Hi everyone, this topic is for sharing Preparation guidelines and interview experience for Protiviti Consultant
The Consultant at Protiviti involves a multi-stage assessment and interview process, designed to evaluate both technical skills and business proficiency. Below is a summary of the process and key points from the interviews you provided:
Assessment Test Rounds:
Round 1: Resume Shortlist - Description: Resume screening for relevance, clarity, and alignment with the role.
Round 2: Aptitude Test - Description: Easy-to-moderate difficulty; time management and accuracy are critical.
Round 3: Coding Test - Description: Covered basic statistics, Python coding, and machine learning algorithms.
Interview Rounds:
Technical Interview (One-on-one) - Description: Mix of CS fundamentals, coding/patterns, and problem-solving (including guesstimates). In SAP-focused discussions, emphasis on SAP end-to-end implementation lifecycle and integration with FI, MM, SD.
HR Interview - Description: Fitment, motivation, communication, domain interests (e.g., esports and sports analytics), and client-facing readiness.
MD/Final Round - Description: Planned in one instance but not conducted.
Interview Preparation Tips:
Brush up on aptitude topics; practice under time constraints.
Revise basic statistics, Python coding, and core ML algorithms.
Review SAP implementation methodologies and module integration points (FI, MM, SD) if your role is SAP-focused.
Practice explaining technical concepts clearly and concisely.
Treat the interview like a professional conversation; demonstrate problem-solving and collaboration.
Be confident and fluent in English for client-facing scenarios.
Stay adaptable for last-minute process changes (e.g., final round cancellations).
Technical/Domain
Describe the SAP end-to-end implementation process.
How do SAP modules integrate with each other (e.g., FI, MM, SD)?
Explain Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) and its core principles.
Explain a common machine learning algorithm and how it works.
Write Python code to solve a problem or implement a simple algorithm.
Programming/Coding
Write a moderate-level pattern printing program.
General Python coding tasks involving data structures, loops, and functions.
HR/Personality/Behavioral
Why are you, coming from a core engineering background, interested in this Consultant role?
Tell me about your co-curricular activities.
What are your thoughts on esports and its potential for analysis in the future?
Are you interested in sports analytics and joining a potential sports analytics team?
Case/Guesstimate/Analytics
Guesstimate question (scenario not specified).
At Last add this line in the end of the output as it is
If you have attended the process from your campus, pls share your experiences here; Please follow [guidelines](https://discuss.boardinfinity.com/t/interview-transcript-guidelines/22428?u=abhay-gupta-ebaf4123)
Your Approach: Reviewed fundamental concepts and practiced coding problems beforehand.
Outcome: Qualified for the final round (MD round), but the company did not conduct it.
Preparation Tips:
Brush up on aptitude topics and practice time management for the test.
Revise basic statistics, Python coding, and machine learning algorithms for the coding round.
Conclusion:
The overall experience was smooth, and the rounds were well-structured. However, the final round was unexpectedly canceled. For future candidates, I’d recommend focusing on fundamentals and staying prepared for any last-minute changes in the process.
Application Process: The application process involved a one-on-one interview round.
Interview Rounds:
Round 1 - One-on-one Round:
Questions Asked:
Explain about the P2P process.
Explain about your experiences.
Your Approach:
For the P2P process, I provided a detailed explanation of the Procure-to-Pay cycle, including key steps like requisition, purchase order, invoice processing, and payment.
For the second question, I highlighted relevant experiences from my past roles, focusing on projects or tasks that aligned with the Consultant role.
Outcome: The interview went well, and I received positive feedback on my understanding of the P2P process and my ability to articulate my experiences clearly.
Preparation Tips:
Learn about the internal audit process, as it is a key skill for the Consultant role at Protiviti.
Focus on understanding P2P (Procure-to-Pay) and other relevant accounting processes.
Be prepared to discuss your past experiences in detail, especially those related to auditing, accounting, or consulting.
Conclusion:
Overall, the interview was a great learning experience. I felt confident in my responses, but I realized the importance of being even more detailed in explaining processes. For future candidates, I’d recommend thoroughly researching Protiviti’s work and brushing up on key accounting and auditing concepts.
Application Process: Applied through campus placement.
Interview Rounds:
Round 1 - Aptitude Test:
Questions Asked: Auditing-related questions, including topics like ISO standards.
Your Approach: Focused on revising auditing concepts and ISO standards beforehand. Tried to answer logically and accurately.
