Consulting Application Process

Case Interview 101 – Management Consulting Interview Guide

Consulting Case Interview 101 – Management Consulting Interview Guide In this post we are going to cover foundational things you need to know to prepare for consulting case interviews. Case interview is a type of interview consulting firms use to select consulting candidates. Case interviews help consulting firms test candidate's analytical abilities as well as FIT, including leadership abilities. This guide includes beginner information as well as some in depth information on how to prepare for the consulting case interview. What is a case interview? A case interview is a specific type of job interview used by consulting firms to test person's abilities and fit. Case interviews are among the hardest job interviews and focused on testing both "soft" skills such as communication and "hard" skills such as problem-solving skills. Case interviews usually last 30-45 minutes each and often involves multiple interviews on the same day. Case interviews are modeled to test the type of skills consultants need during actual projects, such as an ability to solve difficult problems, deal with large amount of data, being able to be likeable and build good relationship with clients. So succeeding in a case interview is an indicator that someone will likely be…

Consulting Application Process

Consulting Application Process

8 Best Free Business Case Examples in 2023 (McKinsey, Bain, BCG, Deloitte etc.)

Business Case Example: The 10 Best Free Examples in 2023 (McKinsey, Bain, BCG, Deloitte etc.) The Consulting Offer within our Premium membership is, by far, the best way to prepare for case interviews. However, you may be just starting your case interview preparation and not ready yet to commit the resources, time, the effort that is required for serious preparation. So you may be looking online for a business case example to practice with and dip your toe, so to speak, to see if pursuing consulting is even of interest to you. Or it may be the case that you, just like a large number of FIRMSconsulting members, are an executive or a manager outside of consulting, interested in developing problem-solving skills. If so, you may be searching for a business case example/business case analysis example to start honing your skills. If so, this article will also be helpful to you. Before we dive into business case examples, we would like to share with you 2 free resources we prepared for you as a gift, based on FIRMSconsulting book on brain teasers and another FIRMSconsulting book on solving business cases and overall consulting case interview preparation. These downloads include 20…

Consulting Application Process

Consulting Application Process

McKinsey Digital

McKinsey Digital, the old BTO along with some new capabilities, is the practice within McKinsey that advises clients on everything related to information technology (the old term for digital) and everything related to the movement of data. Digital is, after all, just the movement of data in 1s and 0s. Today we will answer a reader question about McKinsey Digital. "Thank for the great podcasts, Michael. They have definitely piqued my interest in McKinsey outside of the strategy practice. I was always going to consider joining the strategy unit but I am now more interested in McKinsey Digital. Do you any suggestions for someone trying to join McKinsey Digital. I have a Kellogg MBA and joined Amazon as a Product Manager after graduation. The work was interesting but the salary was lower than expected and I am not fully challenged. I have followed the Digital & IT Strategy Program and that is the type of work I want to do. What should be my strategy for McKinsey Digital?" What is McKinsey Digital? You cannot join the McKinsey Strategy Practice as an associate. It is not possible. So it's really a question of joining the McKinsey generalist path to Partner (includes the…

Consulting Application Process

Consulting Application Process

Case interview examples – McKinsey, BCG, Bain (MBB), Deloitte, etc.

Case interview examples - McKinsey, BCG, Bain (MBB), Deloitte etc. Consulting firms like McKinsey, BCG, Bain (MBB), Deloitte etc. use the case interview process to assess candidates. It is very difficult to be invited to a consulting case interview, especially with McKinsey, BCG, Bain and Deloitte. And it is even more difficult to do well at case interviews without preparing for them properly. And there are a lot of free case interview examples out there, but it's difficult to know where to start. So in this article we have listed some of the best free consulting case interview examples available, in one place. We will cover interactive case interview samples provided by consulting firms, video case interview examples, case books, and materials developed by the team here at FIRMSconsulting. Before we dive into business case examples, we would like to share with you 2 free resources we prepared for you as a gift, based on FIRMSconsulting book on brain teasers and another FIRMSconsulting book on solving business cases and overall consulting case interview preparation. These downloads include 20 brain teasers including explanations on how to approach solving each of those brain teasers. It also includes a comprehensive estimation cases guide.…

Consulting Application Process

Consulting Application Process

Consulting vs banking: 4 key differences

Consulting vs Banking: 4 Key Differences Many FC members, especially those currently completing an MBA, are considering consulting vs banking. I had a privilege to work in both fields so I can compare the pros and cons of both based on my own experience. Below are some key differences I noticed in being exposed to both environments. Four key differences when comparing consulting vs banking Asset vs resource: The number one difference for me when comparing consulting vs banking is what I call asset vs resource. In consulting a lot is invested in your development and you are treated as a valuable asset to the company. People are the most important asset for consulting firms and while there is the up or out policy pressure, you do have to compete with only top performers on a daily basis, you do feel very clearly that YOU are important and your development as a professional is important for the firm. In banking, you are a resource. Your development is, to a large degree, not important. If you deliver results they will promote you. If you don't they will push you out, or to the side. I have seen VPs being demoted, senior…

Consulting Application Process

Consulting Application Process

Defensive case study interview techniques – McKinsey, BCG, Bain, etc.

Defensive case study interview techniques - McKinsey, BCG, Bain, etc. As our clients prepare for the case study interview I wanted to offer some perspective. It is not what the consultant wants to do Let’s begin by acknowledging that conducting a case study interview is not a pleasant experience for an interviewer. It is not why people become strategy consultants. The greatest case interviewer does not necessarily become an EM, let alone a partner. When a consultant is being assessed every few months, their phenomenal case study interview skills will not save them from mediocre engagement feedback. Running a case study interview is not what the consultant wants to do. It is not why a consultant is primarily rewarded and promoted. The very best consultants are unlikely to be conducting interviews. They would be with clients. Case study interviews take consultants away from engagement teams and away from clients. No client ever uttered the words, “I respect Amy as a consultant because she took 2 days away from my study to fly to Boston to conduct MBA interviews.” To a client, having their consultant engaged in case study interviews is a distraction and cost they do not want to bear. Want to…

Consulting Application Process

Consulting Application Process

How to design a consulting career around immigration needs

How to design a consulting career around immigration needs Immigration has always been a big topic for our clients. It determines what clients will study, when they can apply for consulting firms and where they will apply. Today, I will offer some perspective based on some of the issues our clients raise. I will focus on the US since that is the most popular destination. Hopefully, this email can spark your creativity based on the ways we have helped clients. Immigration at a consulting partner level For foreign executives who are trying to join McKinsey USA as a principal/partner we advise them against it. At the partner level one needs to have a network of clients in the US and understand US culture. That is hard to do for a McKinsey Australia partner transferring to McKinsey NYC, and almost impossible for an executive from Sony Japan, for example. This is because the partnership is a lot more about sales than it is about the problem-solving process. It is better to take the steps to build a client network before trying to join McKinsey in the USA as a direct-hire partner. In this situation, clients often have an option to consider…

Consulting Application Process