I found the job offer on a recruitment website and applied before really knowing what they do. Read their website carefully to figure out what they do before applying! The first stage was an interview where you talk into your webcam for a minute at a time and answer 4 questions.
I applied online. The process took 1 week. I interviewed at AlphaSights (New York, NY) in Jul 2013
Interview
I applied online and was contacted by a representative within 2 days to set up an initial video interview. Very easy interview, asks 3 questions. You then had 30 seconds to think of a response and then an additional 30 to 60 seconds to give your answer. After you take the interview, a representative will then contact you for follow-up.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
1. What do you think AlphaSights does?
2. Why did you choose to apply to AlphaSights?
3. Where else are you applying for jobs?
I applied online. I interviewed at AlphaSights (Hong Kong) in Jun 2013
Interview
Applied using their website - the cover letter equivalent being a rather short 200-word max summary . Following this, I almost immediately received an email inviting me to perform an online recorded "interview". Through further questioning, I discovered this meant responding to 3 motivational questions within a minute time limit for each.
As this was a rather foreign concept to me, I preferred not to do be interviewed this way, but fortunately the contact at the office offered me the opportunity to essentially skip this step and come in for a face-to-face interview. I can only assume that the recorded interview step is really intended for the presumably more subscribed positions at the London office and that it was a bit superfluous for applications to the HK office.
At the interview, I was asked far more personal questions than I had expected - I would say that over half the time was dedicated simply to discussing myself, when I had really expected to spend most time responding to more standard aptitude-based questions, which were covered far more briefly. I now understand that this is probably because AlphaSights are fairly meticulous in their recruitment, with a 3 stage process that, if you are successful, proceeds:
1. Informal, personal/motivational based interview
2. Meet more members of staff, so they can get a feel for you. Also, to conduct a presentation on one of the company's previous projects.
3. Meet one of the two MDs
I have yet to hear back, after a little under 2 weeks, but I understand AlphaSights operates a policy of getting back to all candidates, even those that are not successful.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
I was asked to provide considerable detail about my University dissertation, which I had not expected at all!
I would suggest to not try to hard to say what you think they want to hear during the personal question stage as this can make it harder for you and overcomplicate things!