The work
High-stakes decisions, fast.
- L.E.K.'s words
- An independent global strategy consultancy
- Volume
- 2,000+ cases a year
Why L.E.K.? how to answer it
L.E.K.'s Apply page says one goal of its interviews is to gain insight into your interest in consulting generally and a career with L.E.K. specifically, so be ready for why L.E.K. A strong answer starts with the work you want, ties it to one thing L.E.K. says about itself, such as its focus on high-stakes strategy decisions or one of its five values, and proves it with a real conversation. To try it out loud first, Soreno, an AI voice interview practice app for consulting and finance candidates, has a free why this firm question page showing what a strong answer includes, with no sign-up.
Updated
- What L.E.K. wants to learn
- Why consulting, and why L.E.K.
- One of five interview goals on its Apply page
- Its work
- Strategy, not implementing processes
- From its professional development page
- Five values
- Excellence, Enablement, Collaboration, Empowerment, Drive
- From About L.E.K.
- Interview types
- Experiential and case
- Varies by region and level, L.E.K. says
What does L.E.K. say about itself?
L.E.K.'s interview tips ask you to know what kind of work it does and to read the case studies on its website. These are the lines from its own pages that give a why L.E.K. answer something specific to stand on.
The people
Developing others as you develop yourself.
- Mentor
- A mentor from the day you join
- Culture
- Collaborative and nonhierarchical
L.E.K.'s purpose and five valuesFrom About L.E.K.
Purpose
Three lines
Accelerate exceptional growth in its people, relentlessly focus on clients' toughest problems with clarity and conviction, and empower people and clients to shape a better world.
Excellence
The highest standards
Positive impact for all stakeholders, outstanding client service and the highest standards of quality and integrity.
Enablement
Unlocking success
Unlocking success for clients and speeding up personal and professional development in its people.
Collaboration
Someone has your back
Closely connected, supportive teams that succeed together, where someone always has your back.
Empowerment
Everyone has a voice
Inclusive and respectful, a team-oriented culture where everyone can have a voice and realize their potential.
Drive
The extra mile
Going the extra mile, being resourceful in how it innovates, and being agile and resilient on tough challenges.
What L.E.K. says about its work and its peopleFrom lek.com
Decisions
The next chapter of a business
About L.E.K. says clients call when they face a decision that will shape the next chapter: a growth bet, an investment, an operational pivot or a portfolio move. Its examples include a biopharma company weighing a late-stage asset and a private equity firm pressure-testing an investment thesis.
Strategy
Not implementing processes
Its professional development page says its cases involve advice on clients' toughest, highest value issues, and that its focus is on solving tough issues rather than implementing processes.
Size
From one London office
L.E.K. says it grew over more than 40 years from a single office in London to 27 locations, and lists 2,300+ employees and 200+ partners.
Mentoring
Career Development Coach
New joiners are paired with a mentor through the Career Development Coach program. Its apprenticeship approach lets everyone coach and mentor up and down.
Office life
Working mostly from the office
The Life at L.E.K. page on its Japan site, in English, says the nature of its cases lets people work primarily from its offices, and calls the culture highly collaborative and nonhierarchical.
Training
Learning on the job
L.E.K. says training starts on day one and that the most important training is gained on the job, across a wide range of industries and teams.
Worked example: a full answer, then a thin one (ours)4 parts and a contrast
A made-up candidate: a senior who interned at a small medical device startup and wants strategy work. We made all of it up. Swap in your own story.
What you want
The decision, not the deck
"At my internship, the founders had to decide whether to enter Europe or raise more money first. I helped size both options, and I loved that the analysis decided something real."
One L.E.K. idea
High-stakes decisions
"L.E.K. describes its work as the decision that shapes the next chapter of a business, like a growth bet or an investment. That's exactly the moment I want to work on."
Proof
What you heard
"When I talked with an L.E.K. associate after your info session, she said she'd worked on a life sciences case and a private equity diligence in her first year. Seeing that range so early is why I applied."
What you bring
A value, with evidence
"L.E.K. lists Drive as being resourceful. When we had no market data, I called 30 clinics in a week to build our own estimate."
The thin version
Why it doesn't land
"L.E.K. is a prestigious firm with smart people and a strong reputation in strategy." Nothing in it is about you, and nothing in it is only true of L.E.K.
From L.E.K.: about, L.E.K.: professional development, L.E.K.: careers and L.E.K.: life at L.E.K. (Japan site).
What L.E.K. interviewers look for in why L.E.K.
L.E.K.'s Apply page lists its interview goals, including understanding your strengths and gaining insight into your interest in consulting and in L.E.K. specifically. In our practice sessions, the answers that work cover these four points.
Why L.E.K., separate from why consulting
L.E.K. names both, generally and specifically. Have a reason for each, and don't let one stand in for the other.
You know what L.E.K. does
Its preparation page tells you to know what kind of work it does and to review the case studies on its site. Mention one.
