International Services Management Consultant Interview Questions
& Process

The first step was a phone screen, then I had to do an assignment where I had to build a P&L and cash flow projection from a case study. The third step was a longer call with a recruiter where we talked about the assignment and they explored my experience more. This is when things got weird, they gave me different info about compensation and job requirements. When I questioned it, the recruiter got defensive and started insulting me. Instead of addressing my concerns, they just kept talking and repeating themselves, like they were still trying to sell me the job. The recruiter kept saying things like 'you're...' and the insults were personal.

I was approached for a role at a local company via a consultant from ISI. This consultant later told me I was overqualified and spoke poorly of the client company, suggesting I apply to ISI instead. Despite reservations about their ethics, I applied and had a phone interview that same afternoon. I was then sent a case study requiring an Excel P&L and Cash flow schedule, plus links to affiliated companies and a job description. A second phone interview was set up. I completed the case study, including a balance sheet that showed the company should have failed. I submitted the Excel file and had an 'interview' that focused more on their commission/pay structure, which was unclear and seemed to prioritize selling more hours and 'services' (including unconventional business loans for consulting fees) to clients regardless of their actual need or ability to pay. I also learned the consultant would get a $350 bonus if I stayed over 3 months. Ultimately, I felt I'd have to compromise my ethics and integrity, and forget work/life balance, though I would have liked to help businesses improve.

They asked me questions about my past experiences and specific management-related situations I'd dealt with. It felt like a casual, professional chat rather than a rigid interview.