Lesson 2 of 2, 4 min
Why consulting, why this firm, why you
The three questions every candidate must answer well, how to make them specific, and the other questions to prepare.
Facts checked against sources on 16 June 2026.
Key takeaways
- The specific answer is true, concrete, and shows rather than tells. The general answer gives the interviewer nothing new.
- Why consulting: link it to a real moment when you did this kind of work and enjoyed it, plus what the job will teach you.
- Why this firm: name something true about how that firm works that fits you, learned from people you spoke to or from its work, not its marketing slogans.
- Why you: a short, honest claim about what you bring, backed by one of your real stories, not a list of adjectives.
Three questions come up in almost every fit interview: why consulting, why this firm, and why you. The trap is a general answer. "I like solving problems and working with smart people" could be said by anyone about any job.
Make each one specific
- Why consulting: link it to a real moment when you did this kind of work and enjoyed it, plus what the job will teach you.
- Why this firm: name something true about how that firm works that fits you, learned from people you spoke to or from its work, not its marketing slogans.
- Why you: a short, honest claim about what you bring, backed by one of your real stories, not a list of adjectives.
Question: "Why consulting?"
General answer
"I like solving problems, I am analytical, and I want to work with smart, motivated people in a fast-moving environment."
Specific answer
"In my final-year project I spent two months working out why a local charity was running out of cash. Breaking the problem apart and finding the real cause was the work I enjoyed most in my degree. Consulting is that kind of work every day, with people who are very good at it, which is how I want to learn."
Why the stronger answer wins: The specific answer is true, concrete, and shows rather than tells. The general answer gives the interviewer nothing new.
Other questions to prepare
- "Tell me about yourself" or "Walk me through your CV": a 60 to 90 second story of your path, ending with why you are here today.
- "Tell me about a failure" or "a time something went wrong": a real setback, what you did, and what you changed afterward.
- For experienced hires: "Why are you leaving your current role?" Answer with what you are moving toward, not complaints.
- "What questions do you have for me?": prepare two or three real questions about the interviewer's work or the office, not things you could find online.
What makes a "why this firm" answer strong?
Terms in this lesson
Sources for this lesson (1)
- Recognized public explanations of case-interview concepts and terms
Next module: Communication, presence, and case etiquette
That is the end of The fit, behavioral, and personal interview. Communication, presence, and case etiquette is next in the course.
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