Roland Berger · Live Interview
Roland Berger's first-round live interview is where strong written applications become offer pipelines or go nowhere. Below: the real questions Roland Berger asks, what they're testing for, and how to practise live until it feels routine.
Practise for Roland Berger
Start practising on Intervyo. Free tools, scored feedback, no payment.
The format
Stage 3 of the UK pipeline: the live first round after the CV screen, the online reasoning test and the HireVue, and a mandatory prerequisite for the final-round assessment centre.
Primarily virtual via Microsoft Teams; top-performing target-university applicants may occasionally be invited in person to the Baker Street office.
Two different interviewers across the two slots, typically Senior Consultants, Project Managers or Principals.
Both interviews are one-on-one; panel interviews are reserved exclusively for the final-round assessment centre.
Duration. Two separate, back-to-back interviews on the same day, each exactly 45 to 60 minutes.
Rounds at this stage. Usually one live round of two interviews before the assessment centre.
Format breakdown
Phone, video, and in-person each have distinct mechanics. The interviewer scoring rubric is the same, but the operational preparation is different.
Used as a fallback: if a video connection drops, the interviewer calls your mobile to finish the fit portion, or reschedules the case if the drop happens in the first 15 minutes. Keep your phone nearby, charged and on silent.
Standard. Update the desktop Teams client, keep your camera on, position it at eye level, and use a neutral or professional background (a clean real background is preferred to a blur). Interviewers may share an exhibit or read data aloud to test auditory data collection.
At Baker Street, arrive 10-15 minutes early and maintain professional decorum from the moment you enter. Bring a physical CV, a high-quality notebook and a reliable pen; write case maths cleanly so it can be turned and presented.
Question categories
Question types cycled through the interview. For each, a real example, what the firm is screening for, plus weak and strong answer signals.
Every question maps to the firm's core values; motivation tests authenticity and depth of research to filter out copy-pasted answers.
“Why strategy consulting, and why specifically Roland Berger over an MBB peer?”
What they test. Authenticity and firm-specific research.
Weak answer. "I want to work on varied problems and learn quickly with smart people." Too generic; applies to any firm.
Strong answer. References German heritage, the industrials/automotive/restructuring focus, the flatter hierarchy and the entrepreneurial setup where partners run autonomous practices.
“Which of our global corporate values resonates most with your personal working style, and why?”
What they test. Authentic alignment beyond reciting the list.
Weak answer. Naming a value with no personal evidence.
Strong answer. Ties Entrepreneurship to a concrete instance of running a workstream or initiative independently.
“Why are you applying for our London office rather than continental hubs like Munich or Paris?”
What they test. Commitment to the London practice.
Weak answer. "London is a great global city."
Strong answer. Connects the London office's sector focus (automotive, energy, private equity) and its role bridging UK and European supply chains to your interests.
“Which of Roland Berger's recent public insights or industry reports has caught your eye, and what is your take?”
What they test. Genuine engagement with the firm's work.
Weak answer. Vague admiration with no specific report.
Strong answer. Names a specific study (UK automotive shifts, European energy storage) and offers an independent view.
Tests grit, commercial ownership and emotional intelligence (Empathy); spend roughly 70% of the time on your individual Action.
“Tell me about a time you built something from scratch when there was no blueprint or guidance.”
What they test. Entrepreneurial initiative and ownership.
Weak answer. Using "we" throughout, or a trivial example with no real stakes.
Strong answer. A crisp STAR focused on what you personally did, with a quantified, reflective result.
“Describe a situation where you had to convince a senior stakeholder who completely disagreed with your analytical approach.”
What they test. Influence and interpersonal maturity.
Weak answer. Arguing until they conceded.
Strong answer. Validating their view, then using data to build a unified path forward while preserving the relationship.
“Give an example of a project where you failed to meet your own expectations. What did you do next?”
What they test. Resilience and a concrete lesson.
Weak answer. A disguised success or blaming others.
Strong answer. Clear ownership and a changed approach that worked subsequently.
“What is the most entrepreneurial thing you have done during your time at university?”
What they test. Alignment with the entrepreneurial value.
Weak answer. A passive, low-agency story.
Strong answer. A self-started venture or initiative with measurable impact and lessons.
Tests communication synthesis and commercial accountability for your past experiences.
“Walk me through your CV, highlighting the decisions that led you to apply to Roland Berger today.”
What they test. A logical career narrative.
Weak answer. A passive recitation of every bullet point taking 4+ minutes.
Strong answer. A chronological, logical narrative under 2 minutes that connects choices, emphasises quantitative achievements and pivots to why Roland Berger is the logical next step.
“I see you interned at a company. What was their primary revenue driver, and what structural threats do they face?”
What they test. Commercial accountability for your own experience.
Weak answer. Not knowing how the business made money.
Strong answer. A clear revenue model and a specific structural threat (margin pressure, disruption, regulation).
“Explain a specific achievement on your CV as if I am a client who knows nothing about it.”
What they test. Translating detail into clear client language.
Weak answer. Jargon-heavy or unstructured.
Strong answer. A simple, structured explanation with the impact made explicit.
