Saw a post on a job board for a Manager, Business Consulting position. Went to the company website and applied directly which took 5 minutes. A few hours later received an email from HR and set up a phone screen. The phone screen was pretty basic (why are you interested in Sapient, what are you looking for in your next position, why leave your current position, salary requirements). After a successful talk with HR, had a one hour phone interview with a Manager and Senior Associate the following day. The interview started with a few behavioral questions ("Tell me about a time when you..."), then moved into a case. I was surprised to be doing a case as I wasn't told that it would be part of the phone interview. The case was really painless...it was more like an ideation session (i.e. "What could be the cause of 'x' business not doing well?") than a typical consulting case. After completing the case, I was asked to summarize my thoughts in a one page slide and send it to the interviewers (something else that caught me off guard). The next business day I received a call and was scheduled for an interview in their office later in the week. The first in-person interview was an hour long fit interview. It was pretty painless...less "Tell me about a time when..." and more questioning along the lines of getting to know my work style and who I was as a person. I was given plenty of time to ask questions. It was actually refreshing. Next, they placed me in a room with white boards for walls and gave me an hour to go over a case and prepare for a presentation to the "client". I felt like the hour was enough time to address the guiding questions they give you. The interviewer walked in and immediately began playing the character of the client. I had done this type of interview before, but this experience was the least positive. At times I felt like I was being attacked as I was constantly interrupted and asked to explain every single word I said. I have been consulting for years and have never had a client (even the most difficult ones) act anywhere near as hostile as the interviewer. I was also asked several questions about things that did not appear in the case...perhaps a check to see how I acted under pressure. The interviewer gave immediate feedback, asked a couple questions, then gave me time to ask questions. The next day I was told that I would be receiving an offer...not at the Manager level, but at the Senior Associate level.

I am currently interviewing with the company. I applied online, and was contacted by a recruiter in HR. After the phone screen where I provided an overview of my skills and job history. The recruiter briefly described the company, current initiatives, and compensation expectations. At the conclusion of the call, I was told that there was a 3 step interview approach. The first step being the phone screen, the second a phone interview, and the 3rd an in-person interview, all contingent upon the hiring manager deciding if you progress through the stages after reviewing the feedback received. I have completed the phone screen and phone interview and I am now confirmed for a 3 hour in person interview. The phone interview was a 45 minute long conversation, where I gave another manager an overview of my experience, then we did a case study, and then we left a few minutes for her to answer any questions that I had.