FTI Consulting interview, process and questions
FTI Consulting's student process usually starts with a pre-recorded video interview and online assessments of skills such as numerical and written ability. Interviews may then include a technical interview, a behavioral interview on its values, a case study and a group exercise. It varies by country and hiring team, and US graduates are hired into a specific practice. Warm up for the numerical test with our free case math drills first. They are timed and need no sign-up.
Updated
- Step one is a video. FTI says it assesses your communication skills and motivation.
- Online tests follow. Online assessments of skills for the role, such as numerical and written ability.
- Interviews may include four formats. Technical, behavioral, a case study and a group exercise, depending on the role.
- In the US, you're hired to a practice. So know which one you want and why before the video.
- I CARE: Integrity, Creativity, Achievement, Respect and Empathy, FTI's values. Its behavioral interview asks how your past experiences align with them.
Prepare for the work, by service area
FTI's site lists its service areas, from Turnaround & Restructuring to Strategic Communications. These are FTI's services menu, not a list of the practices you can join, so match them to your job description. The case ideas in each row are our own, not FTI's.
Service areas and what to prepare6 areas
Turnaround & Restructuring
Cash, debt and survival
Be ready to explain how a profitable company runs out of cash, what a 13-week cash flow shows and why a company would restructure out of court.
Profitable but out of cashTransactions, Valuation & Damages
Valuation and deal math
The three ways to value a company, and how you would estimate lost profits from a broken contract.
How would you value a company?Investigations, Digital Forensics
Numbers that don't add up
How you would trace a gap between what the books say and what happened, and how you keep evidence and findings clean.
When the numbers didn't matchAntitrust, Policy & Regulation
Markets and competition
What happens to prices when two competitors merge, and how you would define the market they compete in.
Two regional airlines mergingStrategy, Business Transformation
A classic business case
Profitability, growth and cost cases, the same as a strategy firm's.
Profitability case practiceStrategic Communications
Messages under pressure
How you would advise a company in a crisis on what to say, to whom and when.
What FTI says it looks for
From FTI's early careers page and its values. Its interview tips map onto each round.
Communication and motivation
The recorded video assesses both. Know why you want FTI and say it clearly.
Your thinking process
On problem-solving questions, FTI asks you to talk through your thinking. It wants to see how you approach challenges and make decisions.
Thought over speed
FTI says it is fine to take a moment before answering, and that thoughtful answers are often better than quick ones.
Collaboration
In the group exercise, support teammates, form your view early, share it and listen to others.
The I CARE values
Integrity, Creativity, Achievement, Respect and Empathy. FTI calls integrity the foundation the other values stand on.
From FTI: early careers and FTI: life at FTI.
How FTI interviews students
FTI says the process may vary by country, region or hiring team. If you move forward, a recruiter walks you through your next steps.
The general outline FTI gives
Apply
To a practice
Use the Early Talent filter on FTI's careers site and read each practice's job description to find your fit. In the US, entry-level consultants are hired to a specific practice.
Step 1
Pre-recorded video interview
You record answers to questions that assess your communication skills and motivation.
Step 2
Online assessments
Tests of skills for the role, such as numerical and written ability. FTI suggests warming up with mental math or writing, keeping an eye on time and taking practice tests.
Step 3
Interviews, virtual or in person
They may include a technical interview on skills for the role, a behavioral interview on past experiences and FTI's values, a case study with a model or real-world problem, and a group exercise on teamwork and communication.
FTI does not publish its video questions, the number of rounds, its case format or a timeline.
16 FTI Consulting interview questions
Our own wording. FTI does not publish its questions. Each note says what a strong answer does.
Recorded video4 questions
FTI says the video assesses communication and motivation.
Why FTI Consulting?
What a strong answer does
What FTI does that others don't, such as its work for companies facing crisis and transformation, and someone you met or a case you read. Practice it, see a model answer
Why this practice?
What a strong answer does
What its consultants do day to day, from the job description, and the class, job or story that pulled you to it.
Walk me through your background.
What a strong answer does
Ninety seconds that land on why FTI and this practice now. Practice it, see a model answer
What motivates you?
What a strong answer does
One real driver with an example, tied to the kind of work the practice does.
Behavioral: I CARE5 questions
One story for each value covers most behavioral questions.
