I applied through college or university. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at ZS Associates (Princeton, NJ) in Mar 2010
Interview
The first round interview was very typical of what I would expect for a consulting firm. There were two half-hour interviews, one behavioral and one case-based. The case interview was significantly less quantitative than I expected though. What I noticed most though was that the two interviewers were very friendly, supportive, and open. I figured ZS had sent their happiest people to recruit at my school. I was right.
The final round at one of their offices was a very different experience. I had four interviews, an individual presentation, and a lunch. Here, nearly everyone I met was open about their experiences at ZS, and none of what I heard was good. I was told that it was quite a grind, and everyone who talked about how ZS was very stingy compared to other firms when it came to expenses. The people I met there really seemed bored with their jobs, and weren't the most engaging I had met.
Three of the interviews I had were behavioral/fit, and one was a highly quantitative written case. This was very different from what I expected, as most firms prefer a back-and-forth discussion.
The best thing I can say about ZS's final round interview process is that the feedback was great. When I was called and told I didn't get the internship, the interviewer told me exactly what I had done well and what I had done poorly. Had I decided to apply again for a full-time position, this really would have helped me.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Tell me about a time when you had to face a decision between what was right and what would help you.
I applied through an employee referral. The process took 2 months. I interviewed at ZS Associates (Chicago, IL) in Jan 2025
Interview
Application online ( I had referral)
15 min call with recruiter (about a week after application)
1 interview in first round - structured case (took a very long time to schedule, recruiter does not do a good job organizing)
4 interviews in round 2 - PhD thesis presentation, behavioral, structured and unstructured case interviews. (Also took a while to schedule and got rescheduled not by me)
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Classic behavioral, structured and unstructured cases
I applied online. I interviewed at ZS Associates (Saint Paul, MN) in Mar 2022
Interview
The recruiting process consists of several stages designed to evaluate candidates' skills, experience, and fit for the company. The process begins with an initial screening of applications, followed by a series of interviews and interactions to assess the candidates further. The interviews include a combination of behavioral and case interviews, each lasting half an hour. Additionally, there is a 20-minute Q&A session, during which candidates have the opportunity to ask questions and gain more insight into the company, its culture, and the role they are applying for.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Can you tell me a little about yourself? Why are you interested in this position? What do you know about our company? What are your greatest strengths? What are your greatest weaknesses? Can you describe and how you handled a challenging situation you faced at work? How do you handle stress or pressure? What has been your most significant accomplishment in your career so far?
I applied through college or university. I interviewed at ZS Associates (South San Francisco, CA) in Jan 2017
Interview
2 Rounds of case interviews. First round 2 cases, one more behavioral, the other more quant focused. Second round at South SF Office. Three interviews, one behavioral, one case, and one panel case where you are given a packet of information, need to read through and then create a powerpoint to brief to 3 Consultants.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Tell me about a time when you faced a leadership challenge