Bain US ACI Interview Case Style

Question

Hi, what should I expect for the Bain interviews for the associate consultant intern role? I understand Bain is more math heavy, so what kind of formula/metrics should I focus on (graphs, ROI, profitability, payback period)? Also heard Bain interviews have been a bit different thing year -- any insights?

Answer 1

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the (presumed) invitation from Bain!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your questions:

First of all, the only difference between Bain case studies and, e.g., BCG case studies is their length, as Bain case studies usually take a bit more time. Therefore, you may potentially have to do more calculations, but the focus is certainly not more on quantitative questions, nor are they necessarily more difficult.
Moreover, based on the experience of coachees of mine, the interview process hasn't changed from last year.

You can find more on this topic here: How to succeed in the final interview round.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming Bain interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Answer 2

Hi there,

I have not heard of any major differences to last couple of years.

A couple of points:

Interviews are not more math heavy than for other firms. No specific need to learn any formulas or concepts
Interviews tend to have a focus area instead of a mix as it is common for other firms, e.g., if there are 3 interviews it could be 1 full fit, 2 full cases or 1 full fit, 1 case, 1 market sizing interview
Fit includes a mix of general resume questions, fit questions, stories, and sometimes hypothetical scenarios

In a nutshell, I would not recommend any kind of different prep compared to all other firms.

All the best,

Florian

Answer 3

All of that :) You have to prepare for all components of a case.

There's no meaningful difference in interviews (i.e. required skills) between consulting firms.