Your own personality
An L.E.K. associate, writing on its careers blog in September 2023, advised candidates to show their personality and what they can add to the team.
Energy you can prove
L.E.K. says it wants people with the energy and motivation to exceed the expectations of colleagues and clients. Show one time you did.
From L.E.K.: apply, L.E.K.: interview preparation and L.E.K. careers blog, September 14, 2023.
Four parts of a why L.E.K. answer
Our structure, about a minute out loud. Take the facts from L.E.K.'s own site, which its interview tips point you to.
Part 1
The work you want
A decision or problem you've worked on, and what you liked about it.
Part 2
One thing only L.E.K. says
High-stakes decisions, strategy over implementation, the Career Development Coach, or one of the five values.
Part 3
Proof from a person or a case
An associate you spoke to, or a case study on L.E.K.'s site, which its tips ask you to review. In an August 31, 2021 post on L.E.K.'s careers blog, an associate wrote that you get a sense of a firm's people when you speak with those who work there.
Part 4
Your strength
L.E.K. says it wants to understand your strengths and the skills you'd bring. Close on one.
From L.E.K.: apply.
12 follow-ups to why L.E.K.
Questions Soreno wrote to test a why L.E.K. answer. The note under each is the reply we'd want.
Why L.E.K. in particular
L.E.K. says it wants to hear this specifically.
Why L.E.K. rather than a larger firm?
One thing L.E.K. says about its work or people that you want, said without running others down. Practice it, see a model answer
Which of our sectors interests you most?
One sector with a reason from your past, and openness to others.
Our work centers on the decision more than the rollout. Is that what you want?
Yes, with a reason: you enjoy the decision itself, shown by an example.
Which of our case studies did you read?
One, summarized in a sentence, with what you found interesting.
The experiential interview
L.E.K. says its rounds mix experiential and case interviews. We read experiential as the questions about your background.
Why consulting?
The general reason, kept apart from why L.E.K. Practice it, see a model answer
Walk me through your resume.
Each step and its reason, ending on why you're applying now. Practice it, see a model answer
What are your greatest strengths?
Two at most, each with proof, linked to the work L.E.K. does. Practice it, see a model answer
A story for each value
One short story per value on About L.E.K.
Tell me about a time you went above and beyond.
Excellence. The standard you held and the result it got. Practice it, see a model answer
Tell me about a time you helped someone else grow.
Enablement. What you taught, how and what they did next.
Tell me about a conflict you had with a teammate.
Collaboration. How you resolved it and kept the team working. Practice it, see a model answer
Tell me about a time you made sure a quiet voice was heard.
Empowerment. What you noticed, what you did and what changed.
Tell me about a time you achieved something difficult.
Drive. The obstacle, how you found a way around it and the result. Practice it, see a model answer
Mistakes in why L.E.K. answers
Patterns we see when candidates practice this one.
Answering why consulting instead
L.E.K. asks about both. If your answer works for any consulting firm, it's the first question, not this one.
Wanting to implement
L.E.K. says its focus is solving tough issues rather than implementing processes, though its About page adds that it helps clients translate decisions into action. Lead with the decision, not the rollout.
Only lifestyle
Working mostly from the office may matter to you, but on its own it says nothing about the work. Lead with the work.
A sector you can't explain
Naming life sciences or private equity invites a follow-up. Have one true reason.
Running long
About a minute is plenty. Let the interviewer ask for the rest.
Practice why L.E.K. out loud
Soreno's AI interviewer asks why L.E.K. and the follow-ups by voice, pushes on reasons that could fit any firm and scores what you said. Start your free week.
Questions people ask
How do I answer why L.E.K.?
Start with the work you want, name one thing L.E.K. says about itself, back it with a person you spoke to or a case study you read, and close on a strength. About a minute.
Does L.E.K. ask why L.E.K.?
Its Apply page says one goal of the interviews is to gain insight into your interest in management consulting generally and a career with L.E.K. specifically.
What are L.E.K.'s values?
About L.E.K. lists five: Excellence, Enablement, Collaboration, Empowerment and Drive.
What is an experiential interview at L.E.K.?
L.E.K.'s Apply page says its rounds mix experiential and case interviews, and that interviews include questions about your professional background. In our reading, experiential means those background questions.
Is L.E.K. strategy or implementation?
Its professional development page says its cases involve advice on clients' toughest, highest value issues and that its focus is on solving tough issues rather than implementing processes.
How big is L.E.K.?
About L.E.K. lists 27 global offices, 16 countries, 2,300+ employees, 200+ partners and 2,000+ cases a year.
Can I apply to more than one L.E.K. office?
L.E.K.'s Apply page says candidates can apply to only one of its global offices per year.
What is L.E.K. known for?
About L.E.K. calls it an independent global strategy consultancy. Its examples include a biopharma company evaluating a late-stage asset and a private equity firm pressure-testing an investment thesis. Pick a sector you can explain.