Loft9 Consulting Consultant Interview Questions
& Process

I applied through LinkedIn and got an email invite pretty fast. First, I met two Associates for a chat about cultural fit since they really care about their vibe. They were cool. Then, I had a one-on-one with a Partner where we talked more about my experience; it was a good conversation. The last interview was with another Partner and the Managing Director. They gave me a case study to prep beforehand. In the interview, we went over that one, and then I got two more cases to figure out and present on the spot. It was intense but learned a lot. They also did a quick Q&A to wrap things up.

The interview process included four parts: first, an in-person meeting for cultural and personality fit; second, a written task; third, another in-person interview focusing on my experience in the practice area, key past projects, and skill depth; and fourth, verbal case study questions. Each stage allowed for questions and discussion, giving me a chance to learn about the company as much as they learned about me. Loft9 really seems to value building and keeping relationships, as they invited me to connect on LinkedIn and stay in touch with everyone I met, regardless of the final decision. It was a really positive experience overall, and Loft9 definitely has high standards for professionalism and genuine partnerships.

The interview process was pretty standard, similar to what others have described. It started with an initial interview focused on culture fit. After that, there was a written test designed to see if I fit into categories like project management, process improvement, or data analysis, and also to evaluate my writing abilities. The second interview was a deeper dive into my background and skills. I didn't make it to a third interview because I was rejected after the second one. What was impressive was their 48-hour turnaround time, which is super fast compared to other companies that take ages or don't respond at all. The consultants I interacted with were professional and nice. The questions seemed pretty standard, like they came from a template. My main issue, though, was with the interview environment. Both in-person interviews took place at a coffee shop. The first one wasn't too bad because it was noisy with people talking at nearby tables, so nobody was really paying attention to us. However, the second interview was rough. The coffee shop was small, and the tables were really close together. We took the only table left. It was very quiet, and since the people at the tables next to mine were alone, they ended up listening to my entire interview, staying for over an hour. They were so close I could have touched them. It's already nerve-wracking to interview, but doing it with an audience made me feel embarrassed and uncomfortable. I couldn't think straight and just wanted to leave. I knew I messed up, so I can't really disagree with the 'no hire' decision. It's a shame because I feel I could have been a great consultant. My suggestion to management and recruiting is to make sure candidates interview in a private space. To get the best out of them, create a comfortable and trustworthy environment.