Sources checked 2026-08-11
Kearney runs behavioral interviews as a named round conducted by consultants, and publishes exactly what it reads you against: curiosity, generosity, boldness, solidarity and passions. This guide covers that round, not the case.
3 of 6 stages you can practise here
Early screening conversation covering background, motivation and alignment with Kearney values
Kearney says general consulting candidates 'may also be asked to complete an additional competency assessment piece', and that specialist processes may include 'technical and functional competency assessments'. Format and vendor are not published. Not a spoken round, so out of scope here.
A distinct named round run by consultants and read against five stated Kearney values
Kearney asks candidates 'to provide a solution to a new challenge' and stresses 'we are more interested in the solution that you truly believe is best, not the one you think we want to hear.' Candidate-led and hypothesis-driven rather than a scripted question sequence. Verbal, not coding, and excluded from this product by design.
Later interviews with senior consultants and partners, weighted on values alignment and conviction
Judged against Kearney's core values as well as case performance. Kearney does not publish turnaround times.
Built from what Kearney publishes about its own process. No leaked question lists. The questions you get are generated against your own resume, so they are not from anyone else's interview.
General consulting 'typically consists of four to five interviews of behavioral and case interviews'; specialists run three to five after screening; internal roles two to three; the optional 'additional competency assessment piece'; interviews conducted by consultants; definitions of the behavioral and case interview types.
The five named fit dimensions ('curiosity, capacity for generosity, boldness, solidarity, and passions'); the explicit STAR endorsement; 'not looking for the loudest candidate or the one who uses the most consulting buzzwords'; case preparation flagged 'for consultant roles only'.
Hypothesis-driven, candidate-led case guidance: 'Hypothesize', 'avoid forcing your solution to fit a standard framework', 'think top down', and 'be coachable... At the same time, be firm about the things you believe in'.
A single open question plus an additional-information block released on request, with answer guidelines structured as identify issues, formulate hypothesis, validate and refine, synthesize, recommend.
The consulting level ladder: business analyst, senior business analyst, associate, manager, principal, associate partner, partner.
Business analyst as the undergraduate entry role and the 10-week summer business analyst program.
Summer associate and full-time associate as the MBA-level entry roles.
Sources last checked . Hiring loops change, so this date is the honest limit on everything above.