The Information Lab Consultant interview questions & guide 2026

The questions you will face during the interview process are designed to test your analytical thinking, communication skills, coachability, and consulting potential. These questions are drawn from real interview experiences and are structured to evaluate how you think, not just what you know.

Dashboard Presentation & Technical Defense

This category evaluates your ability to walk stakeholders through your data visualization, explain your technical choices, and defend your analytical methodology.

• Walk me through your dashboard and explain the primary trends you spotted in the data.
• Why did you choose this specific chart type over alternative visualization options?

Preparing for an interview at The Information Lab requires a blend of technical curiosity, design awareness, and strong communication skills. You do not need to be an expert in Tableau or Alteryx from day one, but you must demonstrate an exceptional willingness to learn and adapt.

Coachability & Feedback Integration – This is perhaps the single most critical evaluation criterion. Throughout the process, interviewers will give you direct, sometimes blunt feedback on your dashboards. They are evaluating whether you take this feedback personally or use it as fuel to improve. Demonstrate your strength here by actively listening, asking clarifying questions, and quickly implementing their suggestions in your next iteration.

Analytical Storytelling – A great dashboard is more than a collection of pretty charts; it must tell a cohesive story. You must structure your visualizations using the 5 W's framework: What, Where, Who, Why, and When. Interviewers look for your ability to extract meaningful business insights from raw numbers and present them in a logical, narrative-driven flow.

Communication & Presentation Skills – As a Consultant, you will represent The Information Lab in front of major clients. You must be able to present your work clearly, confidently, and concisely. Practice delivering your presentations within strict time limits (often exactly five minutes) and prepare to defend your design and analytical choices under questioning.

Drive & Self-Guided Learning – Because the program is designed to train you from the ground up, interviewers look for a proven track record of self-education. Show that you have spent hours researching visualization principles, watching training videos, and practicing your skills independently.

The interview process at The Information Lab is uniquely structured to simulate the real-world lifecycle of a data consulting project. It is highly interactive, supportive, and designed to evaluate your growth potential rather than just your current resume. The entire process typically spans four to six weeks.

The journey begins with you choosing a dataset that genuinely interests you and building an initial dashboard using Tableau Public. Once submitted, you will receive constructive feedback from the team. This is a crucial test: you are expected to refine your dashboard based on this feedback and resubmit it. If your second version meets the benchmark, you will move to a preliminary interview. This round involves a video call where you present your dashboard and answer consulting scenario questions.

If you pass the preliminary round, you will enter the final stage. You and other finalists will be given a complex, standardized dataset. You will have a set amount of time to clean the data, build a professional dashboard, and prepare an in-person presentation at our offices (such as the London St Paul's office). During this final day, you will present to a panel, answer technical and process questions, critique an example dashboard to show your eye for design, and participate in a formal competency and culture-fit interview.

The visual timeline above outlines the progression from your initial open-ended visualization to the structured, high-pressure final stage. It shows how the process shifts from testing your raw drive and learning ability to evaluating your performance under consulting constraints. Candidates should use this timeline to pace their preparation, ensuring they dedicate sufficient time to the intensive dashboard-building phases.

To succeed in this process, you must understand the specific technical and consulting dimensions on which you will be evaluated.

Dashboard Design & Data Visualization Principles

This area focuses on your ability to translate raw data into clean, functional, and intuitive visual interfaces. You are evaluated on your layout choices, color theory, and chart selection.

Be ready to go over:

• Visual Hierarchy – How you position key metrics (KPIs) at the top and structure the dashboard to guide the user's eye naturally.

On a day-to-day basis, a Consultant at The Information Lab balances client work, continuous technical training, and community engagement. You will act as a trusted advisor to clients, helping them unlock the value of their data assets.

You will spend a significant portion of your time working directly on client engagements. This involves gathering business requirements, connecting to various data sources, cleaning and structuring data using tools like Alteryx or Tableau Prep, and building interactive dashboards. You will not work in a silo; you will collaborate closely with client stakeholders, business analysts, and IT teams to ensure your solutions align with their business goals.

Another core responsibility is knowledge sharing and education. You will often train client teams on how to use the dashboards you have built and how to adopt self-service analytics. Additionally, you will contribute to the broader data analytics community by writing blog posts, participating in industry events, and helping train subsequent cohorts of the Data School.

While technical skills can be taught, certain foundational qualities and mindsets are essential to be competitive for the Consultant role.

• Must-have skills and attributes:

  • A highly analytical mind with a passion for problem-solving and finding patterns in data.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex ideas clearly.
  • High coachability and a demonstrated ability to accept, process, and implement constructive feedback.
  • Strong self-motivation and the grit to spend hours learning complex software independently.
  • Basic data literacy (understanding concepts like averages, percentages, and basic data relationships).

• Nice-to-have skills:

  • Prior exposure to Tableau Public, Alteryx, SQL, or other business intelligence tools.
  • Experience in a client-facing or customer service role.
  • A background in design, UX/UI, or visual arts, which can aid in creating beautiful dashboards.

Q: Do I need a background in computer science or data analytics to apply? No. The Information Lab prides itself on recruiting from diverse backgrounds, including history, biology, music, and hospitality. The primary requirements are an analytical mind, a strong work ethic, and a willingness to learn. The technical skills will be taught during your training.

Q: How much time should I expect to spend on the application dashboard? Successful candidates often spend dozens of hours researching, learning Tableau, and refining their dashboards. Because the standard of applications is incredibly high, treating this as a casual project rarely yields success. Expect to put in serious effort to make your visualization stand out.

Q: What happens if the interviewers are very blunt about my dashboard during the interview? Do not take it personally. This is a deliberate part of the evaluation process to see how you handle real-world consulting pressure and constructive criticism. Stay positive, explain your reasoning if you have a solid design justification, but show that you are open to their perspective and eager to improve.

Q: Is the final presentation in person? For offices like London, the final stage is typically held in person at our St Paul's office. This allows you to meet the team, experience the company culture firsthand, and present your final dashboard to a live panel of coaches and consultants.

To truly set yourself apart during the recruitment process, keep these practical, insider tips in mind:

• Leverage Available Resources: The Information Lab has an extensive library of YouTube videos, blogs, and tutorials. Utilize these resources, as well as community initiatives like Andy Kriebel's training videos, to learn dashboard best practices.

• Engage with the Community: Participate in community initiatives like #MakeoverMonday or attend our virtual Meet and Greets. Getting your name and face known by the coaches and current consultants before your final interview can significantly boost your candidacy.

• Tell a Story, Don't Just Show Data: When presenting, avoid simply listing facts (e.g., "This chart shows sales in 2023"). Instead, explain the business implications (e.g., "This chart highlights a major drop in sales in Q3, which occurred because of supply chain delays in our northern region").

The Consultant role at The Information Lab is an extraordinary launchpad for a career in data analytics and business intelligence. It offers a unique combination of world-class technical training, exposure to prestigious clients, and a highly collaborative, supportive community. By participating in this process, you are demonstrating your potential to solve complex business problems and help organizations make smarter, data-driven decisions.

As you prepare, keep your focus on the core themes of coachability, analytical storytelling, and clear communication. Treat every piece of feedback as an opportunity to showcase your adaptability and growth mindset. With dedicated preparation, a passion for learning, and a willingness to put in the hours, you can stand out in this competitive process.

This compensation insight reflects the highly competitive packages offered to Consultants at The Information Lab. This structure rewards your rapid skill acquisition and the high-value expertise you deliver to our clients. Use this as motivation as you invest your time and energy into mastering the application process. Good luck—your journey into the world of data consulting starts now!