Case Interview Preparation & Management Consulting | Strategy

Latest Episodes:

141: Damaging Resume Cliches Across Firms Jun 29, 2013

Show notes

Editing out cliches from Deloitte and Accenture resumes tends to take up the majority of time when we work with candidates from these firms, and the other accounting firms like PWC, E&Y and KPMG. Typically, when we start the editing sessions, it is very difficult for the client to see how vague and misleading their resume really is. This podcast explains this concept and can be used to edit your own resume.

140: Watching cases Vs. Listening to Cases Jun 23, 2013

Show notes

When learning cases, it is far more effective to watch a person on Skype or in person. The problem with merely practicing over the phone or another verbal format is that you cannot observe crucial mannerisms or allow your practice partner to observe you. The only time practicing verbally makes sense is when you have a very experienced person working with you and they can infer things about your performance based on their experience. We advice most clients to practice in person should the opportunity present itself.

139: Neat Calculation Sheets Are Important Jun 17, 2013

Show notes

This podcast explains why neatness and writing style is so important. It is really surprising how little care candidates take in writing in an appealing way, considering that is all the interviewer can see for the 30-45 minute case. Neat writing will not get you an offer, but it can be an annoying distraction both to you and the interviewer.

138: McKinsey Weak School Jun 11, 2013

Show notes

Entering BBM with a weak school on your resume can create problems. Though, all of them tend to be created by the candidates themselves. These consultants tend to have so many incorrect preconceived ideas of the firm that even when a McKinsey partner tells them something, they tend to go with their preconceived ideas. As strange as that may sound, that is what we have seen happen in many cases. There are certain things you can do this alter this spiral, should it occur.

137: Mathematical Precision Hurts Jun 05, 2013

Show notes

As counter-intuitive as this sounds, mathematical precision in cases hurts most candidates. Many candidates focus heavily on being mathematically correct because it is far easier to see if your answer of $230MM is the same as the prescribed answer of $250MM. It is human nature to focus on what can be easily measured versus focusing on what should be measured. Candidates tend to confuse mathematical precision with being analytic. They are not the same and candidates should focus on being analytic, as explained in this podcast.

136: Speaking Advice for Cases May 30, 2013

Show notes

If you read forums worldwide everyone is obsessed with cracking the case. Yet, most people cannot communicate like a consultant. We hope by reading this post, candidates spend an equal, if not more, time focusing on their communication skills as well. If you cannot speak like a consultant, you cannot be a consultant.

135: How to Run a Case Competition May 24, 2013

Show notes

We are not fans of case competitions. They do not teach the skills need by BCG and McKinsey nor do they matter when it comes to interviews. The dean of a European business school recently gave us carte-blanche to design the perfect case competition. This long podcast outlines the approach we took and why we followed this approach.

134: Rise of Asian Female PhD Candidates May 18, 2013

Show notes

The rise of Asian female doctoral case candidates is one of the most important trends in management consulting. This is a large and dynamic group of case candidates who are underrepresented in consulting firms, poorly mentored and largely ignored. Consulting firms can do better to manage them, and should. We explain how and why. Since late 2011, Firmsconsulting has actively worked with PhD candidates, females in particular, to understand their unique needs and design techniques to address these needs. Much of this can be seen in Season One of the Consulting Offer with Felix.

133: Failing to Provide Sufficient Case Detail May 12, 2013

Show notes

Candidates are typically surprised to hear they have been declined for not providing sufficient details in a case interview. It usually surprises them since they believe they have provided more than enough case information detail. The difference comes down to how consulting firms define "detail". They are looking for facts and the relationships between issues, while candidates tend to speak in broader terms and are not very good at identifying and explaining the linkages between issues.

132: So-What Rule for FIT And Writing May 06, 2013

Show notes

When thinking through a possible FIT / PEI or cover letter response, most candidates settle on the first idea that comes to mind. Future edits of this idea do not alter the idea, but merely rearrange the wording. That is a bad idea. We use the so-what rule when testing candidates. For their responses we constantly ask "so-what" until the candidate arrives at the core reason for their decision / answer. That core reason is what we want candidates to use.

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