Roland Berger consultants are expected to be opinionated experts, not passive observers.
“What is your view on how supply-chain decoupling is impacting UK mid-market manufacturing companies?”
What they test. A decisive, structured stance backed by examples.
Weak answer. Hedging with "it depends" repeatedly and no real reading.
Strong answer. A clear position using concepts like margins, asset-light models and working capital, with a real-world example.
“Advising a major UK legacy automotive dealership network, what structural risks would you flag about the EV transition over the next three years?”
What they test. Sector-specific risk identification.
Weak answer. Generic "EVs are the future" commentary.
Strong answer. Names charging-infrastructure gaps, aftersales revenue erosion and capital reallocation risks.
“Name a major corporate restructuring or bankruptcy in Europe recently. What went wrong structurally?”
What they test. Restructuring instinct, a firm signature area.
Weak answer. A vague reference with no structural diagnosis.
Strong answer. Identifies liquidity, cost structure or capital-structure failures and the turnaround levers.
Strictly candidate-led: you own the wheel and must propose the next analytical path; silence means you choose.
“A Tier-1 UK automotive component supplier faces a 12% margin contraction despite stable volumes. Help them figure out why.”
What they test. MECE structuring, hypothesis generation and candidate-led navigation.
Weak answer. Dropping a generic profitability framework and waiting for prompts.
Strong answer. A bespoke framework that separates fixed and variable costs, then drives: "Given fixed costs are optimised, the issue must lie in variable components, specifically raw materials or direct labour. Do we have data on recent supplier price changes?"
“A European PE firm wants to acquire a UK commercial waste management provider. How would you structure the market attractiveness assessment?”
What they test. Commercial due diligence structuring.
Weak answer. A generic 3Cs sweep.
Strong answer. Market size and growth, competitive dynamics, regulatory landscape and the target's position, tied to value-creation levers.
“Estimate the total annual market size for EV fast-charging stations along the UK motorway network.”
What they test. Supply-constrained market sizing.
Weak answer. Pure demand sizing with no supply constraint.
Strong answer. Sizes demand (EVs needing power) then checks supply constraints: grid capacity, charging-bay utilisation limits and installation bottlenecks.
Tests composure, coachability and intellectual agility under direct pressure.
“Your initial hypothesis was just disproved by the cost data. If the client CEO is in the room, how do you explain your error without losing trust?”
What they test. Composure and non-defensive recovery.
Weak answer. Becoming defensive, flustered or freezing.
Strong answer. Pausing, acknowledging the pressure gracefully and delivering a structured, objective revision of the approach.
“Sell me this half-empty water bottle, but you cannot mention its price or its ability to hydrate.”
What they test. Creative reframing under constraint.
Weak answer. Stalling or breaking the constraint.
Strong answer. Reframing around an alternative value (portability, design, sustainability) with a clear pitch.
“If I told you your fit performance was below our passing threshold, how would you change your strategy for the remaining 20 minutes?”
What they test. Coachability and self-correction.
Weak answer. Defensiveness or panic.
Strong answer. Calmly diagnosing what to adjust and committing to a clearer, more structured approach.
Technical depth
The biggest mistake UK candidates make is preparing for Roland Berger like McKinsey. Cases are strictly candidate-led with a heavy bias toward industrials, automotive, operations, transport and restructuring, and a pragmatic, asset-heavy framework tone. Master three operational frameworks beyond basic profitability.
For manufacturing, aerospace and automotive cases, follow the physical flow of goods rather than just revenue and cost: R&D / component design, inbound procurement, shop-floor assembly / manufacturing, logistics and distribution, then aftermarket sales and service.
For distressed companies, structure around short-term versus long-term survival: liquidity management (working-capital optimisation, receivables acceleration, delaying payables, inventory liquidation); operational turnaround (divesting non-core units, closing underperforming sites, headcount rationalisation, renegotiating supplier agreements); and capital restructuring (debt refinancing, covenant renegotiation, equity injections).
Do calculations out loud and state units. Master breakeven units = fixed costs / (price minus variable cost), payback period and basic NPV reasoning, and CAGR approximations. When sizing markets, inject supply-side constraints (grid capacity, utilisation limits, installation bottlenecks) rather than sizing demand alone.
The rubric
The interviewer is checking against a scorecard. Knowing the categories is half the battle.
Aggregation. Each interviewer scores you independently on a 1-to-5 scale (3 baseline, 4 exceeding, 5 exceptional). If the two diverge, they hold a calibration session, with the Project Manager or Principal weighing whether you are client-ready on day one.
Pass threshold. You typically need solid 4s across all dimensions in both interviews. A single 2 in any category, even with 5s elsewhere, usually results in an automatic rejection.
Weighting vs other rounds. The live first round carries roughly 60% weight in the decision to progress. A stellar live performance can override a borderline online-test score, but a poor live showing cannot be rescued by past achievements.
How to practise
Conversational mocks that read your CV, ask Roland Berger-specific questions, push back when answers are weak, and produce a scored report.
