Hi,
I just got the news that I passed the 1st round at one of the MBB companies. The recruiter told me that the only thing I could improve is to use 3-layers framework at the beginning. What she meant by that?
It was a sales performance case and I had a similar structure:
-Markt: size+growth+market share among the companies+new entrants
-Company: location+quality+distribution+product lines
Hey,
Firstly, congrats with passing 1st round! :) It's a greate achievement and keep moving! When your recruiter said “3-layers framework,” she probably meant that your structure should be built on three clear levels of analysis, not just two. Your framework is good, but it feels like it’s only two layers. What’s missing is a higher-level “headline buckets” that group everything into 2–3 main categories before going into details.
For example, for a sales performance case you could build it like this:
Layer 1: High-level drivers of sales
Layer 2: Sub-drivers
Layer 3: Specific analyses
This is where you list what exactly you’d calculate or test (e.g., “growth rate in segment A vs B,” “capacity of distribution centers,” “sales per rep,” etc.).
Thanks,
Marsel
Hi there,
Recruiters often say “three layers” because your structure was too surface level. In practice it means: Level 1 buckets, Level 2 subdrivers, and Level 3 quantifiable metrics. For example, instead of just saying “market size,” you would break that into “number of customers” and “average spend,” and then one layer deeper into “frequency of purchases.” At the end of the day, what they are really telling you is that your frameworks need more granularity to show depth of thinking. This is exactly the type of adjustment we drill in my Ace the Case Interview course, which helps you practice building robust multi-layered frameworks under pressure.
Hi! Love the feedback. It exactly exposes what is NOT taught in case books. And it is what young MBB consultants in their first years (before they start leading teams and projects) also haven't fully learned yet:
Most candidates hear ‘three layers’ and start adding bullets. That’s why they fail - because MBB firms don't look for lists. They are looking for a robust LOGIC.
So when they said “three layers”, they were NOT asking for more bullets!
They were asking for a logic that actually answers the client’s question.
And “sales performance case” isn’t a question, it’s just context.
The real question could be one of three types:
1. Go/No-Go Decision
Example: Should we launch a new sales initiative?
→ Logic: define the decision criterion (profitability), test if demand is big enough, if we can capture share, and if economics work.
2. Diagnostic
Example: Why did sales drop last quarter?
→ Logic: isolate the driver (volume, price, mix), dig into root causes (customers, reps, competition), and test with data.
3. Brainstorming
Example: How can we accelerate sales growth?
→ Logic: break sales into drivers (customers × frequency × spend), then generate ideas per lever (new segments, cross-sell, pricing).
That’s what “three layers” really means:
question → criterion → test.
Not a laundry list. Once you anchor your approach in the actual problem type, every layer flows naturally and feels sharp.
Hope this helps!
Sidi
___________________
Dr. Sidi S. Koné
Former Senior Engagement Manager & Interviewer at McKinsey | Former Senior Consultant at BCG | Co-Founder of The MBB Offer Machine™
Hi there,
Congrats on making it through the first round!
What they meant is that your framework is 2 layers right now:
A 3-layer version just takes it one step deeper — for example, under “market growth” you might look at demand drivers. It’s about showing you can break things down in more detail when needed.
Hi there,
Congrats on passing round 1! What the recruiter likely meant by a “3-layer framework” is that each bucket you present should be broken down into sub-buckets (2nd layer) and sometimes sub-sub-buckets (3rd layer), so your structure feels deeper and more MECE.
For example, in a sales performance case, instead of just:
You’d go a level deeper, e.g.:
This way you’re showing not just categories, but also how you’d actually break them down to analyze. It signals more depth and precision right from the start.
Happy to help you prep – feel free to reach out!
Best,
Evelina
You basically don't have the specific questions you are trying to answer, and just named "topics" that you want to explore. That 3rd level is the critical one, as they should be the questions that actually drive the answer.
Congrats on making it to the next round! By “3 layers,” the recruiter likely meant adding more depth to each branch of your framework, e.g., instead of just “market,” break it down into sub-drivers (size → growth drivers → barriers to entry). So your framework looks more like:
Market
→ Size & growth
→ Segmentation & trends
→ Competition & substitutes
Company
→ Product lines & pricing
→ Distribution & reach
→ Operations & costs
This shows structured thinking with multiple layers, not just broad buckets.
Best, Alessa
Congrats!
When you receive feedback that doesn't make sense, do ask for additional clarifications / details. It's a useful habit to develop even for when you'll be on the job.
What I assume she meant is that your structure needs more depth. Meaning, more layers. Not just 3 high level areas with some bullet points under each, but rather sub-areas that then have their own bullet points.
That being said, I wouldn't take this as a rule of thumb. Some structures require more granularity than others, so you should just try and do what's most relevant for each case.
Best,
Cristian
In short, she meant to go deeper in the framework. In addition to what other coaches have said, I would also encourage you not to forget to prioritize where to go deep (80/20).
All the best!
