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Practice with Coaches

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?

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:

How to Find the Perfect Coach to Suit Your Needs
  1. Filtering: Begin by filtering the coaches based on your most important criteria, such as price per coaching session, or employer.
  2. Selection: Choose up to 10 coaches whose profiles, ratings, Q&A contributions, and PrepLounge awards you wish to explore further.
  3. 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.

 

Take a Look at Our Coaches

Florian
Florian
5.0
644 Reviews
English, German
Austria (UTC +2)
Florian
Consulting
1600 5-star reviews across platforms | 700+ offers | Highest-rated case book on Amazon | Uni lecturer in US, Asia, EU
1600 5-star reviews across platforms | 700+ offers | Highest-rated case book on Amazon | Uni lecturer in US, Asia, EU
English, German
Austria (UTC +2)
USD 399 / hour
1,450 Coachings
40,218 Q&A Upvotes
199 Awards
USD 399 / hour
Francesco
Francesco
5.0
1,713 Reviews
English, Italian, Spanish
United Arab Emirates (UTC +4)
Francesco
Consulting
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success: ➡ interviewoffers.com | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success: ➡ interviewoffers.com | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching
English, Italian, Spanish
United Arab Emirates (UTC +4)
USD 999 / hour
4,729 Coachings
59,497 Q&A Upvotes
489 Awards
USD 999 / hour
Hagen
Hagen
5.0
1,170 Reviews
English, German
Germany (UTC +2)
Hagen
Consulting
Premium + Coaching
Globally top-ranked MBB coach | >95% success rate | 9+ years consulting, interviewing and coaching experience
Globally top-ranked MBB coach | >95% success rate | 9+ years consulting, interviewing and coaching experience
English, German
Germany (UTC +2)
USD 329 / hour
1,509 Coachings
41,842 Q&A Upvotes
198 Awards
USD 329 / hour
Casper
Casper
5.0
208 Reviews
English, Polish
Philippines (UTC +8)
Casper
Consulting
Premium + Coaching
1st session: -50% | Ex-Bain, Big 4 Recruiter | 12 yrs coaching | Great Price/Value | Free Intro Calls | Written Cases
1st session: -50% | Ex-Bain, Big 4 Recruiter | 12 yrs coaching | Great Price/Value | Free Intro Calls | Written Cases
English, Polish
Philippines (UTC +8)
USD 189 / hour
1,164 Coachings
8 Q&A Upvotes
68 Awards
USD 189 / hour
Cristian
Cristian
5.0
381 Reviews
English
Germany (UTC +2)
Cristian
Consulting
Most awarded MBB coach on the platform | verified 88% success rate | ex-McKinsey | Oxford | worked with ~400 candidates
Most awarded MBB coach on the platform | verified 88% success rate | ex-McKinsey | Oxford | worked with ~400 candidates
English
Germany (UTC +2)
USD 289 / hour
1,068 Coachings
58,809 Q&A Upvotes
233 Awards
USD 289 / hour
Alberto
Alberto
5.0
77 Reviews
English, Spanish
Spain (UTC +2)
Alberto
Consulting
Ex-McKinsey AP | Professional MBB Coach | +13yrs experience | +2,000 real interviews | +150 offers
Ex-McKinsey AP | Professional MBB Coach | +13yrs experience | +2,000 real interviews | +150 offers
English, Spanish
Spain (UTC +2)
USD 699 / hour
306 Coachings
11,462 Q&A Upvotes
92 Awards
USD 699 / hour
Benjamin
Benjamin
5.0
91 Reviews
English
Singapore (UTC +8)
Benjamin
Consulting
Premium + Coaching
Ex-BCG Principal | 8+ years consulting experience in SEA | BCG top interviewer & top performer
Ex-BCG Principal | 8+ years consulting experience in SEA | BCG top interviewer & top performer
English
Singapore (UTC +8)
USD 279 / hour
570 Coachings
15,273 Q&A Upvotes
83 Awards
USD 279 / hour
Tommaso
Tommaso
5.0
5 Reviews
English, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish
Spain (UTC +1)
Tommaso
Consulting
Ex-McKinsey | MBA @ Berkeley Haas | No-nonsense coaching | 50% off on 1st meeting in April (DM me for discount code!)
Ex-McKinsey | MBA @ Berkeley Haas | No-nonsense coaching | 50% off on 1st meeting in April (DM me for discount code!)
English, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish
Spain (UTC +1)
USD 149 / hour
7 Coachings
730 Q&A Upvotes
0 Awards
USD 149 / hour
Vincent
Vincent
5.0
1 Review
English, German
Switzerland (UTC +2)
Vincent
Consulting
Principal BCG | 60+ projects in all Industries | Munich & Zürich | Ex-Lazard & Berenberg
Principal BCG | 60+ projects in all Industries | Munich & Zürich | Ex-Lazard & Berenberg
English, German
Switzerland (UTC +2)
USD 199 / hour
1 Coaching
54 Q&A Upvotes
0 Awards
USD 199 / hour
Thabang
Thabang
5.0
177 Reviews
English
United Kingdom (UTC +2)
Thabang
Consulting
Top Rated McKinsey Coach | Ex-McKinsey | Top MBB Coach |
Top Rated McKinsey Coach | Ex-McKinsey | Top MBB Coach |
English
United Kingdom (UTC +2)
USD 199 / hour
411 Coachings
6,811 Q&A Upvotes
20 Awards
USD 199 / hour

