When preparing for a case interview, especially under time constraints, working with an experienced coach can significantly enhance your chances of success.
💡 Pro Tip: PrepLounge offers access to over 800 (former) management consultants from top firms like McKinsey, BCG, and Bain, who are ready to help you perfect your interview technique.
What Are the Key Advantages of Practicing With a Coach?
Personalized Feedback
One of the primary benefits of working with a case coach is receiving tailored feedback. Unlike general preparation methods, a coach can pinpoint your specific weaknesses and provide actionable advice to improve. This personalized approach ensures that your preparation is efficient and targeted, addressing your unique needs and challenges.
Realistic Simulation
Practicing with a coach allows you to experience a realistic interview setting. Coaches who have conducted numerous case interviews can replicate the pressure and dynamics of a real interview, helping you become more comfortable and confident. This experience is invaluable, as it prepares you to handle the stress and spontaneity of actual interviews.
Insider Knowledge
Experienced coaches often come from prestigious consulting backgrounds themselves. Their insider knowledge about what top firms are looking for can give you a significant edge. They can share insights about the interview process, common pitfalls, and the specific attributes that firms value, ensuring that you are well-prepared to meet these expectations.
Structured Approach
A coach can help you develop a structured approach to solving case problems. This structured thinking is crucial in case interviews, where clear, logical, and well-organized answers are highly valued. Coaches can teach you frameworks and methodologies that streamline your problem-solving process, making your responses more coherent and compelling.
Time Efficiency
For candidates with limited preparation time, coaching is a highly efficient way to get ready. Coaches can quickly identify areas that need improvement, helping you focus your efforts where they are most needed. This targeted preparation can save you time and help you progress faster than you would on your own.
Confidence Boost
Confidence plays a crucial role in interview performance. Regular practice with a coach can boost your confidence by familiarizing you with the interview format and helping you refine your answers. Knowing that you have prepared thoroughly with expert guidance can significantly reduce anxiety and improve your overall performance.
How PrepLounge Optimally Supports You With a Wide Range of Coaching Options
🚀 Flexibility and Convenience
PrepLounge offers a variety of coaching options to fit your needs and preferences. You can choose from individual sessions, CV reviews, or comprehensive coaching packages that include multiple sessions or focus on specific topics. Additionally, there are programs available that combine a premium membership with coaching credits, providing a cost-effective way to access top-notch coaching services.
📅 Workshops and Online Events
PrepLounge also regularly hosts workshops and online events led by experienced coaches. These sessions cover a range of topics and provide opportunities for interactive learning and direct feedback. Participating in these events can further enhance your preparation and keep you updated on the latest trends and techniques in case interviews.
How to Find the Perfect Coach to Suit Your Needs
To find the perfect coach for your case interview preparation, you can proceed in three steps within the coach overview:
Filtering: Begin by filtering the coaches based on your most important criteria, such as price per coaching session, or employer.
Selection: Choose up to 10 coaches whose profiles, ratings, Q&A contributions, and PrepLounge awards you wish to explore further.
Contacting: Reach out to 2-3 coaches to address any potential questions or concerns about their coaching approach. Feel free to ask if they offer a free intro call.
What Makes a Good Coach?
Good coaches are characterized by the following features:
Customization: they tailor the coaching to your specific needs.
Good rapport: They make you feel comfortable and work well with them.
Transparency: They offer you full transparency about the coaching process on PrepLounge.
Final Thoughts on Working With a Coach
Practicing with a coach is a strategic investment in your case interview preparation. The personalized feedback, realistic simulation, insider knowledge, and confidence boost that coaches provide can make a significant difference in your performance. With the expert guidance available on PrepLounge, you can ensure that you are thoroughly prepared and ready to excel in your case interviews.
By leveraging the expertise of experienced case coaches and taking advantage of the diverse coaching options and events available on PrepLounge, you can maximize your preparation efficiency, build your confidence, and increase your chances of securing a position at a top consulting firm.
