I applied online. The process took 6 weeks. I interviewed at Roland Berger
Interview
I applied online and was invited for a first round in the local office (2 1-hour interviews with Senior Consultants). The fit part of the interview was quite informal. Both cases were about market entry and fairly interviewer-led. The first case included strategy and creativity as well as a quantitative component - it went well. Unfortunately I failed the second case because of technical finance questions which required knowledge of specific formulas I had forgotten. (I have not done any finance since some basic courses in undergrad, and it should be evident from my CV that I am not a finance person.)
I was told the interviews had otherwise gone well and I had strong analytical and quantitative skills - i.e., had I only been informed that I should brush on basic finance concepts, I would probably have passed the first round. I wonder why they do not advise candidates to do so. I have interviewed with all the usual suspects in strategy consulting, and this was the only firm where specific finance concepts and calculations were included in case interviews, so I would not expect candidates to prepare for this as matter of course. (Then again, I have no interest in doing primarily financial work, so it is probably a good thing that it did not work out.)
Another concern was that the office came off as rather conservative (everyone was wearing a suit on a sunny Friday) with very few female consultants, all in junior positions.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Imagine you won 100 million euros. What would you do with the money?
3 rounds for junior level
1 round - market sizing
1 round - Business plan
1 round - fit + market sizing/ business plan
They will challenge your assumptions, but doesn't mean you are wrong. Just try to defend it and be logical
I applied online. I interviewed at Roland Berger (Wenen) in Feb 2026
Interview
In total, I went through four virtual interviews – a personality/fit interview, two case interviews, and a final partner interview. The overall organization and structure of the process were excellent. What stood out in particular was how well-prepared the interviewers were, demonstrating a strong understanding of my academic background and professional experience. Throughout the process, the interviews felt less like formal assessments and more like engaging, thoughtful conversations at eye level. All interviewers were approachable, professional, and empathetic, and provided helpful guidance during the case discussions. This created an environment in which I was able to clearly demonstrate both my strengths and my motivation.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Personality / Fit Interview
- Walk me through your background
- Tell me about your PhD thesis and its key insights
- Why Roland Berger?
- What are your long-term career goals?
Case Interviews
- The CFO of a Swiss private bank is considering the acquisition of a robo-advisory solution for portfolio management. Based on the information provided (including an exhibit), would you recommend proceeding with the investment?
- The government of a Middle Eastern country plans to invest in water infrastructure and sell bottled water to its citizens at a subsidized price. Based on the provided data (including an exhibit), how long would it take for the project to break even?
I had a two-hour online interview with two FIT and two case interviews. The experience was interesting and challenging, but the interviewers were late, not very professional, and I never received any feedback afterward.