Finding yourself in that hot seat during a consulting interview can feel intense. Your palms get sweaty. Your heart races fast. Then comes the big question: “What was your role?”

This common question has tremendous power over your interview success. But don’t panic. With the right preparation, you can leverage this as a golden opportunity.

As a consultant who’s also coached countless candidates through the consulting interview gauntlet, I’ve seen it all. And I’m here to share the secrets that will help you ace this question. Today, we’ll explore:

• Why this question is pivotal in consulting interviews
• Exactly what recruiters look for when asking this
• A proven formula for structuring your answer
• Common mistakes that can sabotage your response
• Tips to make your answer pop with impact

So grab your favorite beverage, settle in, and let’s flip that anxiety into confidence.

Key Takeaways

1. Understand the purpose: Remember, interviewers are assessing your ability to take ownership, solve problems, and work effectively in teams.
2. Use the RICE method: Include a clear description of your Role, specific Initiatives you worked on, Concrete results with quantifiable impact, and examples of Engagement with teams and stakeholders.
3. Structure your response: Utilize frameworks like STAR or PAR to organize your thoughts coherently.
4. Avoid common pitfalls: Steer clear of vagueness, focusing solely on job descriptions, neglecting problem-solving skills, or downplaying your contributions.
5. Prepare thoroughly: Use the PREP method to identify relevant experiences, write out your answer, rehearse through mock interviews, and seek feedback for improvement.

Why the “What Was Your Role” Question Matters So Much

Let’s peek behind the interview curtain. What drives recruiters to ask this seemingly simple question? There’s a method to their madness.

In reality, they aim to assess four key abilities:

Self-Awareness – Can you clearly convey your position within teams, projects or organizations? Do you understand how you fit into the bigger picture?

Impact Orientation – Do you recognize how your contributions and efforts drive broader success?

Leadership Potential – Even in supporting roles, did you demonstrate the ability to step up, influence stakeholders, or show initiative when needed?

Problem-Solving Skills – When faced with challenges tied to your responsibilities, how do you respond? What is your approach to overcoming difficult situations?

But why does this question hold extra weight specifically for consulting roles?

The short answer is that it tests abilities crucial for success as a consultant:

Client Communication – Boiling down complex concepts when liaising with clients is pivotal. This question assesses that knack for concise but impactful communication.

Project Management – Defining roles and responsibilities is critical for organized, efficient consulting engagements. Recruiters probe for this understanding.

Adaptability – Consultants frequently pivot between diverse roles within fluid project environments. Interviewers evaluate comfort with ambiguity.

Value Demonstration – Quantifying deliverables, impact, and ROI is imperative. This question examines commercial acumen.

When you nail this question, you demonstrate a full grasp of the core competencies consulting firms seek out.

Now let’s explore exactly what elements your answer must encompass.

Key Elements to Include in Your Answer

While this query seems simple on the surface, comprehensive answers require touching on four pivotal points. I call this framing the “RICE” method:

1. Role
2. Initiatives and Projects
3. Concrete Results and Impact
4. Engagement With Teams and Stakeholders

Let’s break down what interviewers hope to see in each area.

A) Describe Your Position and Key Responsibilities

Establish context around your role first. What was your formal title? How did your daily responsibilities and duties contribute to broader organizational goals?

Resist simply rattling off a vanilla job description here. Instead, paint a vivid picture of how you operated within the company ecosystem. Did you lead a team? Play a specialized niche role? Wear multiple hats in a fast-paced environment. Share those specifics.

For example:

“As Project Manager at XYZ Corp, I quarterbacked cross-functional consulting teams to optimize delivery timelines for client engagements. My role centered on serving as an orchestrator – aligning our squad’s diverse strengths into a cohesive unit.”

B) Share Specific Projects and Initiatives

Next, dial in on relevant initiatives or projects tied back to your role.

These real-world examples become your canvas to demonstrate capabilities consulting firms covet – things like:

• Driving innovation
• Leading change management
• Advancing data-driven decisions
• Producing ROI

For instance:

“I led my team in revamping XYZ Corp’s social media channels from the ground up. This required collaborating with leaders across Marketing, Sales, and IT to align on our target audience, benchmark metrics, build our content strategy, and launch accounts across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn in just 10 weeks.”

