Consulting

 

Updated version July 2025

In the following sections, you'll find all the information you might need to land a job offer in your desired sector. If, after reading this document, you need further support, remember you have the Consulting Sector Team.

Consulting Overview

Roadmap for Students Graduation December 2026

Roadmap for Students Graduation July 2026

Application Tips

Preparing for the Fit Interview & Case

Additional Resources

What is Consulting?

 

The consulting industry consists of six main functional areas: Strategy Consulting, Management Consulting, Operations Consulting, HR Consulting, Financial Advisory and IT Consulting. However, these areas are not mutually exclusive nor collectively exhaustive. In total, the advisory areas combine with other service areas to create more than 200 different fields of expertise and propositions.

Known as Big 4

Known as MBB

 

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The Ideal Candidate

There are a series of skills any applicant to Consulting must have. You can find these skills in the job descriptions, but find below a summary of the top ones:

And last but not least, you must be a problem solver and you should show you are passionate about consulting. Recruiters and Consultants look for candidates who are aspiring to a life-long career in the sector, so you better show that during the interview and at any networking event you attend. Consulting firms are usually open to visa sponsorship but if you want to be considered for it, you must show a strong link with the chosen location. Examples of a strong link are: previous professional experience in the region, a wide network of contacts, family etc.

Consulting firms are usually open to visa sponsorship but if you want to be considered for it, you must show a strong link with the chosen location. Examples of a strong link are: previous professional experience in the region, a wide network of contacts, family etc.

Mapping the Industry

There are more than 1K consulting firms worldwide, so you have a lot to research online about them, their services and culture. We highly suggest you going through these external resources to work on a comprehensive list to target your applications:

  • List of Management Consulting Firms (check it here)
  • Live-Excel on Consulting Firms (check it here)
  • Ranking of Top Firms by Area of Specialization and Industry Expertise (check it here)
  • List of Consulting Firms by region (check it here)
  • Get access to all the Vault Guides, International guides that collect all the sector information (here). Register using your IE email. What can you find? Rankings of companies by profit, reputation, type of projects (functions).
    • Register using your IE email. What can you find? Rankings of companies by profit, reputation, type of projects (functions).
    • What can you find? Rankings of companies by profit, reputation, type of projects (functions).
 

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Your Roadmap

 

Roadmap for Students Graduating in December 2026

Here is a suggested roadmap to be up to speed when applying to consulting if you are GRADUATING IN DECEMBER 2026

 
 
 
 
 

The Roadmap is based on CaseCoach, our main preparation platform. To access for the first time, please click here and sign up with your IE student or alumni email address. Then insert coupon code CIN-ICWX0M at check-out.

For further guidance on what are the best videos to watch and the key content you must learn, check out this video.

We recommend that you complete the tasks included per month to make sure you arrive prepared (see below). You may also generate via CaseCoach a Personal Preparation Plan based on your objectives, background and schedule.

Be aware that a successful candidate usually arrives to the first interview after doing around 40 QUALITY CASES.

Attend the consulting sessions and events organised by T&C.

Pre-Program

  • Get familiar with CaseCoach and create your Personal Preparation Plan based on your objectives, background and schedule
  • Draft your strategy
  • Get your CV ready
  • Get familiar with case interview methodology and start preparing

September

October

  • Go through the numeracy module
  • Complete calculation drills and assess your level
  • Go through the case math course if necessary
  • Practice 5 cases with peers or in the practice room
  • Work on your personal experience interview questions (more information below) Practice 5 cases with peers or in the practice room (focus on your weaknesses) You can use the drills to practice your structure, maths, or charts insights Practice your personal experience questions with your peers
  • Practice 5 cases with peers or in the practice room (focus on your weaknesses)
  • You can use the drills to practice your structure, maths, or charts insights Practice your personal experience questions with your peers
  • Practice your personal experience questions with your peers

November

  • Go through any other material in CaseCoach if needed Do min 5 full mock interviews with peers or in the practice room If you think you’re ready, schedule an interview with T&Cs to get the green light to apply for consulting roles
  • Do min 5 full mock interviews with peers or in the practice room
  • If you think you’re ready, schedule an interview with T&Cs to get the green light to apply for consulting roles

December

  • Practice minimum 10 cases with peers or in the practice room
  • If you think you’re ready, schedule an interview with T&Cs to get the green light to apply for consulting roles Prepare your cover letters for each firm
  • Prepare your cover letters for each firm

December

  • Apply to summer internships in the fall/winter - You´ll be interviewing between January and March.
  • Keep practicing cases with peers or in the practice room  Don't stop practicing because you might get rusty.

