C1 Consulting Management Consultant Interview Questions
& Process

So, the interview process had three main parts. First up was a 30-minute phone call that was all about fit and behavioral stuff. They wanted to know why I was into consulting and why C1, with a big focus on teamwork and juggling tasks. It didn't give me much of a company vibe, honestly. Then came the Skype interview, which was longer, like 1.5 to 2 hours. It started with a quick online exam, kind of like the SAT, covering math, grammar, and spelling. After that, it was back to behavioral questions, but then we got into case-style problems using slides with a consultant. That part was actually pretty cool and fun. If you didn't like that part, C1 probably isn't for you. The final stage was an in-person thing that lasted about 5-6 hours. It involved more short behavioral chats, two case interviews, lunch, and a 15-minute presentation. I was pretty nervous since it was my first time, but everyone was surprisingly nice, which was a relief given some reviews. It seems like they're a close group, so personality and fit are probably super key. My take is that you gotta be comfortable with the behavioral chats and the presentation, but seriously, practice those case interviews. They're a bit different from the ones at bigger firms, so give yourself ample time. Really bummed I didn't nail that last part.

Applied online and got a call from HR for an initial phone screen. This was followed by a phone interview and then a Skype interview. After the phone interview, I was asked to set up the Skype session, which was supposed to be an hour and a half in the afternoon. When I told them the requested time wouldn't work because I had a meeting conflict, I never heard back from HR. It's disheartening how they disregarded my experience, education, and skills. The whole process felt unprofessional and demeaning. It seems like they hire associates with little to no prior business experience. Throughout the interview, my extensive background and education were consistently downplayed, almost as if they were just minor details on my resume. I asked specific questions about the job, the projects I'd be working on, and the office's future plans... standard interview stuff. The interviewer seemed surprised that I was familiar with 'XYZ' and asked if I was referring to C1's services or a client's 'XYZ'. It's surprising they'd question my knowledge of their core consulting services. Honestly, I don't think C1 is a place worth dedicating significant time to. If you're eager to get into consulting, maybe explore other options. If a company treats you dismissively during recruitment, imagine how they'll treat you once you're committed to them.

I started interviewing with C1 back in March 2016, and the whole thing stretched on for more than three months. There were four rounds in total: first, a phone screen, then an online aptitude test with some basic behavioral questions, followed by a Skype case interview where I had to interpret data. The final step was an in-person interview at their Summit, NJ office, which included a few behavioral interviews, two case interviews, and a presentation I gave on a topic I picked. After the in-person part, they said I'd hear back within a week. I ended up waiting over three weeks without any news. In the fourth week, I got an email saying I wasn't selected for the Business Analyst role. It was a bit odd since I applied for a different position. It felt like they didn't bother to check which role I actually applied for when they sent the rejection. The interviewers seemed nice enough, and I think it could have been a good place to work, but the process felt a bit disorganized. They often took longer than they said to let me know if I was moving forward, which left me hanging.