Operations Consulting

Question

Hi all,

I’m excited to share that I’ve been invited to the final stage of an assessment center with an operations consulting firm, taking place in four weeks. The stage involves case studies, math tests, and interviews.

Consulting wasn’t originally on my radar, but I applied on a whim and have made it to this point. Now, I’m eager to give it my best shot and secure the role. However, I’m starting from scratch in terms of preparation and feeling overwhelmed by the breadth of material to learn.

I’ve looked into common business casebooks, but most of the examples focus on traditional consulting cases (e.g., market entry, profitability) that don’t seem directly relevant to operations consulting. I’ve also struggled to find specific resources tailored to operational cases.

I’d greatly appreciate any advice on how to:

Prioritise my preparation time effectively given the four-week timeline.
Find resources or strategies specifically helpful for operations consulting cases.

If you’ve gone through a similar process or have tips, I’d be grateful for your guidance.

(For context at the moment I am currently watching cases on youtube, listening to LOMS from Victor Cheng and I have read the Hacking the Case Interview book)

Thanks so much!

Answer 1

Hi,

There are 3 key areas you need to focus on as preparation for your interview in one month:

1. Brush Up on Operations Management Concepts

Review key principles like supply chain management, lean manufacturing, process improvement, and Six Sigma.

2. Practice Case Interviews

Work on different types of cases, focusing on operations-related problems.
Practice solving cases under timed conditions.

3. Develop Behavioral Answers

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
Prepare examples highlighting your problem-solving skills and leadership.

I believe it is sufficient to read/listen to 1-2 case books. Next steps is practicing mock case interviews with peers and coaches. A coach can guide you through the interview process and help you to pin point you on your main points of improvement.

Feel free to schedule a free intro call so we can further discuss.

Mattijs

Answer 2

Hi there,

Congratulations on making it to the final stage – that’s a huge achievement!

For your four-week prep timeline, here’s how I’d prioritize:

Focus on the fundamentals first: Given that operations consulting often deals with process optimization, supply chain, and efficiency, you should focus on business case frameworks that can be applied to operations. Classic frameworks like profitability analysis, cost-cutting, and process optimization are crucial.
Practice operational-specific cases: Try to find cases that focus more on improving operational efficiency, supply chain management, or resource allocation. While traditional casebooks may seem unrelated, many market entry or profitability cases can still be adapted to fit operational scenarios. Make sure to practice structuring these cases using a top-down approach.
Math Skills: Since there will be math tests, make sure to practice mental math and learn how to structure calculations quickly. You can find math exercises on platforms like Preplounge and Case Coach.
Consult specific resources: You’re already doing great by using LOMS and Hacking the Case Interview. For operations consulting, consider additional resources like "Case in Point" and "The Consulting Bible", both of which offer operational case examples. Another resource is Consulting Case 101, which provides good insights for operations-focused cases.
Mock Cases & Practice with Others: The more you practice, the better. Try doing mock interviews with peers or a coach to simulate the real environment. Focus on delivering structured, logical answers, and being confident in explaining your approach.

It’s great that you’re already engaging with casebooks and resources. With these next steps, you should be able to effectively tailor your prep to operations consulting and feel confident by the time the assessment center comes around.

Good luck, and feel free to reach out if you need more tips or practice!

Answer 3

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the progress in the application process thus far!

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

First of all, four weeks is a long time to prepare, so I am not quite sure how much you want to prioritize and what you want to prioritize. Can you please shed some light on this?
Moreover, I would advise you to prepare with a wide range of case studies, especially if you have no or very limited experience with them, as it is not necessarily guaranteed that you will have to solve only operations case studies in the interviews.

You can find more on this topic here: How to succeed in the final interview round.

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 4

Hey!

It’s great that you’re eager to prepare! Focus on operations-specific cases like supply chain optimization, process improvement, and capacity management. Start with practice cases in resources like HBR Case Studies or Victor Cheng’s operations-related material. Prioritize practicing mental math and interpreting data quickly, as these are critical in operations roles. Use your four weeks to simulate mock interviews, balancing structured frameworks and detailed insights into operational efficiency. Stick to your schedule, and with consistent effort, you'll be ready for the assessment!

Alessa