Author: Taylor Warfield, Former Bain Manager and interviewer

Last Updated: July 8, 2026

 

 

The FTI Consulting interview consists of two main rounds that test your behavioral fit, case interview skills, and sometimes technical finance knowledge, with the format varying across FTI's five practice areas. This guide covers every stage of the process, 6 real case examples from past candidates, 10 common behavioral questions, verified 2026 salary data, and a structured prep plan.

 

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Key Takeaways

 

FTI Consulting interviews follow a two-round structure: a behavioral first round, then a super day of three to six back-to-back interviews mixing case, fit, and technical questions.

 

• Most entry-level applications require a preference form and a pre-recorded video interview before you speak to anyone live

 

• First round interviews run 30 to 60 minutes and focus almost entirely on behavioral and fit questions

 

• FTI case interviews are candidate-led, and Corporate Finance roles add technical accounting and valuation questions

 

• The average hiring process takes about 26 days, based on 2026 Glassdoor data from 940 candidates

 

• The segment you apply to shapes your interview more than anything else, so tailor your prep to it

 

What Changed in 2026?

 

This guide was refreshed in July 2026 with FTI's record full year 2025 financial results, updated Glassdoor interview and salary data, and new behavioral questions candidates reported in 2026 first rounds. The biggest process update is that most entry-level applications now require a preference form and a pre-recorded video interview within days of applying. Salary figures were rebuilt from Glassdoor and Levels.fyi data collected between March and June 2026.

 

What Is FTI Consulting?

 

FTI Consulting is a global business advisory firm that specializes in high-stakes situations like corporate restructurings, disputes, investigations, and crisis management. Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., FTI employs more than 8,100 professionals, including over 6,400 billable consultants, across 32 countries and territories.

 

Unlike generalist strategy firms such as McKinsey, BCG, and Bain, FTI is built on deep specialization. The firm advises 85 of the Fortune Global 100 corporations, 99 of the top 100 law firms, and 82 of the top 100 private equity firms, according to FTI's corporate website.

 

FTI reported record revenues of $3.789 billion in 2025, up 2.4% from $3.699 billion the prior year, according to the firm's February 2026 earnings release. Growth was driven by the Corporate Finance, Forensic and Litigation Consulting, and Strategic Communications segments.

 

What Are FTI Consulting's Five Practice Areas?

 

FTI Consulting operates across five specialized segments. This matters for your interview because you apply to a specific practice, not as a generalist. Each segment emphasizes different skills during the interview process.

 

• Corporate Finance and Restructuring: advises companies on restructuring, turnaround, bankruptcy, and transaction advisory. This is FTI's largest segment and also houses FTI Delta, the strategy practice the firm launched in 2023

 

• Forensic and Litigation Consulting: supports investigations, disputes, and regulatory matters. Consultants often work alongside legal teams on fraud, anti-corruption, and data breach cases

 

• Economic Consulting: provides expert testimony and economic analysis for antitrust, securities, and intellectual property disputes, largely through its Compass Lexecon subsidiary. This segment favors candidates with strong quantitative backgrounds

 

• Technology: helps organizations manage data through e-discovery, information governance, and cybersecurity consulting

 

• Strategic Communications: advises companies on reputation management, crisis communications, investor relations, and public affairs

 

In my experience coaching candidates, the segment you apply to significantly shapes your interview. Corporate Finance interviews include more technical finance questions, while Economic Consulting interviews lean toward quantitative analysis and structured case questions.

 

What Does the FTI Consulting Interview Process Look Like?

 

The FTI Consulting interview process typically includes an online application with a pre-recorded video interview, an optional online assessment, a first round focused on behavioral questions, and a final super day with three to six back-to-back interviews covering case, fit, and technical questions. The average process takes about 26 days from application to offer.

 

The exact steps vary by country, region, and hiring team, so always confirm the format with your recruiter. FTI's early careers page is the best starting point for role-specific timelines and openings.

 

What Happens When You Apply?

 

For entry-level consultant roles, FTI's 2026 job postings state that a preference form and a pre-recorded video interview must be completed for each application, with the preference form sent within 2 business days of applying. The preference form lets you select a market location and practice area within the segment you applied to.

