core values.
www.caseinterview.com/mckinsey-problem-solving-test-example-1
You will be asked to read a number of emails in your inbox and you will be presented
with four options for responding. You will need to select the option you believe is the most
appropriate response. You will not be able to change your responses so please make sure
you have read all of the relevant information in the inbox before responding. There will be
a set of about 7 or 8 core emails in the inbox at the start, and thereafter a new email will
be sent based on your response to each issue. Therefore, the faster you respond to each
email, the faster the emails will come. You can expect about 3 to 4 emails in total about a
certain issue. Further emails will come into your inbox as a result of the option you select.
You should respond to these once you have reviewed all of the information in the email.
www.caseinterview.com/mckinsey-problem-solving-test-example-1-answer
www.mckinsey.com/careers/join_us/the_interview_process
1. Read all the emails in the inbox before you start responding to them. Often emails will
link to each other and later emails may give further details to help inform your response.
Some emails might only come after you have answered the previous one. Hence, it is
best to work through the emails with an expectation that there will be more to follow.
McKinsey Test
The McKinsey Problem Solving Test (also known as the McKinsey PST) is a math
computation, data interpretation and logical thinking test used by McKinsey to determine
which candidates are invited to first round case interviews.
How to prepare: practise maths and data interpretation. Make sure you work through
some sample questions, which can be found via the following links:
www.mckinsey.com/locations/telaviv/faq/advanced_problem_solving_sample.pdf
2. Do have a QUICK skim of any new emails that come in as some of them might have an
earlier deadline than the 1-hour mark and need to be dealt with sooner than other tasks.
This is to test your prioritising skills and ability to pick up urgent and high importance
emails that need immediate attention or have an earlier deadline than others.
3. Most emails you need to respond to will be in the format of multiple choice questions.
It has been advised that the emails are fairly straightforward and it is just a matter of
working quickly but accurately through them and ensuring that you are prioritising the
more important emails. Some of your tasks will include:
Organising meetings with team members and/or clients to discuss specific issues
The second part of the assessment requires you to write a detailed email. You will be
asked to respond to a colleague with a recommendation on the situation presented to you.
You will need to decide between three options. We recommend spending a few minutes
reading the webmail before starting your response so you are fully aware of what is being
asked.
The exercise is designed to assess your written communication style as well as your
ability to reason with the information provided. We recommend you spend a few minutes
considering the format and structure of your communication ensuring you have addressed
the email, made good use of para- graphs and finished the email appropriately. There
will not be a spelling or grammar check facility on the system being used so we advise
candidates to review their work before the end of the exercise. You will be marked down
for poor spelling.
5. Some emails will not always have an obvious RIGHT answer, please look at all the
information provided and give the most logical answer. Watch out for and pick up easy
marks first, before you go into the more difficult options.
6. If the question asks who the most appropriate person is for certain information, you can
look at the organisation charts to find the answer.
7. Some emails will be more quantitative in nature i.e. require you to perform simple
mathematical calculations. Typically, the wrong answers that are listed will be common
errors for that problem and can be misleading. For such emails ensure you look at the
information provided in the folders to get all the necessary figures (sometimes more
information than is necessary will be provided, to distract you). Hint: these are good
questions to get right (as there is likely to be only one correct answer), hence work
accurately through the information provided to get the appropriate answer. Read the
question carefully - factor in weekends when scheduling project start dates and watch
out for units.
You will be asked to justify your reccomendations with some analysis of the information
that you were provided. You will also be expected to include some points on why you
decided against the other options. It is therefore important to ensure you structure your
answer well.
8. Read instructions and the question first; dont read all of the information/data as some
are not even necessary and are only there to distract you and make you panic. Work
through the options in a systematic manner (e.g. Stay with one category at a time).
9. One should be aware of the information in the folders; note that there are emails
containing attachments and know where to open them. The post about Deloitte E-tray
exercise on Wikijob website contains a lot of useful information, especially tips like:
dragging the toolbar to the left hand side, and opening all the attachments at the
beginning and leave it there, etc.
Suggested Format:
Good Morning/Afternoon [insert name of addressee]
Hope you are well. I am writing in response to your email to evaluate the various
options for [insert task objective] and I would recommend the option of [XXXX]. My
analysis and reasoning are laid out below.
Option A (As many as required) Benefits:
Limitations:
Recommendations
With the above in mind, I would suggest that the company [perform the recommended
action] be- cause [summary of factors].