C) Quantify Your Impact with Concrete Results

The proof is in the pudding. Back up contributions with cold hard metrics.

Whenever possible, numerically demonstrate how your efforts moved the needle with statistics like:

• Percentage increases
• Revenue growth
• Cost savings
• Boosts in performance KPIs

For example:

“This social media optimization initiative increased traffic to our website by 220% month-over-month. It also boosted lead conversion rates by 30% while slashing our customer acquisition costs by 15%.”

To effectively demonstrate your impact, focus on these key performance indicators across different business areas:

Business Area	Relevant Metrics	Example
Sales	Revenue growth, conversion rate, average deal size	“Increased quarterly revenue by 25% through targeted account strategies”
Marketing	ROI, customer acquisition cost, brand awareness	“Reduced customer acquisition cost by 30% while expanding market reach”
Operations	Efficiency gains, cost reduction, cycle time	“Streamlined production process, cutting cycle time by 40%”
Customer Service	Customer satisfaction score, retention rate, response time	“Improved CSAT scores from 7.5 to 9.2 within 6 months”
Product Development	Time-to-market, adoption rate, feature usage	“Launched new feature with 80% user adoption within the first month”

D) Showcase Leadership and Collaboration Factors

Finally, highlight your knack for motivating teams, influencing executives, and collaborating cross-functionally. Consulting is a team sport, so showing you can spur others on matters.

For instance:

“I quarterbacked a scrappy squad of 5 for this social campaign – 2 designers, 1 copywriter, 1 analyst, and myself. I also routinely presented performance reports directly to our CMO to align on upcoming content strategies.”

Tying each angle together paints a full picture of your unique value-add. You demonstrate breadth across technical abilities, measurable outcomes, leadership behaviors, and interpersonal dexterity.

Now let’s explore frameworks to help organize this robust content within concise, impactful narratives.

How to Structure Your Response

Thus far we have the ingredients. But the secret sauce lies in how artfully you assemble them.

Let’s review three techniques for concisely conveying your big-picture contributions along with relevant detail.

A) The STAR Method

The time-tested STAR method offers an easy-to-follow storyline:

Situation – The context and challenges you faced

Task – Your responsibilities in addressing this situation

Action – Exact steps you took

Result – The outcomes and impact achieved

Let’s see how STAR structuring plays out:

When I joined XYZ Corp, our social media presence was nearly non-existent despite heated competition (Situation). I was brought on as a Digital Marketing Specialist to amplify our brand reach on key channels (Task). I led extensive consumer research, platform analysis, and budget planning to launch new Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn accounts that increased website visits by 500% within 3 months (Action). This boosted lead conversion rates by 350% while slashing CPL by 40% (Result).

B) The PAR Method

The PAR Method also provides solid narrative flow:

Problem – The core challenge or issue at play

Action – How you responded to address this problem

Result – The outcomes achieved

Here is an example PAR response:

Our sales team heavily relied on generic email templates riddled with grammatical and spelling errors (Problem). I performed an audit identifying this content oversight as a key culprit of lagging engagement rates. To address this, I created a streamlined process for producing targeted, personalized outreach emails with proper QA checks (Action). Within 6 weeks, we increased email open rates by 100% and click-through rates by 200%.

C) The Rule of 3

When time is ultra-limited, lean on the Rule of 3. Boil down your answer to:

• 3 Key Responsibilities
• 3 Impactful Initiatives
• 3 Measurable Outcomes

For example:

As Digital Marketing Manager, my 3 core responsibilities centered on expanding brand visibility through social media channels. To achieve this, I spearheaded an initiative to revamp our Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn accounts. Within 7 months, these efforts tripled website traffic, doubled inbound leads, and cut CPL by 30%.

