Three candidates for consulting and analyst roles at PA Consulting describe written exercises, competency interviews, a technical agile discussion, and a full assessment centre with a case, presentation and group task.
$82K
Avg. Base Comp
$105K
Avg. Total Comp
Not reported
Typical Rounds
Not reported
Process Length
Candidates who interviewed for Business Analyst-style and related consulting roles at PA Consulting describe a process that tests structured thinking more than technical trivia. Note that the three reports come from different job titles (Consultant, Consulting Analyst and Business Transformation), and all three ended without an offer.
One candidate began with a 45-minute written exercise: read a one-page case study and produce a one-page summary with an evaluation. That candidate then had an hour-long competency interview on difficult stakeholders, strengths and weaknesses, followed by an hour-long technical interview on agile practices, sprint planning, stakeholder alignment and scope creep.
Two other candidates describe an assessment centre. One reports a morning of back-to-back sessions: a 45-minute interview on challenging someone and why PA, a presentation, a technical case study, a group exercise choosing which initiative deserved investment, and a written task. The other reports a phone screen on why PA and why the role, then a case study with a formal written report, a group activity, and a sector-focused interview.
For preparation, practise condensing a case into a short written recommendation, and prepare stakeholder and challenge examples with specific actions. Be ready to explain why PA and why your chosen sector in concrete terms. One candidate also mentioned that assessors varied in warmth and asked reflective questions, so steady communication matters. If you are going for the agile-focused technical interview, prepare real scenarios rather than framework definitions.
Synthesized from 3 candidate reports by our editorial team.
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Synthesized from candidate reports. Individual experiences may vary.
Candidates report different openings. One describes a standard phone screen on competencies and motivation for PA and the role. Another began with a 45-minute written exercise: summarise a one-page case study and evaluate it on one page. Which you get may depend on the role.
One candidate describes an hour-long, conversational competency interview covering difficult stakeholders, competing priorities, strengths and weaknesses. Interviewers appeared to value self-awareness and honest, real examples over polished answers.
One candidate reports an hour-long technical interview focused on agile methodology and realistic scenarios such as sprint planning, stakeholder alignment and scope creep. Candidates should expect to discuss hands-on experience rather than recite frameworks.
Two candidates describe an assessment centre. Reported elements include a case study with a written report or technical analysis, a presentation, a group exercise evaluating initiatives or collaborating under pressure, a written task, and a one-on-one interview probing motivation and sector interest. One said the session ran from 9am to 1pm.
