Crafting a Killer "Why Consulting?" Answer That Doesn't Sound Like Everyone Else's

"So, why consulting?"

Four simple words that have derailed more promising consulting interviews than any case study ever could. It's the question every McKinsey, BCG, Bain, and boutique firm interviewer will ask, yet most candidates approach it with all the strategic thinking of someone ordering coffee.

The problem isn't that candidates don't have good reasons for wanting to enter consulting. The problem is that they give the same reasons as everyone else, delivered in the same generic way, creating the same forgettable impression.

After conducting hundreds of mock interviews and debriefing successful candidates from top-tier firms, I've identified the patterns that separate memorable "Why consulting?" answers from the ones that make interviewers mentally check out. The candidates who land offers don't just list consulting's benefits—they tell a compelling story about how their unique experiences led them specifically to this career path.

Here's how to craft an answer that accomplishes exactly that.

Why Most "Why Consulting?" Answers Fail

Before we dive into what works, let's examine why most answers fall flat. The typical response sounds something like this:

"I'm interested in consulting because I want to work on diverse problems across different industries. I'm excited about the steep learning curve and the opportunity to work with smart people. Plus, consulting will give me great exit opportunities and help me figure out what I want to do long-term."

This answer hits all the "right" points, but it has three fatal flaws:

1. The Generic Problem

This answer could come from any of the thousand other candidates interviewing this recruiting season. There's nothing personal, specific, or memorable about it.

2. The Selfish Focus

Every benefit mentioned is about what consulting will do for the candidate, not what the candidate will contribute to consulting. It sounds transactional rather than passionate.

3. The Missing Connection

There's no bridge between the candidate's background and consulting. Why consulting instead of investment banking, tech, or staying in their current field?

Interviewers have heard these same generic benefits recited hundreds of times. What they're really asking with "Why consulting?" is: "What is it about your specific background, interests, and goals that makes consulting the logical next step for YOU?"

The S.T.O.R.Y Framework for "Why Consulting?" Answers

The most compelling "Why consulting?" answers follow a narrative structure that I call the S.T.O.R.Y framework:

• Spark - The specific moment or experience that first drew you to consulting
• Themes - The consistent patterns in your background that align with consulting
• Opportunity - Why this specific firm/role fits your goals
• Reasons - The unique value you'll bring to consulting
• Yearning - Your genuine excitement about the work itself

Let's break down each element:

Spark: Your Origin Story

Every great "Why consulting?" answer begins with a specific moment that sparked your interest. This isn't about when you first heard of consulting—it's about when you first experienced the type of thinking or problem-solving that consulting embodies.

Examples of effective sparks:

• A college project where you helped a local business optimize their operations
• A work situation where you had to quickly understand a new industry to solve a problem
• A personal challenge that required you to structure complex information and develop solutions
• An internship where you were thrown into unfamiliar territory and thrived

What makes a spark compelling:

• It's specific and concrete, not abstract
• It demonstrates consulting-relevant skills (problem-solving, quick learning, structured thinking)
• It shows genuine engagement with the type of work consultants do

Themes: The Consistent Thread

After establishing your spark, identify 2-3 consistent themes from your background that align with consulting. This is where you show that your interest isn't random—it's supported by a pattern of experiences.

Common themes that resonate:

• Cross-functional problem solving: You've consistently sought out challenges that required understanding different parts of a business
• Rapid learning: You have a track record of quickly mastering new domains
• Analytical rigor: You approach problems systematically and data-driven
• Client service: You've consistently worked in roles focused on helping others achieve their goals
• Change management: You've helped organizations or teams navigate transitions

Pro tip: Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure specific examples that support each theme.

Opportunity: Why This Matters Now

Connect your background to why consulting is the right next step for you specifically. This is where you show strategic thinking about your career.