 

The pre-recorded video typically asks 2 to 3 short behavioral questions, such as tell me about yourself and why FTI. You get limited prep time per question, so practice delivering tight 90-second answers on camera before you apply, not after.

 

Does FTI Use Online Assessments or HireVue?

 

Yes. Many entry-level and analyst roles include online assessments before the live interview rounds. These typically test numerical reasoning, verbal analysis, and logical thinking in a timed format lasting 20 to 30 minutes.

 

Some offices also use HireVue video screening in early rounds instead of a live phone call. You receive behavioral questions on screen, get 30 to 60 seconds to prepare, and have 2 to 3 minutes to record each answer. If your target role includes an assessment, run timed practice tests beforehand to build speed and confidence.

 

What Happens in the First Round?

 

The first round is typically one interview lasting 30 to 60 minutes, often with a senior consultant, director, or senior director. It focuses on behavioral and fit questions designed to evaluate your communication skills, motivation for joining FTI, and relevant past experiences.

 

Some practices add light technical questions here, especially in Corporate Finance and Restructuring. Based on 2026 Glassdoor data from 940 interviews, 62.1% of candidates describe their FTI interview experience as positive, with a difficulty rating of 2.82 out of 5.

 

What Happens in the Second Round (Super Day)?

 

The second round consists of three to six back-to-back interviews with senior directors and managing directors, often held on-site at an FTI office. This super day format is more focused on case and technical questions, but you will still face behavioral questions in nearly every session.

 

Second rounds often include a networking lunch or dinner with current FTI consultants. Treat these informal interactions as part of the evaluation. FTI recruiters consistently say that candidates who show genuine passion for FTI's specific work stand out.

 

Stage	First Round	Second Round (Super Day)
Format	1 interview (phone, video, or HireVue)	3 to 6 back-to-back interviews, usually on-site
Duration	30 to 60 minutes	Half day to full day
Focus	Behavioral and fit questions	Case interviews plus behavioral and technical questions
Question Types	Why FTI, resume walkthrough, STAR stories	Business cases, data interpretation, accounting and valuation questions
Networking	Rarely	Often includes lunch or dinner with consultants

 

How Do FTI Interviews Differ by Practice Area?

 

FTI interviews differ meaningfully by segment because you are hired directly into a practice, not into a generalist pool. The table below summarizes what each segment tends to emphasize, based on candidate reports and my experience coaching FTI applicants.

 

Practice Area	What the Interview Emphasizes
Corporate Finance and Restructuring	Accounting fundamentals, the three financial statements, valuation and restructuring concepts, Excel skills
Forensic and Litigation Consulting	Attention to detail, investigative reasoning, accounting basics, behavioral questions
Economic Consulting	Quantitative analysis, regression interpretation, economic reasoning, structured case questions
Technology	Data concepts, e-discovery and cybersecurity awareness, behavioral questions
Strategic Communications	Writing ability, current events awareness, communication-focused fit questions

 

Candidate reports show two useful nuances. Economic Consulting candidates should build fluency with the economic consulting case interview format, where interviewers often provide data sequentially and expect precise, logical answers rather than broad frameworks.

 

Business Transformation roles within Corporate Finance tend to give operational cases instead of classic strategy prompts. Expect themes like cost reduction, turnaround plans, post-merger integration, and performance improvement, where the interviewer cares as much about how you would implement the fix as what the fix is.

 

How Do You Solve an FTI Consulting Case Interview?

 

FTI Consulting case interviews are candidate-led. You are in the driver's seat, expected to ask the right questions, structure the problem, perform the analysis, and steer the overall direction of the case.

 

Having coached hundreds of candidates through consulting interviews, I can tell you that the candidate-led format is more demanding than interviewer-led cases at some other firms. You need to proactively decide which areas to explore rather than waiting for the interviewer to guide you.

 

Follow these four steps to solve any FTI Consulting case interview.

 

Step 1: Understand the Case

 

The case begins with the interviewer giving you the case background. While the interviewer is speaking, take meticulous notes on the most important pieces of information. Focus on understanding the context of the situation, the company, and the objective of the case.

 

Ask clarifying questions if you miss something. If you are not familiar with the industry, it is completely acceptable to ask how it works. Repeating key information back to the interviewer helps confirm your understanding.

 

Make sure to verify the objective of the case with the interviewer. Not addressing the right business question is the quickest way to fail a case interview.