If you don't get an internship, keep practicing for full time opportunities. You'll be applying between July and September. We encourage you to have the green light from T&C to apply. To other Consulting firms: apply when you feel ready to interview.

If you are graduating in December 2026 you will be eligible to apply to a summer internship. Take advantage of this opportunity to also get a competitive advantage for full time roles.

 

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Roadmap for Students Graduating in July 2026

Here is a suggested roadmap to be up to speed when applying to consulting if you are GRADUATING IN JULY 2026 (non eligible for summer internships)

 
 
 
 
 

The Roadmap is based on CaseCoach, our main preparation platform. To access for the first time, please click here and sign up with your IE student or alumni email address. Then insert coupon code CIN-ICWX0M at check-out.

For further guidance on what are the best videos to watch and the key content you must learn, check out this video.

We recommend that you complete the tasks included per month to make sure you arrive prepared (see below). You may also generate via CaseCoach a Personal Preparation Plan based on your objectives, background and schedule.

Be aware that a successful candidate usually arrives to the first interview after doing around 40 QUALITY CASES.

Attend the consulting sessions and events organised by T&C.

Pre-Program

  • Get familiar with CaseCoach and create your Personal Preparation Plan based on your objectives, background and schedule
  • Draft your strategy
  • Get your CV ready
  • Get familiar with case interview methodology and start preparing

September

October

November

December

  • Work on your personal experience interview questions (more information below)
  • Practice 5 cases with peers or in the practice room (focus on your weaknesses) -- You can use the drills to practice your structure, maths, or charts insights
  • Practice your personal experience questions with your peers
  • If you think you’re ready, schedule an interview with T&Cs to get the green light to apply for consulting roles
  • Prepare your cover letters for each firm

January

  • Go through any other material in CaseCoach if needed
  • Do min 5 full mock interviews with peers or in the practice room
  • If you think you’re ready, schedule an interview with T&Cs to get the green light to apply for consulting roles

February

  • Keep practicing cases with peers or in the practice room.
  • Don't stop practicing because you might get rusty.

Deadlines for applying to MBBs will be between January and March. We encourage you to have the green light from T&C to apply. To other Consulting firms: apply when you feel ready to interview.

 

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Application Tips

 

Consulting is one of the most competitive industries, and landing a role requires significant time and effort in preparing your applications.

To maximize your chances of success, it’s essential to be strategic when selecting your target firms and preferred office locations. At the same time, building connections with your target firms can significantly enhance your recruitment prospects.

In this section, you'll find valuable tips for each step of the application process to help you develop an effective and focused strategy.

 

1. Be Strategic

  • Draft a list of the Consulting Firms you are interested in (you can review it with your sector advisor before you start applying)
  • Be strategic when selecting the offices you will target. Consulting firms require a C1+ level of the local language, with very few exceptions and they require a strong link with the geography (past experience, family, local network and a long-term local career plan). They can sponsor visas but some offices are more restricted to do so than others (ex: USA, Australia, Singapore). Understand who are you competing with and what´s your value proposition. Some firms (particularly MBBs) will ask you to select up to 3 offices preferences when submitting your application through their website. Be smart about it, and for that, you need to be honest with yourself and have realistic expections. For example, if you are changing careers, you have the highest chance of success when applying for a role in your home country.
  • Work on a targeted CV that is goal oriented, showing your problem solving and leadership skills. Always include internships and extracurricular relevant activities.
  • Work on an impactful cover letter that is customised for each of the firms. A generic cover letter where you just change the name of the company is not ideal. Focus on your skills and on the firm´s specifics. For example, on their values. Some consulting firms and some offices value more the CL than others.
  • Before applying, if you´ve done all the steps that are described in the handbook, your T&C sector advisor can schedule a mock interview case for you to have a green light to apply.
  • ONLY APPLY WHEN YOU ARE PREPARED OR, IF WE HAVE A STRUCTURED PROCESS WITH THAT FIRM, WHEN THE DEADLINE IS ESTABLISHED

2. Understand the process

1. The first step of the process for some companies is an HR screening call.

In this call the recruiter will want to learn about your profile, your experience and your fit with the role / firm.

This step is not very common at MBBs.

2. Some processes will start with an online test, game or an online bot case.

  • For this part of the process we recommend:
    • For most of the firms you can find usefull information and examples in JobTestPrep. Website: https://www.jobtestprep.co.uk/. Use your IE student email for registration and access code: IEMADRID2026-1F477756
    • For McKinsey: There are many blogs, here is an example
    • For BCG: There are many blogs and videos online. Here are some examples: Video, Blog.
    • For Bain: There are many blogs, here is an example

3. Generally the process will be followed by 2 (or more) rounds of 2 or 3 case interviews.

Round 1: 2-3 interviews generally with consultants/ associates

Round 2: 2-3 interviews generally with associate partners and partners

This is the structure of a typical case interview:

1) Personal experience or fit interview

2) Case study

3) Questions for the interviewer (45 mins- 1 hour)

For these interviews you have to be VERY WELL PREPARED. Bear in mind that successful candidates arrive to the first interview having done around 40 quality cases.