Strong opportunity statements:

• Build on existing skills in a more challenging environment
• Apply your domain expertise to help businesses in your former industry
• Develop the strategic thinking skills needed for your long-term goals
• Work at the scale and complexity that matches your ambitions

Reasons: Your Unique Value

This is where many candidates stumble. Instead of talking about what consulting will do for you, flip the script and discuss what you'll contribute. What unique perspective, skills, or experiences will you bring to the firm's clients?

Examples of unique value:

• Deep industry expertise from previous roles
• Technical skills that complement business thinking
• International experience that helps with global clients
• Entrepreneurial background that brings startup mindset to large corporations
• Functional expertise (marketing, operations, finance) that informs strategic recommendations

Yearning: Genuine Excitement

End with what genuinely excites you about consulting work. This should feel authentic and specific, not like something you read on the firm's website.

Authentic excitement sounds like:

• Specific aspects of the work that energize you
• Types of problems you're eager to tackle
• The intellectual challenges you want to engage with
• The impact you want to help clients achieve

Putting It All Together: Sample Answers

Let's see how this framework creates compelling, differentiated answers:

Example 1: Engineering Background

"My interest in consulting crystallized during a project at Tesla where I was asked to optimize manufacturing processes across three different facilities. (Spark) What struck me wasn't just the technical challenge, but how the solution required understanding supply chain dynamics, labor economics, and production strategy simultaneously.

Looking back, I realize I've consistently gravitated toward cross-functional challenges—from leading my university's solar car team where I coordinated between engineering, business, and marketing functions, to my current role where I regularly translate technical constraints into business recommendations for leadership. (Themes)

While I've loved developing technical expertise, I'm ready to apply this systems thinking to broader business challenges. (Opportunity) I believe my engineering background gives me a unique lens on operational efficiency and technology implementation that would be valuable for manufacturing and tech clients. (Reasons)

What excites me most is the prospect of helping CEOs think through complex strategic decisions where technical feasibility, market dynamics, and organizational capabilities all intersect. (Yearning)"

Example 2: Non-Profit Background

"I discovered my passion for strategic problem-solving while working at Teach for America, where I was asked to design a teacher retention program for our highest-need schools. (Spark) The challenge wasn't just educational—it required understanding labor markets, organizational psychology, and budget constraints while keeping student outcomes at the center.

Throughout my career, whether launching a micro-finance program in Kenya or redesigning volunteer management systems, I've been drawn to challenges that require both analytical rigor and deep stakeholder empathy. (Themes) These experiences taught me that sustainable change requires understanding both the numbers and the human dynamics beneath them.

Consulting represents the next evolution of this work—helping organizations create positive impact at scale. (Opportunity) My background gives me a unique appreciation for how strategic decisions affect frontline stakeholders, which I believe would bring valuable perspective to your social impact and education clients. (Reasons)

I'm energized by the prospect of working on challenges where business success and social impact align—helping companies build sustainable strategies that benefit all stakeholders. (Yearning)"

Customizing Your Answer by Firm

While your core story should remain consistent, smart candidates subtly adapt their emphasis based on the firm's culture and strengths:

McKinsey: Emphasize analytical rigor, global perspective, and transformational impact

BCG: Highlight innovation, creative problem-solving, and entrepreneurial thinking

Bain: Focus on results orientation, collaborative approach, and private equity/performance improvement experience

Research each firm's recent case studies and culture using resources like Vault's consulting guides and Glassdoor reviews to understand what resonates with each organization.

Common Mistakes That Kill Your Answer

The Exit Opportunity Trap

The mistake: Mentioning that consulting will help you "figure out what you want to do" or providing "good exit opportunities."

Why it fails: It signals that you see consulting as a stepping stone rather than a destination you're excited about.

The fix: Focus on what you want to accomplish in consulting, not what consulting will help you do after.

The Generic Benefits List

The mistake: Rattling off consulting's well-known benefits (travel, learning, smart people, diverse problems).

Why it fails: These benefits apply to hundreds of other careers and don't explain why YOU chose consulting.

