MBA students may be interested to learn about Bain’s recruiter, Keith Bevans. Bain, a world-renowned MBA employer, has appointed Bevans as the global head of consultant recruiting, and he has some helpful insight into what employers and fellow MBA recruiters are looking for in a candidate. If anybody knows what makes a student desirable, it is Bevans, who has been busy recruiting MBA graduates from all around the country including Wharton School, Kellogg School of Management, and Booth School of Business.
What types of questions should an interviewee expect?
In an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek, Bain’s new recruiter shed light on the types of questions that may typically be asked in an interview. Students should be prepared to be analytical and answer real-world questions about actual business scenarios to help interviewers see how they approach problems and analyze client data. Often times, Bain will provide a business scenario based on past work with an actual client. They will engage the interviewee in an in-depth discussion about the scenario, rather than fire off a checklist of cookie cutter interview questions.
An interviewee should be on their toes, prepared to get hands-on with the data and execute decisions just as they would if they had the job. Bevans is interested in how a candidate handles the decision-making process, as it is reflective of how the individual would perform on the job.
How should an MBA candidate prepare for an upcoming interview?
According to Bain’s new recruiter, interested candidates should study sample case scenarios that are available online via Connect With Bain. These are made available at the main schools where Bain recruits. Students who are not on one of Bain’s core campuses can access the information by registering at joinbain.com.
Students should dedicate much time and preparation to the process; Bevans recommends finding a group of peers to study and analyze cases with. Being familiar with the process of analyzing the data will make the actual interview process feel much easier and less intimidating—ultimately, affording the candidate more confidence.
What does an idea MBA hire look like?
Bevans is looking for candidates who are analytical and systematic in their problem-solving methods. Additionally, the ideal candidate should bring a lot of confidence to the table and be firm in their decisions. It seems interviewees who are wishy-washy in their assertions need not apply. Lastly, and this is true of any potential career field, he is looking for someone who is passionate about what they are doing, wants to continue bettering themselves through continued education and cares about the outcomes of their decisions.
Hopefully, having a little extra insight into the minds of one of the top MBA recruiters will help students see what they need to work on and just how to approach that daunting interview process.
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