Hi there,

Sorry to hear :/

If you really want to maximize your odds, hire a coach. Something isn't working…coaches are here to fix that.

In terms of getting ready, I recommend the following:

1. Take a break. Enjoy December and the holiday period. Rest & reset.
2. Get started with your “drills” in the new year. Like with a soccer team, it's not all about playing matches. You also have to train passing, shooting, drilling, stamina, etc. Here, that means daily reading, math, etc.
3. Setup a daily/weekly cadence and include breaks
4. Meet with a coach routinely to do a full assessment (and training/learning) so as to make sure you're on track
5. Read the following article I wrote on this topic: https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/pitfalls-case-interview-preparation

Hey there,

Sorry to hear that it didn't go through. If you are really determined to apply for the next batch, you can just relax for now because 6 months is a long enough time to be ready for your next interviews.

Since you will have enough time, I suggest going slowly yet steadily. This way, even when you are close to the interview dates, you will be self-confident to crack any case and you will not feel the urge to do 5 cases per day to see more case types. 

Also since you are not a beginner, you might already have an idea about where to focus. Rather than focusing on the micro improvement areas, I think it'd be better to focus on the high-level aspects (Such as case leadership, structuring, communication etc.)

Also, it would be nice to have a journal. Not for recording every piece of knowledge that you had in a day but for at least having an idea about the focus areas and the case types/industries you have covered.

All the best with your preparations!

Emre

Hi there,

First of all, I am so sorry to hear about the rejection!

This is indeed an interesting question which is probably relevant for a lot of users, thus I am happy to provide my perspective on it:

It can be disappointing to receive a rejection after preparing heavily for an interview, but it is important to keep things in perspective and not to let one setback discourage you. If the next batch of applications for most firms will not open until the second half of 2023, then it is important to maintain a balanced approach to your case preparation over the coming months.

Some possible ways to balance your ongoing case preparation during this wait period include:

• Continue to review and practice the core concepts and frameworks used in case interviews. This will help you to maintain your knowledge and skills, and will make it easier to ramp up your preparation closer to the application period.
• Keep an eye on the job market and the specific firms that you are interested in, and stay up to date on their recruitment process and timeline. This will help you to be ready when the application period opens, and will allow you to tailor your preparation to the specific firms and positions that you are interested in.
• Network and connect with other consultants, consultants-in-training, and other professionals in the consulting industry. This will give you the opportunity to learn from their experiences, to get insights into the consulting industry and the firms you are interested in, and to build relationships that may be helpful in the future.
• Take care of your overall well-being and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Consulting can be a demanding and competitive field, and it is important to maintain a healthy and balanced approach to your preparation and career goals. This will help you to stay motivated and focused, and will ensure that you are in the best position to succeed when the next application period opens.

In case you want a more detailed discussion on what to do in your specific situation, please feel free to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hello,

Sorry to hear that!

I have been in a similar situation. What I would recommend is:

1) Take some time off from case prep. Focus back on your job/study/other aspects of life.

2) After maybe 3-4 months, start dipping your toes in again into the process starting with doing a couple of mocks and assess where you stand. You will remember surprisingly more than you expect :)

3) Start focussing on sharpening your weak areas by doing drills (this could be quants, communications, structuring, anything!) 

4) A couple of months before your actual interviews, start ramping up your preparation with more mocks, learning industry insights and drills.

All the best!

Rushabh

Hi there,

since you have been through the process at least once before, you know now what to expect. Right now there is nothing to do for you if you don't expect to apply anywhere within the next six months. If you then pick up preparations again in a few months, I would want to focus on the following:

• Extract anything useful from the feedback you received after the interview that didn't work out
• Use the lead time you have to try to network with people from the companies you are planning to apply to to hopefully get some referrals
• Do some practice cases to get back into the swing
• Consider having a few sessions with a coach to hash out where your improvement areas are that you might not be aware of
• Leave enough time for breaks so that you can actually digest all of the things you are practicing

Best of luck

Hi there,

Whatever you do, the most important thing to remember is that when you practice, every case should be about getting better. Not practice just to stay fresh. If you aren't being deliberate about specific weaknesses and focusing on fixing those (or specific strengths and focusing on leveraging those further) you'll burn out and won't have the confidence to deliver during your next interview.

Hope this helps! I'm happy to elaborate further, just let me know.

Best,

Allen

(editiert)

Hey,

Take a break now and get away from all this. Pick it up when you feel ready and feel inspired to do so. You will have muscle memory from all the prep you have done so far.

Keep the weekly drills going and consider hiring a coach at an appropriate time close to the inteview dates. No need to over think the process and try to enjoy this journey. There is learning in everything you do and nothing goes waste.

All the best.