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The recruitment process

The recruitment process

What to expect

Learn more about the recruitment process for research analysts, experienced hires and associates in your region.

If you are currently studying at university or have recently graduated, our 8-week internships provide you with a comprehensive introduction to consulting. We do not have a graduate entry point – this is the sole path to a graduate role with us, and many of our Research Analysts are offered permanent positions following a successful internship with us. This route has also been followed by those who have begun their careers in different areas and want to try consulting.

 

What to expect

We use behaviour-based assessments as part of the process to really get to know our candidates. This will be reviewed during the 1st interview, which takes place via Teams with one of our Recruitment Team. We want to understand what motivates and interests you, and will discuss your background, skills and motivations for joining Q5. We’ll also tell you a little about us and the fantastic work we do. If successful, you will move on to the next stage.
The 2nd interview is with a senior member of our consulting team. This involves a more comprehensive conversation about what you can bring to Q5, and we’ll also tell you more about what Q5 has to offer. If successful, you will be made an offer. Please see the Life as a Q5er  section to find out more about our internships.

What we look for

Journey to Q5

Development Opportunities

Recruitment Journey

Screening 1

Initial screening will involve a review of your online application including your CV and cover letter.

Screening
Online Assessment 2

We use behaviour-based assessments to really get to know our candidates. This will be reviewed during the first interview.

Online Assessment
1st Interview 3

The first interview usually takes place via Teams with one of our Recruitment Team. We want to understand what motivates and interests you, and will discuss your background, skills and motivations for joining Q5.

1st Interview
2nd Interview 4

The second interview is with a senior member of our consulting team and involves a more comprehensive conversation about what you can bring to Q5, and we’ll also tell you more about what Q5 has to offer.

2nd Interview
Offer 5

If successful, you will be made an offer.

Offer

Q5ers come from many different backgrounds – we have former teachers, lawyers, pilots and civil servants as well as people who come to us from a more traditional consulting path. Diversity of perspective is something we look for during our hiring process – what we all share is a passion for what we do.

 

What to expect

We use behaviour-based assessments as part of the process to really get to know our candidates. This will be reviewed during the 1st interview, which usually takes place over the phone with one of our Recruitment Team. We want to understand what motivates and interests you, and will discuss your background, skills and motivations for joining Q5. We’ll also tell you a little about our firm and the fantastic work we do. If successful, we’ll move onto the next stage.

The 2nd interview is with a senior member of our consulting team. This involves a more comprehensive conversation about what you can bring to Q5, and we’ll also tell you more about what Q5 has to offer. If successful, you will be invited to the final stage which is an Assessment evening. This includes further face-to-face interviews and a group task.

What we look for

Journey to Q5

Life at Q5

Recruitment Journey

Screening 1

Initial screening will involve a review of your online application including your CV and cover letter.

Screening
Online assessment 2

We use behaviour-based assessments to really get to know our candidates. This will be reviewed during the first interview.

Online assessment
1st interview 3

The first interview usually takes place over the phone with one of our Recruitment Team. We want to understand what motivates and interests you, and will discuss your background, skills and motivations for joining Q5.

1st interview
2nd interview 4

The second interview is with a senior member of our consulting team and involves a more comprehensive conversation about what you can bring to Q5, and we’ll also tell you more about what Q5 has to offer.

2nd interview
Assessment evening 5

The final stage is an assessment evening which includes further face-to-face interviews and a group task.

Assessment evening
Offer 6

If successful, you will be made an offer.

Offer

We are always on the hunt for experienced Consultants or professionals with significant experience in a particular field who want to work on a project-by-project basis. Our extensive team of Associates come from a broad range of backgrounds and provide invaluable subject matter expertise.

 If you are currently studying at University or have recently graduated, our internships provide you with a comprehensive introduction to consulting. You’ll spend around six – eight weeks working on one or more of our projects, obtaining a thorough understanding of how Q5 works. Many of our Research Analysts are offered permanent positions following a successful internship with us, although this does of course depend on our needs at the time. 

What to expect

You’ll receive a phone call from a member of our Recruitment Team, following the outcome of this call you would be invited to an interview with a member of our Team to understand what motivates and interests you, and will discuss your background, skills and motivations for joining Q5. We’ll also tell you a little about our firm and the fantastic work we do. If successful, we’ll move onto the next stage.

You’ll then complete an online, gamified assessment which, if you’re successful, would be debriefed in a 2nd interview with a senior member of our consulting team. This involves a more comprehensive conversation about what you can bring to Q5, and we’ll also tell you more about what Q5 has to offer. If successful, you will be made an offer.

Recruitment Journey

Screening 1

Initial screening will involve a review of your online application as well as a 15 minute call with a member of the Recruitment team.

Screening
1st interview 2

Your first interview will be with a member of our consulting team to understand what motivates and interests you, and we will discuss your background, skills and motivations for joining Q5.

1st interview
Online assessment 3

You’ll then complete an online, gamified assessment which, if you’re successful, would be debriefed in a second interview with a senior member of our consulting team.

Online assessment
2nd interview 4

The second interview is with a senior member of the consulting team and involves a more comprehensive conversation about what you can bring to Q5, and we’ll also tell you more about what Q5 has to offer.

2nd interview
Offer 5

If successful, you will be made an offer.

Offer

Q5ers come from many different backgrounds – we have former teachers, lawyers, pilots and civil servants as well as people who come to us from a more traditional consulting path. Diversity of perspective is something we look for during our hiring process – what we all share is a passion for what we do.