Here’s a quick comparison of the three response structures to help you choose the best fit for your situation:

Method	Components	Best For	Time Frame
STAR	Situation, Task, Action, Result	Detailed storytelling	2-3 minutes
PAR	Problem, Action, Result	Concise problem-solving narratives	1-2 minutes
Rule of 3	3 Responsibilities, 3 Initiatives, 3 Outcomes	Ultra-brief responses	30-60 seconds

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Answering

While the structures above serve as helpful starting points, even the strongest frameworks fall apart without crisp content.

Let’s review four pitfalls that can quickly sink your response if not avoided:

A) Being Too Vague

Wishy-washy, generic language fails to exhibit your qualifications and value-add.

What to Avoid: “I helped drive marketing efforts like social media and email campaigns.”

Better Approach: “As Digital Marketing Manager, I pioneered launching our company’s Instagram and Twitter presences from scratch, which increased website traffic by 215% within 5 months.”

B) Simply Reciting Job Descriptions

Rattling off mundane responsibilities squanders chances to showcase your spark.

What to Avoid: “My role encompassed leading marketing projects, analyzing performance data, and identifying optimization opportunities.”

Better Approach: “I spearheaded a viral TikTok campaign that amplified brand awareness by 75% among Gen Z audiences. Analyzing engagement analytics then allowed me to double website conversions within 2 months by revamping site navigation and content.”

C) Failing to Demonstrate Problem-Solving Abilities

Consulting firms crave candidates who can address pressing business challenges with strategic solutions. Neglecting to spotlight these moments undersells your value.

What to Avoid: “I managed the customer service team and eventually improved satisfaction scores.”

Better Approach: “Inheriting decades-old systems, our customer support team struggled with 60-minute wait times dragging NPS scores down 30%. Analyzing call logs and journey mapping pain points revealed archaic tools as the bottleneck. By implementing AI- Chatbots and realigning staffing to peak hours, I slashed wait times to under 5 minutes while boosting NPS by 45% within 7 months.”

D) Downplaying Your Own Contributions

While humility can seem virtuous, consulting interviews demand proudly sharing achievements. Quantify how your personal efforts drove measurable progress.

What to Avoid: “I worked alongside several talented folks to help enhance our social presence.”

Better Approach: “Taking initiative beyond my digital specialist role, I pitched executives on expanding into Snapchat – a previously untapped channel for our brand. Leading development from content planning through performance tracking, this campaign alone boosted online sales by 36% by better resonating with college-aged audiences.”

Steering clear of these missteps ensures your answer checks all the boxes consulting firms want to see.

Now let’s further strengthen your response with some proven tips.

Advance Tips to Elevate Your Answer From Good to Great

Beyond avoiding pitfalls, several strategies can dial your answer up to an 11 out of 10. I call this the EPIC approach:

• Emphasize Relevant Competencies
• Personalize For the Firm
• Incorporate Industry Lingo
• Communicate Concisely and Clearly

Let’s break these down:

A) Emphasize Competencies Critical For Consulting

Sprinkle your answer with keywords that underscore in-demand consulting abilities like:

Strategic Thinking – “Taking a principled approach, I performed extensive competitor analysis…”

Analytical Power – “By thoroughly diagnosing call log data, we unlocked bottlenecks…”

Adaptable Leadership – “Though brought on to lead social campaigns, I spearheaded expanding into emerging TikTok and Snapchat channels by mobilizing cross-functional teams…”

Client Relations – “Presenting performance reports directly to the executive team enabled further partnership and alignment.”

This subtle reinforcement strengthens your case as an ideal consulting hire.

B) Personalize Your Answer to Resonate With Each Firm’s Unique Culture

While mastering the frameworks we’ve discussed establishes a strong foundation, further customization can provide that extra edge.

For example, leadership development consultancy giant McKinsey prides itself on supporting professional growth. Meanwhile, technology consultancy titan Accenture obsesses over innovation.

Research each consulting firm you interview with for clues into their values, missions, and focal points. Then sprinkle corresponding terminology and tie-backs into your answer.

This targeted personalization demonstrates alignment with that firm’s one-of-a-kind DNA to leave lasting positive impressions.

C) Incorporate Relevant Industry Lingo and Buzzwords

Proving your fluency in consulting lingo can further strengthen perceptions of fit.

