The "why consulting" question appears in practically every McKinsey, BCG and Bain interview. Yet most candidates answer it poorly — not because they say something wrong, but because they give the "right" answer that anyone could give. Impact, learning, variety of sectors, problem-solving. All true, but when an evaluator has heard those same words 50 times in a recruiting cycle, it stops being memorable. What I'm really evaluating when I ask this question isn't just the answer itself — it's the depth of the candidate's reflection about their own career. Have they really thought about why consulting and not something else? Or do they just want an MBB name on their CV? This guide explains how to build an authentic answer to why consulting in an interview that resonates with real MBB evaluators.

What this question really evaluates (and why most fail)

When an interviewer asks "why consulting", they're evaluating two things simultaneously: the content of your answer and the level of reflection behind it. The second matters more than you think. An answer can be technically correct — "I'm passionate about solving complex problems in different sectors" — but if it sounds like a brochure phrase, it won't differentiate you from anyone.

What we look for as evaluators is authenticity. That the candidate has genuinely thought about their career decision, understands what a consultant does day-to-day, and their motivation is rooted in real experiences — not in what they read on a forum.

The most forced cases are noticeable from a mile away: "when I was 10 something happened, I solved it, and ever since I've been passionate about solving business problems". That kind of extreme narrative isn't necessary and generates more skepticism than credibility. The connection between your personal story and your motivation for consulting needs to be natural, not forced.

What makes a real and memorable answer is the personal and specific. If you can connect your motivation with something you've lived — a concrete project, a conversation with someone from the industry, a professional moment that made you realize what you wanted — that carries far more weight than reciting generic benefits of consulting.

How to build a why consulting answer that sounds authentic

The ideal structure of a why consulting answer has three elements: concrete personal motivation, logical connection with what consulting offers, and a vision of where you want to go. You don't need to cover all three with the same depth — what matters is that the narrative thread is coherent and genuine.

Start with something real. It could be professional experience where you discovered you liked solving business problems. It could be a university project that introduced you to consulting logic. Or a networking conversation with someone from a firm who showed you the day-to-day differently from what you imagined. Your starting point needs to be yours, not copied.

Then connect with what consulting offers you that other careers don't. Here you can talk about variety of sectors, learning curve, exposure to high-level decisions — but do it concretely. Don't say "I'm drawn to variety". Say "in my current job I've been in the same sector for two years and want exposure to different problems before specializing".

Every candidate should think through their own answer without reading or copying from others. That's exactly what makes it real and personal. An MBA candidate, an industry hire and an undergraduate have completely different motivations — and should sound different.

The variant that matters most: "Why McKinsey/BCG/Bain specifically"

In "why consulting" as a general question it's hard to find clear red flags. But in "why this specific firm" you definitely see more. And that variant — why McKinsey, why BCG, why Bain — is where most candidates come up short, because they resort to generic phrases copied directly from the firm's website.

The only way to answer this question well is to have done real research. And that means talking to people at the company and the specific office where you're applying, to understand the reality and day-to-day. This is closely connected to networking for consulting — the same conversations that help you land the interview give you the material to answer this question authentically.

If you talked to an Associate at the Madrid office who explained how the PE team works directly with funds in due diligence, use that. "I talked to [name] from your office and they explained how your PE team works directly with funds on due diligence. That connects with my experience in financial valuation and is exactly the kind of work I'm looking for." That's infinitely more convincing than "BCG is a leader in innovation and digital transformation".

Duration, format and mistakes to avoid

Your answer should last between 1 and 2 minutes maximum. If the answer is clear and direct, less time is better. What matters is the messages and how you communicate them, not time spent talking. Counterintuitively, speaking more time works against you here. Consultants are used to top-down communication — going from conclusion to detail. When someone explains things bottom-up, starting with context and getting to the point at the end, we tend to get impatient.

Structure your answer from top to bottom: start with your main motivation, then give the context that supports it, and close with where you're headed. Not the reverse.

As for common mistakes, the most penalizing ones in "why consulting" generally are: giving a completely generic answer that could be from any candidate, not being able to explain what a consultant does day-to-day when asked, and forcing a life narrative that artificially connects your childhood to consulting. For "why this firm", mistakes are more visible: phrases that clearly come from the website, not being able to name anyone from the firm you've talked to, and not having a clear understanding of how the firm really differentiates from the other two.

If your answer wouldn't pass the test of "could another candidate give this exact same answer word for word?", you need to make it more personal. Review your FIT questions preparation with the same logic: what differentiates you is what only you've lived. And remember that the Q&A section at the end of the interview is a natural extension of your "why consulting" — your questions to the interviewer should reinforce the same genuine interest you projected in your answer.

Frequently asked questions about why consulting in the interview

Should I mention salary or exit opportunities as motivation?

Not as your main motivation. An evaluator understands that salary and future opportunities are part of the equation, but if it's the first thing you mention, you're sending the signal that consulting is a means, not an end. Focus on what motivates you about the work itself — problem-solving, variety, impact — and let the tangible benefits be implicit.

How do I answer if I really want consulting as a stepping stone to private equity?

With calibrated honesty. You can say you're interested in exploring different sectors and that consulting gives you that foundation before specializing. But don't say "I want to do 2 years and then move to PE". The firms invest heavily in training you and want candidates who at least consider a medium-term career in consulting.

Is the answer different for offices in Spain/LATAM vs. London/New York?

The structure is the same, but office nuances should be specific. If you're applying to Madrid, talk about what you know about that specific office — its strong sectors, recent projects, the dynamics of the Spanish market. That shows real research.

Can I use the same "why consulting" answer across all three firms?

The base can be the same — your personal motivation doesn't change — but the "why this firm" part must be different and specific to each one. If the only difference between your answers is changing "McKinsey" to "BCG", the evaluator will notice.

What if I don't have a compelling personal story for "why consulting"?

Everyone has one — they just haven't identified it yet. Think about moments where you enjoyed solving a complex problem, leading a team under pressure, or learning something new quickly. That's the seed of your answer. You don't need an epiphanic moment — you need something real.

How do I connect my "why consulting" answer with the rest of my narrative (CV, cover letter)?

Coherence is fundamental. Your interview answer should reinforce what you already communicated in your cover letter and CV. If your CV highlights project leadership and your cover letter talks about interest in problem-solving in consulting, your verbal answer should deepen that, not contradict it.

---