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All about the Kearney Recruitment Process

If you want to get a job at Kearney, you might ask yourself how the Kearney recruitment process works.

In this in-depth guide you’ll learn:

• How to write a resume and cover letter that pass the Kearney screening phase
• How to pass the Kearney recruitment test
• How to stand out during Kearney fit interviews
• How to ace the Kearney case interviews
• And lots more

So, if you want to go through the rigorous and challenging Kearney hiring process successfully, this guide is for you.

Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

An overview of the kearney recruitment process.

From the time you apply until you accept the job offer, you will have to progress through a series of steps in the Kearney recruitment process.

Most of the time, this process takes between two and three months, with often 14 days between steps on average.

Check this article to learn more about the exact preparation and interview timelines you should expect when interviewing at Kearney.

Show Your Uniqueness: The Resume And Cover Letter Screening

Your resume , with a cover letter , is the first step to a very lucrative job at Kearney.

Yet, less than 30% of applicants receive a call for an interview.

So, what is Kearney looking for when screening your resume and cover letter?

First, Kearney Is Looking For Academic Performance

A recent study from poetsandquants.com shows which schools are the top MBA feeders in the consulting industry.

For instance, top MBA programs with good placement in the consulting industry include MIT, London Business School, INSEAD, and Columbia Business School. 

Secondly, Kearney Is Looking For Specific Qualities

Like any other top consulting firm, Kearney assesses if you possess the required skills to be a Kearney best-in-class consultant.

Those skills include your capacity to break down problems logically, prioritize the most important components of a problem, analyze data, connect different sources of information to derive conclusions, etc. 

And if you want to develop those skills to ace your case interviews, I’ve created a full (and free) course here .

In this free course, you’ll find plenty of examples to turn your Kearney interviews into a lucrative job offer.

You can sign up for free for this case interview course .   

Furthermore, Kearney is looking for people with certain characteristics .

Because if you possess these characteristics, Kearney knows that you’ll fit their culture and potentially become a top consultant.

Therefore, all your resume and cover letter content should demonstrate that you have mastered these skills and characteristics .

To be more precise, your resume and cover letter content must show how you used these skills and the IMPACT you had .

Lastly, Kearney Wants To Understand Your Motivation To Join Them

Kearney wants to understand your motivation to join Kearney: Are you genuinely interested in joining Kearney over McKinsey, BCG, or Bain?

Thus, your cover letter must show that you have researched the firm, talked to its consultants, and have persuasive and tailored arguments for why Kearney is your first choice.

Are your cover letter and resume ready for applications?

Check these 2 articles to learn how to write winning resumes and cover letters and get many examples: consulting resume, a step-by-step guide (2023) , and writing  a persuasive and customized cover letter . 

Don't Stress Out: The HR Screening Interview

In most cases, the HR screening interview is conducted by phone and is aimed at briefly reviewing your background.

For instance, the HR screening interview can include a list of questions such as :

Background questions : for example, “Tell me about yourself” or “Describe your work history.”

Motivational questions : “Why are you interested in consulting?” and “Why Kearney”?

Specific skill-based questions : for example, “Tell me about a time when you had to solve a problem in a team”

For this stage, you can expect a 20-minute interview. 

Note : more on how to answer those questions later in this guide.

Show Your Logical Reasoning: The Kearney Recruitment Test

As a Business Analyst at Kearney, you will spend much time reading and analyzing data (from a graphical chart or an Excel spreadsheet).

Besides, you will have to derive insights from these data and connect these insights to your client’s problem.

The Kearney Recruitment Test assesses your ability to complete these tasks well.

In other words, the Kearney Recruitment Test (or Kearney Screening Test) assesses your ability to do the job: if you do well on the test, it indicates that you will perform well as an Analyst.

Indeed, this test has been designed to assess how you use deductive, inductive, and quantitative reasoning abilities to solve problems logically. 

You’ll have to answer 40 multiple-choice GMAT-like questions in 60 minutes.

The multiple choice test is divided into three parts that assess your quantitative and verbal reasoning.

You are not allowed to use a calculator during the test.

In addition to facing challenging questions, candidates are typically under a lot of time pressure

Get 4 Complete Case Interview Courses For Free

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Do NOT Neglect It: The Personal Experience Interview (PEI)

After the screening process, there is a selection process consisting of multiple interviews. 

First and foremost, I want to point out a mistake made by too many candidates:

Do NOT neglect your preparation for this part of the interview.

Indeed, the PEI counts for 50% of your assessment. In other words, candidates often fail to secure an offer after falling flat on the PEI – even with perfect case-cracking skills.

What To Expect During The PEI

During each of your Personal Experience Interviews, you can expect the four following types of questions :

First, “ Tell me about yourself ” or “Walk me through your resume.” 

Then, “ Why Consulting? “.

Thirdly, “ Why Kearney? “.

Finally, between one and five behavioral interview questions . 

You can expect the PEI (or fit interview) to last between 20 and 40 minutes. 

Now, let’s go through these 4 types of questions. 

Tell Me About Yourself

As I write in Tell Me About Yourself: How to Answer This Question , you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

This question, or common variants such as “Walk me through your resume,” is an easy and open-ended start to a conversation where your interviewer wants to know the following:

• What are your motivations, and what drives you?
• Which problems you had to solve, and how you solved them ?
• What is your academic background?
• How do you deal with people ?
• What impact have you had in the past?

Why Consulting?

A natural question following “Tell me about yourself” is “ Why consulting? ” .

Because the second most important thing that Kearney wants to know after who you are is:

• if you understand what Consulting is,
• and if you are truly interested in pursuing a career in that industry .

Why’s that?

Because Kearney doesn’t want you to leave after six months after you realize that the consulting lifestyle doesn’t fit your objectives.

So, whether Consulting is a thoughtful career choice or an “I don’t know what to do, let’s try” career choice, there are many good reasons why Consulting can be a good opportunity.

7 Reasons Why Consulting Can Be A Good Career Opportunity

• #1 - It's a good career choice after University if you don't know what to do : if you don't know what to do after University or after your MBA (you're not alone!), then Consulting is a safe bet. You'll have the opportunity to explore which career, sector or specialty is right for you
• #2 - You'll have a strong impact : you'll have the opportunity to work on and solve the most pressing problems faced by big corporations
• #3 - You'll have a strong exposure to C-level Executives : early on in your career, you'll work directly for CEOs, CFOs, CMOs, etc. and start developing the soft skills to become a senior Executive later
• #4 - You'll learn a lot : Consulting firms invest a lot in training their consultants. In addition, the feedback culture is very strong and you'll get full performance reviews regularly
• #5 - You'll work with bright people : consultancies pride themselves on hiring bright and interesting people. Plus, with 3-month projects on average, you'll meet a lot of different people in consulting
• #6 - You'll have the opportunity to work in an international environment : large consultancies sell work to businesses and governments all around the world
• #7 - You'll have access to an amazing alumni network : having worked in a consulting firm will give you access to its alumni network that will help you throughout your career

2 Other Reasons Why Consulting Can Be A Good Career Opportunity (But You Can't Tell Them To Your Interviewer)

• #8 - You'll have great exit opportunities : headhunting firms or big corporations love ex-consultants. Even now, 5 years after I left Consulting, head hunters still contact me on Linkedin to point out interesting opportunities
• #9 - You'll earn a lot of money : consulting is also known as a very well-paid industry. The average base salary for a McKinsey Associate is $127,000 a year according to Glassdoor. Plus, your salary will increase between 10% and 25% each year

Besides listing a couple of reasons why you want to pursue a career in consulting, a compelling answer should explain WHY these reasons are important for you . 

