Roland Berger interview questions and tips for the application process

Securing a graduate role at Roland Berger is a great opportunity to begin your professional career in consulting. With its presence across various industries ranging from automotive to industrial goods and financial services, Roland Berger can hire the world's best talent quite effortlessly irrespective of geographical locations. The company's hiring process is strict but equitable.

In this guide we will walk you through Roland Berger's recruitment process, providing step-by-step guidance and advice to ensure maximum success. We will dive into why Roland Berger is different from the herd of consulting companies, tips on writing compelling application materials, and winning tips on how to pass the tests and interviews. 

The Roland Berger application process

Roland Berger's graduate hiring process is a five-step well-thought-out process and each step plays a crucial role in selecting the most suitable individuals for the company:

1. Online application
2. Online test
3. Screening interview
4. Case interviews
5. Outcome

1. Online application

The application process starts with the internet application, where you will be submitting your CV, cover letter, and educational background through the company's careers website. 

Submitting a strong online application

Your online application is the cornerstone of your application and your initial chance to stand out from thousands of other applicants. Roland Berger sees a large number of applications every year, so it is important to submit materials that will catch the recruiters' attention.

Tailoring your CV

When composing your CV, attempt to highlight accomplishments demonstrating the skills Roland Berger values most: analytical capability, leadership, and tangible influence. Keep your CV clean with distinct sections for education, work experience, extracurricular activities, and skills.

Employ bullet points in listing your roles and accomplishments, with an emphasis on measurable outcomes wherever feasible. For example, rather than stating that you "worked on a market analysis project," state that you "conducted competitive analysis for a retail client that uncovered €3M of cost savings through supply chain optimization."

Writing your cover letter

Your cover letter should supplement your CV by being a fair representation of your background and interests. Don't write clichéd stuff about consulting; instead, express clear familiarity with Roland Berger's work and culture.

Look for information about the company's work or any relevant news. Then try to tie it back to your own experience or interests. For example, you might cite how Roland Berger's white paper on Industry 4.0 manufacturing transformation matches your current area of interest or prior internship background.

The tone and structure of cover letters are also crucial. The opening paragraph must capture the reader's attention and clearly outline your motivations for applying to this specific role and company. The second part should provide 2–3 examples of how your experience makes you a suitable candidate. Keep it concise - a page or less - and make sure the grammar and formatting are perfect.

2. The Roland Berger online test

Your first test in the Roland Berger application process is the online test. The test will examine your numerical, verbal, and logical reasoning, as they will be instrumental to furthering your consulting career.

• Numerical reasoning: challenges your ability to interpret quantitative data under time constraints.
• Verbal reasoning: challenges your reading capacity as well as reasoning ability.
• Logical reasoning: examines your ability to apply abstract problem-solving (you can expect pattern recognition, sequence completion, and deductive reasoning questions)

Preparing for the online test

To prepare well for online tests, begin by sitting for mock tests to know your weaknesses and strengths. There are many online platforms that provide relevant practice questions

While practicing, pay special attention to your time management skills—get accustomed to which questions to solve first and when to make an educated guess. For numerical reasoning, recall mental calculation skills, especially percentages, ratios, and simple algebra. For verbal reasoning, active reading skill needs to be developed to improve speed as well as comprehension. Logical reasoning gets benefited by practicing regular puzzles and pattern recognition tests.

3. The screening interview

The screening interview is your first in-person interaction with Roland Berger and an important assessment of your cultural fit and interest in consulting. Typically 30–45 minutes in duration and conducted by a consultant or HR representative, this interview is all about getting to know your background, experiences, and cultural fit with Roland Berger.

Prepare for a combination of motivational and behavioural questions that will challenge your competence as much as your true passion for the company.

Preparing for the interview

Make sure to be familiar with any recent news about Roland Berger and consulting as a whole - it's very likely that you will either be asked about them outright, or, if not, you can still show your passion for the field by tying the information you found into your other answers. Surf the firm's website, latest publications, and current news articles to get an idea of recent priorities and projects.

Interviews are always a two-way street. Prepare 3–4 insightful questions to pose to your interviewer - this shows interest and enables you to determine if Roland Berger will suit you.

Expert guide to answering the interview questions

When you answer "Why Roland Berger," avoid generic answers about prestige or international travel. Instead, demonstrate tangible familiarity with the firm's distinguishing characteristics.

Apply the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) when responding to behavioural questions to make sure your answer is well structured and you don't need to think about what to say next. 

4. Roland Berger case interviews

Case interview is the most difficult and significant component of the Roland Berger application process. Case interviews are actual consulting assignments, enabling the company to determine your style of problem-solving, analytical acuity, and ability to communicate while under pressure.

Common formats include:

• Market entry cases: weighing market size, competition, customer demand, and feasibility.
• Profitability cases: understanding and fixing performance problems.
• Investment cases: weighing acquisitions or capital investments.

Preparation for case interviews

Begin with understanding generic case structures, but be flexible. Roland Berger values innovative and adaptable thinking. Practice mock cases, ideally with feedback.

Last-minute preparation and interview day strategies

Confirm your equipment and location for online interviews. Dress professionally. Bring copies of your CV and a notebook.

Treat the interviewer like a business partner. If you get stuck, talk through your thinking—recovery matters more than perfection.

5. The outcome

Within 1–2 weeks, Roland Berger will notify you of the result. Use the waiting time to reflect and send a thank-you note. If rejected, request feedback—most successful applicants apply more than once.

Conclusion: your roadmap to success with Roland Berger

It requires commitment, preparation, and sincere presentation of your ability and worthiness to be hired at Roland Berger. With proper preparation at each stage—from preparing strong applications to mastering case interviews—you greatly increase your odds of success.

The skills you gain from this process will serve you well beyond it. Stay focused, believe in yourself, and approach each step with intention. Your Roland Berger journey begins now.

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