Behavioral interview
How you have solved problems in the past, told as stories from your resume.
- Evaluates
- Achievement, communication, leadership, teaming, aptitude
- Structure
- STAR
- Opens with
- Often "Tell me about yourself"
Deloitte consulting interview questions, behavioral and case
Deloitte US says to expect two to three rounds, with a mix of behavioral, technical and case-based interviews depending on the role. It publishes its own sample behavioral questions, such as a time you juggled a lot of responsibilities, and says what each one tests. Consulting candidates may also get a case, where Deloitte wants your logic, not the right answer. To rehearse both out loud, Soreno, an AI voice interview practice app for consulting, investment banking and other finance candidates, runs Deloitte-style cases and behavioral questions with follow-ups and scored feedback.
Updated
- Two to three rounds. By phone, video or in person, Deloitte US says.
- Its own sample questions. Six behavioral questions, four with what the recruiter wants to know.
- Use STAR. Deloitte asks for situation, task, action and result, with stories from your resume.
- A case for consulting. Five steps, from understanding the issue to next steps. No right answer.
- Never make stories up. Deloitte says the interviewer will know, especially at the follow-ups.
How Deloitte interviews
Deloitte US describes its process in five steps: meet us, start your search, apply, interview, then offer and onboard. A recruiter usually schedules the first interview within one to two weeks of selecting you. These facts are for Deloitte US, and they cover more than consulting.
Case interview
A fictional example of a real client project, for consulting roles.
- Tests
- Problem solving, analysis, comfort with ambiguity
- Right answer
- Not expected, Deloitte says. Your logic is
- Practice
- Its free Case Prep Tool, 15 to 20 minutes a case
Rounds and timing
The whole process, as Deloitte US describes it.
- Rounds
- Two to three
- Format
- Telephone, video or in person
- Offer
- Usually in writing within a week of the last interview
Deloitte's five-step case approachFrom its case and scenario tips
Deloitte asks you to work every case or scenario this way. The case questions below are built to practice each step.
Step 1
Understand the issue
Ask clarifying questions until you know the problem. Deloitte adds: don't use questions as a crutch.
Step 2
Identify the assumptions
Name the assumptions under the case, out loud.
Step 3
Summarize issues and findings
Lay out the key issues and what the data tells you.
Step 4
State your recommendation
A clear answer, built on your analysis.
Step 5
Next steps and expected results
What happens next and what you expect it to change.
Our Deloitte case interview guide
From Deloitte US: recruiting tips, Deloitte US: case and scenario tips and Deloitte: Case Prep Tool.
What Deloitte looks for
Deloitte does not publish a rubric. Its US recruiting pages say this:
A track record in behavioral answers
Achievement, communication, leadership and teaming, and aptitude for the role, on its behavioral interview tips page.
Four common skills
Leadership, communication, managing ambiguity and balancing priorities. Stories can come from part-time jobs, school projects and volunteering.
In the case, clear thinking
Clear thinking, practical judgment and a professional demeanor, Deloitte says, and your logic rather than the right answer.
Honesty, with or without AI
Never make stories up. AI is fine for research and practice questions, never for answers during an interview.
From Deloitte US's behavioral interview tips, its interview prep tips and its AI guidance.
18 Deloitte consulting interview questions
The first six are Deloitte's own, paraphrased from its US behavioral tips page. The rest are in our words. Each note says what a strong answer does.
Deloitte's own behavioral questions6 questions
Deloitte says what the first four test. Answer each in STAR. Follow-ups are ours.
Give an example of a time you were juggling a lot of responsibilities. How did you handle it?
Deloitte US's behavioral interview tips, paraphrased
What a strong answer does
Deloitte says this tests how you balance priorities. Show how you chose what came first and what you let slip. Practice it, see a model answer
- “What did you drop, and who did you tell?”
- “Would you choose the same order again?”
Describe a time you saw a problem and took the initiative to correct it.
Deloitte US's behavioral interview tips, paraphrased
What a strong answer does
Your problem-solving process, Deloitte says. Show how you spotted it, what you checked and what you changed. Practice it, see a model answer
- “Why did no one else fix it?”
- “How did you know it worked?”
Tell me about a conflict you had with a team member. How did you handle it?
Deloitte US's behavioral interview tips, paraphrased
What a strong answer does
How you lead and work with others. Be fair to the teammate and specific about what changed between you. Practice it, see a model answer
Think of a time you had to finish a rush project without all the information you needed.
Deloitte US's behavioral interview tips, paraphrased
What a strong answer does
How you deal with ambiguity. What you assumed, what you checked first and how you told people what you didn't know. Practice it, see a model answer
Tell me about a time you had to lead a project or team. What was the outcome?
Deloitte US's behavioral interview tips, paraphrased
What a strong answer does
Your own moves, how people came along and the outcome in numbers if you have them. Practice it, see a model answer
Give an example of a time you had to adapt to a significant change.