The fix: Connect each benefit to your specific background and what you'll contribute.

The Passion Without Proof

The mistake: Claiming to be "passionate about strategy" without demonstrating strategic thinking in your background.

Why it fails: Empty claims without supporting evidence sound inauthentic.

The fix: Let your examples demonstrate your passions rather than stating them directly.

Advanced Techniques for Memorable Answers

The Contrarian Angle

If appropriate to your background, acknowledge a contrarian element that makes your interest in consulting unexpected—then explain why it actually makes perfect sense.

"As an artist, consulting might seem like an unusual choice, but my experience in creative problem-solving has taught me that the best solutions often come from looking at problems from entirely new angles..."

The Future Vision

Paint a picture of the impact you want to create through consulting work, making it specific and compelling.

"Five years from now, I want to be the consultant who helps traditional manufacturers navigate digital transformation—not just implementing new technologies, but fundamentally reimagining how they create value..."

The Challenge Hook

Reference a specific type of challenge you're excited to tackle, showing you understand what consultants actually do.

"I'm particularly drawn to the kinds of challenges where there's no obvious answer—like how to grow market share in a declining industry or how to maintain company culture during rapid international expansion..."

Practicing and Refining Your Answer

Your "Why consulting?" answer should feel conversational, not rehearsed. Here's how to develop that natural delivery:

The Story Bank Method

Instead of memorizing one rigid answer, develop a bank of 3-4 stories that support your themes. This allows you to adapt naturally based on the conversation flow.

Use tools like Notion or Evernote to organize your story bank with tagged examples for different themes and firm cultures.

The Conversation Test

Practice your answer with someone who knows nothing about consulting. If they're confused or bored, your answer needs work.

Join online communities like Reddit's consulting community or Fishbowl to get feedback on your approach from current consultants.

The Recording Method

Record yourself answering the question multiple times, then listen for:

• Filler words and hesitations
• Sections that sound memorized vs. conversational
• Energy level and genuine enthusiasm
• Clarity and logical flow

Use your phone's voice memo app or Audacity for free recording and playback.

Handling Follow-Up Questions

A strong "Why consulting?" answer often prompts follow-up questions. Be prepared for:

"Why our firm specifically?" - Have specific examples of the firm's work, culture, or approach that resonates with your background and goals.

"What concerns you about consulting?" - Acknowledge real challenges (like work-life balance or travel) but explain how you're prepared to handle them.

"Where do you see yourself in five years?" - Paint a picture that includes significant time in consulting, not just using it as a stepping stone.

Practice these follow-ups with PrepLounge's interview simulator or schedule mock interviews through your school's career center.

The Long-Term Perspective

Remember that your "Why consulting?" answer isn't just about getting through an interview—it's about articulating your professional narrative in a compelling way. This skill will serve you throughout your consulting career and beyond, whether you're:

• Pitching to new clients who want to understand your background
• Networking with senior partners who are evaluating your potential
• Interviewing for post-consulting roles where you need to explain your experience

The investment you make in crafting an authentic, compelling answer now will pay dividends throughout your career.

Your Action Plan

Ready to craft your killer "Why consulting?" answer? Follow this step-by-step process:

1. Brainstorm your spark moments: List 5-10 specific experiences where you demonstrated consulting-relevant skills
2. Identify your themes: Look for patterns across these experiences
3. Draft your S.T.O.R.Y: Write out each element, keeping each section to 2-3 sentences
4. Test with others: Practice with friends, career counselors, or online communities
5. Refine and internalize: Adjust based on feedback until it feels natural and authentic

The difference between candidates who land offers and those who don't often comes down to storytelling. Generic answers about learning and growth opportunities won't set you apart. But a compelling narrative that connects your unique background to your consulting aspirations? That's how you become the candidate interviewers remember and recommend.

Your "Why consulting?" answer is your chance to control the narrative about who you are and why you belong in this industry. Make it count.