Browse Through the Coaching Packages

Graphic with the headline 'Path to Consulting Package – 5 Sessions'. Includes a photo of Coach Cristian and a note about a full library of practice materials.
Path to Consulting Package
Path to Consulting Package
5.0
27 Reviews
5 tailored sessions
Personal fit & case mastery
First principles thinking
5 tailored sessions
Personal fit & case mastery
First principles thinking
“The 1% Case Method” coaching program by Dr. Florian Smeritschnig, ex-McKinsey. Chess-themed visual promoting custom prep for top consulting offers.
The 1% Case Method
The 1% Case Method
5.0
63 Reviews
Intuitive Case and Fit Mastery
Unparalleled Offer Rates
$1,877 Bonus Practice Materials
Intuitive Case and Fit Mastery
Unparalleled Offer Rates
$1,877 Bonus Practice Materials
Prepped and Primed 3’ coaching program by Ian – a hand holds an empty Polaroid frame in front of a nature scene with cliffs and water.
Prepped and Primed 3
Prepped and Primed 3
5.0
31 Reviews
3 1-on-1 Coaching Sessions
Fully tailored and customized
100+ video course included
3 1-on-1 Coaching Sessions
Fully tailored and customized
100+ video course included

Find Interesting Insights From Coaches in the Q&A

Are you ready for the long working hours you will face as a future consultant?
1 hr
4.9k
45
Profile picture of Daniel
Best answer by
Daniel
Answering this question it’s important not to show “ready-to-die” dedication, but rather your ability to approach things in 80/20 way. What is 80/20? It’s a rule which basically states that 80% of the results come just from 20% of your efforts. So, in practice it means that you need to be able to prioritise and make trade-offs to complete more work in a given time vs striving for perfection in one specific task (and killing yourself and your team while doing so) So, while answering the question, highlight that you are of course ready to work long hours. But you are also a fan of working smart vs. working hard and you are sure that for any situation there are shortcuts one can take to make sure you don’t kill yourself or your team.
View Q&A
What would you do if you won the lottery?
1 hr
4.1k
53
Profile picture of Daniel
Best answer by
Daniel
Here is your chance to demonstrate your business acumen – because winning a lottery is nothing else than getting cash, which opens up lots of business opportunities. So you could: Start your own business – think about which industries you are interested in, choose a business you would like to start and why; Become an investor – again think about which industries, maybe even target companies; Invest into the stock market – here also explain why (now the stock market is on the deep, so it’s cheap to buy) and exactly what would you buy and why Hope this helps! Best, Daniel
View Q&A
Guidance on Improving my Case Structuring.
2 hrs
< 100
5
Profile picture of Franco
Best answer by
Franco
Hi, Right now, your inconsistency is normal after only three full cases. A 6/10 to 2/10 drop does not mean you are getting worse; it usually means you are facing different problem types and your structure is not yet built on clear principles. A good structure should do three things: answer the exact question, be MECE enough to investigate logically, and show a clear path to a recommendation. To improve, review each drill and ask: Did I miss a major bucket? Were my buckets too generic? Did I tailor to the client’s objective? Did I include a way to test or quantify the issue? That will tell you whether the problem is content knowledge, logic, tailoring, or prioritization. For practice, use a simple loop: do one structure, compare it to a strong answer, rewrite yours, then write down one specific lesson. For example: “In profitability cases, always split revenue and cost, but tailor the sub-buckets to the business model.” This is much more useful than doing many drills passively. Once your structures become more stable, move back into full cases. In full cases, focus less on creating a perfect framework and more on using the structure as a working roadmap that guides your questions, analysis, and final recommendation. Between now and September, aim for steady improvement rather than intensity. Spend the first phase rebuilding fundamentals, the second phase doing mixed structuring drills, and the final phase doing full cases with targeted feedback. Even with one inconsistent month, you can improve a lot if each practice session has a clear correction point. Most importantly: you are not stuck; you just need a feedback system. Don’t ask “Was this good or bad?” Ask “What exact thinking habit caused the weakness, and what rule will I use next time?” If you need any tailored help, feel free to DM me Best, Franco