Lazard · IB Analyst
Technical Interview · CV-aware
Interviewer
I see from your CV you completed Spring Week at Lazard. Walk me through a deal you observed during that placement.Interviewer
You mentioned trading comps. Walk me through how the peer set was selected, what criteria were used, and were there any borderline cases?Full report when you end
Why candidates fail
Specific failure patterns documented across past applicants. Most are avoidable with focused preparation.
Passive case delivery
Finishing a calculation and asking "what should I look at next?" instead of driving the candidate-led case forward.
Generic framework dropping
Using a pre-packaged framework that ignores the specific industrial or operational reality of the prompt.
Lacking industry instinct
Ignorance of basic industrial and commercial concepts, or being unaware of major UK industrial developments.
Defensiveness under pushback
Arguing or freezing when an interviewer intentionally challenges an assumption, showing a lack of coachability.
Mechanistic maths
Calculating perfectly but failing to explain what the final number means for the client's strategy.
A flawed "why Roland Berger"
An answer that still works if you swap in "Oliver Wyman" or "Kearney" is not specific enough.
What works
Concrete moves drilled by candidates who clear the cut, drawn from applicant accounts and recruiter feedback.
Proactive navigation
Map where you want to go, guide the interviewer along it, and explicitly state what data you need and why.
Immediate contextual customisation
Use your 60-90 seconds of silence to build a custom framework incorporating specific industry terms from the prompt.
"So what" synthesis
After every calculation, immediately state the broader strategic takeaway for the client.
A grounded "why Roland Berger"
Mention specific UK partners, recent public projects or clear structural aspects of the London office's sector focus.
High coachability
When corrected, say "that is an excellent point; let me update my framework to include it" and adapt.
Executive presence
Treat the interview as a collaborative project meeting with a colleague, comfortable with ambiguity and structured assumptions.
From past applicants
Anonymised candidate accounts of how recent Roland Berger applicants handled the live round. Each covers prep, the experience, and the outcome.
Associate Consultant applicant, London office (passed)
Prep. Practised candidate-led case mechanics and mental maths without a calculator.
Experience. Two back-to-back 45-minute Teams calls. The first, with an Energy-practice Project Manager, ran a candidate-led case on a UK commercial transport operator facing rising fleet costs; the interviewer went on mute, so the candidate explicitly requested data on fuel efficiency, maintenance schedules and contract terms, then tied the maths to carbon-reduction goals. When pushed on a quick electric-truck transition (lack of heavy charging infrastructure), the candidate adjusted to a phased hybrid strategy. The second interview, with a Senior Consultant, focused on fit and inflation's impact on Midlands mid-caps.
Outcome. Progressed; described the tone as sharp and fast-paced but fair.
Consultant applicant, post-graduate track (passed)
Prep. Reviewed Roland Berger's European PE and sustainability insights; both interviewers came from industrial and restructuring backgrounds.
Experience. The behavioural section sought entrepreneurial drive: walking through launching a project with minimal guidance, handling early failures and stakeholder disagreement. The case was a profitability turnaround for an industrial manufacturer with multiple UK and European sites, deep on capacity utilisation and fixed versus variable costs. Hitting a multi-step currency-and-percentage wall, the candidate paused, talked through the setup out loud and asked to round the numbers; the interviewer said "that's exactly how we'd do it on a client site."
Outcome. Progressed; the firm cared more about practical problem-solving logic than robotic calculations.
What gets you through
FAQ
After passing the online reasoning test, you receive an invitation email with a portal link; slots are first-come, first-served. Choose a slot where you can secure a quiet, uninterrupted space with reliable internet.
A computer running the latest desktop Microsoft Teams, a stable high-speed connection, a clear HD webcam and a good microphone or headset. Turn off notifications, close unrelated tabs and keep the device on power.
Business formal for both virtual and in-person. A professional suit, shirt and (for men) tie, or equivalent structured business attire. Dressing fully also helps your mindset.
Keep the camera at eye level and look into the lens when delivering key conclusions. When writing case notes, explicitly say you are looking down to sketch or calculate so the brief silence is understood.
Do not bluff. Pause, acknowledge the gap and show how you would find the information, e.g. estimating a figure and naming the source (a trade body or government dataset) you would check for a client.
The scheduling link adjusts available slots to your local time zone. If you cannot find a viable slot due to a large difference, email the London HR contact to arrange an alternative.
No. External calculators, spreadsheets and search tools are prohibited. All quantitative work is mental or on scratch paper, and you should talk through your maths out loud.
Typically 3 to 7 working days. A successful result comes by phone or email with preparation steps for the final-round assessment centre.
Granular written feedback is not always possible given volume, but candidates who reach the live round can often request a brief, constructive feedback call with an interviewer or recruiter.
The other rounds
Live interview is one of four rounds. Practise each one free on Intervyo.
Practise free
Practise every stage on Intervyo with AI-scored feedback: HireVue, psychometrics, live mock interviews, and CV. Free to start, no card required.
Start practising freeFree tools, upgrade any time
Intervyo is not affiliated with or endorsed by Roland Berger. Interview questions are sourced from past applicants and the firm's published guidance; verify on the firm's careers site. Sector: Strategy Consulting.
Roland Berger
Practise free