What to expect

You’ll receive a phone call from a member of our Recruitment Team, following the outcome of this call you would be invited to an interview with a member of our Team to understand what motivates and interests you, and will discuss your background, skills and motivations for joining Q5. We’ll also tell you a little about our firm and the fantastic work we do. If successful, we’ll move onto the next stage.

You’ll then complete an online, gamified assessment which, if you’re successful, would be debriefed in a 2nd interview with a senior member of our consulting team. This would also include a case-study style task, where you’ll be provided some mock-client material that you will need to respond to. You would then move into a final round interview. If successful, you will be made an offer.

Recruitment Journey

Screening 1

Initial screening will involve a review of your online application as well as a 15 minute call with a member of the Recruitment team.

Screening
1st interview 2

Your first interview will be with a member of our consulting team to understand what motivates and interests you, and we will discuss your background, skills and motivations for joining Q5.

1st interview
Online assessment 3

You’ll then complete an online, gamified assessment which, if you’re successful, would be debriefed in a second interview with a senior member of our consulting team.

Online assessment
2nd interview 4

The second interview is with a senior member of our consulting team. This would also include a case-study style task, where you’ll be provided some mock-client material that you will need to respond to.

2nd interview
Final interview 5

The final round interview is with a senior member of our consulting team.

Final interview
Offer 6

If successful, you will be made an offer.

Offer

We are always on the hunt for experienced Consultants or professionals with significant experience in a particular field who want to work on a project-by-project basis. Our extensive team of Associates come from a broad range of backgrounds and provide invaluable subject matter expertise.

If you are currently studying at University or have recently graduated, our internships provide you with a comprehensive introduction to consulting. You’ll spend around eight weeks working on one or more of our projects, obtaining a thorough understanding of how Q5 works. Many of our Research Analysts are offered permanent positions following a successful internship with us, although this does of course depend on our needs at the time. This is the only path to a graduate role with us, and we therefore offer internships throughout the year.

What to expect

We use behavior-based assessments as part of the process to really get to know our candidates. This will be reviewed during the 1st interview, which usually takes place over the phone with one of our Recruitment Team. We want to understand what motivates and interests you, and will discuss your background, skills and motivations for joining Q5. We’ll also tell you a little about our firm and the fantastic work we do. If successful, we’ll move onto the next stage.

The 2nd interview is with a senior member of our consulting team. This involves a more comprehensive conversation about what you can bring to Q5, and we’ll also tell you more about what Q5 has to offer. If successful, you will be made an offer.

Recruitment Journey

Screening 1

Initial screening will involve a review of your online application including your CV and cover letter.

Screening
Online assessment 2

We use behavior-based assessments to really get to know our candidates. This will be reviewed during the first interview.

Online assessment
1st interview 3

The first interview usually takes place over the phone with one of our Recruitment Team. We want to understand what motivates and interests you, and will discuss your background, skills and motivations for joining Q5.

1st interview
2nd interview 4

The second interview is with a senior member of our US consulting team, either via video call or face-to-face, and involves a more comprehensive conversation about what you can bring to Q5, and we’ll also tell you more about what Q5 has to offer.

2nd interview
Offer 5

If successful, you will be made an offer.

Offer

Q5ers come from many different backgrounds – we have former teachers, lawyers, pilots and civil servants as well as people who come to us from a more traditional consulting path. Diversity of perspective is something we look for during our hiring process – what we all share is a passion for what we do.

What to expect

We use behavior-based assessments as part of the process to really get to know our candidates. This will be reviewed during the 1st interview, which usually takes place over the phone with one of our Recruitment Team. We want to understand what motivates and interests you, and will discuss your background, skills and motivations for joining Q5. We’ll also tell you a little about our firm and the fantastic work we do. If successful, we’ll move onto the next stage.

The 2nd interview is with a senior member of our consulting team. This involves a more comprehensive conversation about what you can bring to Q5, and we’ll also tell you more about what Q5 has to offer. If successful, you will be invited to the final stage which is a panel interview with senior members of Q5 and/or an assessment center*, which includes a combination of face-to-face and virtual interviews and a group task. 

*where possible candidates in the US will be offered to participate in an assessment center remotely

Recruitment Journey

Screening 1

Initial screening will involve a review of your online application including your CV and cover letter.

Screening
Online assessment 2

We use behavior-based assessments to really get to know our candidates. This will be reviewed during the first interview.

Online assessment
1st interview 3

The first interview usually takes place over the phone with one of our Recruitment Team. We want to understand what motivates and interests you, and will discuss your background, skills and motivations for joining Q5.

1st interview
2nd interview 4

The second interview is with a senior member of our US consulting team, either via video call or face-to-face, and involves a more comprehensive conversation about what you can bring to Q5, and we’ll also tell you more about what Q5 has to offer.

2nd interview
Panel interview and/or assessment center 5

The final stage is a panel interview with senior members of our team. This includes a combination of face-to-face and virtual interviews and a group task. ​

Panel interview and/or assessment center
Offer 6

If successful, you will be made an offer.

Offer

We are always on the hunt for experienced Consultants or professionals with significant experience in a particular field who want to work on a project-by-project basis. Our extensive team of Associates come from a broad range of backgrounds and provide invaluable subject matter expertise.

What do we look for in a Q5er?

Embark on a new chapter at Q5

Current
openings

We are always looking for brilliant, driven individuals to join the Q5 team across varying experience levels. If any of the below sound interesting, please apply to the appropriate position with your CV and a cover letter.

Do you have any questions?

See some of our frequently asked questions for Global early careers and experienced hires.