Recruitment Tips
Casing Program
At the core of BU Consulting Group is our steadfast commitment to professional development, a principle that permeates every part of our organization. Explore our leadership team’s advice and strategies to craft your BU Consulting Group application, prepare for our case interview, and put your best foot forward.
Casing Application
Make sure to follow the tips below, update your resume, and look through our programs before filling out your application.
**Applications submitted after Feb 3rd will not be considered for Spring 2024.
Application Basics
Properly formatted resumes are a critical part of landing a consulting position and we believe being well-prepared can make all the difference.
When applying to our programs, we advise you to:
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Keep your resume within 1 page.
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Choose only your most relevant experiences, even if you have more qualifications.
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Use consistent formatting throughout.
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Keep font sizes legible. 12-point font is a good bet, anything less than 10-point is discouraged.
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Do not include any pictures, an executive summary, objective summary, or similar.
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Emphasize your specific contributions and impact in team-based activities.
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Be truthful! It's okay to paint a picture with the best parts of your achievements, but don't lie.
While we encourage candidates to use clean and direct resume formats similar to the attached templates, we advise applicants to adjust their resume as necessary to fit their background and experience.
Reference the Questrom UDC website
for more information and examples.
The Interview
Designed to give you an introduction to consulting recruitment, the BU Consulting Group interview process immerses candidates in a dynamic learning experience centered on case interviews.
Interview Structure
Selected applicants will be invited to schedule an interview over the span of a weekend.
Expect the interview to last about 25 minutes. The interview is conducted in a panel style, with approximately four applicants and about two BU Consulting Group leadership members overseeing the interview.
Business casual attire is recommended. Remember to bring a pen/pencil and paper for the case portion of the interview.
Case Interviews
A “case interview” is a term used to describe a type of interview where the interviewer describes a hypothetical situation and asks for business advice.
To most of our interviewees, this is their first-ever case interview. Rest assured, we are mindful of it and are just looking to see how you think and interact with others.
Give others the space to shine and encourage them: teamwork is a key trait we seek.
What to Expect at the Interview?
Elevator Pitch
Be ready to give out a two-minute elevator pitch at the start of your interview. Include your name, your major/school, why you want to join BUCG, and any other relevant information you think will help you stand out.
Be prompt, personable and fun — we really do just want to get to know you.
Case Question
We'll provide some information on a situation and ask for your initial thoughts on next steps to gauge your thinking process. To advise a client, what additional information would you require?
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We may ask you for a “framework” — when you hear this word, think “the process through which I am approaching or solving the problem."
Next, expect some basic math tasks to test your ability to recognize what operations are useful and approximate figures efficiently.
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Aim for figures that make sense, but don’t feel like you need to be correct down to the dollar.
Last, answer the question. There’s no right or wrong answer, though a good answer uses the information in the case to craft a narrative.
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Mention any risks associated with the plan and propose steps to mitigate them.
Most importantly, show us your insights and have fun! We don’t seek perfection but we do seek effort, teamwork, and insight.
Numbers Matter
Write all the given information quickly and recognize what you need to do with them.
You don’t need any formal business background to succeed — however, here are some useful concepts:
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Revenue = All money earned
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Costs = All money spent
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Profit = Revenue – Costs
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Fixed Costs = Costs that don't change with production (if I own a store, I need to pay rent on that store regardless of whether I sell $1,000,000 worth of products or $0 worth)
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Variable Costs = Costs that do scale with production (for every shirt I sell, I need to pay for the material costs of that shirt — more shirts sold, more material costs)