Check this article to learn how to craft a compelling answer to the “Why consulting?” question.

Why Kearney?

Next, “Why Kearney?” : This question evaluates your motivation to join Kearney.

I have explained in this article how to have a compelling answer to this question.

Behavioral Interview Questions

Next, your interviewer will ask you between 1 and 5 behavioral interview questions .

For instance:

• Describe a challenging situation when you have had to work hard to achieve something, in a limited time, outside your comfort zone 
• Tell me about a time when you have had to work with someone with an opposing opinion 
• Share an example where you effectively worked with people with different backgrounds 
• Revisit a time when you experienced significant change or encountered an ambiguous situation and share the actions you took to adapt to the new circumstances 
• Discuss a hypothetical client scenario to help us understand how you structure tough, ambiguous challenges, identify important issues, deal with the implications of facts and data, formulate conclusions and recommendations, and articulate your thoughts 

Related articles :

• The McKinsey PEI to understand in-depth how to ace your fit interviews
• The STAR framework revisited to craft amazing stories based on your experiences

Be Exceptionally Structured: The Case Interview

The case interview is another problem-solving test.

Kearney believes the best way to assess your problem-solving skills is to discuss a real client scenario with you .

This helps them understand how you structure tough, ambiguous business challenges, identify important issues, deal with all the implications of facts and data, formulate conclusions and recommendations, and articulate your thoughts in a fast-moving discussion

For instance, watch the following video with a candidate solving a market sizing question :

Interviewer Led vs. Candidate Led

The Kearney case interview follows the candidate-led case study interview format .

What does that mean?

First, your interviewer will present a problem.

Then, you must ask clarifying questions to define clearly the problem.

Next, you must structure an approach to solve this problem.

And you, the candidate, take the reins, guiding the interviewer through your approach.

It’s your stage, and interviewers are more spectators.

Finally, your interviewer will ask you a set of pre-determined questions, regardless of what your initial structure is.

For instance, here are the types of questions you can have:

• Problem structuring – organize the problem into an issue tree
• Trend analysis – review a graph and synthesize information relevant to the client
• Quantitative analysis – solve a simple mathematical calculation without a calculator and synthesize the results for the client
• Synthesis – the partner or client CEO is in the elevator with you. What do you recommend they do?

See each of these questions like a “mini” case:

You will have to understand the problem, develop a mini structure, ask for additional data (if necessary), and come to a conclusion that answers the question.

Good examples of interviewer-led cases can be found in the sample cases on the  Kearney website .

Furthermore, you can read my free case interview guide .

Kearney Wants You To Succeed

Unlike in many industries, management consulting firms tell you exactly how to interview; the challenge is meeting Kearney’s level of excellence.

To help you and other candidates succeed, Kearney shares these resources:

• AT Kearney interview prep tips
• AT Kearney case interview examples: here and here

I want you to succeed, too. The internet holds hundreds of example cases. I recently shared a list of 250+ practice cases .

Related article : 11 must-know frameworks to ace your case interviews.

You’re Almost Done: Ask the Interviewer Great Questions

You’ve made it through the behavioral and case study portions.

Now, the interviewer asks if you have any questions .

Kearney is genuinely interested in your questions . Interviewers want to know you are passionate about consulting and working at Kearney.

Here are some ideas for great questions:

• Make a connection with your interviewer . Ask questions about their background and their current work that interest you
• Explore the culture of the office at which you are interviewing
• Clarify the structure of the office, Kearney, or client engagements

You can read this article to build your list of smart questions to ask at the end of your interviews. 

The Infamous Blacklist: Does It Exist? And How to Overcome It

The jury is out on if there is a Kearney blacklist.

Here’s what I do know: only apply if you are ready to interview .

Management consulting is a destination job for university programs and experienced hires.

Competition is strong .

For instance, if you do not pass the interviews, consulting firms will request you wait 12-18 months until you reapply .

Even then, Kearney may want to see a significant career change as evidence your skills have improved to pass another set of interviews, such as through a graduate degree, significant promotion, or work at a top-tier company.

Don’t dwell on the question of the blacklist, but remember, competition is tough. Be confident before you interview.

Offered an interview but not feeling ready? I can help you prepare in as little as 4 weeks .

The Kearney Recruitment Process: Conclusion

To conclude, you now better understand the essentials of the Kearney interview process.

Curious about the recruitment process for other top firms? Read more here:

• McKinsey & Company
• Bain & Company
• Boston Consulting Group

Now I want to hear from you:

Do you have any questions about the process?

With which part of the process do you struggle the most?

Leave a comment below.

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You need 4 skills to be successful in all case interviews: Case Structuring, Case Leadership, Case Analytics, and Communication. Enroll in our 4 free courses and discover the proven systems +300 candidates used to learn these 4 skills and land offers in consulting.

The Kearney Interview: Our Complete Guide to Acing It

• Last Updated November, 2021

Recruiting season for the consulting industry is coming up fast, so it’s time to get familiar with what consulting interviews look like and to practice the skills needed to pass them. In this guide, we’ll cover all aspects of the Kearney Interview so that you can make the most of your opportunity.

Consulting interviews are tough, but My Consulting Offer was founded and is staffed by former recruiters and consultants from top consulting firms. We’ll cover what’s in the AT Kearney interview and give you tips on how to prepare.

In this article we’ll cover:

• Kearney’s history and culture.
• The Kearney recruiting process.
• The Kearney case interview.
• The Kearney fit or behavioral interview.
• How to prepare for a written case interview.
• Our 5 tips on acing the Kearney interview.

Let’s get started!

Kearney History and Culture

The kearney behavioral interview, the kearney interview process, the kearney written case interview, the kearney case interview, our 5 tips on acing the kearney interview.

Kearney was founded in 1939 after Andrew Thomas Kearney, the then Managing Partner at McKinsey’s Chicago office, split with the firm and founded McKinsey, A.T. Kearney & Company. However, McKinsey bought the sole right to use the “McKinsey” name and therefore, in 1947, Tom Kearney renamed the company to A.T. Kearney and Company.

In 2020, the company shortened its name to Kearney, and refreshed its brand to reflect what clients have always praised about its culture: that its consultants work side by side with clients in a real and relatable way, making their business transformation straightforward and enjoyable. This has led to Kearney’s standout success.

Today, Kearney is a global team of 4,200 people in more than 40 countries. Kearney “aims to be the difference of purpose for their clients, people, communities, and the planet by pursuing sustainable positive results in everything they do, as established in the principle of ‘essential rightness.’ ” Kearney fulfills this mission for their clients through their daily work – deploying advanced technological know-how and talent to create lasting economic, social, and environmental solutions.

The 5 Core Values within “Essential Rightness”

“Our success as consultants will depend on the essential rightness of the advice we give and our capacity for convincing those in authority that it is good.” – Kearney Founder Andrew Thomas Kearney

Guided by their principle of “essential rightness,” Kearney prides itself in hiring people who live their 5 core values – curiosity, generosity, boldness, solidarity, and passion – to create a holistic and sustainable positive impact for the clients, people, and community at large. People who “live the essential rightness” have:

• Curiosity and drive to explore new ground.
• Generosity of spirit to care deeply about the well-being of others.
• Boldness to be distinctive and break from the status quo.
• Solidarity to be a winning team that supports each other and their well-being.
• Passion and presence to be their best self.