Tell me about a time you faced an ethical dilemma.
What a strong answer does
FTI calls integrity the foundation of its values. Say what was at stake, what you did and what it cost you. Practice it, see a model answer
Tell me about a time you solved a problem in a new way.
What a strong answer does
This is the creativity value. Start with the usual approach, why it fell short, then what you tried instead. Practice it, see a model answer
Tell me about something difficult you achieved.
What a strong answer does
A goal, the obstacle, your own part and a result with a number covers achievement. Practice it, see a model answer
Tell me about a time you worked with someone who saw things differently.
What a strong answer does
Respect shows in what you learned from their view and how the result improved because of it. Practice it, see a model answer
Tell me about a time you helped someone under stress.
What a strong answer does
FTI's About page calls it the firm for organizations facing crisis. For empathy, show you noticed, listened and still got the work done.
Case and technical7 questions
FTI asks you to talk through your thinking. Expect questions tied to your practice.
A profitable company is running out of cash. How can that happen?
What a strong answer does
Working capital, capex and debt payments. Walk from profit to cash with one example. Practice it, see a model answer
What are the signs a company is in financial distress?
What a strong answer does
Falling liquidity, covenant trouble, stretched suppliers and a debt wall. Say which you would check first. Practice it, see a model answer
Why would a company try an out-of-court restructuring first?
What a strong answer does
Cost, speed and control against the leverage a court process gives. Name when it fails. Practice it, see a model answer
Two competitors want to merge. What happens to prices?
What a strong answer does
Market shares, how close the products are and whether new rivals could enter. Then the likely effect on customers. Practice it, see a model answer
A grocery chain's profits are down 20%. Why?
What a strong answer does
Revenue and costs, then the driver behind each. A clean structure before any numbers. Practice it, see a model answer
The numbers in a report don't match what the team told you. What do you do?
What a strong answer does
Check your own work, find where the two split, ask without accusing and write down what you found. Practice it, see a model answer
A competitor cut prices by 20%. How should our client respond?
What a strong answer does
Why they cut, what it costs them, who switches and the client's options with their numbers. Practice it, see a model answer
More to prepare with
Mistakes that cost FTI candidates
Not knowing your practice
You are hired into one. A general answer about consulting won't carry the why-FTI question.
Silent math
FTI asks you to talk through your thinking on problem-solving questions. Say each step out loud.
Running the group exercise alone
FTI says the group exercise is about how well you work with others. Build on teammates' ideas.
Answering a text or chat interview
FTI warns its process never involves interviewing by text or web chat, and it only writes from fticonsulting.com addresses.
How to prepare for FTI
Before you apply
Choose a practice
Read the job descriptions and pick the practice that fits your studies and interests.
Before the video
Rehearse why FTI and why this practice
Record yourself and trim each answer to about 90 seconds.
Before the tests
Warm up your math
FTI suggests mental math practice and practice tests before a numerical reasoning test.
Before interviews
Five stories and one case a day
A story for each I CARE value, and a case or technical question from your practice out loud each day.
Practice out loud, with follow-ups
Soreno's AI interviewer runs a case or a behavioral question out loud, follows up like a real interviewer and scores your answer. Free for 7 days.
Questions people ask
Does FTI Consulting do case interviews?
Its early careers page says interviews may include a case study, which presents a model or real-world problem to solve. Whether you get one depends on the role, country and hiring team.
What is the FTI video interview like?
A pre-recorded video interview where you record answers to questions that assess your communication skills and motivation. FTI does not publish the questions or the timing.
How long does the FTI interview process take?
FTI does not publish a timeline. A recruiter contacts you if you move forward and guides you through the next steps.
What is the FTI internship?
In the US, FTI's undergraduate internship typically runs 8 to 10 weeks and starts with an orientation. IMPACT, for rising juniors, can lead to an invitation to interview for the next year's summer internship.
How many levels are there at FTI?
FTI says most consulting positions have six levels of career progression.
How much does FTI Consulting pay entry-level consultants?
FTI's early careers page does not give pay. Check the job posting for your location.
Is Soreno affiliated with FTI Consulting?
No. Soreno is an independent practice tool, not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by FTI Consulting. The questions and practice notes are Soreno's own.