Notes

Sure, so glad you have a list of questions! I’ll give you all the insight I have.

So, regarding the first and third question about standing out, I truthfully am not sure. I will say that I have prioritized work experience over clubs/organizations while on campus, but I can’t concretely say that it helped me stand out or anything. I was sure to quantify my resume everywhere possible and used the standard “action verb” tips and templates that you can find in any business organization. I was given a virtual one-way interview alongside the initial application, and I spent a good 45 minutes to an hour retaking my video interview just to make sure that my speech was genuine, story was cohesive and laid out, I was looking into the camera, etc (just taking the time to appear my absolute best); but who knows if that helped!

That’s really why the best thing that I think you can do is just ask their Talent Acq team yourself and see what they’ll be looking for. [email protected] is a monitored inbox with like the whole team in all off the TX offices (but you’re welcome to express an office preference should you have one), and if you just ask to meet, they’ll be more than happy to. Definitely ask any questions you have, about what to do on campus, and literally anything they want to help. Worked for me, at least! Got so much guidance out of my call (which is probably not too transferable to you since they went really to me as an individual and a freshman recruiting for their freshman program), and I’m sure you can learn a lot from them. Also, be sure to ask them to connect you to a current associate/consultant.

(Jess, [email protected], is responsible for UT recruitment but I’d say reach out to the general southwest inbox first since there are multiple people seeing that who can get back to you, not just her).

Now the interview is the fun part! As someone with a minimal business background or involvement, it became clear to me that outside of being able to go through a short case (not to discount its significance in the interview), they are just looking for a composed and conversational person. My interviews spanned the topics of travel, San Francisco, women’s basketball, car insurance, exotic pens, and more. These interviews, at least to the partners conducting them, are breaks from their work; make sure that they feel like it’s a break by not being all-business, and show some fun/excitement/youth.

I was also sure to make my “office fit story” a lot more Southwest-y. Fun fact, the TX offices annually host a sports tournament with volleyball, basketball, and soccer. I sure brought that up. Little things like that, are things you can pick up by just asking the Talent Acq team “what makes xxx office unique” and absolutely turn you from a basic sharp candidate to someone who really will fit into our office.

Regarding prep, one-on-one casing was all I really went for, and BCG provides online resources for candidates that are scheduled for an interview; I was sure to watch every single webinar there, and while I can’t say any of those webinars helped directly, they may have just made me feel more confident and surer; who knows.

Well, I kind of got off track, but the bottom line is definitely appear excited/fun in that interview, and be sure to reach out to the Talent Acq team. Not every office is looking for the same thing, and honestly, that team is the only one that can give you real and concrete information about what they’re looking for!