McKinsey Case Interview

Question

Hi everyone!

I urgently need your help, I have quite short time to be prepared for case interviews however I do not know where to begin and what to do, I have watched some case interview videos and tried to read case in point book (half only) and some other ppts for case interview. I do not feel ready to do a case though, because of expensive prices I cant afford coaches here as well.

I know there are countless helpful and experienced professional here, thats why I am writing to get your feedback and guide please

Which steps should I do to be prepared?(I am also trying to do interview by myself as there is no one to do, I cant assess myself)

Answer 1

Hey,

I recently got an offer at Mckinsey. I'll be happy to give you my two cents and do some prep to help you out.

Share your profile so I can dm you.

Cheers

Answer 2

Hi,

Thanks for your question.

It is normal to feel lost when you have less time for preparation and so much material available to prepare.

Given you have watched some videos and done some reading, I would suggest doing the following things in the short time you have.

1. If you have time, scan through Victor Cheng's Case interview secrets. Its a relatively lighter book and will give you foundation to build basic case structures for common types of cases.

2. Starting now, start scheduling case interviews with peers on prep-lounge where you can exchange cases. Try to pick someone who has experience giving cases or has received good reviews. If not, pick the slot you get - it is better to have some interview practice than none.

3. In the remaining time, go through casebooks to review the standard formulas you may need to solve cases - such as breakeven formula, contribution margin, valuation using EBITDA multiple to name a few. Not all casebooks have this - some do.

4. Go over afew cases everyday if you have time after case practice. This will give you exposure to a variety of cases (optional)

5. If you can, get a coaching session to get some good feedback and tips to expedite and refine your prep.

6. If you are interviewing for McKinsey, then you can review these practice cases on their website:

https://www.mckinsey.com/careers/interviewing/getting-ready-for-your-interviews

Out of the above 2 is most important. Having at least one or two coaching sessions would also be helpful.

Lastly, McKinsey cases usually involve some calculations. So make sure your quick math and rounding skills are decent.

If interested, feel free to reach out for a 1.5-hour coaching session - happy to answer any questions you may have. Will offer highly discounted pricing.

Best of luck!
Sohini

Answer 3

Hello!

Congratulations on making it to interview!

I found a few sources really helpful:

Case books from business schools (e.g., Wharton, HBS)
YouTube videos with worked case examples
Practicing cases with friends
Hiring a case coach (which I did myself using this very platform!)

However you decide to proceed, I would really not underestimate the power of practice and feedback. There is only so much you can learn by watching/reading

Best of luck! Feel free to DM me if you'd like me to share resources

Answer 4

First thing: throw away the “case in point” book and ignore any advice in there. It is not useful and even harmful.

Hacking the case interview book, Victor Cheng video's, Stern MBA Case Book, are decent materials, but with some flaws (for example, the first two try to give you “shortcuts” in order to pretend that you know how to structure an approach…. just to give an example, I could give a few more…).

Honestly, the only really good way to be prepared in a short time is to use a good coach (make sure it's not one focusing on just giving out case interviews, or on providing a lot of material to work on your own, what you need here is real coaching and mentoring).

Feel free to reach out, I am happy to provide you with a discount.

Answer 5

Hi there,

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your situation:

I would highly advise you to consider asking to postpone the interviews if the time period is that short and your level of readiness is that low. There is no meaning in stressing out and going into the interviews without feeling well-prepared.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Answer 6

It's not easy to prepare for a McKinsey interview in a short time with no help. If you can't afford a coach, try and find people that have made it into McKinsey who can guide you on your case approach and pei answers.

Answer 7

Hi there,

The cheapest option to get a direct insight into how the McKinsey interviews are conducted, both on case and PEI with samples would be my book The 1%: Conquer Your Consulting Case Interview.

You can find it on Amazon and it's the most detailed discussion of McKinsey interviews you can find. It also comes with detailed prep plans, practice exercise guidance etc.

If you DM me, also happy to provide other ideas on no/low-cost prep methods for McKinsey (and other firms).

Cheers,

Florian

Answer 8

Hi there, find below two example cases that could be used for the presentation-case interview format. Usually these t... (read entire answer)

Hi there, find below two example cases that could be used for the presentation-case interview format. Usually these types of cases will contain a lot of exhibits and data for yo... (read entire answer)

Answer 9

I highly doubt that it is the sole reason your friend landed the job at BCG, so I wouldn't overestimate its utility.... (read entire answer)

I highly doubt that it is the sole reason your friend landed the job at BCG, so I wouldn't overestimate its utility. I agree with the reasons other experts have put forward here... (read entire answer)

Answer 10

Hi Shubham, Funnily enough, I went through the interview myself many years back. The person who interviewed me was a... (read entire answer)

Hi Shubham, Funnily enough, I went through the interview myself many years back. The person who interviewed me was an ex McK AP. The case he gave was a typical McKinsey one, on... (read entire answer)