Since 2020, Kearney has been hosting Kearney Values Awards to celebrate colleagues firmwide and showcase people’s contributions to these 5 core values.

The culture of Kearney is open, supportive, and non-hierarchical with a strong emphasis on teamwork and collaboration. Teams are encouraged to openly discuss any issues / challenges. In addition, Kearney places core emphasis on mental health and encourages team members to embrace holistic health at the workplace. For instance, Kearney organizes its Global People Care Jam to provide an opportunity for its people to co-create actionable ideas that help build a mentally healthy workplace.

We recommend watching 2 short videos on Kearney’s collaborative culture and CEO Alex Liu’s take on the 5 core values to understand what differentiates Kearney from other consulting firms.

The Kearney interview process follows these steps:

• Submit your resume and cover letter on Kearney’s online application system.
• First round interviews are conducted in-person or through phone/video call. You can expect two 45-minute interviews. One interview will be focused on a case interview while the other will be focused on behavioral or fit interview questions. Your interviewers will likely be associates or managers.
• Second round interviews are led by senior managers, principals, and partners. Typically, you can expect to have three 45-minute interviews. Two of these interviews will be focused on a case interview and one will be focused on behavioral or fit interview questions. But the interview structure depends on the position you’re applying for, so confirm the specifics with your recruiter.
• Written case: You will be given a case-study handout and will need to present your case-solving approach and recommendations in PowerPoint slides, followed by a case presentation.
• Excel skills test: You will be provided with a pre-made Excel worksheet and will be asked to perform analysis using functions such as Vlookup, Sumif, Countif, Index, Match, etc. You can use LinkedIn Learning or other resources to master these skills.
• Receive your decision. After successfully navigating the Kearney interview process, you’ll finally receive the coveted letter that welcomes you as the newest member of Kearney’s team. Congratulations!

Nail the case & fit interview with strategies from former MBB Interviewers that have helped 89.6% of our clients pass the case interview.

The Kearney case interview is a business problem that you solve live with guidance from an interviewer. Our Ultimate Guide to Case Interview Prep explains in-depth what the case interview is and details its various stages:

• The opening,
• The structure,
• The analysis, and
• The conclusion.

It also gives you tips on how to become proficient at each stage. The best way to get smarter about answering case interview questions is to master this 4-part approach.

The Kearney Case Interview: The Details

Kearney case interviews are designed to assess your quantitative skills, business logic, and strategic thinking. Kearney case interviews are typically more quantitative and numerical than other consulting firms’ . So, expect to perform math calculations during your case.  

Kearney case interviews are candidate-led, similar to BCG and Bain cases. This means you are expected to “drive” the case using the information provided to you. Consider the interviewer your biggest asset and keep drawing on him/her to share more information as you progress through the case.

The best way to approach a Kearney case interview is to enter the interview as a consultant would enter a client’s office or board room – ready to use your imagination, gather and analyze information, arrive at solid conclusions, and communicate persuasively. Remember to:

• Clearly scope the problem statement by asking preliminary questions. Spend enough time processing the problem statement and clarifying it with the interviewer to make sure that you are solving the right problem.
• Structure your case solving approach by laying out the buckets of issues you plan to solve and organizing them logically. Get feedback from your interviewer as you move from one bucket to the next while solving the case to ensure you’ve fully covered each topic.
• Over-communicate. Articulate your initial hypothesis including the data you need to prove/disprove that hypothesis. Communicate key assumptions or limitations of your approach so that your interviewer knows you are aware of them.

For practice, we recommend going through this Kearney case example .

Given the firm’s focus on quantitative cases, expect Kearney case interviews on market sizing. To set you up for success, we’ve created a detailed guide to help you ace Market Sizing Questions . It details 2 approaches you can use to accurately estimate and answer any market sizing question.

Finally, Kearney does the majority of its work across the procurement, sourcing, and operations sectors. Therefore, if you have a background in this area, it’s ideal if you prepare for cases focusing on these topics to “wow” your interviews and land the coveted offer. But if you don’t have that type of background, don’t worry. Kearney will train new hires.

The behavioral and fit elements in the Kearney interview assess whether you have the personal qualities required of a successful consultant and whether you can use them effectively within the Kearney culture. The interview is used to gather information on your past behavior and performance in order to evaluate and predict your future success with Kearney.

Be prepared to answer questions about your experience with teamwork, conflict resolution, and leadership.

Common Kearney Behavioral Interview Questions

Kearney interview questions – Fit assessment:

• Tell me about yourself.
• Walk me through your resume.
• Why Consulting?
• Why are you interested in working for Kearney?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Kearney interview questions – Personal Experience Interview (PEI)/ Behavioral assessment:

• What is the most challenging project you’ve done?
• Tell me about a team conflict you managed and your learnings from it.
• Tell me about a time when you had to change a stakeholder’s mind.

As you prepare for these questions, it’s relevant to note that the richer you make your story, the better your answers will be. Use these tips from Kearney to guide your preparations for your behavioral/ fit assessments:

• When you tell your interviewers about the setting, always explain the interpersonal dynamics present in your situation, and share external influences that impacted your decision.
• You should paint the picture for your interviewer and use vivid/colorful language to bring your examples to life.
• Make sure that at the conclusion of your example the interviewer knows why that decision was made and feels that he or she could have done the same thing.

Head to our comprehensive article on Consulting Behavioral Questions to learn how to prepare strong answers for the behavioral interview questions.

Kearney is one of the few firms that test candidates via written case interviews. Let’s break it down step-by-step so that you know what to expect and how to prepare to come out with flying colors.

In a written case interview, your written work and analysis become the center of discussion. You’ll be given slides/handouts that contain information in a text-based format. Some will contain charts and data tables pertaining to the case. The objective is to absorb that information, identify opportunities or the root cause of the problems presented, and then synthesize (not summarize!) your recommendations for the clients. In other words, don’t just repeat key points from what you’ve read, but use that data to develop a point of view on how to solve the problem. You’ll then be asked to present your solution to the interviewers in a PowerPoint slide format.

The written case tests your quantitative skills as you work through the data to prepare analysis, and it tests your synthesis and communication skills as you write down your recommendations and present them to the interviewers. Typically, you will have:

• ~1 hour to complete the analysis and synthesize recommendations
• 30 minutes to present your work: ~20 minutes to walk through your slides and ~10 minutes for Q&A with your interviewers.

We recommend that you go through our comprehensive guide to cracking Written Case Interviews to set yourself up for success.

1. Brush Up on Case Interview Math

Kearney places strong emphasis on quantitative skills. This doesn’t mean that you need to learn regression and coordinate geometry. But you should be comfortable with simple business analytics (e.g., linear equations with single variables, basic mathematical formulas applied in day-to-day business, such as Profit = Revenue – Costs).

Chances are you’ll be required to perform quite a bit of mathematical analysis during your case interviews. And if you’ve prepared well on math fundamentals, then you’ll feel “in control” of the case analysis and exude confidence. And that’s exactly what you want your interviewer to take away!

To prepare, head to Case Interview Math to learn the different types of math problems tested in cases and equip yourself with the right tips and techniques to minimize math mistakes. Make the numbers work for you!

