Bain London AC 2021 Interview invite! Need advice on how to go about the prep.

Hello!

Congrats for that interview, this time you should nail it! :)

To add on top of what has been said before, you have 2 main workstreams ahead:

1. FIT INTERVIEW

The "Integrated FIT guide for MBB" has been recently published in PrepLounge´s shop (https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/tests-2/integrated-fit-guide-for-mbb-34)

It provides an end-to-end preparation for all three MBB interviews, tackling each firms particularities and combining key concepts review and a hands-on methodology. Following the book, the candidate will prepare his/her stories by practicing with over 50 real questions and leveraging special frameworks and worksheets that guide step-by-step, developed by the author and her experience as a Master in Management professor and coach. Finally, as further guidance, the guide encompasses over 20 examples from real candidates.

You can see plenty of reviews from candidates who purchased it already.

Furthermore, you can find 3 free cases in the PrepL case regarding FIT preparation:

• Intro and CV questions > https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/fit-interview/intermediate/introduction-and-cv-questions-fit-interview-preparation-200
• Motivational questions > https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/fit-interview/intermediate/motivational-questions-fit-interview-preparation-201
• Behavioural questions (ENTREPRENEURIAL DRIVE) >https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/fit-interview/intermediate/behavioral-questions-entrepreneurial-drive-fit-interview-preparation-211

Feel free to PM me for disccount codes, since we still have some left from the launch! :)

2. BUSINESS CASE

You don´t have any more time to the classics of Viktor Cheng, "Case in point" book, etc. You need to get hands on asap:

1. Practice cases with partners asap, as many as you can do.Find experienced partners who can provide a good feedback

2. Practice your math skills, both in your cases and with ad hoc exercisess, such as:

• 1. ​Multiplying double digit numbers (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ndkkPZYJHo
• 2. Leveraging math tools (Mimir math for iOS), Math tool on Viktor Cheng website to practice

3. Ensure you have a good overview of the ​most common case types:

• 1. Profitability cases- basic profitability framework.
• 2. Idea generation cases: for any specif issue
• 3. Growth cases: market penetration, new product launch, product mix change, etc.
• 4. Pricing cases
• 5. M&A cases
• 6. Valuation cases
• 7. Value chain cases

Given you are under this much time contraint, consider working with a coach to foster speed and ensure you have a tailored plan to be very targeted. PM me interested!

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

(edited)

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations!

Of course, it depends person to person. But I have a few "baseline" suggestionss:

• Aim for a few hours a day
• Start "heavy" on fast math, and background knowledge/reading (building industry knowledge, reading case books, reading The Economist/FT/BCG insights)
• Always go steady with actual casing (aim for a minimum 25 cases by the time you're done)
• Work on fit/behavioural questions just 2-3 weeks before

Finally, 1 session with a coach at the very beginning goes a long way to maximizing your future efforts.

Also, I suggest reading this Q&A regarding how not to prepare :P

https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/how-to-prepare-for-case-interviews-wrong-answers-only-6911

Hi there,

Congrats on the Strategy& offer, it's good that you have a back-up option.

Unfortunately the feedback that consulting companies provide is usually quite general and not very actionable. It seems this was also your case.

Apparently your main problems are structuring and communication. But these areas include several sub-areas. For example:

Structuring

1. Are you weak with the initial structure, the one inside the case or both?
2. Are you weak with the first level of structuring, the second level or both?
3. Is the problem of your structure that it is not mutually exclusive? Or is that you are not including all the key elements?

Communication

1. Is the issue that you don’t follow the interviewers’ hints?
2. Do you have issues presenting clearly what you want to do next?
3. Is the problem that you don’t ask for time to think and present in a structured way?

Your best bet to improve is to find an experienced partner, a friend in consulting or a coach that can provide actionable feedback (different from “work on structure or on communication”). This is the only way to make real progress.

I helped a few people for Bain London and know a good number of real questions asked there, please feel free to PM me if you need help.

Best,

Francesco

Hi,

Without giving you an abstract answer I would recommend you to take a personal session with a coach to assess you level for sure and get specific recommendations based n your feedback and more information from your side.

I'm happy to help you.

Cheers,

GB