When preparing for a case interview, especially under time constraints, working with an experienced coach can significantly enhance your chances of success.
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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
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📅 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.
If you discover product defects on a day off, would you call the boss?
1 hr
4.2k
49
Best answer by
Oleksandr (Alex)
Hello,
This is type of questions which distincts people with a good ownership skills. In principle, depends on the criticallity of the situation, you shall try to solve it with all and every manner and tools by yourself, unless the potential negative impact from the delay (during which you will try to change anything) is much larger than the implicit value from your actions.
For example, if your product's defect is minor or if you may stop the line w/o large issue on the client's side or penalty on your side - pls make the fixting or replacement. However, if your product is time-sensitive, clients need it urgently, delay will cause your company significant amount of money or you can't fix it - then you need to get your boss involved.
What your boss may potentially do (and what you may potentially be willing to do)? Well, sometimes it's better approach your boss, because he/she has more responsibilities, broader vision of the context, etc.
But the real ownership quality is shown when (for any reason) there is no boss above? Then you may consider the following:
* Inform the client about it and ask his advice on the situation to understand urgency, propose him discount, product substitution, extra services, etc.
* Buy the same/similar product at your own cost from 3rd party supplier and deliver it to the client w/o him being aware of your problems
* Inform the client about the delay, and promise him to deliver it with no cost for him. Thus you will definitely discover what you shall be doing in order to avoid such collapses in the future.
Hope this helps,
Good question.
I always state, prior to responding, that personal fit questions are more important to the applicant than to the firm. One must always be genuine with their answers because it's critical that you work at a firm that is aligned with your own values, work style, approach to teamwork, and standards.
Personally, I would want a right hand that challenges me: (a) to think more logically and with more depth (b) to see different perspectives (c) to complement my skillsets. At the same time, I would like a person that's very positive and has an attitude of 'everything is achievable and possible' yet in a pragmatic way. Not a dreamer, but a person with a positive attitude that does not fear creative ideas.
Rakan
What works for me in interviews: First, anchor on the question.Before looking at numbers, be clear what you are solving for (profit, growth, root cause). Otherwise you just talk and do not answer anything. Then scan the basics fast.Title, axes, units, timeframe, legend. 10 seconds. This avoids stupid mistakes. Start with the big pattern.Do not go bar by bar. Look for what really moves the result: biggest driver, clear trend, outliers.Open with a top line like: “Overall, performance is down, mainly driven by APAC.” Use rough numbers only.Interviewers do not care about precision. They care about direction and scale.“Down ~20%, most of the drop from one region.” Always add the “so what”.Describing the chart is not enough. You need to link it to the case.“APAC is the problem, so the issue is likely local demand or pricing, not the global product.” End by pushing the case forward.Say what you would look at next.“This suggests I should split volume vs price in APAC next.”
Totally fair and normal for you to follow up. How to do it well: Be factual and calm Do not frame it as pressure or an ultimatum Be explicit that the T2 firm is your first choice Suggested structure: Thank them Mention competing offer and deadline State clearly that they are your top choice Ask about expected timing or alignment Template u could use Hi ... Thanks again for the final round earlier this week. I wanted to share a quick update: I’ve received another offer with a response deadline of ... Your firm is my clear first choice, so I wanted to check whether you have visibility on the decision timeline or if it might be possible to align decisions. If they are a yes, this often accelerates things. If they are still debating, they will usually tell you transparently. Either way, you lose nothing by reaching out.
1 month to prep for McKinsey Interview Private Capital
6 hrs
< 100
5
Best answer by
Evelina
Hi there, With one month and no prior casing experience, the key is to keep your prep focused and structured, not to try to cover everything. Here’s a practical way to approach it for a McKinsey Private Capital BA interview: Week 1: Foundations Learn the McKinsey interviewer-led case format (how cases flow, what interviewers expect) Understand basic case structures (profitability, market entry, investment decision) Start light mental math and exhibit reading drills Watch 1–2 example McKinsey-style cases to understand pacing Week 2: Core case skills Start doing live cases (at least 3–4 this week) Focus on structuring clearly, explaining logic out loud, and synthesizing Don’t worry about speed yet — clarity matters more Begin adapting your REPE mindset to cases (returns, value creation, risks) Week 3: Private Capital focus Practice PE-style cases: commercial due diligence, market attractiveness, growth levers, cost/value creation Get comfortable discussing investment logic, risks, and feasibility Improve exhibit interpretation and quick math Refine your PEI stories (leadership, conflict, drive) Week 4: Polish Fewer cases, higher quality (mock interviews if possible) Focus on synthesis, top-down recommendations, and confidence Practice handling ambiguity calmly Your REPE background is a real advantage for Private Capital — you already think in terms of value, risk, and returns. The main thing you need to build is case interview mechanics and communication, not business intuition. If useful, I can help you map this into a week-by-week plan or do a fast-track mock to get you oriented quickly. Best,Evelina