 

Step 2: Structure the Problem

 

Develop a framework to break the business problem into smaller, more manageable components. The best case interview frameworks are tailored to the specific problem rather than memorized templates, which matters even more at FTI given how specialized its cases are.

 

It is completely acceptable to ask the interviewer for a moment of silence to collect your thoughts. Once you have identified the major areas to explore, walk the interviewer through your framework. They may ask questions or provide feedback.

 

Step 3: Solve the Problem

 

Once you have your framework, begin solving the case. You will likely need to answer a mix of quantitative and qualitative questions.

 

When solving quantitative problems, walk the interviewer through your approach before doing any mental math. Check whether the interviewer has additional data before making your own assumptions. Label your calculations clearly and write out all numbers so the interviewer can follow along.

 

When answering qualitative questions, structure your answer logically. For both types, go beyond just answering the question. Tie the implications of your answers back to the case objective to build your hypothesis for a recommendation.

 

If you want to master case interviews quickly, my case interview course walks you through proven strategies in as little as 7 days.

 

Step 4: Make a Recommendation

 

In the last step, deliver your case interview recommendation and the major reasons that support it. You do not need to recap everything you did in the case. Focus on summarizing only the facts that matter most.

 

Include potential next steps you would take if you had more time or data. These can be areas of your framework you did not explore or lingering questions you do not have great answers for.

 

What Are Real FTI Consulting Case Interview Examples?

 

Below are six FTI case interviews that were given to past candidates. After working through these, practicing with MBA consulting casebooks is the best way to build volume with realistic cases and full answer keys.

 

Example 1: Rice Cakes (Profitability)

 

Quaker is a large food manufacturer based in the United States. They produce breakfast cereals and other food and drink products. In the United States, Quaker is the market leader in rice cakes.

 

The CEO is looking to increase the profitability of their rice cake product line and is trying to decide whether to raise or lower the price of their rice cake products. What should Quaker do?

 

Example 2: Space Satellite (Strategic Decision)

 

Your client is SpaceX, a private American aerospace manufacturer and space transportation company. Your client currently owns a satellite that they acquired from a global telecommunications company a few years ago.

 

A large IT company is offering SpaceX $20 million to purchase the satellite. Should your client accept this offer?

 

Example 3: Hardware Stores (Competitive Response)

 

ACE Hardware is a hardware retailer chain that does over $5 billion in annual sales and has over 5,000 stores. Home Depot recently moved towards selling more hardware products, overlapping more with the types of products that ACE Hardware sells.

 

The CEO of ACE Hardware has hired you to determine what kind of threat Home Depot poses and how ACE Hardware should respond.

 

Example 4: Law Firm Salary (Compensation Analysis)

 

Your client is a prominent law firm based in New York City. They have over 3,000 attorneys in 30 offices worldwide, making it one of the largest law firms in the world.

 

Your client is well known for their high attorney compensation. They hire attorneys that have just graduated from law school and pay them a $190,000 base salary, which does not include performance bonuses. Does paying this high of a compensation make sense?

 

Example 5: Computer Chip Price Fixing (Damages Quantification)

 

A group of computer chip manufacturers are believed to have been abusing their power as market leaders in Europe by keeping prices artificially high. This group has been sued by their major customers.

 

The European Commission has ruled that these manufacturers must pay damages for overcharging. How would you quantify how much these manufacturers should be forced to pay?

 

Example 6: Aluminum Mining (Turnaround Strategy)

 

Your client is a global leader in aluminum mining and production. Although their unit costs are competitive, the client has seen declining profit margins each year for the past five years.

 

If this continues, they anticipate cash flow issues and will be unable to make payments to their suppliers. What would you advise the client to do to turn around the business?

 

Does FTI Ask Technical or Finance Questions?

 

Yes. Depending on the practice area, FTI asks more consulting technical interview questions than most strategy firms. This is especially true in Corporate Finance and Restructuring, where candidates report questions on financial statements, valuation basics, and accounting fundamentals.

