This article is from a series of articles on management consulting, covering the process for firms like McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Bain & Company, etc. You can access the previously published resources at:
While most students pick up a case book and solve mock cases with one another, they miss out on several nuances that help to improve their case-solving skills. This article will share insights on how to effectively utilize each mock case-solving session.
Time Spent on solving a mock case
While it is true that in an actual interview you will need to solve a case quickly and efficiently, you should not try to emulate that as you begin to practice mock cases. Initially, you should spend as much time as required, thinking through the case as you solve it, to really work on and improve your case solving skills. After you become confident with a given case type you can speed up the process and try to solve the case within the time constraints of an actual interview. If you rush from the start, you may not get your basics right.
Feedback - (After solving a mock case)
Extensive feedback is as important as solving the case itself. Do it immediately after you solve a case with your case buddy and spend sufficient time on it. Discuss both the strengths and areas of improvement so that you know both, what you’re right and should continue with and what you need to improve on. Make a note of all the feedback you receive and next time you solve a case, try to actively work on the feedback and improve on those areas. If you have multiple areas of improvement, don’t attempt to do them simultaneously. You can pick 1-2 at a time and work on them in one case-solving session.
Case discussion - (After solving a mock case)
Discuss with your case buddy, and analyze both the approach given in the case book and the approach taken by the person who solved that case. Identify if there are any better ways to solve the case. You can also conduct thought experiments, by changing a few facts of the case, and seeing whether the approach taken by you is robust and would still work even if the case facts changed.
Case Types
Don’t keep shifting from one case type to another. Stay at one case type and become familiar with it, and then move on to the next one. At later stages of your preparation, after you’re comfortable with multiple case types, you can go back and forth between case types.
To understand more on which case types to practice (such as profit, market-entry, pricing, etc.) and in which order, refer to this article: Management Consulting: How to strategically prepare for your interviews
Case Books
In the initial phases carefully select 1-2 case books and stick to it. If you keep shifting around multiple books, it could get confusing for you. At later stages of your preparation, you can juggle between multiple case books to gain more exposure to different types of cases.
To know the recommended case books and resources (such as Case Interviews Cracked, Case In Point, etc.) for your preparation, refer to this article: Management Consulting: How to strategically prepare for your interviews
Whom to solve cases with
Case solving is a pair or group activity. If you are unfamiliar with the process, read this article and then come back here. The majority of your case preparation will happen within your case group. After you’ve practiced sufficiently within your case group, you can solve cases with members of other case groups on your campus to get different perspectives.
Next, it is essential to solve at least 1-2 cases prior to your final interview, with consultants working in the field. The insights and feedback you receive from them will be very helpful. Some firms will directly put you in touch with junior consultants after you receive a shortlist, while others don’t. In such cases, you will need to actively network and seek out such individuals. Finally, try to solve at least one case with someone who is at a higher up on the ladder in a consulting firm, as finally they will be taking your interview and the insights you get from them will be most beneficial.
Your focus shouldn’t be on solving a maximum number of cases, but rather on getting your case solving skills in place. To understand more about what an interviewer looks for in a candidate, refer to this article. Keep these points in mind and as you practice mock cases.
Wishing you all the best with your preparation and upcoming interviews.
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