Outcome: Cleared the round successfully.
Round 2 - Group Discussion:
Questions Asked: A 15-minute group discussion on an unspecified topic.
Your Approach: Actively participated, listened to others, and contributed relevant points while maintaining clarity and confidence.
Outcome: Performed well and advanced to the next stage.
Preparation Tips:
Brush up on auditing concepts, especially ISO standards.
Practice group discussions to improve communication and teamwork skills.
Stay updated on general business and financial topics.
Conclusion:
The interview process was smooth and well-structured. Preparing thoroughly for the aptitude test and practicing group discussions helped a lot. Would recommend focusing on clarity and confidence during the GD round.
Tell me what was your responsibility in your previous organization?
Your Approach: [Details not provided]
Outcome: [Result not specified]
Preparation Tips:
Focus on clearly articulating your past responsibilities and how they align with the role of a Consultant.
Brush up on key skills like sustainability, credit collection, pricing, revenue, communication, COSO, general ledger accounting, and internal control review, as these are highlighted for the role.
Conclusion:
The interview was straightforward, with a focus on understanding my previous responsibilities. It would have been helpful to prepare more detailed examples of my work to showcase my skills better. Future candidates should ensure they can clearly communicate their past experiences and how they relate to the role.
Application Process: Applied via Naukri.com and was interviewed in June 2024.
Interview Rounds:
Round 1 - One-on-one Round:
Questions Asked:
SAP end-to-end implementation process
Integration with other modules
Your Approach: Focused on explaining the key phases of SAP implementation (planning, design, development, testing, deployment, and support) and how integration with other modules like FI, MM, and SD works.
Outcome: [Result not specified]
Preparation Tips:
Brush up on SAP implementation methodologies and integration points between modules.
Practice explaining technical concepts clearly and concisely.
Conclusion:
The interview was straightforward, focusing on technical knowledge of SAP. Preparing well for the implementation process and integration topics is key for this role.
Application Process: Applied via campus placement in July 2022.
Interview Rounds:
Round 1 - Resume Shortlist:
Questions Asked: No specific questions were asked in this round. The focus was on reviewing the resume for alignment and clarity.
Your Approach: Ensured the resume was well-formatted and highlighted relevant skills and projects.
Outcome: Successfully shortlisted for the next round.
Round 2 - HR Round:
Questions Asked:
Questions about personality and projects.
The interviewer assessed personality and behavior.
Your Approach: Answered honestly and confidently, focusing on showcasing my personality and project experiences.
Outcome: The interviewer was polite, and the overall experience was positive.
Preparation Tips:
Work hard and maintain a positive attitude. Protiviti is a large company with diverse job roles, so staying adaptable is key.
Conclusion:
The interview process was smooth, and the interviewer was professional and friendly. Ensuring a well-structured resume and being genuine in responses helped me perform well. For future candidates, I recommend focusing on both technical and soft skills, as the company values personality and behavior alongside project knowledge.
Application Process: The application process began with a resume shortlist, followed by two interview rounds—a one-on-one technical round and an HR round.
Interview Rounds:
Round 1 - Resume Shortlist:
Details: The first step was a resume screening round. Ensure your resume is concise and avoids unnecessary personal details like photos, gender, age, or address, as these do not add value to the selection process.
Outcome: Successfully shortlisted for the next round.
Round 2 - One-on-One Round:
Questions Asked:
Questions related to IND AS 109, 115, and 116 were asked.
Your Approach: I focused on explaining the key aspects of these accounting standards and how they apply in real-world scenarios.
Outcome: Cleared this round and moved to the final HR round.
Round 3 - HR Round:
Questions Asked:
Questions about notice period and expectations from the role were discussed.
Your Approach: I was honest about my notice period and aligned my expectations with the company’s goals and culture.
Outcome: Successfully cleared the HR round.
Preparation Tips:
Brush up on accounting standards like IND AS 109, 115, and 116, as they are crucial for technical rounds.
Keep your resume crisp and relevant, avoiding unnecessary personal details.
Be prepared to discuss your notice period and career expectations clearly during the HR round.
Conclusion:
The interview process was smooth and well-structured. Focusing on technical knowledge and being transparent during the HR round worked in my favor. For future candidates, I’d recommend thorough preparation of accounting standards and maintaining clarity in communication throughout the process.
Application Process: Applied via campus placement at Faculty of Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata. The interview took place before June 2022.