Attire for MBB summer internship final round interview (London)
1 hr
< 100
5
Best answer by
Udayan
Congratulations on making it to the final round! I would say err on the formal side - so maybe a suit or a suit with no tie. Avoid being too casual - mainly so you don't worry about how you appear during the interview and can focus on your performance instead. All the best, Udayan
dont wait. your current window is ideal. apply through grad recruiting in October By October 2026, you'll have roughly 19 months of total experience. MBB experienced hire thresholds generally sit at 2-4 years minimum, with the post-MBA Associate level requiring either an advanced degree or 6-7 years of experience. You don't clear either bar yet, and you don't need to. On the "experienced hire at Analyst level" confusion: Yes, McKinsey and BCG do have an experienced undergraduate / experienced pre-MBA track, but that's still grad-level recruiting, just a separate pipeline for candidates 1-3 years out who missed campus cycles. You'd enter through that same band, not as a specialist hire. On waiting for the healthcare/life science angle: Don't. Your background is already a differentiator at the BA/Analyst/AC level right now. MBB healthcare practices do recruit generalists from grad cycles; deep domain expertise is a nice-to-have, not a requirement at entry level. Waiting another 2-3 years to become a "true" experienced hire means more years in a boutique when you could be building the brand now. What I would do: Apply October through grad/experienced undergrad track at all three Lead with your healthcare market research + boutique consultancy combo as a tight narrative Signal interest in the healthcare practice in cover letters, not just in interviews
It sounds like you're in a tough spot, and it's completely understandable to question a path that isn't making you happy, especially when you're already demonstrating strong potential in recruiting. This isn't just about career choices; it's about making a decision that aligns with your well-being and long-term goals. From a consulting perspective, firms care about a compelling narrative and tangible experience. While a Master's degree is often a tick-box, which Master's and what you do with it matters significantly more. Simply pushing through a program you dislike, staying in a city you don't enjoy, and accumulating a degree without enthusiasm can actually weaken your story. Your current strong GPA (1.5 is excellent in Europe, by the way) and interview success at boutiques and even OW without specific prep are strong signals that you have the raw talent. Taking a strategic gap year to pursue a meaningful internship abroad, especially in a sector or function that aligns with your consulting aspirations, could be a much stronger move for your career profile than enduring an unhappy Master's. It demonstrates initiative, resourcefulness, and a clear sense of direction – qualities highly valued in consulting. If you use that year to build a fantastic internship experience and then pivot to a more targeted Master's (abroad, if that's what you want), you'll present a much more coherent and impressive profile. Don't underestimate the power of a proactive, well-narrated career move. Hope this helps you think it through! All the best.
Best preparation strategy & resources for MBB interviews Italy - looking for real experiences
1 hr
< 100
6
Best answer by
Shri
Hi, super exciting that you are now starting your interview preparation. I will try to answer as someone who landed an offer at BCG as an Associate back in 2019, and who has conducted many interviews for MBB candidates since then: There is nothing wrong with 'standard materials' - it is more important how you use them. I used Case in Point to understand basic frameworks applicable to different types of problems, and then jumped right into the cases at the back by asking friends/parents/sibling to play the role of the interviewer. I did not bother to read the rest (some people prefer to read through materials fully and this is fine too.) Note: Not everyone has access to the same people and resources - I used what was available to me at the time. Yes, strategy is constantly evolving as tech / AI become increasingly important to MBB clients, and older prep materials may not capture this in their frameworks and cases; however, there is a lot that still holds true: The basics around profit and loss, market entry, cost optimization, growth etc. are still super relevant to clients today. One aspect of preparation I will always stand by is never doing a full case on one's own - for me, it was much better to try and simulate a real case environment. Based on what I had seen from YouTube videos and heard from others in MBB, I asked my 'interviewers' to be direct, objective and guide me just enough in the event that I got stuck. I got stuck a lot :). I had to keep feeling uncomfortable for the first 10 or so cases until suddenly I started improving, applied my frameworks less generically, conducted analyses with more confidence and actually enjoyed the process of solving problems. Everyone has a different threshold - some people can crack the case after 5 cases, some require 30+. The quality of each case experience is very important and can mean you reach your threshold quicker. If you do not have someone to tell you how you are doing, self-assessment becomes key. You need to be able to honestly rate yourself across problem definition, question asking, framework application and structuring, quant and qual. analysis, recommendations and next steps. You can work on each part on your own and then test yourself when you do the full mock interview with someone else. Feel free to reach out if you'd like an elaboration on any of the above!Shri