 

Based on candidate reports from Glassdoor and Wall Street Oasis, common technical topics include:

 

• Walking through the three financial statements and explaining how they connect

 

• How $10 of depreciation flows through the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement

 

• What factors you would consider when valuing a distressed company

 

• The difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 bankruptcy

 

• What enterprise value is and how it differs from equity value

 

The good news is that the technical bar is closer to an entry-level finance interview than an investment banking superday. Candidates who paid attention in introductory accounting and finance courses describe these questions as very manageable.

 

If you are applying to Corporate Finance or Forensic and Litigation Consulting, review the three financial statements and common valuation methods. For Economic Consulting roles, expect more emphasis on econometrics and economic reasoning than finance-specific questions.

 

What Are the Most Common FTI Behavioral Interview Questions?

 

In addition to case interviews, you will face several behavioral or fit interview questions in both the first and second rounds. Here are the ten questions you should be prepared to answer.

 

Based on 2026 candidate reports on Wall Street Oasis, recent first rounds also asked how candidates use AI tools in their day-to-day work and how they have applied Excel or financial analysis in past roles. Prepare a concrete example for each.

 

1. Why FTI Consulting?

 

Have at least three reasons why FTI Consulting is the right firm for you. You could mention the people you have met from the company, FTI's deep expertise in the segment you are targeting, or its entrepreneurial culture and emphasis on early specialization. Generic answers about consulting in general fall flat here because FTI's work is so specific.

 

2. Why consulting?

 

Have three reasons why consulting is the right career for you. You could mention the fast career growth, the opportunity to develop analytical and communication skills, or the impact you can make by working with large companies on their most important challenges.

 

3. Walk me through your resume.

 

Your resume walkthrough should be a concise summary of your work experience, starting with the most recent. Emphasize your most impressive and unique accomplishments. At the end, tie your experiences to why consulting and why FTI specifically is a great fit for you.

 

4. What accomplishment are you most proud of?

 

Choose your most impressive, unique, or memorable accomplishment. Structure your answer using the STAR method: situation, task, actions, and results. Explain why the accomplishment is meaningful to you and what it reveals about your character.

 

5. Tell me about something that is not on your resume.

 

This is a great opportunity to highlight an accomplishment outside of your professional work. Perhaps you volunteer at a non-profit, work on a side project, or have a hobby you have won recognition for. Choose something impressive and interesting.

 

6. Tell me about a time when you had to lead a team.

 

If possible, choose a time when you directly managed a person or team. Use the STAR structure and focus on the specific leadership actions you took. Quantify the outcome if you can.

 

7. Describe a time when you faced conflict or disagreement.

 

Focus on the steps you took to resolve the conflict or disagreement. Highlight the interpersonal skills you used to mediate the situation. Interviewers want to know you can handle conflict constructively.

 

8. Give an example of a time when you successfully persuaded someone.

 

Choose a time when you changed the mind of someone who originally disagreed with you. Focus on the steps you took to persuade that person and the impact it had. Interviewers want to see that you are a strong communicator with solid people skills.

 

9. Tell me about a time when you failed.

 

Choose a time when you missed a deadline or fell short of expectations. Do not pick a failure that is too big or embarrassing. Focus on what you learned from the experience and how you used that lesson to deliver better results next time.

 

10. Do you have any questions for me?

 

Use this as an opportunity to get to know the interviewer on a personal level. Ask about their experience at FTI, their favorite project, or what they are looking to do next in their career. The more you get the interviewer talking about themselves, the more likely they will leave with a positive impression of you.

 

If you want to be fully prepared for 98% of fit interview questions in just a few hours, check out my fit interview course.

 

How Should You Prepare for an FTI Consulting Interview?

 

Preparing for an FTI Consulting interview requires a different approach than preparing for a generalist strategy firm. Because FTI hires into specific practice areas, you need to demonstrate knowledge of and enthusiasm for the segment you are applying to.

 

Here is the preparation checklist I recommend based on coaching hundreds of consulting candidates.