2. Practice Productive Problem Solving

The Kearney case interview requires you to organize and analyze data. Therefore, you should practice making your problem-solving process as productive as possible:

• Where multiple data sources exist, think through the accuracy and relevance of each and be ready to make judgment calls on how to interpret and present them.
• Where data does not exist, form an initial hypothesis and be ready to share how you would go about testing it and sourcing the data.
• Ensure you cover all the relevant factors in your overarching case structure before you begin to deep-dive into any single issue. You shouldn’t come across as someone who can intuitively think of a few factors but who jumps too quickly into case solving. The ideal candidate will spend sufficient time understanding the problem statement, scoping out different factors contributing to the case, and ensuring that no critical piece of information is left untouched. If you are able to set up a strong structure, then solving the case becomes much more streamlined.
• Remember to continually check in with your interviewer as you move forward from analyzing one issue to the next. Share your hypotheses and rationale behind each of your moves. This makes your thinking clear and builds rapport with your interviewer.

We recommend that you review Our Ultimate Guide to Case Interview Prep to master the 4 stages of problem-solving during the case interview.

3. Exude the “Essential Rightness”

Demonstrate that you have the qualities that Keaney looks for in candidates – curiosity, generosity, boldness, solidarity, and passion – throughout your interviews . Kearney consultants pride themselves on having a long-term vision, being analysis-driven, and bringing holistic and sustainable impact to their clients. During your Kearney case interview,

• Try not to force your solution to fit a standard framework. Understand the problem statement, the business, and the objectives before laying out any framework for problem-solving.
• Do not speak before thinking carefully and holistically. Base your hypotheses on supporting data. Always share your rationale and critical thinking with the interviewer.
• Do not search for a silver bullet. Complex problems rarely have simple solutions and your interviewers acknowledge this. There is never a “right” answer (even in a quantitative case). As long as you’re logical in your approach, cover all issues exhaustively, and engage your interviewer in case solving, you’re golden!
• A passion for learning,
• A collaborative nature,
• Good business acumen,
• Confidence but not arrogance, and
• Poise under pressure.
• Lastly, try to avoid using jargon or buzzwords. It’s better to be simple and direct.

4. Build a Story

The simplest way to ace your behavioral interview is to give your interviewers a good reason to remember you. Make your answers memorable by weaving them together into a strong and compelling narrative.

• Build stories using your past experiences before your Kearney interview.
• Highlight the impact that you brought to the team, to the project, to the organization in your previous roles.
• Spend time demonstrating your potential to your interviewer, talk honestly about your strengths and weaknesses, and be yourself. After all, it’s your story! The interviewers are looking for genuine people who have integrity, are helpful and collaborative, and are fun to work with.

5. Confidence Is Key

As a consultant, you’ll work on challenging business problems, face difficult clients, and encounter difficult situations. You’ll need to stay calm and confident. This is also exactly what your interviewer will be testing for. The interviewers are taking cues from your body language as you respond to their questions, as you solve the case, even as you present your recommendations.

One way to naturally feel more confident is to practice in the days or weeks leading up to the interview. The more case practice you have under your belt, the more calm and composed you will stay during the interview. For instance, if you appear nervous or shaky in your quantitative skills, the interviewer may not see you as someone who will build Kearney’s credibility with clients. Therefore, you must exude confidence not only in your voice but also in your body language. The way you walk into the interview room, how you sit up, your eye contact with the interviewer, the way you solve the case – everything matters.

Remember to smile, pause, respond calmly, reflect before you answer, and humbly admit what you don’t know. Confidence is the key to cracking the Kearney interview process.

We wish you the best!

– – – – –

In this article, we’ve covered:

• The Kearney Consulting interview process.
• An overview of Kearney case interviews (including the Kearney written case) and behavioral / fit assessments.
• 5 Tips on acing the Kearney interview.

Still have questions?

If you have more questions about the Kearney interview, leave them in the comments below. One of My Consulting Offer’s case coaches will answer them.

Other people prepping for their AT Kearney case study interview found the following pages helpful:

• Our Ultimate Guide to Case Interview Prep .
• Consulting Behavioral Interviews .
• Written Case Interviews .

Help with Case Study Interview Prep

Thanks for turning to My Consulting Offer for advice on consulting interview prep. My Consulting Offer has helped almost 85% of the people we’ve worked with to get a job in management consulting. We want you to be successful in your consulting interviews too. For example, here is how Brenda was able to get her offer from BCG.

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3 Top Strategies to Master the Case Interview in Under a Week

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Kearney Case Interview Guide 2024: Format, Criteria, Example

Kearney is one of the world's leading management consulting firms, with a presence in over 40 countries and almost 100 years of founding. The firm is renowned for its excellence in strategy, operations, and organization and works with three-quarters of the Fortune Global 500. 

To land a job at Kearney, you must pass the Kearney case interview, a practical screening tool to measure potential candidates' abilities to be a consultant. This article will look closely into this assessment and discuss what to expect and how to ace the Kearney case interview.

Table of Contents

What is Kearney case interview?

Kearney case interview is the last test to become a kearney consultant.

The Kearney case interview is the screening interview of Kearney , where candidates must solve business problems (or cases). The interview evaluates whether candidates possess the capabilities and qualities to become an Kearney consultant.

Kearney case interviews are candidate-led , requiring you to lead and manage every step of the case-solving process, including structuring the issue, developing frameworks, requesting data, synthesizing findings, and providing solutions. The interviewer just presents the topic, instead of asking questions concerning the case.

Before getting to the case interview, you must pass the initial screening rounds, which include resume screening and an online test.

In the resume round, you’ll of course need a consulting resume, just like what you’d need for McKinsey, and a cover letter, then submit it on Kearney’s website.

The online test concerns numerical, verbal, and logical reasoning questions. It’s quite similar to McKinsey’s problem solving test before it was retired and replaced by the problem solving game. 

There are two rounds in the case interview process

Kearney interviews are actually quite straightforward with two rounds:

Round one with one 45-minute case interview and a behavioral interview

Round two with two 45-minute case interviews and a behavioral interview

Experienced and MBA candidates will face a written case

The written case is used by Kearney to simulate the actual work of a consultant, in which they need to visually plot out data and insights. It’s quite similar to the oral case, only you’re writing out your thought process instead of speaking it out.

After receiving the case, you’ll have one hour to review materials and prepare a PowerPoint presentation, then 10 minutes to pitch it to interviewers . After that there will be a Q&A. We’ll touch on this later.

Kearney looks for those with achieving & analytical mindset

Just like all management consulting firms, Kearney looks for those who want to make an impact. The main value Kearney will look for are:

Outstanding academic achievement: Your GPA and school prestige. Your best bet? 4.0 at Harvard! But jokes aside, a 3.6 GPA should be good. Below that? Try to make focus points in other parts of your resume. This article might help!

Analytical ability: The ability to create a thorough, data-driven, insightful analysis and define the root cause and solutions to difficult problems. You show this in the case interview via constructing issue trees, answer guesstimate questions, etc.

Demonstrated leadership : The ability to inspire and motivate others. Consultants won’t simply look for “leaders” who just tell their subordinates what to do, but a guiding beacon, even for their superiors (very much like telling your boss what to do, but, think of it as inspiring ideas to them).

