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

Question

Hey guys,

I have just received an invite for the first round interview at Bain London office (to be held in january).

I previously interviewed with Bain Brussels and BCG back in Jan 2020 but unfortunately did not make past the final rounds. I wish to work in London due to personal reasons and at Bain because well, it's MBB and very prestigious.

The feedback I got from my past interviews was a bit varied:

Bain Brussels: I tend to go in different directions and get a bit confused when probed about something

BCG: Structuring (I f'ed up that particular case with the partner)

How should I go about correcting these things?

Also, it's been 7-8 months since i did my last full-length case, how should I get my mojo back? (Any tips will be helpful!)

I am also looking for case partners!

Thank you in advance!

Answer 1

Hi Jon,

Look, I would suggest that you should follow these tips in your preparation:

Preparation rhythm:

Start preparation 2-3 month in advance
Develop preparation backlog
Split all tasks into sprint by weeks with clear outline of what you want to achieve end of week • Continuously review your progress and adjust your backlog

Cases:

Stop using outdated frameworks from case books (incl. client / company/ competitors)
Develop predefined algorithms and tactics for each case type (e.g. comparison tables, CJM mapping algorithm, JBTD, etc.)
Obtain relevant knowledge across all main industries at PnL, strategic and process levels
Obtain relevant knowledge across all cross-industry topics (micro and macro economics, business, process and financial management)
Practice 20-30 cases with those who have already received offers (don’t waste time on solving 100 cases with inexperienced candidates who have no clue about consulting)
Laser focus on your mistakes and weaknesses
Use mind mapping tools (like X-mind) to structure your knowledge
Use “% of perfectly solved cases” as primary measurement of progress

Maths:

Master your equation building algorithms
Practice reading sophisticated charts on different industries/ topics • Master maths shortcuts (e.g. rule 72)
Develop a habit of clearly presenting your calculations

Fit questions:

Your story - prepare a “top down” elevator pitch that would highlight your value, not your whole life story (1-2 minutes)
Entrepreneurial drive - prepare 2-3 stories of when you found business potential and overcame barriers to reach it (3 minutes)
Leadership -prepare 2-3 stories that would highlight you leading the crowd (aka team) to achieve results (3 minutes)
Personal impact - prepare 2-3 stories that would demonstrate your persuasion skills (3 minutes)
Record your stories and ask for peer feedback on them (3 minutes)

Best,

Anton

Answer 2

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

Answer 3

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

Answer 4

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

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

Communication

Is the issue that you don’t follow the interviewers’ hints?
Do you have issues presenting clearly what you want to do next?
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

Answer 5

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