Consulting roles are central to Simon-Kucher’s work. Our consultants support clients on complex questions related to growth, pricing, and commercialization, often with direct and measurable business impact.
While analytical capability is important, successful consultants at Simon-Kucher combine it with strong communication, collaboration, and sound commercial acumen. Discover what makes a career in this role exceptional and how you can prepare effectively for the interview process.
What makes consulting at Simon-Kucher unique?
Simon-Kucher’s consulting work is characterized by deep analytical expertise and a strong focus on implementation. Projects are typically conducted in small teams working closely with clients throughout the engagement.
From the very beginning of your consulting career at Simon-Kucher, you will take on meaningful responsibilities and make a tangible contribution to client projects. You will gain hands-on experience while working closely with experienced colleagues who support your development. This combination allows you to learn quickly, build confidence, and develop your skills through real project work and continuous collaboration.
As a consultant, you will be exposed to a wide range of industries and markets across countries. That is why our recruitment teams seek individuals who demonstrate adaptability, cultural awareness, and the ability to communicate clearly in different contexts.
Our HR team in Spain highlights the qualities that many successful Simon-Kucher consultants share:
 | “We look for consultants who have ambition, who are willing to learn continuously, take ownership early, and actively contribute to the teams they work with.” Ines Cubillo, Senior HR Coordinator, Madrid |
What can you expect during the recruitment process?
During our recruitment process, we not only get to know you, but also give you the opportunity to get to know Simon-Kucher. We encourage you to ask questions, explore how we work, and use each conversation to decide whether our environment and culture are the right fit for your next career step.
We assess your analytical and interpersonal skills using a combination of recruitment methods, depending on the role and level. These may include behavioral interviews, business case interviews, and, for some positions, cognitive assessments such as numerical and reasoning tests. The exercises reflect the type of thinking used in consulting, e.g., identifying patterns, structuring data, and making well-founded decisions.
Business case interviews allow you to demonstrate how you structure complex problems, develop hypotheses, analyze information, and communicate your thinking. We are interested not only in the final recommendation, but also in the reasoning behind it.
A structured approach, sound judgement, and clear communication are just as important as the solution itself.
Behavioral questions help us understand how you may have approached real situations in your previous experience. We are interested in examples that demonstrate collaboration, ownership, learning agility, and the impact you created. Research consistently shows that past behavior in relevant situations is one of the strongest indicators of future performance.
Not to forget, as AI increasingly becomes an important part of consulting, we also value your ability to work effectively with AI-supported tools. Rather than replacing analytical thinking, these technologies make it even more important to ask the right questions, critically evaluate outputs, and translate information into practical recommendations for clients.
Our UK HR team emphasizes the importance of the initial call with the recruiter and presenting your motivation and experience:
 | “Think carefully about the experiences and achievements that best demonstrate what you would bring to the role and what genuinely motivates you to join Simon-Kucher. Whether through your commercial thinking, curiosity, initiative, or the impact you’ve had working with others, focus on what sets you apart and why Simon-Kucher is the right next step for you.” Courtney Bromfield, Recruiting Manager, London |
Key competencies and how to demonstrate them
While our industry-focus varies, several competencies are assessed consistently across recruitment processes.
Communication is key for consultants in everyday work. We appreciate when you can translate complex analyses into clear messages. In interviews, this means summarizing findings concisely and explaining reasoning step by step.
Structured problem-solving is another important skill. Simon-Kucher seeks individuals that can use clear structure, explain conclusions, and prioritize key drivers.
We value analytical confidence and the ability to frame right questions, critically evaluate AI-generated outputs, and translate insights into practical recommendations.
Team orientation is equally important. Consulting is highly collaborative, and we pay attention to examples that show how you work with others, respond to feedback, and contribute to shared outcomes.
Business curiosity makes a real difference too. An interest in topics such as pricing, growth strategy, and commercialization helps connect case discussions to real-world business challenges and ultimately contributes to creating measurable impact and sustainable growth for our clients.
For most experienced hire roles, we typically look for candidates with prior consulting experience, as it enables them to quickly navigate our client-focused environment and contribute from day one.
How to prepare for case interviews
At Simon-Kucher, we see strong preparation as a combination of understanding and practice. Becoming familiar with common case structures and question types can help you feel more confident and focused during the interview.
Key factors for strong case performance include understanding complex challenges, logical structuring of information, quantitative and analytical problem-solving capabilities, creative problem-solving skills, and the ability to interpret and communicate results effectively.
Discussing cases out loud can help you structure your thoughts more clearly and communicate your reasoning in a way that feels natural and convincing.
You can build confidence by simulating interview conditions including time awareness. Taking time to reflect on your approach, identifying areas for improvement, and practicing can help you feel more prepared with each attempt.
You can further strengthen your performance by developing business acumen. Reading industry news, business publications, and Simon-Kucher insights can help you connect analytical thinking with real-world business topics.
Preparing beyond cases
At Simon-Kucher, we see the interview as a two-way conversation. We invite you to ask questions and explore whether Simon-Kucher is the right fit for you.
The German HR team encourages candidates not only to ask questions, but also to actively engage in the conversation throughout the interview process:
 | “Candidates are welcome to ask thoughtful questions, challenge perspectives, and actively contribute to the discussion. We particularly value candidates who demonstrate genuine interest, reflectiveness, and a willingness to engage in discussions on equal footing. A solid understanding of economic principles and frameworks can also be beneficial, especially in our core focus areas such as pricing, marketing, digitalization, and sales.” Michaela Scherhag, Team Lead Junior Recruiting, Frankfurt |
Another way to prepare is to reflect on your professional experience and consider how it has shaped your interests and ambitions. During the interview, we explore how these strengths are reflected in your experience and how you could continue to develop them with us.
Our consultants combine analytical excellence with curiosity, collaboration, and a strong client focus. If you are motivated by solving complex business challenges and creating measurable impact, Simon-Kucher can offer a unique environment to learn, grow, and make a difference.
Do you want to know more about what we are looking for in applicants?
Learn more here: What we look for in applicants at Simon-Kucher
You can also explore how you might develop your career with Simon-Kucher on our Careers page.