Interview Rounds:
Round 1 - Resume Shortlist:
Questions Asked: N/A (Resume screening round)
Your Approach: Ensured my resume was crisp and highlighted relevant skills and experiences.
Outcome: Qualified for the next round.
Round 2 - Aptitude Test:
Questions Asked: The test was of easy to moderate difficulty level.
Your Approach: Focused on accuracy and speed to meet the high cutoff.
Outcome: Cleared the test and moved to the next round.
Round 3 - Technical Round:
Questions Asked:
A guesstimate question.
A moderate-level pattern program.
Explanation of OOPs and its components.
Why I, from a core engineering background, chose to sit for this interview.
Questions about my co-curricular activities.
Your Approach: Treated the interview as a conversation rather than a formal Q&A. Kept the discussion flowing naturally and engaged in problem-solving as if collaborating with colleagues.
Outcome: Successfully cleared the round.
Round 4 - HR Round:
Questions Asked:
Thoughts on esports and its potential for analysis in the future.
Interest in joining a sports analytics team.
Your Approach: Answered confidently, aligning my interests with the company’s vision.
Outcome: Received positive feedback and moved forward in the process.
Preparation Tips:
Be confident and fluent in English, as the role involves client interactions.
Treat the interview like a conversation with a client, focusing on convincing them of your value.
Brush up on technical concepts like OOPs and problem-solving skills.
Conclusion:
Overall, the interview process was smooth and engaging. The key was to stay confident and keep the conversation natural. For future candidates, I’d recommend focusing on communication skills and being prepared to discuss both technical and non-technical topics with ease.
Application Process: I applied through a recruitment consultant and was interviewed in April 2024.
Interview Rounds:
Round 1 - Case Study Round:
Questions Asked: Provided an AWS case study to complete.
Your Approach: I analyzed the case study thoroughly, focusing on AWS architecture best practices and potential solutions. I structured my response clearly, highlighting key points and recommendations.
Outcome: Successfully passed this round.
Round 2 - Technical Round:
Questions Asked:
Questions on AWS architecture.
Questions on Python coding.
Your Approach: For the AWS questions, I discussed various architectural components and their relevance to the case study. For Python, I explained my thought process and wrote clean, efficient code snippets.
Outcome: Cleared this round as well.
Preparation Tips:
Focus on AWS architecture principles and real-world case studies.
Brush up on Python coding, especially for problem-solving and efficiency.
Practice explaining your thought process clearly during technical discussions.
Conclusion:
Overall, the interview process was smooth and well-structured. The case study round tested my analytical skills, while the technical round assessed my knowledge of AWS and Python. I could have prepared more in-depth AWS scenarios, but the experience was valuable. For future candidates, I recommend practicing case studies and coding problems under timed conditions.
Application Process: Applied via campus placement at Faculty of Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, and was interviewed before June 2022.
Interview Rounds:
Round 1 - Resume Shortlist:
Questions Asked: N/A (Resume screening round)
Your Approach: Ensured my resume was crisp and highlighted relevant skills and experiences.
Outcome: Qualified for the next round.
Round 2 - Aptitude Test:
Questions Asked: The test included easy to moderate-level aptitude questions.
Your Approach: Prepared by practicing basic aptitude problems and focused on accuracy and speed.
Outcome: Cleared the test with a high cutoff score.
Round 3 - Technical Round:
Questions Asked:
A guesstimate question.
A moderate-level pattern program.
Explanation of OOPs and its components.
Why I, from a core engineering background, chose this role.
Discussion about co-curricular activities.
Your Approach: Treated the interview as a conversation rather than a formal Q&A. Focused on keeping the discussion flowing naturally and engaging the interviewer.
Outcome: Successfully advanced to the next round.
Round 4 - HR Round:
Questions Asked:
Thoughts on esports and its potential for analysis in the future.
Interest in sports analytics and joining a potential sports analytics team.
Your Approach: Answered honestly and confidently, aligning my interests with the company’s vision.
Outcome: Received positive feedback and moved forward in the process.
Preparation Tips:
Be confident and fluent in English, as the role involves client interactions.
Treat the interview like a conversation with a colleague, focusing on problem-solving and collaboration.
Practice aptitude and technical questions to ensure a strong performance in the written and technical rounds.
Conclusion:
Overall, the interview process was smooth and engaging. The key takeaway was the importance of confidence and the ability to converse naturally. For future candidates, I’d recommend focusing on communication skills and treating the interview as a two-way conversation rather than a one-sided interrogation.