Preparing for Consulting Firm Applications: The Importance of Daily Case Study Practice and Quality Feedback

Hi there,

Q: Should I practice case studies daily, especially since learning is not just about quantity but also about the quality of feedback provided to me?

It depends on when you expect to have interviews. If you believe you will have interviews soon, it would make sense to start your preparation.

The quality of the feedback is important, so definitely look for good case partners, however you will need to do a certain number of cases to feel ready (the exact number depends on the person – for many it’s at least 10-20).

In terms of general prep tips, I would recommend the following:

1. Identify the companies interesting to you. You can create a DB with all the companies you want to target so that you can look for a referral later for them (see point #7).
2. Define a calendar for your preparation. Identify how many hours you have before your expected interview and allocate the time slots for preparation in your calendar, working on the points below. Many candidates need 100+ hours to be ready before a consulting interview starting from zero so you can keep that as a benchmark.
3. Start reading good MBA Consulting Casebooks – you can find several for free online (INSEAD is a good one to start). Read the cases and try to apply your structure to solve them. Whenever you see there is something missing, upgrade your structure with the new insights. Try to read a new case per day – in this way you will absorb better the information with constant learning.
4. After the first 5-10 cases in books/casebooks and basic theory, start to practice live. PrepLounge can be helpful to connect with other candidates for that. There is a relevant part of the interview score that is based on your communication, which you cannot practice at all if you read cases only.
5. Keep track of your mistakes and see which ones you are repeating. This is extremely important, as otherwise you may do a ton of cases without fixing the real issues. If you find common mistakes, try to identify the reason for them (feedback from experienced partners would be particularly useful for this). Be sure to focus on both the behavioral part and the case part during the mocks. The case part should also cover market sizing, math and graph analysis.
6. Before your application, be sure to review your CV and Cover, so that they are in the required format for a strategy role.
7. At least 3 weeks before the application deadline, start networking to find referrals. You can find some tips here.
8. Before the interviews, be sure to prepare your questions for the interviewer  – a great way to show you prepared in advance and to connect with the interviewer for a good final impression. Ideally, try to find out who they are and study their profile to have good questions to ask.

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If you want to spend a few hours only instead of 100+ and cover everything mentioned above, I developed a program precisely for that. 

I can also share with you real questions for your target office (I have a DB with 1.500+ questions asked in 60+ offices you won't find anywhere else - you can check on my profile if I cover your particular office).

You can check the program at the following link to learn more:

▶ GYM Program

If you have any questions please feel free to PM me.

Best,

Francesco

Hi,

it’s good to have a focused approach. The number of cases you do is not the sole KPI you should chase. After a while the utility function for doing additional cases will plateau. Rather work on incorporating previous feedback into how you approach and handle cases so that you continuously improve in those areas. Regularly practice mental and written math as well as reading and analyzing charts. You can do these things as separate little exercise units per day.

For actionable and tailored feedback you should also consider a few sessions with a coach during your preparation.

Good luck

Hi there,

Yes, you should be doing cases with peers to get the hang of it. However, don't expect too much from the feedback, which is often a bit misleading/not helpful. If you want quality guidance, get a coach.

With a coach, you will not just get feedback, but you will actually build the skills that a relevant in a very purposeful and impactful way, sometimes without using cases. This is highly effective, much more so than just doing the same case routing over and over…

EXAMPLE: I created some video content and exercises just to practice great case openings for McKinsey, where it comes down to your analytical skills. This has been a game-changer for lots of my coachees!

MY ADVICE: Get some cases under your belt and then reach out to some coaches. It's worth it, believe me!

Best,
Moritz
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Hi,

2-4 hours daily is an overkill, you'll burn out pretty quickly.

From my experience, doing 5 quality cases per week with peers (solving 5 and giving 5) is enough. It's 90 to 120 minutes per day 5 days per week. I also suggest taking 1-2 days off preparation every week. 

I would also use the remaining time you've got left for passive learning: reading business articles etc.

Also, To progress quickly, I suggest you take this approach (in the following order):

1. Getting coaching when you are a complete beginner to learn the basics;

2. After you've learned the basics, practice cases with peers to polish your case solving process and acquire understanding of a wide range of industries and problem types;

3. Before the interview, ask a few acting consultants to give you cases in a mock-interview format to assess your readiness.

Good luck,
Nick

 

Hi!

That's a great question. 

Basically, try to form a base of knowledge from self-study. Practically, that means somewhere up to 10 cases. 

Then aim to get feedback over a live case done with somebody who is a consultant or a coach. They will be able to give you good feedback and an understanding of what to aspire to. 

Start doing peer practice only after you've developed an understanding of what good looks like; otherwise peer practice is going to be more confusing than helpful. 

Good luck!
Cristian

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Practicing for interviews? Check out my latest case based on a first-round MBB interview >>> CodeWave  

Hi there,

In general you want to make sure you are practicing dribbling, passing, and shooting, NOT just playing matches.

Make sense?

So, yes, do live cases with peers (not reading cases) AND, try to do some combination of:

• Daily reading
• Fast math
• Charts/exhibits
• Industry deep-dives
• Frameworking
• Market sizing
• Fit/Behavioral

Here's some more reading to help: https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/pitfalls-case-interview-preparation

Daily case study practice and quality feedback are essential for honing practical skills and refining problem-solving abilities. They bridge the gap between theory and application, preparing individuals for real-world challenges.

Nice sharing. Mastering daily case study practice is pivotal in preparing for consulting firm applications. The consistent effort refines analytical skills, problem-solving, and communication. Quality feedback, integral to the learning process, hones one's approach. It's the dynamic combination of practice and feedback that empowers candidates for success in consulting firm recruitment. MyAssignmentHelp provides invaluable case study help, offering expert assistance and tailored solutions. With a commitment to excellence, their services ensure comprehensive support for students, making it a trusted resource for academic success in case study assignments.

Hi there,

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

• First of all, since you have 2-4 hours daily, I would advise you to split your time between practicing case studies and preparing your applications as well as other forms of practice.
• Moreover, you should obviously only practice with peers who can provide thorough and constructive feedback. This will help you identify your areas of improvement and refine your approach.
• Lastly, while defining KPIs might be meaningful from a procedural perspective, it might be hard to quantify your performance on both the case study and personal fit part of your future interviews.

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

The best preparation is practical preparation. If you are devoting 2-4 hours a day then yes, it makes complete sense to do at least 1 case a day.

Hi there, I honestly do not think you need even 2-4hrs DAILY. Make sure you can maintain the level of training rather than pushing too hard at the beginning and then not being able to follow through. Happy to develop a good strategy over a free coffee chat with you, just ping me a DM. Warm regards, Freddy