The Bridgespan Group Consultant Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 14 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at The Bridgespan Group.
The Bridgespan Group
Consultant
Senior Difficult Negative experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Technical screen Onsite
Interview formats
Case Technical
Had 2 case-style interviews back to back with senior employees. Definitely study cases! Not much time for behavioral. Looks like they use cases to filter applicants. Math part was okay, but they do check for solid understanding of strategic frameworks.
Confirmed questions2 questions
- How would a foundation using network effects enter a new market to spread its mission?
- What expansion strategy could a human-capital NGO use when partnering with underperforming grade schools to boost learning quality and graduation rates?
The Bridgespan Group
Consultant
Mid Difficult Positive experience Accept offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Phone screen Recruiter call Technical screen Onsite Presentation Background check Offer
Interview formats
Case Behavioral Presentation
Future applicants should check the company's website for an applicant toolkit, as the cases in the interviews closely mirrored those in the toolkit. There was also a helpful video explaining how to approach a case with good, bad, and medium answers. All interviews were conducted remotely due to COVID. The first day consisted of two phone-based case interviews with two different Managers. Candidates were then notified if they advanced. The second interview day involved three interviews with Bridgespan Partners: two case interviews via Zoom and one behavioral interview. After each interview or case, there was an opportunity to ask questions.
Confirmed questions2 questions
- Given a case, how would you provide a 1-minute recommendation to your manager?
- If your manager asked for a 1-minute recommendation on the case, what would you tell them?
The Bridgespan Group
Consultant
Entry Difficult Neutral experience No offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Onsite Background check Offer
Interview formats
Case Behavioral
This was an extremely long process that honestly made me feel burned by the end of it all. After sending in a resume and cover letter, I was invited to interview. The first round was two hourlong case interviews over the phone (not sure if this is standard or just due to COVID). The managers were friendly and smart. The cases were both straightforward. The second round was a marathon three-hour interview (three one-hour interviews) with partners. One was super nice but asked me questions that seemed to have nothing to do with the role - it felt like he/she was just trying to get free advice about my area of expertise. The other two were more focused. I was burned out by the end and didn't perform well on my last one. My rejection email offered the chance to get feedback from my interviewers, which I said yes to, and they never followed up. All in all I spent probably 50+ hours preparing for these interviews by doing case practice, all for nothing. I know Bridgespan can require this because they have such a prestigious reputation...but it felt like I sunk in a ton of time only to get a rejection and none of the promised feedback.
Confirmed questions2 questions
- There were multiple cases, but the math wasn't too difficult.
- The behavioral questions focused on past work experiences - they dig in pretty far (if you said you did x, they'll ask you how and why you did it, not just take your action at face value) so be prepared for that.
The Bridgespan Group Consultant Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from The Bridgespan Group interview reports.
“How would a foundation using network effects enter a new market to spread its mission?”
Read reports →“What expansion strategy could a human-capital NGO use when partnering with underperforming grade schools to boost learning quality and graduation rates?”
Read reports →“What strategies would you propose for Nonprofit X to achieve its objectives?”
Read reports →“What would you do if a CEO doesn't follow your advice and how would you react?”
Read reports →“If your manager asked for a 1-minute recommendation on the case, what would you tell them?”
Read report →“Can you do a case interview on presentation review?”
Read report →“Given a case study where you recommended one of two options, and the interviewer states the client prefers the option you didn't recommend, how would you proceed?”
Read report →“What was your response when a client disregarded your team's advice?”
Read report →“Describe a situation where you had to work with a colleague who had a different perspective on a project.”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 14 The Bridgespan Group interview reports.