Hi everyone! I have an interview with Bain next week, but I'm not sure if I'm prepared enough. How long does it usually take someone to be fully prepared for an interview with BAIN? Also, is it in English or the office's native language?

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the invitation from Bain!

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

• First of all, if you’ve only done two proper case studies with someone so far and still feel unsure about your English, I would advise you to contact the recruiter as soon as possible to request a postponement. Bain, like all other consulting firms, is usually flexible if asked early enough.
• Moreover, I would strongly advise you to focus on your preparation in the coming weeks, both for the case study interviews and the behavioral interview. Most candidates prepare for weeks or even months, so you really don't want to improvise during your interviews.
• Lastly, the interview language will depend on the country and your preferences. I would advise you to simply ask the recruiter, which is totally okay and shows you’re preparing seriously.

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 case study and behavioral interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

The interview will likely be conducted in the local language, but you’d be able to do it in English as well as the minority of interviewers might not speak the office’s local language fluently (e.g., internal transfers). 

The level of prep required to pass an interview differs significantly from candidate to candidate but your prep so far has been much less than that from candidates who end up receiving offers. Please feel free to reach out for a free chat to discuss what could still be the most impactful way in which you can improve your preparation in a short term.

Hi there,

definitely contact HR and ask about the language in which the interview will be conducted. This should not be a surprise and will be totally fine to ask HR.

I’d recommend you practice as many realistic mock interviews as possible in the language of your interview. This will make you much more confident during the actual interview and helps you focus on the content and interviewer.

Feel free to reach out to coaches from your target country / who offer the required language. I’d be happy to help you prep in German or English.

Kind regards 

Kevin

Hi there, 

Sorry to hear you have this tight timeline. 

The average prep time is ~2 months or around 100h. But this is a gross average. The reality is that everybody starts from a different place, they have different timelines, different strengths and weaknesses and so on. The average doesn't tell you much. 

The fact that you've done only 2 mock interviews and you're not confident in English is honestly not a great sign. You should ask for a more time. This is perfectly normal and a solution about a third of candidates resort to (postponing). 

You might also consider getting some expert support to run with you a proper baselining case to see where you are and how can you close the gap to being interviewing ready in the most efficient manner. 

Best,
Cristian

Hello ! I do not want to stress you out, but most candidates will have done tens of mock cases before they do a real interview. I you don't feel ready, I would advice discussing with HR whether the interviews can be postponed, and / or to work with a coach who will be able to help you pinpoint your weaknesses and improve on them in a limited timeframe. Best of luck !

Hi there,

1) How long does it usually take someone to be fully prepared for an interview with BAIN? 

It depends on the current level of the candidate and the material used for the preparation. Starting from zero, it is not uncommon to have to put 100+ hours to be ready for interviews, although it might be less with coaching or good material.

If you don’t feel ready, you can ask HR if it is possible to postpone.

2) Also, is it in English or the office's native language?

In Europe, the language is usually the one of the country where the interview takes place, unless otherwise indicated by HR. Part of the interview might be in English as well, to test your English skills.

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi, 

While different individuals would need different amounts of preparation to get ready, only 2 mock interviews do sound too few to be prepared. I would suggest you go back to the recruiting team to postpone the interview for another 3-4 weeks if possible. And within the additional time, do more practices of different types of cases. Do remember to practice your chart/exhibit reading also, as Bain case tends to have more of those.

Best,

Emily

Hey there :)

Prep time depends, but most need ~4 weeks or ~30–40 hours total. With just 2 mocks, you likely need more practice, especially for communication and pressure. Interviews are usually in the local office language, unless noted otherwise, so check your invite!

best,
Alessa :)