Conclusion
Based on the above analysis I would recommend the company to take the option of
[XXXX]. I will also advise that the firm conducts further research to achieve a more
holistic analysis on the case.
Please do not hesitate to seek any clarification from me should any doubts arise.
Kind regards,
Competency Interview
Below is a list of the most popular questions asked in a typical competency interview to
assess whether you possess these competencies. Ensure that you have at least two
different examples that can be used to answer each of the suggested questions. One
should generally be work/study related; one should be related to extracurricular activities.
Ideally you should plan answers to all of the below questions. With each of the questions
consider the ideal profile listed below the competency heading and ensure your answers
demonstrate these qualities. Once planned, please practice answering them orally, in front
of a mirror or to a friend/ mentor/tutor.
Many guide books and application websites have advised applicants to answer these
competency questions using the STAR technique outlined below:
Situation (What was the situation/circumstance? Elaborate the context especially if its
school- or country-specific, which the interviewer might have no knowledge
of e.g. National Service in Singapore/Finland or certain school traditional
events.)
Task
(What was the task at hand to resolve this situation? What was your thought
process when coming to decide what the action to be taken was?)
Action
(What did YOU do? Outline your specific role and responsibility in executing
the action. Many applicants use WE when talking about the action taken but
unless the interviewer is recruiting your whole team into the firm, they dont
really care what the others did.)
Result
(What did YOUR action accomplish? What was the significance of your
action? Substantiate the results with either statistics (e.g. raised 10,000
pounds in sponsorship for a charity event) or long- lasting qualitative impact
(e.g. changed the way things were run in the firm you were interning in).)
Applicants generally stop short of talking about Results when it is the most crucial part of
the whole answer interviewers want to know that you can make/have made an impact
and will continue to do so when youre working in their firm. It is recommended that
applicants talk about 3 5 minutes per example using this technique; the exact duration to
discuss an example should be gauged by the body language or replies of the interviewer.
The last thing you want to do is to bore your interviewer!
Applicant is able to demonstrate the ability to communicate well and with ease with others.
He/she can listen and understand the needs of others well (client-focused) and articulate
complex ideas into digestible content. He/she is also a team player, which is very
important in the actual work since the projects are handled by a team within the company.
Candidate effectively explores key issues, analyses them sufficiently, exercises sound
judgment and makes timely decisions based on achieving an optimal solution. These
are particularly necessary skills in the consulting industry as youre providing advice
and recommendations to your client based on your analysis and judgment. It is always
beneficial to show that you weigh all your options before making an informed decision
demonstrate that youve considered all quantitative and qualitative data, and taken into
account the views of all stakeholders.
Tell us about a time when you had to influence others and persuade them that your
course of action would be better than theirs. How did you do it? What did you learn?
Can you describe a situation when you have worked in a team on a major project?
How did you contribute to ensuring the team performed the tasks set and worked well
together?
What personal qualities have you used to build relationships with peers or with people in
authority?
Tell me about a time when you made a decision. How did you come to the conclusion
and what steps did you take to consider? What was the outcome?
Can you describe a time when you had to learn a lot of new and difficult concepts
quickly? What was the outcome? What did you learn from the experience?
Please describe a time when youve had to speak in front of a large audience. How did
you prepare? How was it received?
Can you describe a situation where you had to make a decision and you didnt have all
the information you wanted? What was the decision? What doubts did you have?
Achievement of goals:
Career motivation:
The applicant shows ease in taking ownership of any work assigned to them and is
driven towards delivering work of a high standard. He/she needs to show adaptability and
tenacity when faced with challenging circumstances to deliver uncompromised results.
Time-management and people- management skills should be demonstrated to achieve
these goals.
Can you tell us about a time when youve had to assume more responsibility than your
job or role required? What was the situation? What was the outcome?
What has been the most difficult task youve had to complete? What was the outcome?
Over the last three years tell us about the achievement of which you are most proud of?
Why are you proud of this? How did you achieve success?
Can you tell us of a time when you produced work that clearly exceeded expectations.
How did you achieve this?
Share with me a time where you had a goal and how did you manage to accomplish it?
How would you do things differently if given the chance?
Applicants show a genuine interest in working within the industry and are aware of the
organisational structure of the firm. They are able to articulate well their reasons for
working in this sector in general and their chosen division in particular and are able to
demonstrate that they possess all the requisite skills for working in this company. Ample
research must be conducted in order to answer these questions convincingly (surfing the
company website is a first step, but in order to stand out, one should attend the firms
presentation / insight days and talk to the employees in the firm to ascertain if the culture
and the applicant are a good fit). Showing the interviewer that you know what the firm
really is before applying assures them that you are a good fit with the firm and genuinely
desire to work in the firm rather than just casting your net wide in the recruitment process.