View Q&A
EY-Parthenon Manager Case Interview - Liquidity & Working Capital
3 hrs
< 100
2
Profile picture of Franco
Best answer by
Franco
Hi, You should expect an operational, finance-heavy case, not a classic strategy one. The focus can probably be on liquidity pressure, working capital optimization, and short-term cash levers Be ready to move comfortably across the balance sheet and cash flow, e.g. receivables, payables, inventory, and how to quickly unlock cash and prioritize concrete actions (e.g. renegotiating payment terms, reducing DSO, inventory liquidation). I’d prepare by practicing cases where the goal is “improve cash in the next 3–6 months”, and make sure you can structure answers in a very practical, action-oriented way rather than staying high-level. Good luck with it and if you want to deep-dive feel free to DM me. Regards, Franco
View Q&A
Kearney Online Test (SHL General Ability)
3 hrs
< 100
2
Profile picture of Franco
Best answer by
Franco
Hi, First of all, congrats on the invitation!  The SHL General Ability test is pretty standard expect numerical, logical, and verbal questions under tight time pressure. Biggest tip: speed matters as much as accuracy. You won’t finish everything, so don’t get stuck; skip and come back. For prep, just do a few timed SHL-style practice tests (you can find several sources on the web) to get used to the format; the goal isn’t to learn new math it’s to think quickly and stay calm under pressure. Hope it helps Franco
View Q&A
How to deal with long working hours?
10 hrs
100+
9
Profile picture of Ian
Best answer by
Ian
BCG was the best experience I never want to have again. If I went back in time, I would 100% do it again. But I will never do it again in this lifetime. It's the marines. You become your best professional self there. The training, the learning, the network, the brand, the experience, the people. It's up to you to decide if it's worth it.   I highly recommend you read my consulting survival guide Here are a couple of snippets from that guide, based on what you've said: 1) This job is inherently stressful, and you are not going to be the first person to struggle with stress. Consulting firms have mechanisms in place to try to keep consultants from burning out. If you are struggling, reach out early. 2) You need comrades - your people for the really good and the really garbage days. Find them and stick to them. 3) There will always be pressure, but not every task will make or break the bank. If the success or failure of the project relies solely on the one slide you're making, there are bigger issues going on. 4) Keep a one-page version of the case story up-to-date every couple of days. 5) Always bring solutions, not problems. 6)You learn so much more when you are fully transparent about what you don't understand. 7) You will do your best work once you are okay with being fired. 8) Your Project Lead/Principal is not inside your head. Learn how to communicate and guide their attention to what they need to know. Work to their style and your life will be easier. 9) You have to stand up for yourself. And people will respect you for it (98% of the time). 10) People's perception of your performance is just as important as your performance. 11) Communication is as important as content. Communication isn't what you say, it's what they hear. 12) Being good at the qualitative aspects of consulting (presentation, communication etc.) is significantly more important than being good at the analysis/excel/quantitative side of consulting. 13) Consulting is a confidence game. Always have a strong opinion, lightly held.
View Q&A
Cover Letter
10 hrs
< 100
7
Profile picture of Alessandro