Collaborative approach : The ability to exchange facts and insights and effectively interact with people from various backgrounds and cultures. You’ll meet people hailing from mathematics, engineering, accounting, psychology, so play your collab cards right

Intellectual curiosity : The ability to actively and continuously seek and expand knowledge 

How to prepare for Kearney case interview

Careful preparation is a must to ace Kearney’s case. You can tackle each aspect of the interview step by step.

Start from getting used to candidate-led cases and written cases, then further out with business intuition, consulting math, fundamentals & frameworks of case interview, then finally conduct mock interviews.

Step 1: Get used to the candidate-led case interview, and written case interview

Examine examples of candidate-led case interviews to familiarize yourself with the case flow and how to interact with the interviewer.

You can also get familiar with more case interview samples and all instantly-effective tricks for case interviews with our Case Interview E2E Secret Program. Also, here’s our free video of a case interview example with an explanation and expert comments.

Step 2: Develop business intuition

Having business intuition significantly improves your performance in case interviews. Working on intuition is a gradual process that takes practice every day. You can improve your business intuition in two ways:

Written sources: Read business papers daily (Bloomberg is recommended). You can also find articles on McKinsey, Bain, and BCG’s websites. But be careful! The important thing is not your page count, but what you absorbed from them

First-hand experience and observations: Don't just do things like a machine; find out what the seniors are doing, why they did what they did, and how it has affected the organization. Everything is a learning process, and it’s up to you to squeeze out every bit of knowledge and experience

Step 3: Practice consulting math

Consultants work with quantitative data in just about every minute. It simply takes too long to whip out a calculator every time they need to calculate something, and you’re definitely not impressing clients with that. That’s why interviewers place such high emphasis on mental math skills. To improve your math, you can:

Train your head : Apply mental calculations on any daily occasion unless an EXACT answer is required

Start small : Use a piece of scratch paper, give yourself some margins of error (5% is a good start); once you get used to it, remove the paper and narrow down the margin of error.

Establish a routine : Spare time for daily practice and get better each day, just like exercise. You’ll never notice the little changes, but they stack up HARD, and when you realize it, you’re probably doing math thrice as fast

Step 4: Learn the fundamentals and frameworks of case interview

Kearney case interviews (or any other case interview) are based on the fundamentals - using hypotheses and issue trees, the MECE principle, and the frameworks. So, knowing them is extremely important and you should practice the fundamentals until you are comfortable.

A common mistake candidates make during their case interviews is to go straight for the frameworks. Frameworks require extensive adaptation to match actual cases. To customize appropriately, you must understand the fundamental knowledge first.

To know more about case interviews, here’s a dedicated article .

Step 5: Conduct mock case interview

Mock interviews are a great way to simulate the actual case interview session. You should examine your cases in great depth during the mock case interview. Record your session, replay, note the comments, and look for ways to improve.

Find a former consultant to help you with your practice - they are the ideal people; they've been there, they’ll know what a candidate must be.

Through their feedback, you can improve on what needs to be improved and boost your chance of getting an offer.

We can also help you connect with consulting coaches (all former consultants!) for a more personalized feedback. Book your mock case interview session with us now !

And don’t forget the fit questions

Fit interviews are intertwined with case interviews in the Kearney interview process. They set the tone for the interview, and the interviewer’s impression of you, so make sure to try your best, even if they don’t really weigh as much as the case. Nobody likes a bad impression, eh? 

Notes on written case interview

If you’re an experienced or MBA candidate, you also need to prepare specifically for Kearney’s written case interview. Here are some tips:

Enhance fast reading skills

Improving your reading speed will help you process data faster, allowing you to single out the important pieces. You can learn the tips to improve your reading speed in this speed reading techniques article.

Craft your data-analysis skills

The ability to analyze data is the core of the hypothesis-driven approach in consulting. You analyze the information to determine the root cause, formulate a hypothesis, and support your suggestion. To enhance your data analyzing skills for your written case interview, practice data interpretation skills (reading charts, tables, graphs…). 

You can also find out more on this with our Numerical Reasoning Package .

Learn to make consulting slides

In the written case interview, your job is to organize the layout of graphs, tables, findings, and recommendations in a “consulting” style (on paper or in PowerPoint).

In real consulting work, the PowerPoint engineers (yes I call them that because they’re so good) will add the bells and whistles to create the final slides for your pitch.

We have a whole article on how to craft and present MBB/consulting slides . Check it out to learn the step-by-step guide.

Deliver a timed and solution-driven pitch

The first thing you should do is to allow a specific time limit for each step of the pitch. When that time limit reaches, stop what you're doing (like skimming data) and move on to the next (like structuring the problem). Also, spare some time for contingency for any errors occurring.

Second, your presentations and pitches should begin with the conclusions and chart titles with the most important insights.

Clients won’t care about the procedures;  they want results . So, present the solution , back up with the evidence from your analysis, and recap the pitch.

Scoring in the McKinsey PSG/Digital Assessment

The scoring mechanism in the McKinsey Digital Assessment

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Case interview is the final stage of L.E.K hiring process with 3 phases: CV screening, online tests and interviews. The last stage consist of 2 different rounds

Case interview is the last round of ZS Associates hiring process with 3 stages: online application, aptitude tests + video interview & 2 parts of case interview

PwC case interview is the last round of the hiring process. To get to this round, you must pass the previous 3 rounds: resume, online test & video interview

Kearney Case Interview Guide (process, questions, prep)

Kearney interviews are tough compared to regular interviews at other large companies. The questions are difficult and the interview format is specific to Kearney.

But the good news is that with the right preparation it can actually become relatively straightforward to succeed at a Kearney interview.  We've put together this ultimate guide to maximise your chances of success.

Here's an overview of what we'll cover.

• About Kearney
• Kearney interview process overview
• Kearney case interviews
• Kearney behavioural questions
• Kearney case presentations
• How to prepare for Kearney case interviews

Practise case interviews 1-to-1 with Kearney ex-interviewers

1. about kearney ↑.

Today, Kearney is among the world's most prestigious consulting firms. It brought in $1.3bn in revenue in 2022 and has around 4,200 employees globally, across 40 different countries. Kearney also ranked #7 in the top consulting firms to work for in the 2022 Vault Consulting 50 .

The company used to be called "AT Kearney" but dropped the initials as part of a major rebranding in January 2020 .

Right, let's take a look at the Kearney interview process.

2. Kearney interview process overview ↑

Below we outline the typical interview process if you're applying to join Kearney's "general consulting" path as a Business Analyst or Associate.

Kearney also has an Analytics team and a Technology & Engineering team. If you're applying for one of these, this guide will still be relevant for you but be prepared to face some additional technical interviews.

Kearney has three main steps in its application process:

• Resume and   cover letter   screening
• Two first-round interviews
• Between two and four final-round interviews

These steps outline the typical process. However, the exact process can vary based on location and role. It can be really helpful to ask your HR contact if they can provide more details on your specific interview track. 

2.1 Resume and cover letter screening

First, Kearney's recruiters will look at your resume / application and assess if your experience matches the open position. This is the most competitive step in the process—we’ve found that 90% of candidates don’t make it past this stage.

You can use  this free resume guide  and this  free cover letter guide  to help tailor your application to the position you’re targeting. 

And if you’re looking for expert feedback, you can also get input from our  team of  ex-MBB recruiters , who will  cover what achievements to focus on (or ignore), how to fine tune your bullet points, and more.

2.2 First-round interviews

If your application is approved, you'll face two first-round interviews of ~ 1hour duration.