 

Tips provided by the firms

 

3. Apply

The process of applying in consulting will depend if the university has a structured process or not with the firm. Having a structured process means that the firm will come on campus to do recruitment for all the class graduating in a specific year and with a specific deadline for all their offices globally. Being part of a target school will ensure your CV will be screened by HR. It works in the same way as when you have a referral.

STRUCTURED PROCESSES ONLY APPLY TO CURRENT STUDENTS

We currently have global structured processes with:

  • McKinsey Bain
  • Bain
  • BCG If you are interested in these firms, we advise you to apply through the structured process. If you are a dual degree student, we recommend that you apply with the following IMBA intake. Always select MBA as your last degree in the application form to be considered part of the structured process. YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED TO APPLY WHEN THE DEADLINE COMES. If you don´t apply through the structured process, you will then have to apply as an “experienced hire” but the chances of being called for an interview are lower. For ANY other firm, we recommend that you apply ONLY WHEN YOU ARE READY TO INTERVIEW. During the year we may have other local structured processes that we will be communicating to you. If you apply and you fail in the interviews, depending on the firm and the office, you won´t be able to apply again within 12-18 months.

If you are interested in these firms, we advise you to apply through the structured process. If you are a dual degree student, we recommend that you apply with the following IMBA intake. Always select MBA as your last degree in the application form to be considered part of the structured process. YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED TO APPLY WHEN THE DEADLINE COMES.

If you don´t apply through the structured process, you will then have to apply as an “experienced hire” but the chances of being called for an interview are lower.

For ANY other firm, we recommend that you apply ONLY WHEN YOU ARE READY TO INTERVIEW.

During the year we may have other local structured processes that we will be communicating to you.

If you apply and you fail in the interviews, depending on the firm and the office, you won´t be able to apply again within 12-18 months.

DEADLINES FOR MBBs ARE BETWEEN JANUARY AND MARCH FOR STUDENTS GRADUATING IN JULY AND BETWEEN JULY AND SEPTEMBER FOR STUDENTS GRADUATING IN DECEMBER.

 
 

Referrals

In any case and any consulting firm, you must apply first through their website.

Your application needs to include your CV, and as a highly recommended document, a Cover Letter.

Only after you submit your application through the official channel, you can ask for a referral. A referral in consulting is an internal push of a CV that is currently in the firm's data base of candidates.

Who can refer you?

  • A friend working in the firm
  • An alumni from the IMBA or any other program at IE working in the firm
  • A contact you have built outside the IE network

In the last two options, they need to offer you to give you a referral. Asking them to refer you without having a previous relationship hardly ever works.

Keep in mind that this doesn't apply to the Firms that we have a structured process with. Being part of a target school already gives you a "formal referral". Of course, having someone from the firm recommending you would never harm, unless you apply if you are unprepared. But if it`s a structured process we recommend that you wait until the deadline.

 

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FIT Interview (also referred to as PEI)

 

Here are some questions that you should prepare for a fit or personal experience interview in consulting. Of course, you may get some that are not in this list but we tried to cover the most common ones. Remember that this part of the interview is as important as the Case Study and you have to prepare for it.

About you

  • Walk me through your CV
  • Tell me about yourself
  • Tell me about your strengths and weaknesses
  • Why should I hire you?
  • How will you add value to the firm?

Tip: Prepare an amazing pitch, add personal interests and hobbies. Work on your storytelling.

About the job

  • Why consulting?
  • Why at our Firm?
  • Why in this location?
  • Are you interviewing at other firms?

Your stories

You should prepare STORIES (don't learn them by heart like if it was a speech, just have a clear outline with examples and details). We recommend that you prepare minimum 2 stories for each value or situation.

Tell me about a time when you did x?

  • Use the STAR methodology
  • Talk about what YOU did, not your team
  • Work in the storytelling
  • Talk about all the steps that you took to get there
  • Be impactful
  • Tell me what you learn from the situation

The famous PEI (McKinsey)

Prepare 2-3 stories for each. Here you can find what they are looking for.