Best answer by
Alessandro
Hi, happy to share a few tips that work well for RB specifically. 1. Lead with the "why RB" in the first line, not the last Most candidates open with "I am a X year student at Y university applying for Z." Skip it. Open with the specific reason you want Roland Berger over MBB or Big 4. RB readers screen for genuine interest because they lose too many candidates to MBB late in the process. One sharp sentence on what attracts you to their European heritage, their industrial/automotive depth, or a specific recent study they published goes a long way 2. Structure the body in 3 paragraphs, each with one proof point Paragraph 1: why consulting (one experience that proves you have tested it, not just read about it) Paragraph 2: why RB specifically (a project, a partner you met at an event, a sector focus) Paragraph 3: why you (one quantified achievement that shows analytical rigor or leadership, not a list) One proof per paragraph. No CV repetition. The reader already has your CV next to the letter 3. Quantify everything you can "Led a team" is weak. "Led a team of 5 to deliver a market entry analysis for a EUR 2M client in 6 weeks" is strong. RB screeners are ex-consultants, they read for numbers and outcomes 4. Cut every adjective "Highly motivated", "passionate", "dynamic" add zero signal. Replace with a fact that proves the trait. If you cannot prove it, drop it 5. One page, 4 paragraphs max, no walls of text Aim for 250 to 300 words total. Recruiters spend 30 seconds on a cover letter. Make every line earn its place Happy to review a draft if you want a second pair of eyes  
View Q&A
How to effectively structure a case?
15 hrs
< 100
6
Profile picture of Alessandro
Best answer by
Alessandro
Good question, and your diagnosis is already half the answer. The fix is a discipline to anchor the tree to the actual question asked. Three things that helped my candidates the most: 1. Start from the objective equation, not from drivers Before writing any branch, restate the objective as a math equation. "Grow revenue from existing customers" = # customers retained × ARPU. That single line forces you to stay inside the revenue engine and rules out competitor/product branches that do not map to the equation. If the branch does not multiply or add into the objective, it does not belong in the first level 2. Use 2 trees, not 1, and pick consciously Profitability tree when the question is quantitative and the equation is clean (revenue, cost, margin) Root-cause tree when the question is diagnostic ("why is X happening") and you need market, competitor, internal lenses The low-cost entrant case is a root-cause case dressed as a margin case. Structure: why is margin dropping (price vs cost vs mix) → then why is price dropping (competitor move, customer switching, channel pressure). Profitability first, root-cause second, nested 3. Drill: 20 prompts, 3 minutes each, structure only Take 20 prompt one-liners from Casebook or PrepLounge. For each, write only the equation and first-level branches in 3 minutes. No second level, no analysis. Do 5 per day for a week. You will stop reaching for templates because you will have built the muscle of deriving level 1 from the objective itself The second level comes naturally once level 1 is tight. Most weak trees are weak at the top, not the bottom. Happy to review a few of your trees if useful
View Q&A
First-Gen Student Prepping for Bain/McKinsey Assessments on a Budget
22 hrs
< 100
3
Profile picture of Tommaso
Best answer by
Tommaso
Hey! Thanks for sharing your doubts. First-gen might indeed have a tougher time in the MBB recruiting process. I sent you a DM with my honest perspective and with further questions on what help you feel you need -- I'd love to support you.  For other folks: I'd like to demystify the idea that you HAVE to spend 500$ to get into MBB. Of course, money helps for everything, but most folks get into MBB after spending 0 to 100$ (e.g., many spend absolutely nothing and prep with peers and ChatGPT math drills, others get only PrepLounge Premium, others Premium and a single session coach). Best, Tom
View Q&A

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