Typically, each will be a case interview, but with the first 15mins dedicated to behavioural or fit questions. Your interviewers will be managers and associate consultants at Kearney.

If you're applying on-campus at a target school, then you may have your interviews in-person. Otherwise, the first round is usually done over the phone or through a video call.

2.3 Final-round interviews

If you get past the two first-round interviews, you'll face at least two more case interviews in the final round.

These case interviews may start with 15 mins of behavioural questions, as before. However, this time the interviewers will be more senior members of the firm - i.e principals and partners.

If you're an undergraduate, you may be invited to an Assessment Centre for the final round interviews you will likely face a group case presentation also.

If you're an MBA or experienced hire, you'll usually interview at a Kearney office, and in addition you'll have to give a written case presentation.

Both experienced and graduate candidates may also have a behavioural interview with a partner as a final test to make sure you're the right fit for the firm.

In the following few sections, we'll explain how you can prepare for all your interviews and give yourself a great chance of landing a job as a Kearney consultant.

Let's get started!

3. Kearney case interviews ↑

Case interviews at Kearney are candidate-led, which is the same style used in a  BCG or  Bain case interview . This is different than firms like McKinsey  that use interviewer-led cases. 

For a candidate-led case interview, there are 7 types of questions you need to prepare for:

• Framework development
• Framework exploration
• Quant question – Data provided
• Quant question – No data provided
• Creativity question
• Recommendation

In addition to the question types mentioned above, you should also expect to see market sizing questions during your AT Kearney interviews.

You can learn more about case interviews and how to prepare in our free case interview guide .

Another great way to prepare is by practicing with realistic sample cases. There are a few free AT Kearney practice cases available online, and you can find them at the links below:

• Case example: promotional planning (Kearney website)
• Kearney case book (old AT Kearney practice cases)

You can also get a sense of what candidate-led case interviews are like, using the video below.  As we mentioned, case interviews at Kearney tend to be candidate-led and therefore use a format similar to BCG and Bain interviews.

4. Kearney behavioural questions ↑

As we outlined above, Kearney tends to ask behavioral questions at the beginning of your case interviews, and these tend to be "fit" questions. However, you may also face a purely behavioral interview, and here you're likely to face a more situational or "PEI" type of question. Let's take a look at both types:

• Fit questions. These are generic questions such as “ Why consulting? ” or “ Why Kearney? ”.
• Personal Experience Interview (PEI) questions. These are questions such as “Tell me about a time when you led a team through a difficult situation.” Or “Tell me about a time where you had to manage a team conflict”

Here are the top 5 fit and PEI questions you should prepare for at AT Kearney.

Top 5 fit questions:

• Why Kearney?
• Why consulting?
• Walk me through your resume
• Tell me about something not on your resume
• Tell me about your greatest accomplishment

Top 5 PEI questions. Tell me about a time when ...

• You led a team through a difficult situation
• You worked in a team and had to manage a conflict
• You had a disagreement with a colleague / boss
• You had to change someone's / a group's mind
• You overcame a really difficult challenge

Don't fall into the trap of under-preparing for both these types of behavioural questions. While they may seem easier than the case interviews, they are extremely important to get right.

You’ll need to prepare several ”stories” or “examples” from your personal and professional experience to demonstrate that you have the traits that Kearney is looking for.

To learn more, check out our guide to consulting fit / PEI questions .

5. Kearney case presentations ↑

In addition to case interviews and behavioural interviews, which are both common for consulting firms, Kearney also uses case presentations. If you're an undergraduate, you will probably do this as part of a group, while if you're an MBA or experienced candidate you may have to do an individual, written presentation.

Take a look below at whichever applies to you.

5.1 Kearney written case presentations

The typical format is:

• ~ 1-hour to review materials and prepare a PPT presentation
• ~ 10-minute presentation in front of interviewers
• Q&A with interviewers at the end

It's worth mentioning that this does vary, so if you're already in contact with a recruiter from Kearney, you may want to ask them for more precise details. 

With that said, for this type of interview you'll usually be provided with some materials containing data and background information for the case. You may also be provided with questions that your presentation should specifically address. 

During your prep time, you will need to conduct an analysis, collect supporting arguments, and prepare a PowerPoint to deliver your findings. You should also prepare to be challenged by your interviewers with follow-up questions. 

You can learn more about preparing for this type of interview in our written case interview guide . That guide is written with BCG and Bain in mind, and there are some differences for an Kearney case presentation. However, the tips and preparation plan in sections 2 and 3 would still be a great resource for your preparation.

5.2 Kearney group case presentations

As mentioned in section 2, group case interviews are sometimes used in the Kearney interview process, usually for undergraduates during their Assessment Centre day. Here is the key information you need to be aware of for this type of interview:

• Candidates get divided into groups of 4 to 6
• Each group is given information about a case (i.e. a client facing a problem)
• You are given 10-15mins to review the materials by yourself or with another person in your group
• You are then asked to discuss a few questions about the case for 20mins with the rest of your group in front of your interviewers
• The interviewers will ask a few questions to the group for 15 to 20mins

This type of case mainly tests your ability to work with others. Interviewers won't intervene during the group discussion. They will just observe the group dynamics and mark each participant based on how they are contributing to the discussion.

Here are the   top 3 things you should aim to do   in your group interview:

• Speak with a purpose. At the beginning of a group discussion, a lot of candidates will want to speak their mind as they know participating is important. But participating is not enough. The QUALITY of your input is crucial. Sometimes, it's better to let two or three people get the discussion started. And to then make a very thoughtful point based on how they started the discussion. Focus on the quality of your input, not the quantity.
• Involve everyone. Another tip that's easy to apply is to keep an eye on who's participating in the conversation and who's not. If you identify a member of the group who's struggling to make themselves heard, you should not hesitate to help them be heard by saying something like: "We haven't heard everyone's opinion on this yet. John, Rebecca what do you think?"
• Summarise. Finally, at the end of the 20 minutes group discussion it's a good idea to summarise the different points people have made. This will position you as the person bringing everyone together and making sure all candidates are on the same page. It is something some partners in consulting like doing with clients in real life and will therefore reflect positively on you.

And the   top 3 things you should really avoid doing :

• Looking very nervous. Group interviews is the time to put your poker face on. Everyone is stressed in a group interview. But you need to try your best to come across as confident. A good way to do this is to focus on basic body language: look at people in the eye, sit confidently, don't cross your arms, try not to fiddle with your hands, etc.
• Interrupting others. Consultants need to be client-friendly, and interrupting someone in a discussion is not client-friendly at all. You should listen carefully to what others are saying. Try to have a genuine interest in what they think. Before making your point, summarise their point to show that you understand what they mean.
• Dominating the conversation. Finally, some candidates are so eager to participate in the conversation that they end up completely dominating the rest of the group without realising it. A good tip to avoid this is to keep an eye on how much time you talk. If you are in a 5-person group you should aim to speak 20% (1/5th) of the time and really no more than 25%.

Your performance in regular and group case interviews will play a big role in the firm's decision to give you an offer. If you'd like to learn more how to approach group interviews, check-out our  separate detailed  guide to group case interviews.

6. How to prepare for your Kearney case interviews ↑

6.1 learn the case interview essentials.

The best starting point for your case interview prep is our case interview prep guide . It'll take you through all the different types of questions you may be asked in your case interview, show you how to draw from different frameworks to structure your answer, and give you example cases to practise with.

