Breaking into consulting starts with one conversation: the interview. If you’re asking how to get into consulting, this guide walks through the exact interview mindset, step-by-step case mechanics, behavioral prep, daily drills, and the practice plan that separates candidates who get offers from those who get nervous smiles. Read this as a practical playbook you can use over 4–12 weeks to sharpen skills that also transfer to sales calls, college interviews, and other high-stakes conversations.
What should you know about how to get into consulting and the difference between case and behavioral interviews
If you’re wondering how to get into consulting, understand that firms use two interview types to evaluate different but complementary skills.
Case interviews test structured problem-solving under time pressure. Interviewers observe how you break down ambiguous problems, build a hypothesis-driven structure, run analyses, and form a recommendation—skills that map directly to client work Princeton Career Development.
Behavioral interviews test demonstrated fit and values: leadership, teamwork, ownership, adaptability, and communication. Firms want examples showing impact and judgment in real contexts McKinsey Careers.
Why this matters for how to get into consulting: you must practice both types in parallel. Successful candidates combine a reliable case process with 5–10 compelling behavioral stories that highlight consulting-valued traits.
How can you master case interviews to improve how to get into consulting
Mastering case interviews is central to how to get into consulting. Use a repeatable seven-step process and make every step visible to the interviewer.
Seven-step case cracking process
Clarify and confirm the objective. Restate the prompt and ask 2–3 clarifying questions. This reduces rework and shows client-style thinking.
Summarize and propose an approach. Say a one-sentence structure and get quick buy-in to build rapport.
Create a flexible structure. Use frameworks as scaffolds (profitability, market entry, pricing, M&A) but adapt them to the specific case. Avoid parroting rigid frameworks The Muse.
Prioritize issues. Show your hypothesis and pick the levers you'll analyze first—this is hypothesis-driven consulting.
Run analyses and do mental math aloud. Walk the interviewer through each step, show estimates, and explain assumptions.
Synthesize interim findings. Pause periodically to summarize insights and adjust the plan.
End with a clear recommendation and next steps. Give a concise, supported recommendation and what a client should do next.
Practice each step deliberately. When you train, simulate interviewer interruptions and unknown data to practice adapting frameworks and thinking on your feet. Resources like firm interview pages and consulting prep communities can supply archetypal cases to rehearse common formats Management Consulted.
How should you prepare behavioral questions when learning how to get into consulting
Behavioral prep is a core part of how to get into consulting because firms hire for demonstrated judgment and values, not just technical chops.
Use STAR consistently: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Keep the Result quantifiable when possible.
Prepare 5–10 stories that demonstrate leadership, impact, conflict resolution, learning, and resilience. Tailor each story to highlight skills the firm values (e.g., client impact, ownership, problem decomposition) Princeton Career Development.
Convert case outcomes into behavioral stories: leading a team in a case practice or designing a new recruiting event are valid experiences when framed as results-driven actions.
Practice concise openings and outcomes—consulting interviews reward brevity and crystal-clear takeaways. Always end with what you learned or what you would do differently.
Recording mock behavioral answers and trimming them to a 60–90 second pitch will prepare you to be memorable without rambling.
What essential skills must you build to get into consulting
If your question is how to get into consulting, invest time in the specific, repeatable skills firms test.
Core skills to build
Mental math and estimation: practice percent changes, break-even, and unit conversions until they’re reflexive. Work on short drills daily to make calculations fast and accurate.
Structured thinking: practice creating MECE (mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive) structures and adapting frameworks on the fly. Avoid overreliance on memorized trees—use them as templates you can reshape.
Talking your thought process aloud: silent thinking is a common pitfall. Interviewers evaluate not just the final answer but the path you take Management Consulted.
Business sense and commercial instincts: read short business cases, summaries, and firm thought pieces to build intuition about common levers (price, volume, cost, channels).
Communication and presence: practice clean transitions, short summaries, and confidence in tone. Pause rather than fill space with "um" or "like."
Firms like BCG, McKinsey, and other consulting houses publish preparation tips that emphasize these capabilities—review their guidance to align your practice with firm expectations McKinsey Careers.
How many practice hours and mocks do you need to get into consulting
A realistic plan for how to get into consulting includes a heavy, structured practice regimen.
Practice plan (recommended)
Weeks 1–2: Foundations — 15–20 hours learning frameworks, basic mental math drills, and building 5–10 behavioral stories.
Weeks 3–6: Volume practice — 30–50 full verbal mocks (peer or coach) focusing on cases plus weekly behavioral reps. Many successful candidates report needing 20–50+ verbal mocks to internalize flow and communication Management Consulted.
Ongoing: Record sessions for self-review, get feedback from alumni or coaches, and simulate firm-specific formats (e.g., interviewer-led vs. candidate-led). Use firm info sessions and alumni to practice firm-specific question styles Princeton Career Development.
Quality over quantity—each mock should include targeted feedback on structure, math, and communication. If you only have limited time, prioritize weekly full verbal mocks and daily micro-drills for math and quick frameworks.
How should you act on the day when you’re trying to get into consulting
Day-of professionalism is a multiplier in how to get into consulting—it amplifies your practice.
Before the interview
Arrive or log in 10–15 minutes early. Test technology for virtual interviews.
Review 2–3 quick recent practice cases and one behavioral story to center yourself.
During the interview
Begin with a confident summary: restate the problem and confirm the objective. That signals control.
