Hello guys,
I don't progress with my preparation in the pace I planned and I feel like I got panic and don't know how to move forward.. This is a problem as I have my first round case-interview scheduled just before Christmas, which means I have less than 3 weeks left..
I've just finished the theory part, which means I read Victor Cheng book, I studied the method of solving a case IN THEORY (identifying problems -> structure building without force fitting frameworks -> analyzing the problem (hypothesis, test, iterate) -> recommendation) and read plenty of articles about the business scenarios and background knowledge commonly occurring and needed in case interviews (porter, 4p, valuation, accounting, pricing, guesstimation, segmentation, competitive interaction, etc.)
After that point I planned to start proceeding with LOMS and start practicing cases on my own but I feel like I'm not doing it in an efficient way.
When I tried to solve cases on my own I didn't know how to start, what kind of information I should ask for, I felt like just making a laundry question list and fishing in topics like company, product, competition, customer, cost structure, etc. There is no recommended structure or solution attached.
When I was listening to LOMS I felt like "okay, this is fine but what conclusion should I get?" I understand the logic and the dependencies between the elements mentioned but I don't feel that I can use this knowledge in practice somehow.
I bought a coaching session with an ex-MBB consultant and I was totally stuck and the mock case didn't go well at all..
My concrete questions are the following:
- Should I reschedule my first-round interview to January? (I have 4 hours/day to practice on average)
- LOMS: How do you suggest proceeding with it? Listening the cases once or several times? Only listening the records or pausing it when the candidate arrives to the key parts of case solving and take notes? (choose what question to ask/provide recommendation/testing hypothesis, etc) Or listening the case firstly without any stop then listen again and take notes? What is the most efficient way to use this very important material. (this is around 20 hours records, so this is definetely a key question..)
- Practicing cases: the main question when to start it? After or during the time I'm listening to LOMS? After I start which is the most efficient order? 1. Cases on my own 2. Cases with my peers 3. Cases with coaches ?
- Coaching session: I bought 5 coaching sessions package at one of the consulting prep sites and I plan to get more if needed.. How should I use it and when? Only use it for mock interview sessions after I can solve cases on my own/I practiced with peers or should I start it right now and ask for help me structuring a problem in practice? I feel like the first session with a coach was not efficient as I wasn't prepared enough to solving a case on my own so I might need another insights from him/her..
I have the aforementioned 'assets' (LOMS, coaching session package and case library) and I have 3 weeks. What do you suggest, how should I continue my preparation?