  • Entrepreneurial Drive: How have you demonstrated distinctive achievement and shown entrepreneurial spirit, especially in challenging situations.
  • Inclusive Leadership: How have you demonstrated leadership in a diverse team environment and fostered effective teamwork, especially in complex situations with many stakeholders.
  • Personal Impact: How have you demonstrated impact while working with a wide range of individuals in difficult settings.
  • Courageous Change: How have you acted and adapted to new circumstances, once you experienced a significant change or encountered an ambiguous situation.
  • Problem solving

Other stories to prepare

  • Conflict
  • Negative feedback
  • When you convinced someone about something
  • Your biggest challenge
  • Your biggest achievement

(These stories can be included in the PEI)

 

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The case

Source: MyConsultingOffer

Source: MyConsultingOffer

Interviewer or interviewee led

Your case interview can be interviewer led or interviewee led. McKinsey usually does interviewer led interviews. Other firms mostly do interviewee led interviews.

Interviewee led: Focus on how you lead the interviewer through your case cracking. You structure the case and then suggest what’s your plan of analysis to get to the conclusion.

Interviewer led: the interviewer will ask you multiple questions during the case and will tell you where you start from your structure.

In any case you should always feel comfortable enough leading the case and bringing insightful insights, for example, being hypothesis driven.

See your interviewer as your case partner. In fact, interviewers are there to help, they want to to succeed. It is ok to ask for help, in fact this can be viewed favourably as it shows that you are coachable.

Opening

Dos:

  • Think before speaking
  • Recap the prompt
  • Understand the objective of the case / client
  • Understand the business model you’re talking about
  • Ask RELEVANT clarifying questions

Don’ts:

  • Skip asking relevant questions Fail to understand the client's objective Ask irrelevant questions
  • Fail to understand the client's objective
  • Ask irrelevant questions

Structure

  • Ask for time to think on how you’re going to structure the case
  • Framework: it needs to be complete and MECE
    • MECE: a grouping principle for separating a set of items into subsets that are mutually exclusive (ME) and collectively exhaustive (CE)
    • Read frameworks, understand them, apply them (they will help you to consider every important detail) but remember that the art of being a good consultant is to customize frameworks to a specific case and with a lot of practice you'll be even able to build your own frameworks.
  • Check your structure with your interviewer

Analysis

  • You will be evaluated in different skills when cracking a case: Math, judgement and insights and creativity.
  • Remember that the analysis part will have one or more of these types of analysis:
    • Math
    • Exhibit reading
    • Market sizing
    • Brainstorming
  • Ask logical questions to get relevant information
  • Talk through maths
  • Check any assumptions
  • Estimate numbers when possible and ask if it´s ok to do it. Same with rounding.
  • Complete the steps of the analysis to generate an answer. But remember, it's not only about the result, it's about how you think.
  • Describe the SO WHAT of the answer for the objective of the case. For example: this tells me that the most attractive segment is X, or this is interesting because X, etc.
  • You’ll be assessed in creativity mostly during brainstorming and market sizing activities within the case itself. It’s when you’ll be ask the typical “Tell me more”.
  • The key: having structured creativity. You have to be able to think outside of the box but in a structured way.

Recommendation

  • It can also be understood as the closing or conclusion
  • Tailor it to the audience
  • Last part of the case study, this is when you are faced with the typical scenario of: “What should I tell the partner if they ask me about suggestions?” or “What would you tell a partner in the elevator if you’re asked about this project?”
  • Don’t forget your starting point for the next steps or risk analysis: the prompt
  • Be very structured, you can start with an executive summary and give 3 supporting points for the recommendation
  • Outline risks and next steps
  • Don´t worry if your interviewer doesn´t ask you for a final recommendation or if he rushes into it
 

Case library

You can also find cases in the companies' websites and in the Consulting Clubs' case books that are public.

 

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Additional resources

FIRM WEBSITES AND EVENTS

Always go to the Firm websites, they usually have cases, examples and videos to prepare. Register to their events and Q&A sessions.

OTHER PLATFORMS

There are a lot of resources and platforms out there, so you can go as far as you want in terms of researching. If we had to suggest, we'd also recommend you the following:

  • My Consulting Offer Platform Some free content (Check it out here) (Other content not sponsored by IE)
  • CaseInterview Website. Some free content (Check it out here) (Other content not sponsored by IE)
  • PrepLounge Platform. Some free content (Check it out here) (Other content not sponsored by IE)
  • RocketBlocks free guides (Check them out here) (Other content not sponsored by IE)
  • Crafting Cases free material (Check it out here) (Other content not sponsored by IE)
  • To review some free salary benchmarks (Click here)
  • To prepare for MasterCard Advisors (Consulting) (Click here)
  • BCG job simulation (Click here)

CONSULTING CLUB

The Consulting Club is one of the most active student-led clubs at IE Business School.

Join the Consulting Club: https://ieconnects.ie.edu/ieconsulting/ club_signup

 

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