Deloitte US's behavioral interview tips, paraphrased
What a strong answer does
The change, your first reaction and what you did differently. Deloitte asks for a positive, forward-looking tone. Practice it, see a model answer
Your background and why Deloitte5 questions
Deloitte says interviews often start with "Tell me about yourself." Our wording.
Tell me about yourself.
What a strong answer does
A short pitch: your background, your strengths, your goals and what sets you apart, ending on why this role. Practice it, see a model answer
Why consulting?
What a strong answer does
Two reasons backed by things you have done, and what you want to learn in the job. Practice it, see a model answer
Why Deloitte, and why this practice?
What a strong answer does
Deloitte asks you to research its values, culture and recent projects. Name one and tie it to your own experience. Practice it, see a model answer
Walk me through this project on your resume.
What a strong answer does
Deloitte says to be ready to discuss any part of your resume in detail. Your role, the hardest moment and the result. Practice it, see a model answer
What questions do you have for us?
What a strong answer does
About the culture, a project or the team you'd join, as Deloitte suggests. Never one the website answers. Practice it, see a model answer
Case questions7 questions
Our own prompts, one for each part of Deloitte's five-step approach. For full cases, see our Deloitte case interview guide.
A hospital's emergency room wait times have doubled. What would you ask first?
What a strong answer does
Step 1, understand the issue. Ask what changed, since when and what the client counts as success, then stop asking. Practice it, see a model answer
A manufacturer's on-time delivery is falling. What are you assuming?
What a strong answer does
Step 2, the assumptions. Say them out loud, such as demand being flat, and how you would check each one. Practice it, see a model answer
A retailer needs to cut costs by 10%. Where would you look?
What a strong answer does
Step 3, the findings. Group the costs, find the biggest, and say what the numbers tell you in one line. Practice it, see a model answer
Should a regional bank invest to win back customer growth?
What a strong answer does
Step 4, the recommendation. Lead with yes or no, then the two reasons that carry it. Practice it, see a model answer
You have recommended the plan. What happens next?
What a strong answer does
Step 5, next steps and expected results. Who does what first, what it should change and how you would know. Practice it, see a model answer
Should a loss-making division be fixed, sold or closed?
What a strong answer does
All five steps in one case. Deloitte says to treat it as a business conversation with a client. Practice it, see a model answer
How many smartphones are sold in the US each year?
What a strong answer does
Show your work: Deloitte's recruiters say explaining your thought process sets you apart. Round numbers and a sanity check. Practice it, see a model answer
Mistakes and how to prepare
Where Deloitte candidates slip
Making up a story
Deloitte says your interviewer will know the difference, especially at the follow-up questions.
Hiding behind clarifying questions
Ask what you need, then move. Deloitte says it wants to see you connect the dots.
Chasing the right answer
Deloitte says it doesn't expect one. A Deloitte recruiter says it's about how you explain your thinking under pressure.
Using AI during the interview
Deloitte allows AI for research and practice questions, never for real-time help in an interview or assessment.
How to prepare for Deloitte's questions
Deloitte's own advice first. The last step is our suggestion.
Deloitte's advice
Do your homework
Its website, its latest news and the services it provides. Ask who you will meet and look them up.
Deloitte's advice
Craft stories in STAR
One each for leadership, communication, ambiguity and priorities, from any genuine experience.
Deloitte's advice
Work the Case Prep Tool
Free practice cases from Deloitte, 15 to 20 minutes each. It doesn't track your answers.
Our suggestion
Do mock interviews out loud
A Deloitte recruiter recommends them. A partner or an AI interviewer that asks follow-ups both work.
Rehearse Deloitte's questions, out loud
Soreno's AI interviewer asks behavioral questions and runs Deloitte-style cases one step at a time, follows up like a real interviewer and scores every answer.
Questions people ask
What questions are asked in a Deloitte consulting interview?
Behavioral questions in STAR form, such as a time you juggled a lot of responsibilities or had a conflict with a teammate, questions about your resume and why Deloitte, and for consulting roles a case.
How many rounds are in a Deloitte interview?
Deloitte US says to expect two to three rounds of interviews by telephone, video or in person, with a mix of behavioral, technical and case-based interviews depending on the role.
Does Deloitte publish its interview questions?
Deloitte US publishes six sample behavioral questions on its behavioral interview tips page and says what four of them test. It does not publish its case questions, but it offers free practice cases in its Case Prep Tool.
How should I answer a Deloitte case?
Deloitte's five steps: understand the issue, identify the assumptions, summarize the issues and findings, state your recommendation, then outline next steps and expected results.
How soon does Deloitte make an offer?
Deloitte US says that if you receive an offer, you will likely have it in writing within one week of your final interview.
Can I use AI in a Deloitte interview?
No, unless Deloitte explicitly says so. It allows AI to research the firm and generate practice questions, but not to give you answers or real-time help during an interview or assessment.