6.2 Become really confident at maths

You don't have to have a perfect GPA or GMAT score to succeed at case interview maths. However, during your Kearney interviews, you will be expected to quickly perform accurate mental maths.

In order to do this, it’s essential to know the formulas for common metrics, like return on investment or breakeven point. And it’s also helpful to know a few maths shortcuts to help you solve problems more quickly. To learn more about these topics, check out our free guide to case interview maths . 

In our experience, the most successful applicants start their interview preparation by practising maths skills, so make sure you prioritise this step.

6.3 Research the company

Kearney interviewers want to hire candidates who are deeply motivated to work for their firm. Read up on Kearney's values and culture , and present yourself accordingly.

Also, you'll want to make sure you're up to date in the latest developments in the area of the company you're applying to join.  The  Kearney insights page is a good 

In addition, try to do some networking ahead of your interviews so that you can show you've made the effort to reach out to current staff.

6.4 Do mock interviews

How you solve each case is important, but your interviewers will also be evaluating how you COMMUNICATE your answers. It's important to speak in a structured way that makes it easy to clearly understand your points.

The best way to hone your communication skills is to practise interviewing out loud, and you can do that in three main ways:

• Interview yourself (out loud)
• Practise interviewing with friends or family
• Practise interviewing with ex-interviewers

To help you with this process, here is a  broad  list   of consulting interview questions  you can practise with.  Practising by yourself is a great way to get started, and can help you get more comfortable with the flow of a case interview. However, this type of practice won’t prepare you for realistic interview conditions.

After getting some practice on your own, you should find someone who can do a mock interview with you, like a friend or family member.

We’d also recommend that you practise 1-1 with ex-interviewers from Kearney . This is the best way to replicate the conditions of a real case interview, and to get feedback from someone who understands the process extremely well. Meet our MBB ex-interviewers who’d love to work with you.

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Sample cover letter for Internship position at at kearney

Business analyst.

My name ---- is and I will graduate next April from a Master of Science at ---- I am strongly motivated to pursue a career in management consulting and my recent internship at  ---- has reinforced my will. Therefore, I am writing you to express my interest for an internship position in the ---- offices.

I am attracted by A.T. Kearney’s culture, collaborative with its clients and within the firm. It means to me that A.T. Kearney offers a high level of client exposure and thus great opportunities for a rapid professional growth. I believe that the supportive environment promoted within the firm is very useful for fostering personal and professional development and for putting any employee in the best conditions to maximize his or her inputs in a project. Given the high caliber of A.T. Kearney’s clients, I am sure that at A.T. Kearney I could find continuous opportunities to challenge myself and to have an impact. Further, the ambitious objective of being the most admired management consulting firm by 2020 proves how much A.T. Kearney is focused on growth and people development and this highly motivates me to join your firm.

I am an energetic and ethical individual and I believe that my skills would make me an asset to A.T. Kearney. I am very flexible and adaptable; moving abroad twice as a student has helped me in developing such skills and made me comfortable in dealing with unusual situations. The intern position at ---- sharpened further my problem solving and analytical skills. My prime responsibilities were to perform data analysis tasks for benchmarking and discrepancy analysis purposes. I have been effective in discerning the needed information and in performing accurate analyses. Furthermore, this experience honed my interpersonal skills by being part of a team and by being often involved in meetings with the client’s management. In addition, a constant attention to the overall project flow made be able to develop good project management skills.

I like to be challenged and I believe that A.T. Kearney could fulfill my aspiration. I look forward to hear from you to reaffirm my enthusiasm and to know more about A.T. Kearney. In the meantime, I thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely, 

Get Active in Our Amazing Community of Over 450,000 Peers!

Does anyone has an at kearney cover letter and resume sample and is willing to share it thanks in advance, overview of answers.

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I interviwed with A.T.K, and I don't think you should be using a template, because the recuiters read thousands of CLs, and you want yours to stand out. Just be sure to address 'why ATK?' and 'why you?' Be sure to display a throrough understanding of the firm and their approach to problem solving, thier culture and brand within the industry. If you can swap ATK for McK or BCG in your cover letter, and all statements still hold true, you probably need to customize it a bit more. You could talk about exciting initiatives they have underway, some of their recent work that you admire, etc. You should probably talk to someone in the firm to get more insights.

Here are some links to get started:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH7p0GuQER4

https://www.atkearney.com/why-were-different

http://www.vault.com/company-profiles/management-strategy/at-kearney/company-overview

All the best!

Thanks a lot great insights. Can you have a look at my CL if possible?

Hi Arham, which office are your applying for ? Best Benjamin

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'Doing fine,' chair of Classic Car Collection of Kearney reports

• Apr 16, 2024

Sandhill cranes gather near Gibbon.

KEARNEY — Just 10 months after 171 vehicles in its collection were sold at auction, the Classic Car Collection in Kearney continues to rebound.

The June 13, 2023 auction left the Classic Car Collection with just 50 vehicles in its 50,000-square-foot showroom.

Most of the leftover vehicles were loaned to the collection or donated.

Today, the collection has rebounded to 135 cars, and most of those are donated or loaned by their owners.

Among the prized possessions the Classic Car Collection displays today is the 1969 AMC drag racer, Pete’s Patriot. The red, white and blue fastback gained national fame while its pit crew of Kearney High School students campaigned the car at some of the top racing venues in the nation.

Sunday night 125 supporters of the attraction gathered at The World Theatre for a fundraiser to cover the collection’s operating expenses.

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“People were positive and upbeat,” said Brad Kernick, chairman of the Classic Car Collection’s Board of Directors.

“Several mentioned to me privately they’re happy the car collection is still around,” Kernick said. “Due to the work of a lot of people we’re doing fine.”

Jackie Purdy’s volunteer work at the Classic Car Collection involves dressing mannequins in outfits that match the era of the cars, as she did when a La Femme car was loaned to the attraction.

Kernick wasn’t able to report how much money Sunday’s fundraiser brought in, but he said during an interview early Monday that donors had a number of ways to help the collection.

There were silent auction items to purchase, and supporters paid an admission to the event at The World Theatre in downtown Kearney. The featured movie was “Ford vs. Ferrari.”

Kernick said nearly every item donated for the silent auction was sold, including a vintage lava lamp and an old-fashioned after-market auto air conditioner.

“The fundraiser was very successful,” Kernick said. “Our guests came from near and far, including Grand Island, Beaver City and Elwood. A lot of the people were from Kearney.”

Kernick said rent is the collection’s largest expense. It leases its space on the east end of the Cabela’s-Bass Pros retail building on east U.S. Highway 30.

Kernick said there were about 7,500 visitors at the collection in 2023 and, like so many attractions, the collection couldn’t operate without outside support like Sunday’s auction.

Turnstile numbers before the COVID pandemic averaged about 10,000 annually, but anecdotally, Kernick said he’s seeing a rebound in attendance.

More than 200 cars were displayed prior to the 2023 auction in which the collection’s owner sold some of the rarest and most collectible vehicles. They included Lincolns, Packards and Cadillacs from the 1930s and ‘40s; Triumphs, MGs and Jaguar sports car imports; and U.S. classics, such as a 1955 Ford Thunderbird, a 1965 Ford Mustang and 1971 Ford Country Squire station wagon.

Kernick said there have been ups and downs during the collection’s 12-year run.