What made you apply for this role? What are the attractions of the role? What concerns
do you have?
Why do you want to work in this firm? Have you considered applying to other firms in
the industry?
How did you prepare for this interview?
What is your understanding of the ACA/ACCA/ICAS/CFA/CIMA (any qualification for
your applied division) from your research?
What do you think you will be doing in this role during your internship? In your first two
years?
What are your longer term career plans and aspirations? Five years? Ten years?
Brainteasers:
Typical brainteasers might be posed to you to gauge your analytical processes and skills.
These questions are not as common in present interviews, but are meant to surprise you
and see how you think on your feet. Think through before you answer. Do not fret about
giving an answer fast as this may affect your logical thinking process.
Examples are:
Why are manholes round?
How do you fit a giraffe into a refrigerator?
Market sizing
There can be many different forms of market sizing questions. An example will be
population-based:
Examples are:
Useful links
www.oliverwyman.com/ careers/63.htm
If I live in a town of about 16,000 people and I have 4 post offices, I will assume that the
average rate is 1 post office serving 4,000 people. Further assuming that the average rate
applies across UK and that there are 65 million people, we can work out how many post
offices there are in the UK. There are roughly 16,000 post offices in the UK.
www.insidebuzz.co.uk/buzz_board/consulting/consulting-interviews-brain-teaserpractice
www.forbes.com/sites/work-in-progress/2012/05/15/10-brainteasers-to-test-your-mentalsharpness/
www.mconsultingprep.com/case-interview/interviewer-drive-cases/market-sizingguesstimate/
falling
profits
Falling profits:
A garment company has noticed a decline in profits in its womens apparel unit. Whats
going on and how to reverse this trend?
brainteasers
operations
marketing
problems
Marketing problems:
The company has sponsored a professional tennis event for a number of years and is
considering canceling its sponsorship. Should it?
New product:
A cereal company is thinking about introducing a new natural cereal. How should it go
about making its decision?
New markets:
cases
new
product
market
sizing
new
markets
m&a
business
An automaker wants to know how a new trade agreement will affect its sourcing options.
Useful links:
www.bcg.com/join_bcg/interactive_case/default.aspx
(practise interactive BCG Case)
www.bcg.com/join_bcg/practice_cases/default.aspx
(other practice BCG cases)
www.mckinsey.com/careers/join_us/practice_case_studies
(McKinsey practice cases)
competitive
response
strategy
response to
external
factors
www.joinbain.com/apply-to-bain/interview-preparation/default.asp
(Bain practice cases)
Firm Presentation
30
Wednesday
EY is a global leader
in advisory services.
Come down to our
highly interactive
session where you
will be able to
undertake a range
of group and
individual
exercises.
Preparing for
Assessment Centres
31
Thursday
01
Friday
Nov.
ManagementSolutions is
a leading provider of
business consulting
services for regulated
industries with more than
1,300 professionals
working in offices in the
UK, Spain, Germany,
Poland, Switzerland, Italy,
Portugal, the US, Latin
America, and China.
Firm Presentation
*Please register and look for times and venues at: www.uclubusinesssociety.com/events.php
Firm Presentation
29
Consulting Case
Study Workshop
28
Oct.
UCL Case Club sessions will commence on the 11th of November and will run throughout
the whole year.
Tuesday
This year UCLU Business Society is launching a truly exciting initiative UCL Case
Club. We will be holding regular peer-led case study workshops, as well as company-led
case sessions. Each week you will explore a specific type of case questions, industry
or framework. You will be equipped with tips and advice necessary to succeed in the
interview process. Most importantly, however, you will regularly have a chance to practise
case-cracking, gradually developing your analytical skills and commercial awareness.
Monday
Case interviews require a lot of preparation. However, this is something you cannot do
alone by studying various case study guides and reading model solutions to cases. A far
more effective strategy is to practise with your peers. Only then will you be able to learn
how to think under pressure, structure your thoughts and express them in a succinct and
powerful way.
The UCL Consulting Week is brought to you by the UCLU
Business Society Consulting Division, is a week-long
event with a different field of consulting being explored
each day through a myriad of activities; firm
presentations, networking, and even assessment centre
training. We are bringing you the best of Strategy, Social
Innovations, and Management consulting to exemplify
the diversity and vibrancy of this industry.