Hi Ashish, You actually have a strong differentiator — you just need to frame it correctly. On leveraging your STEM background Don’t present DRDO and ISRO as “prestigious.” Present them as proof of Analytical rigor Working on complex, high-stakes systems Handling ambiguity and technical depth Solving structured problems under constraints Consulting firms love candidates who can say:“I worked on complex aerospace systems where small design decisions had large downstream impact. That trained me to think in structured cause–effect logic.” Translate everything into business language Optimization Trade-offs Data analysis Stakeholder coordination Quantifiable impact That’s how you stand out during screening. On the 3-month manufacturing experience Yes, include it — short experiences are not red flags if they are real. You don’t need to proactively explain the banking issue on your CV. If asked in interviews, keep it simple and factual: “There was a temporary personal/administrative issue that required my attention. It has been resolved.” No over-explaining. No drama. Keep it calm and forward-looking. What matters most is Your trajectory Your performance Your clarity of goals Your technical background is an asset if you translate it into structured thinking and impact. Happy to help you position your CV strategically if helpful BestEvelina
you should send the below email to HR:Dear McKinsey Team, (or actual name if you know)I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to follow up on my application and check whether there are any updates following the completion of my Solve assessment.I remain very enthusiastic about the opportunity to join McKinsey and am genuinely excited about the possibility of contributing to the team. I would also like to transparently mention that I am currently progressing through interview processes at a few other firms, with decisions expected in the coming weeks. That said, McKinsey is my top preference, and I would love to align timelines if at all possible.Please let me know if there is any additional information I can provide to support the process. I truly appreciate your time and look forward to hearing from you.
Hi there, A 5-month consulting stint is usually not what’s causing automatic rejections. Most ATS systems don’t reject based on tenure length — they filter based on keywords, formatting, and match to job description. Deleting the role is generally not advisable, especially if it was legitimate experience. Instead, I’d suggest: Optimize your CV for ATS by mirroring keywords from the job description Use standard section headers (Experience, Education, Skills) Avoid graphics, tables, or complex formatting Quantify impact clearly with action verbs Make sure relevant tools, industries, and skills appear explicitly If you’re getting mostly automated rejections, it’s more likely a keyword alignment issue than the 5 months. You can also slightly reframe it as “Consultant” without overemphasizing duration, and focus on impact rather than timeline. Happy to help you review your CV and improve ATS alignment if useful BestEvelina
Hi there,
It is the best way to buy official GMAT books and doing all questions by making sure that you understand everything. (including understanding why wrong answers are wrong)
The best and probably the only website you need is gmatclub.com
Best
Serhat
Questions about market size are frequently asked in case interviews in consulting because they require a blend of logic, mathematics, and common sense. They can be asked as standalone questions or as part of a larger case. Applicants who are familiar with market sizing questions can really perform here.
Market entry cases are one of the key issues in the consulting industry and present consultants and firms with unique challenges and opportunities. These cases require deep analysis and strategic planning to successfully enter new markets.
Brainteasers are a type of problem that focuses on a single issue rather than complex business cases. They require out-of-the-box thinking, logic or math skills and can take the form of riddles, word problems or visual puzzles. These tasks are designed to test your problem-solving skills, analytical thinking and ability to remain calm under pressure.Typical problems cover everyday life's topics and might even include unrealistic assumptions. All necessary information is usually included in the question so that further assumptions are not necessary. This article explains in more detail why brainteasers are useful in case interview preparation and how to solve them.