“As someone who has been involved since day one, there have been sleepless nights,” he said. However, Kernick credited the collection’s survival to the volunteers who usher visitors and keep the collection in mint showroom condition.

Kernick chairs the collection board. Jeff Knapp is vice chair. Other members are Gene Beerbohm, Jackie Purdy, Norris Marshall, Earl Joy and Bruce Schanbacher.

“The board and all of the volunteers are committed and the morale is very high. I just feel very good about the future of the Classic Car Collection,” Kernick said.

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Projects for Peace Grantee Sabrina Kearney ’26 Will Work with Tibetans in Exile

Each year, Projects for Peace awards grants of $10,000 to more than 125 college students who have proposed “innovative, community-centered, and scalable responses to the world’s most pressing issues.”

Kearney will use the funds to return to Dharamshala, India, this summer to partner with Lha Charitable Trust, an organization run by Tibetan refugees to serve their people in exile.

An economics and art history major, she will teach what she calls “a personal development bootcamp” for ten to fifteen Tibetans, ages eighteen to thirty, that will cover skills such as financial literacy, entrepreneurship (e.g., how to start a small business and access microfinance loans), job and college applications abroad, and public speaking.

“I expect my workshop series to provide disadvantaged Tibetans with valuable life skills to help them become financially independent and advocate for a peaceful future in the diaspora,” she writes in her application.

Last summer, Kearney received a Global Citizens Fellowship from Bowdoin's McKeen Center to work for the same organization and teach an English class. She also studied the Tibetan language and led a community art workshop, and describes being both impressed with "the strength and resilience of displaced Tibetans" and troubled by their difficult and complex situation.

Since the 1951 invasion of Tibet by China, many Tibetans have fled abroad. Currently, more than 85,000 Tibetans live in India, but their refugee status there bars them from both state college and employment systems, “forcing them to live at the margins of society,” Kearney said.

Bowdoin career advisor Meg Springer , who works with students interested in nonprofit and social impact careers, said she is impressed with Kearney’s follow-through.

“Instead of chalking up her time in Dharamshala as ‘one and done,’ and never returning, she designed a financial literacy program based upon her observations, and worked collaboratively with the nonprofit’s director to create a proposal that would directly benefit participants,” Springer said. “The world is already a better place because of her work.”

Kearney said her workshop would meet a pressing but unrecognized need, and that her experiences at Bowdoin and her background have prepared her to teach it. “I feel I have the relevant skills, cultural context, and self-awareness to successfully pursue this project because of my current role leading [the student organization] Smart Woman Securities, which runs a personal finance education series on my college campus,” she said.

She added, “As a low-income daughter of immigrants, I feel it is my duty to pay forward what I have learned through enabling others to break cycles of poverty and pursue their dreams.”

Besides teaching her workshop, Kearney plans to establish seed funding with $2,000 from her award. She will encourage her students to apply for microloans from this pot ranging from $50 to $200.

“These small grants will start a chain reaction of microloans that will be reissued to another young Tibetan refugee each time one is repaid,” Kearney said. She’ll hand oversight of the fund to the Lha Charitable Trust after her departure, “so that young Tibetans can continue to sustainably access capital to jumpstart their ventures.”

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Unsealed Karen Read documents detail harrowing hours after Boston police Officer John O’Keefe’s body found

Court documents released Wednesday in the murder case against Karen Read paint a harrowing picture of the hours after the discovery of her boyfriend John O’Keefe’s body outside a Canton home on a snowy January morning two years ago. A frantic Read, her face bloodied from giving CPR as police arrived, was later sent to a hospital after talking about suicide.

The new details come from 135 pages of documents that Norfolk Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone ordered made public at the Globe’s request. The documents, which are heavily redacted in parts, cover the defense’s since-rejected arguments to dismiss the high-profile case, which is scheduled for trial next week.

The most striking details come from reports written by Canton police Officers Steven A. Saraf, Stephen Mullaney, and Michael J. Lank about Jan. 29, 2022, the morning O’Keefe, a Boston police officer , died. Read said she couldn’t remember being at the address the night before, officers wrote, and she then had to be taken to a hospital in an ambulance.

Read was giving O’Keefe CPR when Saraf arrived at 34 Fairview Road for a report of a body in the snow around 6 a.m., the officer wrote. O’Keefe, skin cold to the touch because of freezing as the blizzard-like conditions from the previous night continued, was bleeding from the face, Saraf wrote, so the victim’s girlfriend had blood on her face from doing mouth-to-mouth.

“Karen kept screaming is he dead, is he dead,” the officer wrote. “She was severely distraught and was not able to tell me what happened.”

Saraf wrote that he tried to console her, and sent her to sit in a car, out of the bad weather.

Lank, a sergeant, wrote that that Read was “hysterical.” The only statement she was able to make to officers on scene, he wrote, “was that she did not remember ever being at 34 Fairview Rd” the night before.

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Lank and Mullaney both wrote that Read talked to her parents about killing herself. The police filed paperwork to commit her to a hospital, they wrote, and EMS took her to Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton.

In the following days, Read, of Mansfield, was criminally charged in connection with O’Keefe’s death. She was later indicted on charges including second-degree murder. Read, now 44, is accused of intentionally backing her SUV into O’Keefe after dropping him off at a party at the Fairview Road home after a night of bar hopping, according to prosecutors.

The Norfolk district attorney’s office says she left him to die in the snow outside that home, which is owned by a fellow Boston police officer O’Keefe knew. Prosecutors have said their relationship was rocky amid allegations of cheating.

O’Keefe died of blunt-impact injuries to his head and hypothermia, according to his death certificate.

Read’s lawyers and supporters have argued that she did not kill O’Keefe, but rather is being framed as part of a massive conspiracy that includes multiple law-enforcement agencies. Read’s attorneys claim O’Keefe was beaten by the people at the party — and possibly bitten by the residents’ dog — and left for dead outside.

The case has become the center of a media frenzy, with local news blogger Aidan Kearney, also known as Turtleboy, writing hundreds of articles about the case and championing Read’s presumed innocence. Norfolk Superior Court staff are girding for a trial that’s expected to last more than a month — one that will be covered by local and national media and attended by a crowd of adamant supporters of Read .

The case also has prompted an unusual federal probe into the investigation .

The new information comes from documents relating to a defense motion to dismiss the charges on the grounds that the prosecution misled the grand jury leading up to Read’s indictment. The judge ruled against the defense in a filing that was already public, sending the case toward trial.

Many of the defense’s arguments in the motion centered on claims that officers — including Lank — had conflicts of interest because they already knew the people inside the home.

“To be clear, not a single witness testified that they observed Ms. Read strike O’Keefe with her vehicle, injure him in any way, or otherwise drive erratically on the night in question,” Read’s attorneys wrote. “The Commonwealth’s presentation of the case was predicated entirely on flimsy speculation and presumption, underpinned by a questionable and biased investigation, and highly dubious ‘physical evidence.’ ”

The motion says 41 people testified to the grand jury, including people who were in the house and the medical examiner.

The prosecution argued, in a response that remains heavily redacted, that the defense will have plenty of opportunity at trial to attempt to raise issues about witness credibility.

The DA’s office wrote that “the defendant has failed to demonstrate any prejudice, let alone a substantial risk to her right to a fair trial.”

John R. Ellement of the Globe staff contributed to this report.

Sean Cotter can be reached at [email protected] . Follow him @cotterreporter .