Build rapport through brief, consultative engagement: ask permission to proceed and invite clarifying questions. This turns the case into a collaborative conversation.
Use pauses intentionally instead of filler words. Silence is okay—interviewers expect deliberate thinking.
When you reach the recommendation, be concise and tie it to evidence or key assumptions.
After the interview
Take quick notes about what you did well and where you can improve. Use this immediately in your next mock to accelerate learning The Muse.
Small professional habits—punctuality, clarity, curiosity—signal the attributes consulting firms hire for.
How can you overcome common challenges while trying to get into consulting
Candidates commonly face a few recurring obstacles when learning how to get into consulting. Here are practical fixes.
Silent thinking
Problem: You think but don’t verbalize, leaving interviewers without insight into your thought process.
Fix: Narrate decisions (“I will break this into revenue and cost”), speak in short, purposeful sentences, and summarize after each analysis.
Pressure and pace
Problem: Freezing under time pressure, or talking too quickly and losing structure.
Fix: Practice timed mini-cases with deliberate breathing. Use one-sentence interim summaries to reset the pace.
Weak mental math
Problem: Slow or error-prone calculations derail rapport.
Fix: Daily 15-minute drills (percent changes, multiples, unit rates). Say calculations aloud and check units.
Rigidity with frameworks
Problem: Applying memorized frameworks verbatim rather than adapting them.
Fix: Practice converting a framework to the case context in two minutes. Ask yourself: “Which elements are irrelevant here?”
Rapport gaps
Problem: Interview feels transactional.
Fix: Ask one clarifying or curiosity-driven question early and mirror the interviewer’s energy. Treat the case as a client conversation.
Insufficient practice
Problem: Underestimating the number of verbal mocks required.
Fix: Build a plan to do 30–50 verbal mocks across 6–8 weeks and use alumni for firm-specific feedback Management Consulted.
Applying case skills elsewhere
Sales calls: Use case-style probing—define the problem, quantify impact, outline options, recommend the best next step.
College interviews: Use structured behavioral stories to show maturity and a problem-solving mindset Princeton Career Development.
A mindset shift helps: treat interviews as collaborative problem-solving conversations rather than tests to be passed.
What resources and next steps should you use to get into consulting
Make a short resource map for how to get into consulting and use it consistently.
Core resources
Firm-specific interview guides: McKinsey, BCG, Bain and other firms publish prep material—read their advice to align with firm expectations McKinsey Careers.
University career centers and consulting clubs: firm alumni, on-campus practice partners, and sample cases accelerate learning Princeton Career Development.
Practice platforms and forums: use case repositories and peer platforms to schedule mocks and access a large variety of prompts.
Structured prep content: articles and guides with step-by-step case frameworks and practice templates let you internalize the seven-step approach quickly The Muse, Management Consulted.
Next steps (30-day sprint)
Build 6–10 STAR stories and distill each to 60–90 seconds.
Daily 15-minute math drills and 3 quick framework outlines.
Schedule 2–3 weekly full verbal mocks with peers or alumni. Record and review.
After 30 days, run a simulated interview day: 4 interviews back-to-back with compressed feedback. Iterate.
Tackle preparation in deliberate blocks—foundation, volume, polish—and measure progress by fewer pauses in your narrative and faster math.
How can Verve AI Copilot help you with how to get into consulting
Verve AI Interview Copilot can accelerate how to get into consulting by simulating firm-style cases and giving instant feedback. Verve AI Interview Copilot provides realistic, timed mock interviews that model interviewer prompts and interruptions. Use Verve AI Interview Copilot to practice thinking aloud, refine your frameworks, and get objective feedback on structure and clarity at https://vervecopilot.com. For targeted role-play or last-minute polish, Verve AI Interview Copilot helps you rehearse consistent answers and stay sharp before interview day.
What Are the Most Common Questions About how to get into consulting
Q: How many case interviews should I practice before applying
A: Aim for 30–50 full verbal mocks with peers or coaches; prioritize feedback over raw volume
Q: Should I memorize frameworks to get into consulting
A: Learn frameworks as adaptable templates; practice customizing them to each case context
Q: How important is mental math to get into consulting
A: Very important—fast, accurate calculations build credibility; daily drills pay off
Q: Can non-business majors get into consulting
A: Yes—emphasize structured problem solving, quantitative rigor, and strong behavioral stories
Q: When should I start preparing to get into consulting
A: Start 6–12 weeks before recruiting season for focused practice; more time if balancing classes
Conclusion — how to get into consulting in your workflow
If you want to know how to get into consulting, treat preparation like a client engagement: diagnose gaps, design a practice plan, run time-boxed sprints, and iterate with feedback. Balance case mechanics with behavioral storytelling, build mental math into your daily routine, and do the volume of verbal mocks required to make thinking out loud feel natural. With structured, consistent practice and the right resources, the consulting interview becomes a repeatable performance you can own.
Further reading and tools
Princeton Career Development case interview guide: https://careerdevelopment.princeton.edu/guides/interviews/case-interview-preparation
The Muse’s 7 steps to cracking the consulting interview: https://www.themuse.com/advice/ace-the-case-7-steps-to-cracking-your-consulting-interview
Management Consulted case resources: https://managementconsulted.com/case-interview/
McKinsey interviewing guidance: https://www.mckinsey.com/careers/interviewing
Good luck—prepare deliberately, practice aloud, and treat every mock as client work to move closer to your offer.
