Analyst

Applied online through OCR. Was selected for an interview about 3 days later. Interview was on campus, and was a 2:1 with alum who were working there as analysts. Interview went well, mostly about previous experience and why consulting. After, sent a "thank you" email, and received a reply from one of the interviewers that he would send to HR for my file. I'm guessing it's a good thing to send a thank you email...

A few days later, was invited to a "super day." Not quite like an Investment Banking super day, but you meet with 4 people. for 30 minutes each. There was no presentation or information about the job. Just, after registration, brought to a room where you would sit for the next 2.5 hours being interviewed.

I was in a large conference room. The first and second interviewers was a 2nd year analyst. Questions were mostly fit and behavioral. After, I meet with a senior consultant. He was more challenging. During the interview a debate on cost of capital quickly turned into an argument. I couldn't tell if this was a stress test or if one of us was just an idiot. Now, I had explained the Fama/French/UChicago method numerous times with no problems. Then again, he was a PhD from a quantitative field at an ivy league school. So...stress test?

The fourth interview was the most awkward. After 15 minutes, no one had walked in. I left the room. The halls were completely empty. It felt like a scene out of an post apocalypse film where the main character has no idea what he slept through. Anyway, I walk down stairs to the main floor and find the receptionist. HR woman comes down and seems borderline angry that I didn't inform her sooner (meanwhile, I'm thinking, you told us not to leave the room at the beginning of the day). I go back upstairs and finally someone comes in and he apologizes for "reading the schedule wrong." Ummm, ok, you're one of the top scholars in the world - but you can't read a 4 time slot schedule? His interview lasted 30 minutes, like the rest, and was awkward. It seemed more like an interview you would have at an yoga conference. Questions like "what forces bring you here today?" Yoda told me to come.

After, all the other interviewees that were in the lobby were already gone (guessing they didn't have someone who couldn't read the interview times). HR told me to fill out this job application and fax that and my travel receipts for reimbursement.

I had to follow up 4 times regarding my travel receipts before they finally reimbursed by travel.

2-3 weeks later, was emailed the "thanks, but no thanks" email.

Overall, it wasn't a difficult process, just felt like I was dealt a crappy hand. Everyone was nice - even the guy I argued cost of capital with for 10 minutes. Just HR getting mad at me for an interviewer not showing up and not giving me a timely reimbursement of expenses was off putting.

Because this was economic consulting, there were NO case studies. Surprisingly, wasn't asked any brainteasers.