Application Deadlines
Name of
Firm
Consulting
Focus
1st Year
Insight
Summer
Internship
Graduate
Job
Recruiters
Email
Name of
Firm
Consulting
Focus
1st Year
Insight
Summer
Internship
Graduate
Job
Recruiters
Email
Accenture
Technology
rolling
rolling;
Contact form
on website
Mercer
Human
Resources
31st Dec
2013
ukrecruitment@
mercer.com
Arthur D. Little
Technology and
Management
ukinternships@
adlittle.com
careers.uk@
adlittle.com
OC & C
Strategy
Consultants
Strategy
10th Nov
2013
recruitment@
occstrategy.
com
RecruitingUK.
OT@
oliverwyman.
com
Bain &
Company
Strategy
4th Nov
2013
Booz &
Company
Strategy
5th Jan
2014
27th Oct
2013
graduaterecruiting.
london@bain.com
London.
Recruiting@
booz.com
Deloitte
Multiple Focus
rolling
rolling
Msimmonds@
deloitte.co.uk
Multiple Focus
rolling
rolling
gradrec@uk.ey.
com
Frontier
Economics Ltd
Economics
10th Jan
2014
recruitment@
frontiereconomics.
com
FTI Consulting
IBM Consulting
KPMG
Management
(Economics,
Finance, Legal
and Strategy)
Technology
Multiple Focus
rolling
17th Nov
2013
econ.
graduates@
fticonsulting.
com
31st Dec
2013
applications@
uk.ibm.com
rolling
ukfmgraduate@
kpmg.co.uk
london.
recruit@lek.
com
Hotline: +44 20
7961 7070
rolling
L.E.K
Consulting
Strategy
10th Nov
2013
Mckinsey &
Company
Strategy
Discover 2014
Applications
not open yet
30th Oct
2013
Oliver Wyman
Financial Services
10th Nov
2013
Parthenon
Group
Management
londonrecruiting@
parthenon.com
PwC
Multiple Focus
PwC Talent
Academy
rolling
rolling
18th Nov
2014
Helpline:
0800 100 1500
Roland Berger
Stratey
Consultants
Strategy
Dec 2013
Simon-Kucher
& Partners
Pricing
29th Jan
2014
Recruitment.
London@
simon-kucher.
com
The Boston
Consulting
Group
Strategy
3rd Nov
2013
londonrecruiting
@bcg.com
The Social
Innovations
Consultancy
Social Innovations
Ad-hoc
Ad-hoc
claire@
tsiconsultancy.
com
Tower Watsons
Human
Resources
Insight
Programme
rolling
17th Jan
2014
Graduate.UK@
towerswatson.
com
Value Partners
Group
Management
online
application tool
ZS Associates
Management
careers@
zsassociates.
com
recruitment@
uk.rolandberger.
com
Notes
DECA
Competition
is waiting for YOU
strategy
management
operations
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Buenos Aires
Santiago
London
Join us.
Supported by senior management, our London analysts
work directly with Blue Chip clients throughout Europe and
develop the skills they need to succeed in their career,
and in life.
integrationconsulting.com
analysis
www.facebook.com/groups/buzsoc
interviews
assesment centres
interviews
boutique firms
Strategy Consulting
problem-solving
operations consulting
boutique firms
Strategy Consulting
problem-solving
operations consulting
case studies
management Consulting
assesment centres
research
analysis
boutique firms
Strategy Consulting
problem-solving
operations consulting
case studies
management Consulting
interviews
boutique firms
Strategy Consulting
problem-solving
operations consulting
Preena Kakad
UCLU Business Society Consulting Executive
p.kakad@uclubusinesssociety.com
Alexandra Vedernikova
UCLU Business Society Consulting Director
a.vedernikova@uclubusinesssociety.com
assesment centres
situational judgement
analysis
economic Consulting
career motivation
case studies
research
economic Consulting
e-tray exercise
www.uclubusinesssociety.com
research
interviews
management Consulting
assesment centres
Lukas Stieger
UCLU Business Society Consulting Executive
l.stieger@uclubusinesssociety.com
situational judgement
e-tray exercise
career motivation
boutique firms
Strategy Consulting
operations consulting
case studies
situational judgement
economic Consulting
career motivation
analysis
interviews
management Consulting
assesment centres
research
economic Consulting
e-tray exercise
analysis
situational judgement
e-tray exercise
career motivation
case studies
research
economic Consulting
e-tray exercise