Listen closely during your interactions for phrases and terminology they use. Organically weave these expressions in when reflecting on your background.

For example, use consulting-centric language like:

-“Leveraged design thinking frameworks to reconceptualize campaign launch strategies”

-“Developed lean testing approaches minimizing risk when expanding platforms”

This vocabulary reinforcement shows you speak their language both figuratively and literally.

D) Practice Concise, Compelling Communication

Time equates to money in consulting. Hiring managers value those able to concisely deliver maximum impact.

Refine your answer until crisp and hard-hitting. Time how long your responses run. Can you communicate the highlights in under 90 seconds? If not, evaluate where filler language creeps in.

Also, listen to your recorded answer. Does your tone sound confident and engaging? Practice until you can comfortably command the conversation.

By incorporating EPIC principles, your answer evolves from check-box checking to show-stopping.

Now let’s discuss customizing responses to different interview scenarios.

Perfecting Your Response Through Preparation

Now that we’ve equipped you to construct responses strategically aligned to each interview’s unique context, let’s discuss cementing confidence through preparation.

As the old saying goes, failing to prepare means preparing to fail. I’ve developed a time-tested training regimen helping candidates consistently execute when go-time arrives.

Let’s break down the P-R-E-P blueprint:

Pinpoint Your Relevant Experiences

Rehearse Repeatedly

Evolve Through External Feedback

Perfect and Personalize

A) Pinpoint High-Impact Examples That Align

First, carefully curate the professional accomplishments offering the strongest demonstrations of consulting competencies discussed earlier.

Ideally, isolate 2-3 achievements that clearly exhibit abilities like:

• Data-driven decisions
• Driving strategic outcomes
• Leading change management initiatives
• Delivering quantifiable ROI

This process of identifying your most hard-hitting examples provides anchor points to structure your narrative around.

You don’t need a 20-year career history. A few focused illustrations conveying top qualifications hold much more weight than a scattered shotgun blast approach.

B) Rehearse Responses Through Repetition

Now comes the practice. Even world-class athletes relentlessly drill fundamentals daily. Adopting a similar focused repetition approach cements muscle memory for recalling your accomplishments smoothly amid interview stress.

Start by rehearsing narration of your experiences out loud solo, then graduate to fielding follow-up questions or incorporating insights organically into broader interview conversations.

Utilize recordings to monitor your verbal and nonverbal delivery. Critique areas needing refinement. With consistent rehearsal, communicating examples as second nature becomes effortless.

C) Evolve Through External Feedback

Next, incorporate constructive criticism to level up responses. Share initial draft answers with mentors, peers, or coaches. Use their veteran eye to identify gaps and growth areas.

Request feedback on strengths already conveyed versus potential areas still warranting emphasis based on their consulting experience. Ask targeted questions like:

• “Does this experience demonstrate analytical abilities strongly enough?”
• “Are my problem-solving contributions clear in this example?”

Embrace this feedback as fuel for reaching peak communication capability. Each round of revisions by integrating external guidance sharpens responses.

D) Perfect Through Personalization

Lastly, evolve general response outlines towards unique narratives personalized to your distinctive background.

This entails thoughtful consideration around highlighting the signature moments that shaped you professionally, the specialized skills you cultivate versus commoditized ones, and the values that animate your leadership style.

Ultimately, consulting firms seek out top talent matching their culture. So finishing responses with personal flair telegraphs chemistry.

Through this comprehensive P-R-E-P approach, canned replies transform into authentic reflections of your one-of-a-kind worth and potential positive impacts on their missions.

Final Words

Here’s the key: Don’t view the “What was your role” question as an obstacle to overcome. See it as a chance to shine by showcasing your unique skills, perspective, and potential value to the consulting firm.

With the strategies and tips in this guide, you now have a blueprint to craft a response that gets interviewers excited about bringing you on board.

Trust in your preparation. Take a deep breath. Make meaningful eye contact. And speak from a place of pride about the real, quantified impact you delivered in your roles.

You’ve put in the work. Now go out there and nail it! You’ve absolutely got this.