Hi Neha,Revolut’s problem-solving interview is closer to an MBB-style case, but with a much stronger operational and ownership lens.What they’re really testing across the three dimensions:1) Problem solvingYou’ll still need clear structure and logic, but expect the problem to be more practical and execution-oriented. Focus on breaking the problem down cleanly, prioritizing what matters most, and working comfortably with numbers and trade-offs. Perfect frameworks matter less than showing good judgment.2) CreativityThis isn’t about “crazy ideas,” but about generating thoughtful, non-obvious options. Show that you can think beyond the first obvious solution, consider different levers, and adapt if constraints change. Being flexible in your thinking is key.3) Independence / ownershipThis is where it differs most from consulting. Revolut wants to see that you can take initiative, make decisions with incomplete information, and move things forward without constant guidance. Be decisive, explain your assumptions, and don’t wait for permission to act.How to prepare: Use MBB-style cases as a base, but always ask yourself “how would I actually execute this?” Practice driving to a recommendation quickly, then discussing implementation risks and next steps Get comfortable taking a clear stance and defending it Avoid over-structuring or waiting for prompts — show ownershipIf you approach it like a real business problem where you’re accountable for the outcome, rather than a textbook case, you’ll be well aligned with what Revolut is looking for.For further guidance / practice of real-feel Revolut cases feel free to reach out :)Best,Evelina
This format is just emerging now and there isn't a lot of reliable information about it. I also don't want to tell you the same things that you've probably already read on blogs from consulting platforms. My advice instead would be that you reach out to the recruiter and you try to squeeze more details from them. They tend to be quite helpful. Ask if they can guide you towards similar materials you could practice on. Tell them that you want to ensure you are as prepared as possible because it's such an important opportunity for you. Best,Cristian
Hi there, Happy to clarify — this first BCG step can feel confusing if you haven’t seen it before. What does the task look like?For the first case assessment, you are usually alone, not speaking to a live interviewer. There is no virtual person reacting to you in real time. It’s a structured online case or assessment where you work through prompts, questions, and exhibits on your own within a fixed time window. Do you speak or type? Can you write notes?You’re typically expected to type your answers, not speak on video. You can absolutely use pen and paper or a notebook to structure your thoughts, do calculations, or sketch frameworks — that’s encouraged. Just make sure your final answers are clearly reflected in what you submit on screen. How to prepare effectivelyThe biggest tips are: Practice clear, structured written answers, not just verbal casing Get comfortable interpreting exhibits quickly and drawing 1–2 key insights Keep answers concise and top-down — don’t try to explain everything Manage time carefully; it’s easy to overinvest in one question Think like a consultant: clarify the objective, prioritize, then answer This is less about perfection and more about showing structured thinking under time pressure. What recent candidates experiencePeople often say the hardest part is pacing and resisting the urge to overthink. Those who do well tend to keep calm, stick to simple logic, and focus on answering the exact question asked rather than trying to impress. If you want, I can also help you map out a short, focused prep plan for this first step so you don’t burn out before the live interviews.Best, Evelina
Breaking the into MBB with PhD in Industry with >5 year experience
9 hrs
< 100
4
Best answer by
Margot
Hi there, This is a very realistic pivot, but the path matters a lot at your experience level. With 6+ years in big pharma research, AI/ML exposure, and a PhD, you are not too junior for consulting, but you are too senior for the classic “fresh PhD” Advanced Degree intake. That intake is optimized for recent graduates, not industry seniors. Here are the most viable routes, in order of practicality: 1. Target life sciences specialist roles firstAt MBB and firms like L.E.K. Consulting, your strongest entry point is Life Sciences Specialist, Expert, or Knowledge roles that sit close to case teams. These roles value deep therapeutic, R&D, and pipeline expertise and often allow transition into generalist consulting later if performance is strong. This is the cleanest way to leverage your pharma depth without being down-leveled too aggressively. 2. Experienced-hire consulting roles at boutiquesLife science focused firms like L.E.K. are structurally better at absorbing senior industry profiles into true consulting roles. Compared to McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, or Bain & Company, boutiques are more flexible on title, case mix, and ramp-up. If your goal is hands-on strategy work quickly, this path often dominates MBB in the first 2–3 years. 3. EMBA as a repositioning tool, not a requirementAn EMBA like the one at Berkeley Haas School of Business can help, but only if used deliberately. It will not automatically unlock MBB consulting roles. Its real value is:• Structured networking with consulting partners• On-campus access to experienced-hire pipelines• Reframing you from “senior scientist” to “commercial strategy leader” If you do an EMBA, you must start networking with consulting firms from month one, not wait until graduation. 4. How to position your profileYour pitch should not be “scientist learning consulting.” It should be:• Translating R&D and AI insights into portfolio strategy• Advising leadership on pipeline prioritization and investment decisions• Bridging science and commercial decision making This framing matters more than your degrees at this stage.
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.