“Walk me through your resume” in a consulting interview

When it comes to interviewing with a top-tier consulting firm, being prepared to walk through your resume is critical. Most interviewers are interested in a proper introduction at the beginning of a personal fit interview. While they have read your resume before the interview, they are curious to get your own perspective on your journey that ended with you sitting in front of them.

An alternate framing of the question might be: “Tell me about yourself!”

This type of interview question is often used by consulting firms to gain insight into a candidate’s work experience, education, and overall fit with the organization. While you are essentially guaranteed to answer this question in the BCG and Bain interview process in a similar fashion as you would go over it in tier-2 (e.g, Strategy&, Kearney), Big 4 (e.g., EY, Deloitte), in-house (DHL Inhouse Consulting), and boutique consulting firm (e.g., OC&C) applications, McKinsey focuses on a different set of questions with their Personal Experience Interview.

In this article, I will outline some key tips and strategies for answering the “walk me through your resume” question during a consulting interview.

Structure your answer

Begin with a brief introduction. The first step in answering the “walk me through your resume” question is to provide a brief introduction. This introduction should include your name, current role, and a brief overview of your background. The goal of this introduction is to set the stage for the remainder of your response.

Discuss relevant professional highlights

Highlight your education and work experience. Once you have introduced yourself, the next step is to talk about your education. This could include your undergraduate and graduate degrees, any academic achievements, and relevant coursework. Be sure to focus on how your educational background has prepared you for a career in consulting. After highlighting your education, it’s time to discuss your work experience. You should start with your most recent or current role and work backward. For each position, provide a brief overview of your responsibilities and achievements. Be sure to highlight any experience that is directly relevant to consulting, such as project management, data analysis, or client interaction.

Round it off with more personal experiences

In addition to your education and work experience, consulting firms are also interested in your extracurricular activities and other experiences. This could include volunteer work, leadership roles in student organizations, or any other activities that demonstrate your leadership, teamwork, or problem-solving skills.

Tie everything together

Finally, it’s important to tie everything together in a cohesive narrative that highlights your strengths and demonstrates your fit with the consulting firm. You should focus on the skills and experiences that make you uniquely qualified for a career in consulting and explain why you are interested in working for the firm.

Additional tips to stand out

Some additional tips to keep in mind when answering the “walk me through your resume” question during a consulting interview include:

• Be concise and to the point. You should aim to keep your response to 2-3 minutes.
• Be prepared to answer follow-up questions. The interviewer may ask you to elaborate on specific aspects of your education, work experience, or extracurricular activities.
• Practice your response in advance. The more comfortable you are with your response, the more confident you will appear during the interview.

The self-introduction is a critical part of most consulting interviews.

By following the tips and strategies outlined in this article, you can demonstrate your fit with the organization and increase your chances of landing the job.

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