 

• Research your target segment: read FTI's site pages, recent engagements, and press releases for the specific practice you are applying to. Be ready to articulate why that segment interests you

 

• Practice candidate-led cases: FTI cases require you to drive the interview. Practice at least 10 to 15 full cases before your interview, focusing on proactively leading the discussion

 

• Prepare for technical questions: if you are applying to Corporate Finance, review the three financial statements, basic valuation methods, and restructuring concepts. For Economic Consulting, review econometrics and regression basics

 

• Prepare 4 to 5 STAR stories: build a bank of behavioral stories you can adapt to any question. Practice delivering each out loud in under 2 minutes

 

• Know FTI's values: FTI's stated values spell out I CARE: integrity, creativity, achievement, respect, and empathy. Weave these themes into your behavioral answers without reciting the acronym

 

• Practice online assessments: if your role includes numerical and verbal reasoning tests, do timed practice tests to build speed. Aim to finish with time to spare

 

The same checklist applies if you are targeting an FTI Consulting internship, though the technical bar for interns is slightly lower. Interviewers care more about trajectory and coachability at that level.

 

What Is the Best Prep Timeline?

 

If you have two to four weeks before your interview, spend the first week learning case interview strategies and building your structuring skills. Spend the second week practicing 5 to 8 cases independently.

 

In the third week, practice 5 to 10 cases with a partner and focus on getting feedback. Use the final days to rehearse your behavioral stories, drill technical questions if relevant, and research FTI's recent projects and news.

 

If you want to accelerate your prep, interview coaching can help you improve 5x faster than practicing on your own by identifying and correcting your specific weak spots.

 

What Salary Can You Expect at FTI Consulting?

 

FTI Consulting pay varies significantly by career level, practice area, and location. The table below shows total pay by level, based on Glassdoor data collected between March and June 2026.

 

Career Level	Total Pay (Glassdoor, 2026)
Intern	$55,000 to $99,000 annualized, about $73,000 average
Consultant	$95,000 to $171,000, about $127,000 average
Senior Consultant	$128,000 to $218,000, about $166,000 average
Director	About $196,000 median
Managing Director	About $259,000 median

 

Ranges reflect the 25th to 75th percentile of reported total pay, which includes base salary and bonus. Consultant-track total compensation on Levels.fyi as of April 2026 runs from about $97,000 at entry level to $370,000 at the most senior levels, with a median of $136,000.

 

Pay is highest in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, and Corporate Finance and Restructuring roles typically command more than other segments. FTI employees rate their compensation and benefits 3.7 out of 5 stars on Glassdoor.

 

The strongest candidates treat the FTI Consulting interview as a specialized process rather than a generic consulting interview. Pick your target segment first, then spend most of your prep time on the exact mix of case, technical, and behavioral questions that segment actually tests.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Is it hard to get hired at FTI Consulting?

 

Yes. FTI Consulting is a selective employer, and only a small fraction of applicants receive offers. Based on 2026 Glassdoor data from 940 interviews, 62.1% of candidates describe their experience as positive, with a difficulty rating of 2.82 out of 5. Thorough preparation for both case and behavioral interviews dramatically improves your chances.

 

How long does the FTI Consulting hiring process take?

 

The average hiring process at FTI Consulting takes about 26 days from application to offer, according to 2026 Glassdoor data from 940 candidate submissions. Some roles take much longer, with graduate consultant positions averaging the slowest timelines. Campus hiring for summer start dates often wraps up the prior fall.

 

What GPA do you need for FTI Consulting?

 

FTI Consulting generally looks for a GPA of 3.5 or higher. However, strong interview performance, relevant coursework, and internship experience can offset a slightly lower GPA. Emphasize your most impressive accomplishments and prepare thoroughly for the interview.

 

What makes FTI Consulting different from MBB firms?

 

FTI Consulting specializes in high-stakes situations like corporate restructuring, litigation support, forensic investigations, and economic disputes. Unlike MBB firms that focus on general management strategy, FTI consultants build deep technical expertise in a specific practice area from day one. The interviews reflect this, with more technical finance and accounting questions than you would face at a generalist strategy firm.

 

Does FTI Consulting use HireVue or video interviews?

 

Yes. Most entry-level FTI applications now require a pre-recorded video interview, which is sent within about 2 business days of applying, according to FTI's 2026 job postings. You typically answer 2 to 3 short behavioral questions on camera, such as tell me about yourself and why FTI. Treat it like a live interview: dress professionally, look at the camera, and keep answers under 2 minutes.

 

Does FTI Consulting sponsor MBAs?

 

In some cases, FTI Consulting offers MBA sponsorship for high-performing employees. Sponsorship is typically tied to career advancement and strong performance reviews. Check with your recruiter or HR contact for the latest policy details.

 

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