Experiences Bayer Business Consulting

Basically this information below is still correct, I noticed they only have a few cases they use and little variation there (was chatting with other people on the Recruiting day and got the same case later): 

- Portfolio analysis: Basically you are given the R+D pipeline of a company and you need to rank them (BCG-matrix style, see Pharma R+D case here on PrepLounge). Check how much money you can make over what timeframe and keep the risk in mind. Identify one target compound to acquire from a competitor which balances the portfolio for a medium timeframe.

- new product in Brazil. Problem of Sales Forecast-Production bottleneck. Quantify the problem, offer solutions (more frequent updates of forecast, constinuous and flexible production, import from other markets or even price increase). You will get more data with opinions from departments - communication problem, they all think in silos. Offer solutions to improve internal communication.

- One operations case that I dont have much information on, but check operations cases and you should be well prepared. 

Difficulty overall: 4/10 quantitative, 6/10 qualitative

1. The group exercise: There will be up to 4 candidates. Each Group member gets about 15 pages of preparation material and 45 min to read and prepare the case. In my case there was a company described almost exactly as the Bayer Company, but this fictitious Company had a bunch of problems. The task in the preparation time was to choose 2 lighthouse projects from a list of 6 projects that would solve the company’s problems. The twist was that we could choose one project freely, but the second project was given and mandatory in the preparation materials (and different for every candidate). After the preparation time they bring in about five people that will observe the group discussion. In the group discussion the group has to decide on two projects and present them together. They want to see that you are a leader, do not make the mistake of being a team player assuring that every team member can show a good performance, because they will interpret this negatively. Only mind your own performance.
2. The case: There will be too different case interviews. The “normal” case and the presentation case interview. Both are a form of the Mckinsey-style interview. At Mckinsey you will get a case introduction and a question that you answer. Next you will get more information and again another question. At BC you will get all the information up front and all the questions and then you will be asked to prepare the case on your own. In the “normal” case they give you about 10 min to prepare while they sit there and observe you. In the presentation case you get about 25 min to prepare, then the leave the room and afterwards you are asked to present the whole case. There were always two interviewers in room during all the interviews.

I hope this helps future candidates!

I would like to share my interviewing experience at the BC recruiting day and give some tips so future candidates can be better prepared:

1. The group exercise: There will be up to 4 candidates. Each Group member gets about 15 pages of preparation material and 45 min to read and prepare the case. In my case there was a company described almost exactly as the Bayer Company, but this fictitious Company had a bunch of problems. The task in the preparation time was to choose 2 lighthouse projects from a list of 6 projects that would solve the company’s problems. The twist was that we could choose one project freely, but the second project was given and mandatory in the preparation materials (and different for every candidate). After the preparation time they bring in about five people that will observe the group discussion. In the group discussion the group has to decide on two projects and present them together. They want to see that you are a leader, do not make the mistake of being a team player assuring that every team member can show a good performance, because they will interpret this negatively. Only mind your own performance.
2. The case: There will be too different case interviews. The “normal” case and the presentation case interview. Both are a form of the Mckinsey-style interview. At Mckinsey you will get a case introduction and a question that you answer. Next you will get more information and again another question. At BC you will get all the information up front and all the questions and then you will be asked to prepare the case on your own. In the “normal” case they give you about 10 min to prepare while they sit there and observe you. In the presentation case you get about 25 min to prepare, then the leave the room and afterwards you are asked to present the whole case. There were always two interviewers in room during all the interviews.

I hope this helps future candidates!

Hi 

Just curious if you completed this recruitment process and if you could offer any advice on what to expect?

Thanks in advance

https://www.mckinsey.com/careers/interviewing/globapharm

the actual case in the interview is so similar, I think it's derived from this one