Group Case Interview

Consulting Group Case Interview: What to Expect and How to Prepare

Consulting Group Case Interview: What to Expect and How to Prepare As you probably know, the leading consulting firms use case interviews to evaluate job applicants before extending offers. Some consulting firms use a group case interview as part of the evaluation process. If you have a group case interview coming up you are probably thinking, “How can I set myself up to do well?” In this article, we provide some advice on how to succeed in a group case interview. What is a group case interview? A group case interview includes a few candidates being interviewed simultaneously within the same room, with the same interview and with the same case problem. Candidates are usually given copies of the case to read. A group case interview usually takes place after initial 1-on-1 evaluations are completed, like resume screening and the PST. So only the best candidates would generally be attending a group case interview. For example, if you are going through consulting case interview recruitment process during an MBA, consulting firms will usually do first-round interviews on campus. This will allow firms to select the best few candidates to invite for second-round interviews, which may include a group case interview.…

Consulting Application Process

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

Networking

The Anatomy of a McKinsey Networking Event (Consulting Recruitment)

The Anatomy of a McKinsey Networking Event A client was particularly interested in the mechanics and anatomy of a McKinsey networking session, so today we're going to discuss and focus on what to do when you network in a group setting as part of your consulting case interview recruitment process. We will primarily focus on McKinsey networking but the information is also applicable to other consulting firms' networking events, like BCG, Bain, Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, etc. The group type of McKinsey networking is one of the most uncomfortable situations during the case interview recruitment process. The general etiquette is not really well known or easily found on the Internet since McKinsey, as well as BCG and other top firms, host and invite only a small number of people. Four types of McKinsey networking events (consulting) First, it's important that you understand what kinds of McKinsey group networking or other consulting firm (e.g. BCG, Bain, Deloitte, etc.) networking sessions you may be attending as part of the case interview recruitment process. There are 4 major types. The first two are where you will not receive a personal invite. Let's assume that you belong to a major university like the University of…

Client Testimonials

Picking McKinsey over BCG with a 15% lower salary

My Michael Moment occured after I had received offers from BCG and McKinsey and was trying to debate the best choice. BCG offered me 15% larger package overall and a higher signing bonus. I sent Michael a short note on Skype explaining my decision and intimating that the extra money would pay for a nice vacation with my wife. I received a note saying that money was not everything and I should choose the firm which I felt had a partner who could personally mentor me. Michael gave me 4 things to think about: • I would only progress to partner if a partner took me under his wings and mentored me. I should think about which firm was not more likely to do that. • 15% + higher immediate salary translates into very little over a 5 to 10 year career. I should think about the lifetime value of the decision and not the short term value. • A firm that pays more will have a reason for doing that. No one is that generous. I needed to think carefully about the gap for which the money was compensating. Was it training, the type of engagements etc.? • Don’t…

Client Testimonials

Fulbright Scholar on McKinsey, BCG requirements

My Michael Moment happened during a pitifully sad email I sent to me him asking for advice. I was a Fulbright Scholar studying in the US and my applications to LEK, Deloitte, Monitor, Oliver Wyman and Booz had been rejected. I wanted to know what to do since MBB were much tougher and the weaker firms were turning me down! Michael found it very amusing and mentioned that my early choices preferred consultants with consulting experience and sector knowledge. MBB preferred students without consulting experience and sector knowledge and being rejected by the others probably indicated I was a good fit for MBB! Just like that the sun came out in my life and I was happy again! That happened 2 days before my own birthday so I am happy to return the favor for Michael. My other moment occured when I was scared to apply to New York. Michael gave this very funny analogy. He said the McKinsey New York office was like the most glamorous fair lady at the prom. Everyone wanted to dance with her but everyone was too sacred to ask. So she ended up getting too few offers! I thought that was really funny, but…

Client Testimonials

MBA graduate on proper case preparation

My Michael Moment took place in my first session. I had had a long week working on a new assignment, coming home around 11pm every night and procrastinating my case preparation. For my first session at 9pm on Friday night I decided to wing it with no practice and I did not watch the videos. How bad could it be? Very bad. Michael stopped my session 5 minutes in and explained that it was clear I had not watched the videos or done any practising. He did it in a nice way and did not blame me for anything. He also explained that he gets a printout from of my video watching patterns so he knew what I did and did not watch, and which parts of the video I had skipped over. Yikes! He just explained that I needed to be better prepared or the sessions will focus on simple things I could learn by myself. We continued chatting for another 15 minutes as Michael suggested changes to my preparation and planning. Anyone else would have billed me for that time and accused me of wasting time. Michael did not even talk about that. We just cancelled the time…

Client Testimonials

To McKinsey Asia from unranked school

My Michael Moment is more like moments! The best thing I learned from Michael is to believe! During my applications it was bad, Bad, BAD. No one was responding to my emails and one LinkedIn member told me my school was too weak to consider and I should do an MBA to improve my chances. I was frustrated and dragging myself around in a deep funk. Michael got me to understand I should not feel sorry for the choices I made due to a lack of finances. He discussed his own life journey as a full scholarship student through high school and graduate school. That was an inspiring story to see how he made partner. The criticism of my school did not stop during interviews but Michael armed me with the belief and responses to professionally deflect them and make the interviewer focus on my own skills. Michael always told me, "you have to play the cards you have and take the shot when it opens. No one person has the cards they want. Some people who go to elite schools want you to feel bad about your school since it makes them elite. Don’t fall for that. You must…

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

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.