FAQs

General

What does Montlake do?

We are a student consulting organization that provides consulting services to nonprofits, startups, small businesses, and Fortune 500 companies. We work with our clients to solve their most difficult problems.

What makes Montlake unique?

We are the longest running student consulting organization in the University of Washington, and we pride ourselves in continuing to accept the best and most motivated students every year. We have a strong network of hundreds of alumni, many of which are in or have worked in the top consulting, finance, and technology firms.

Do I need to be a business major to join?

Of course not! While we once grew out of the Foster School of Business, we now have a very diversified mix of consultants. We have students from over 18 majors, including Business, Applied Math, English, Public Health, Aerospace Engineering and Computer Science. In fact, even consulting companies don’t prefer any specific degree in their applicants.

Clients

What do projects look like? What types of service do you offer?

Refer to projects to understand more about our projects.

Why should we pick Montlake?

We have a long history of performing high quality work. We put together dedicated teams of top student consultants, along with our alumni advisor and faculty experts to work hand in hand with you and solve your challenges. If you are not satisfied with our work, we will do our best to ensure satisfaction.

What types of businesses do you work with?

We work with all types of businesses, ranging from start-ups and small businesses to some of the largest Fortune 500 companies.

Recruitment

What is the recruiting process?

We hold recruiting once a year during the winter quarter. The application consists of a resume, cover letter, and transcript. If you are invited to interview, we will hold a 30-minute behavioral and case interview. Please refer to join us to understand more about our timeline.

Do I have to come to the workshops to apply?

Not at all! Workshops are not mandatory but we recommend attending the workshops if you are new to resumes and case interviews or would like to learn more about our organization.

I have no experience with writing cover letters or resumes, where can I get help?

The Foster School of Business has a great resume and cover letter guide on their website, as well as resume and cover letter templates. We want to see the impact you have made in your organizations, and what drives you to be a part of Montlake.

Can I apply as a freshman?

Yes! Montlake has applicants of all years and majors.

Can I be a part of other consulting organizations?

Yes. We do not prohibit our members from being part of other student consulting organizations. However, all resources and project work must be confidential and not shared between organizations.

Interviews

What will the interview process look like?

If you are invited to interview, there will be two rounds of interviews. Each round will be 40 minutes long, with one behavioral and one case interview.

What are case interviews?

Case interviews are problem-solving interviews used by consulting and other large companies. We recommend going to our case interview workshop to find out more. Otherwise, there are plenty of online resources to help you learn more.

How do I prepare for case interviews?

We recommend getting yourself familiarized with the case interview structure, and then practicing with friends or peers. The career websites of many consulting firms such as McKinsey, Bain, Boston Consulting Group, Deloitte, and Accenture have some great tips and practice cases!

What is a behavioral interview?

A behavioral interview is a standard interview used nearly everywhere, intended to learn more about you and your experiences. Many sample questions can be found online, but we recommend preparing a few stories that can showcase your personal impact and teamwork skills.

Membership

What benefits do I get from being a member?

Montlake is committed to supporting its members through continuous growth and development. We bring in professionals from top consulting firms like Bain, Deloitte, and Accenture Strategy to provide training and networking opportunities. Additionally, in our annual training, we have previously hosted a Partner at PwC and a Principal at Keystone Strategy. Members are able to receive real-world experience through our engagements, and work hand in hand with our clients and see the impact their work can make. Additionally, members have access to a close network of top students and alumni.

What is required of members?

Members are required to do at least one consulting engagement a year, as well as attend our training and quarterly all-club meetings.

How much work are engagements?

We expect members staffed on engagements to contribute 5-10 hours of work on average a week. This is a significant time commitment, which is why only one engagement per year is required.

Still have questions?
Email us at ask@montlakeconsulting.com