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Covid Impact on Case Questions

Bain BCG MBB McKinsey
New answer on May 14, 2021
4 Answers
1.6 k Views
Anonymous A asked on May 13, 2021

Hi All,

I will have my interview with one of MBB in two weeks. Most (95%) the cases I have practiced are in the context of Pre-Covid. I am wondering how Covid will affect :

1.Type of questions asked on the case interview ? Any specific brainstorming more common related to covid ?

2.Type of case given by interviewers.

3.Also, when a case is given how should I know if my analysis/structure should include covid context or not ? Should I put this on my clarifying questions ?

Thanks so much

Overview of answers

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Best answer
Ian
Expert
Content Creator
replied on May 13, 2021
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate

Hi there,

Covid is absolutely something to consider. A number of my candidate have had Covid-specific questions. Others have had cases where the direct impact/cause was covid (particularly true for those interviewing in operations, supply chain, procurement, etc.)

You might either be given a COVID-19 case directly, or need to consider its impact. I have created a few cases to help you feel prepared with this!

https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/brain-teaser/beginner/coronavirus-times-covid-19-brainteaser-194

https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/candidate-led-usual-style/intermediate/chinese-chess-airline-business-during-covid-19-191

Impact on Business:

https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/potential-ma-activity-in-the-consulting-industry-anytime-soon-because-of-global-context-6771

https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/wild-card-question-how-would-you-price-a-covid-19-vaccine-8105

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Adi
Expert
Content Creator
replied on May 13, 2021
Accenture, Deloitte | Precision Case Prep | Experienced Interviewer & Career Coach | 15 years professional experience

Hey,

If this comes up or is relevant, treat COVID as an external factor, just like you would treat environment, politics, social etc. If relevant for the case, no harm asking clarifying questions and considering impact of COVID (on the company- customers, channels, products etc) during structuring/frameworking.

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Clara
Expert
Content Creator
replied on May 14, 2021
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

I wouldn´t be praticularly worried about that, since many of the cases are going to be the same ones -at the end of the day, the way this works is that each interviewer has case that he/she repeats and repeats to all candidates)

In the case COVID appears, it is, at the end of the day, another external factor that you should factor into the case, as many others with which you currently deal with.

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

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Antonello
Expert
Content Creator
replied on May 13, 2021
McKinsey | NASA | top 10 FT MBA professor for consulting interviews | 6+ years of coaching

Hi, very often the cases are the same, so they do not specifically include the covid crisis of future scenario of growth. However, depending on the industry, if including the topic in the brainstorming and in the initial questions will be a plus

Best,
Antonello

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