Re-application

Hi, only a few lines to add my thoughts on your 3rd bullet. 100 cases are a lot, but unfortunately, it's not only a matter of quantity but also of quality. And it's not only about the content, but structuring your thoughts, prioritizing what really matters to the client, and communicating top-down

Best
Antonello

1. I would write the cover letter as though you are applying for the first time so you are able to share your full story but with a focus on your most recent experience and achievements

2. Why not - there's nothing to be ashamed about re-applying!

3. I would always focus more on the feedback you got from the various interviews you had last year as opposed to those of your practice partners

Hi there,

1. One section of the cover should always be on “why you”. In that section, you can definitely add experiences related to the last year (by the way, you don’t need a section on “why consulting in the cover, just on why that particular company)
2. You can definitely put it – no one can directly infer you were rejected from that and even if they do that’s not something to be ashamed of
3. This is impossible to know without a diagnostic – I would book a coaching session or ask a current interviewer to provide feedback on that

Best,

Francesco

Here's my thinking:

1. Your application should be a fresh start - I wouldn't refer to the old application, as this is not relevant for your current one.
2. Yes, you should mention this. You can build on this experience for your motivation to apply. And people won't infer that you were rejected from that.
3. 100 cases is way to many in my eyes. It sunds to me like you've spend a lot of time practicing but might not have received the right feedback to really sharpen your skills. You should book a session with coach to get a more qualified feedback that actually helps you. 

Here's my general recommendation on how to prepare:

In my experience, practicing 15-20 cases is sufficient, if you do it strategically. My recommendation is as follows:

• Read up on the typical approaches and standard frameworks to get the concept.
• Then, do 5-6 cases to get a practical feeling for what a case is like. Start with easier ones - e.g. market size mini cases, simple profit tree cases, etc. This will help you develop a rudimentary sense for how cases work
• The next 5-6 cases should cover cases from all major types and help you gain the experience and comfort with standard frameworks and the thinking required for solving the cases.
• Lastly, you will want to do 6-7 cases to hone your skills. Practice with people who understand what they are doing - experienced interviewers, coaches, etc. that can give you 1-2 main items of feedback after each case that you can then practice to apply and improve on in the next case. During this time, you should also practice to move away from off-the-shelf frameworks and tailor, or - even better - develop your frameworks specifically during the case.

The further you move towards the final interview, the more important it is to practice with experienced interviewers. While you can easily ask any friend or practice with peers for the first few cases, you should aim for qualified, professional feedback as you approach the finishing line.

However, keep in mind, that this requires a strong plan and strategic approach to the preparation. I regularly see people doing 30-40 or even more cases. While this can also lead to success, in my eyes, it is a bit of a waste of time, especially for experienced hires that often also have a regular job to do while preparing for the consulting interviews.

Let me know if this helps. I'm also happy to elaborate any of the above in more detail. DM me if you like.

Hey there,

1. Don't mention it. But highlight your development over the last year specifically. :-)

2. Would add it still...

3. Only a case coach could get better insights here since we did not attend your actual interviews.

Let me know if you need an honest perspective of your case skills.

Cheers,

Florian

Hi there, 

1)    In the cover letter it is important to show the employee “why you” so it would be effective to highlight your accomplishments from past experience and show that you stand out from the others.
2)    You should definitely put it on the list as it shows that you have motivation and ambitions. Plus, no one can directly assume that you got rejected.
3)    100 cases are a lot, but it is important to remember that it is not about the quantity, but the quality. I would recommend booking a coaching session to get proper feedback.

Hope that helps!
GB

Hi there,

First, good luck in this next round! I firmly believe that the greatest accomplishments come from temporary defeat :)

1. You should be writing it as "the first time". Leverage elements from your previous ones, but obviously update it with new experiences. Do not reference your old application.

2. Add it! Obviously it should not be an emphasis on the resume...but it helps

3. See, you say "100+ cases" and practice partners. So, you've taken a "quantity" approach and been peer reviewed (i.e. blind leading the blind). If you want our expert opinion, we need to see you case! Hire a coach for a diagnostic!

Hello!

1. Honestly, does not really matter. I would recycle most of the one you have from last year, since CL is not really an important doc -which many times is not even looked at-. 
2. I would include it both in the CV and the CL
3. There are a ton of things that could have happened, but this does not mean what so ever that you are not for this! Think of, for instance, the many people who do various final interviews in MBB and just get an offer from one. The ones that don´t extend an offer does not what so ever prove that the person is not for MBB ;)

In a nutshell, don´t give up. Last year´s experience is going to be incrdible valuable for you, and many of the people that I know didn´t make it in the 1st time, but after. 

Hope it helps!

Cheers, 

Clara