Case interview expectations for EY Consulting (formerly EY Advisory)

Question

Hello, I am currently applying for the EY Paris office as a graduate engineer with a masters in business.

I have a case interview coming up next. What is the level of requirements and difficulty I should expect from their cases?

I suppose it won't be as difficult as MBB or even Big 4 Strategy Cases (Parthenon, Booze, Strategy&). But I have no ressources for what to expect, given that the entirety of online resources are MBB (for which I have been prepping so far)

I am mainly asking because I have been extremely rushed with the process. 3 interviews and an online test happening in the span of 6 business days. Therefore I am very time constrained and want to better manage my efforts.

Thank you.

Edit: I listened to your advices and prepared for the worst (MBB level, studied in MIT sloan and INSEAD handbooks). I am glad to let the community know I have been accepted. Thank you all for your engagement, you have been of great help!

Answer 1

Hi,

I've recently supported Grande Ecole students with their preparation for EY Consulting and other companies in Paris.

Feel free to reach out to me, I'll be happy to discuss some insights together.

Best,

Antonello

Answer 2

Hello!

Congrats for your interview!

First of all, if you don´t feel 100% ready for this know, I would recommend you without any doubts to postpone the interview. I did it myself and advised many people to do it, and it works. Don´t worry aobut asking HR.

If you decide to go forward, prep for EY is very similar than prep for MBB.

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 2 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

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

Hello there!

If you don't have any information about the format, you can clear it with HR. But you are right, if you are preparing using resources for MBB, it won't be as difficult.

Try to keep calm, everything is going to be all right.

Good luck!

GB

Answer 4

Hi,

I'm sorry but I strongly disagree with the statement that it won't be as difficult.

I have seen candidates have just a difficult interviews with tier 2s and boutiques as with MBB. Reagrdless, one should always hope for the best but prepare for the worst.

Genuinely, everything you see on the general Q&A here regarding the case interview process should apply. You should be prepared with your 3 fit questions (resume walkthrough, why consulting, why EY). You should be prepared with 4-6 fit stories. You should be prepared for any type of case. And finally you should be prepared for any type of brainstorming/market sizing.

Now, to get more specificity, you can always ask HR. However, I would absolutely come in expecting (and being prepared for) any and all scenarios!

Answer 5

Hey,

Whats the brief HR gave you? Interviewer will give you a case on that day and it will be more of a discussion? Or you have to prepare a presentation (3-5 slides)?

Regardless, feel free to message me and we can organise a session. I have helped 3 people in past month land offers at BIG4. Broadly, what you learnt in preparing for MBB still applies, but there are some key aspects and differences to ace BIG4 (non-strategy) cases