Bain & Company interview guide

How Bain & Company interviews: online assessments, behavioural interviews, case interviews for consulting roles and take-home assignments.

Updated 3 October 20261 source2 min read

FormatTailoredVaries by role

Case interviewConsulting rolesAll materials provided

Written task~3 daysTake-home, some roles

Online testBefore interviewsA screening assessment

Practice the Bain interview with TobyTalk through cases out loud and get a scored debrief. Your first 5 minutes are free.

Try it free

The interview process

Bain tailors interviews to the role. These are the formats it describes.¹

Online assessment
A screening test before interviews.
Behavioural interviews
A chat with future colleagues about your past experience.
Case interviewsConsulting roles
Show you can think logically and in a structured way. Bain provides all the materials, rewards precision and creativity, and says there isn't necessarily a right answer.
Written assignmentSome roles
A take-home challenge, usually with about three days to complete it.

Some roles ask you to walk through a portfolio or past work instead.¹

Curious problem-lovers. People who are intellectually curious and entrepreneurial, and find challenges exciting.
Analytical skills for some roles, and presentation and persuasion for others.
Real motivation. Why you want to join Bain specifically.¹

Based on what Bain says it looks for.

Why Bain, rather than another consulting firm?

Tell me about a challenge you took on because it excited you.

A gym chain's membership is growing but profits are flat. What's going on?

Be precise in cases. Use the materials you're given and check your maths.
Show creativity. There's often no single right answer, so explain your reasoning.
Have a specific answer to "Why Bain?" Bain says it wants to know.¹

No. Bain says you probably won't get a case interview unless you're applying for a consulting role.

They're take-home challenges, usually with about three days to complete.

Not necessarily. Bain rewards precision and creativity, and provides all the materials.¹

Spotted something out of date? Email hello@usetoby.ai.