Client Testimonials

McKinsey Boston associate on teams

My Michael Moment took place outside of the training and after I joined MBB. We were discussing my career path and I mentioned I was a workaholic with no friends and could therefore eat, sleep and drink management consulting. You pointed out an interesting phenomenon which I am now experiencing in the Boston office. You said that people who have no friends outside of the office, will seek friends inside the office and that creates dysfunctional relationships. I did not understand what you meant at the time but can now see it playing out. I became very close to a business analyst at the office and we ended up socializing when we could. It became very difficult to manage the relationship when I needed to manage her weaker behaviour. I think she felt I would be lenient with her due to the nature of our relationship. That experience, which was hard to manage, made me think about your advice and the need to not confuse work relationships. As you said, I should be friendly in the office and seek friends, but understand that professional values must come before friendship. That is good advice but very hard to implement Michael! I…

Client Testimonials

Client Testimonials

McKinsey Jakarta PEI preparation

My Michael Moment occurred during my final round interview in Jakarta. Due to delays the night before I had missed my training call on fit interviews – which Michael had struggled to fit into his diary. Michael sent a note asking for my mobile number and flight times. The next morning while I was in the horrible Jakarta traffic (if you have been to Jakarta you will know just how bad traffic flows ) he called me and we went through the fit suggestions we had not covered. The call lasted about 80 minutes and I only wrapped up when I arrived outside the McKinsey office. I cannot say if Michael does this for everyone but his commitment and loyalty to my goals always shone through. The delay the night before was my fault and he could have just as easily worked with other clients. He did not and helped me secure an offer. 2 years later we still keep in touch. He is a great guy, best friend and outstanding mentor with very high standards! We have published the most useful client feedback. Our commitment to confidentiality prevents us from disclosing the identity of our clients and other confidential…

Client Testimonials

Client Testimonials

Tough case interview feedback delivered

As you know, finding Michael is not easy because he is so sneaky, and for me, finding Michael was like finding a gold mine. Right away, I realized that Michael means business and if you are looking for some happy go lucky guy, you won't find it here. I think almost every session Michael has said to me how he wonders why I am so bad at case interviews and I don't think I was offended once. I think this is because after working with Michael you realize that he is really a good person and for him it is really not about the money, but it is about helping his clients achieve goals that he knows are really important to them. Thanks so much Michael. We have published the most useful client feedback. Our commitment to confidentiality prevents us from disclosing the identity of our clients and other confidential information, and we may alter details to prevent such disclosure. Some client feedback may be lightly edited for grammar, spelling or prose, though we never alter or remove any information. Clients in our consultants coaching program are forbidden from sharing sensitive client data with us.

Client Testimonials

Client Testimonials

Motivating MBA before McKinsey interview

I requested Michael to speak to me before my McKinsey interview. So, one day before the interview he tried to find time but could not accommodate me. At about 9:00pm, my phone rings and least of all I am expecting to hear Michael’s voice on the other side; I am surprised as hell, because Michael is available on Skype only. In his characteristic tone he says, “[Redacted] how are you”? And then goes on to say some of the most simple but profoundly motivating words for me. He says, “[Redacted], good luck for tomorrow. You have it in you and you can make it, you just need to believe in yourself. If you were one of the mediocre candidates then I would have said, have a good time at the interview, we will teach you the networking skills and attempt to get you another interview next year. But, you have the intellectual rigor needed for a McKinsey interview. All you need to go in is with extreme levels of self-confidence. And please do me a favor – Don’t talk to and listen to your friends, because they don’t know anything about what McKinsey wants in a candidate. And that’s why…

Client Testimonials

Client Testimonials

Counter-intuitive networking for Bain

My fondest Michael Moment occurred during networking. I sent an email to an MBB partner and I received a slightly aggresive response. I was really worried and not sure how to respond. I wanted to send a detailed response trying to salvage the relationship by explaining my choices of questions. I was pretty sure my chances were finished and my dream of an MBB offer was finished. Michael gave me the strangest advice. He said I should do nothing. That was such bizarre feedback. He told me partners are the face of the firm. "A partner should always be polite and professional since they have such selective requirements and need to balance that with utmost professionalism." If I waited long enough the partner would try to correct the situation since he could not leave the situation as it was. Michael was right as usual! 2 days later I received an email from the senior partner saying he had reviewed my resume again and felt we should talk. That call did not lead to an offer but I eventually got into Bain by using similar advice from Michael. We have published the most useful client feedback. Our commitment to confidentiality prevents…

