Question 1

Your client is a retail chain whose profits have declined by 20% over the past year. How would you diagnose the problem?

Accepted Answer

I'd structure this as a Profitability Framework: Profit = Revenue - Costs. Revenue Side: Revenue = Price × Volume. Has pricing changed? Has volume (footfall or transactions) declined? Which product categories or store locations are most affected? Any seasonality? New competitors? Cost Side: Fixed costs (rent, salaries, IT) vs Variable costs (inventory, logistics, utilities). Has any cost category spiked? Are there operational inefficiencies? I'd start by asking: "Has the decline been gradual or sudden?" and "Is it across all stores or specific locations?" Then drill deeper. If revenue is constant but costs increased — investigate supply chain, rent renegotiations, or new investments. If revenue declined — analyze market share, customer surveys, and competitive landscape.

Question 2

Estimate the market size for electric vehicles in India.

Accepted Answer

Top-down approach: India's total passenger vehicle market is ~3.5-4 million units/year. Current EV penetration is ~2-3% ≈ 80,000-100,000 units. Growth drivers: Government subsidies (FAME II), increasing charging infrastructure, rising fuel prices, improving range. Bottom-up: ~300 million households → ~80 million car-owning households. Annual replacement rate ~5% + new buyers ~3% = ~6.4 million potential buyers. Willingness to consider EV: ~20% = ~1.3 million. Can afford EV (₹10L+): ~60% = ~780K. Actually buy this year: ~15% = ~117K. Projection: At 30-40% CAGR, India EV market could be 500K-700K units by 2028, with a market value of ₹50,000-70,000 crore.

Question 3

Why consulting?

Accepted Answer

"Three reasons: First, I'm drawn to the variety of problems — consulting exposes you to different industries, functions, and challenges that no single company role can match. Second, the learning curve is steep and fast — I'll work with brilliant people and develop structured problem-solving skills that are valuable throughout my career. Third, the impact — consulting lets you drive strategic decisions for major organizations from early in your career. Specifically, [Company Name]'s work in [specific practice area] aligns with my interest in [relevant area], and your emphasis on [company's unique value, e.g., data-driven solutions / social impact] resonates with my experience in [specific skill]."

Question 4

Tell me about a time you led a team through a difficult situation.

Accepted Answer

Use the STAR framework with emphasis on leadership behaviors: "During my final year project at [college/company], our team of 5 was building a predictive analytics tool. Two weeks before the deadline, our data source API was deprecated. As the team lead, I immediately organized an emergency meeting, identified 3 alternative data sources, divided research among members, and set a 48-hour decision deadline. I kept the team motivated by reframing it as an opportunity to make our solution more robust. We pivoted to a better API, restructured our data pipeline, and delivered on time. The professor said our adaptation was one of the most impressive aspects of the project."

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