Client Testimonials

Client Testimonials

From Bain Middle East to McKinsey USA

Greetings from the West Coast. My Michael Moment happened before I applied to Firmsconsulting. I wrote to Michael asking if he could help me transfer from Bain in a non-U.S. office to a U.S.-office. He was polite but said I needed to go through a complete screening process including a selection interview. I was shocked! I was at Bain! Either Michael did not know how good Bain was or was just arrogant. He calmly and carefully explained the process to me. Everyone needs to go through the process. If Firmsconsulting took me in without verifying my abilities they would be accepting a client which may not be a good fit for them. Michael also indicated that even on their best days, MBB does not have uniform recruiting standards and weaker consultants get in – they screened for that and assumed nothing. After speaking to Michael I realized he had an exceptional understanding of Bain, our history and culture and even knew more than me. He was extremely polite, and knew my office very well – maybe to well! Much later, I learned that FC has a principle of aiming to have higher standards than the 3 consulting companies they serve. That…

Client Testimonials

Client Testimonials

Canadian undergrad. on supply / demand cases

Did you enjoy the program? If yes, how? Yes. Overall, the entire program is top tier. Client Case Videos I found them to be very well structured and organized. As I went through the weekly videos, I was able to understand how each piece built upon another. At the end of the videos, I was quite confident that I had the right skills and technique to practice cases. The comment section for the videos is also extremely helpful. I was able to get my questions answered VERY quickly and was able to see questions other candidates had. I would have liked to see more videos that run through an entire mock case. I understand that it can always change and very dependent on the interviewer, but it would be good to see a few video were all lessons are tied together from top to bottom in a single performance. Skype Sessions -> Will talk about in Q7 below. Did the program meet your expectations? If yes, how? Yes. The cost of the program is very high, my friends and family thought I was nuts to pay for something like this. In all honesty, I wasn't sure where my expectations should…

Client Testimonials

Client Testimonials

Figure Skater uses past to bolster Bain profile

My Michael Moment occurred during the editing of my resume. We were struggling to find good leadership examples and personal stories for my resume. I thought it was fine but Michael felt it lacked something distinctive. He asked me to go over my life citing important and unimportant moments one by one. He did not want me to filter them. When I told him I represented my country at the World Junior Figure Skating Championships and placed 8th he went silent and then also screamed into the phone 'What!' He told me that my profile was now changed and I was a different person – a better candidate. My experiences were an outstanding example of teamwork and leadership and we needed to build that strongly into my profile. Michael turned out to be right. Every interviewer across every firm wanted to discuss my figure skating experiences: I fell during my final attempt and had to do the team routines with an injury. In my Bain final round interview, about 70% of the discussion were about my efforts to help the team despite my injury. I eventually joined Bain. It is a special moment for me because I always assumed leadership…

Client Testimonials

Client Testimonials

Manager uses unusual tactic to get to Bain

Did you enjoy the program? If yes, how? I did not enjoy the program but I must explain that this had less to do with Firmsconsulting, than my own personal issues which made it difficult for me to prepare and my underestimation of the skills gap I had. I do think that FC made this as fun an experience as they could, given my challenges, and eventually got me into Bain after what must have been the longest and most painful networking experience in the history of modern day networking! I kept on striking out with partners and recruiters and Michael would constantly work with me to adjust my style. I even gave up at one point and we had a “Kick starter” meeting where Michael told me in the most direct way possible that it is my life but he was not going to tolerate someone who chooses to quit and I needed to get my “act together.” Michael provides advice in a helpful fashion so it is not harsh, but boy was it a kick in the pants. So I enjoyed working with Michael but did not enjoy having a child, almost losing a child, moving homes, avoiding…

Client Testimonials