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How to recover casing ability after hiatus?

Took a long-ish hiatus from casing (2 months), tried doing a case and can’t really pul it off anymore. I’ve forgotten a lot.

What are the best steps to recover to my previous level?

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Top answer
on May 24, 2023
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success: ➡ interviewoffers.com | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi there,

Q: What are the best steps to recover to my previous level?

Most likely you will have to do 5-10 cases to get back to your previous level. If you have saved some previous cases that were good, it would make sense to start with them.         

After that, you should be back at a decent level assuming your previous prep was good. Most likely there will still be some specific areas where you struggle (eg graphs, math). Try to identify the exact area and if possible, the reason for the issue (feedback from experienced partners would be particularly useful for this). When identified, start to do drills specifically for that area.

For general prep tips, you can check the following:

▶ How to Prepare for a Consulting Interview

Good luck!

Francesco

Ian
Coach
on May 24, 2023
Top US BCG / MBB Coach - 5,000 sessions |Tech, Platinion, Big 4 | 9/9 personal interviews passed | 95% candidate success

Hi there,

Honestly, I would genuinely recommend coaching. There would be no better kickstart to it.

Other than that, you can:

  1. Review some of your old cases (I hope you saved them)
  2. Just start. Book a case with multiple peers and get the ball rolling again

I don't think anything on the edges will help. You just need to jump in the water and get swimming again

Here's some reading to help: https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/how-to-shift-your-mindset-to-ace-the-case

on May 23, 2023
#1 rated McKinsey Coach

Hi there, 

Of course, you can recover. 

I'd suggest you do the following:

1. Take a blank piece of paper and try to list the 10 most important things / lessons about casing that you remember from your past experience. This will trigger active recall.

2. Then (if you still have them) go through your notes from back then. Revisit the cases that you already did and try to remember how they went. 

3. Figure out what are your core development goals - list 3-4 of them. Ideally, get an expert assessment on this so you can be more targeted about them. 

4. Continue practicing according to the new plan.

Best,
Cristian

Deleted
Coach
on May 24, 2023
Senior Partner and CEO, helping you reach to MBB and beyond, case and interview marathons, career progression

Dear candidate,

 

a) do 1-1 case practise, dive right into,start with an easy case to gain comfort and then as soon as you can advance to challenging ones. Maybe you need a few easy ones to do them right first. When doing 1-1 do, ask your interviewer to give you feedback after each question; then move on to thenext that way you immediately learn how to do the case stellarly. This helps you immediately.

b) Work out what you do super well, see how you can cover an entire case with this. Secondly work out what is challenging; and see what to improve. If you do both well then your overall performance will be great. Sometimes it is best to think about your overall strengths instead of the weaknesses you can then cover the entire case immeditely, or 70-80 percent.

 

Best regards

Deleted
Coach
on May 23, 2023
FREE INTRO | Ex-Roland Berger and interviewer for 6+ years

Going through any previous cases you’ve worked on would definitely helped a lot. 

One key advice I have is to make sure you don’t skip any steps in the training process. When you go through any previous cases don’t say things like “oh I remember this, will just skip to the next part”. A critical part of re-learning is teaching your brain to go through the same processes but since you’ve done it before you’d be able to get back to it faster. 
 

So find your case example, take your pen and paper, find a dedicated time when you’re not distracted and you should find yourself getting back at it in no time. 
 

Also, getting a coach for a few sessions would likely help you get there :)

Dennis
Coach
on May 24, 2023
Roland Berger|Project Manager and Recruiter|7+ years of consulting experience in USA and Europe

Honestly, just do what you did the first time around when you started practicing cases. You will notice your “muscle memory” kick in after a while which will enable you to pick things up faster again and get into the groove. It's just important to be focused and actually try. 

There is no reason why after 2 months of not doing cases you should have lost your ability to solve them. Ease in again before you go heavy.

Best of luck

Deleted user
on May 26, 2023

Hello,

This is totally normal, don’t beat yourself up for it! The good news is that you’ve already mastered it once, so you know you can do it again. My best advice would be to just throw yourself into live case practice. It will feel a bit uncomfortable and frustrating at first, but you will re-familiarize yourself with it all in time. Just keep at it.

9
Emily
Coach
on May 23, 2023
300+ coached cases | Former McKinsey interviewer + recruiting lead| End-to-end prep in 2 weeks

I totally get where you're coming from. Taking a hiatus from casing can make it tough to get back into the groove. But don't worry, there are tried and true tips to help you recover your previous level of casing proficiency!

First, take a moment to reflect on your past experience with casing. Think about the cases you practiced and any feedback you received. This will help jog your memory and reacquaint you with key concepts and problem-solving techniques.

Next, start with the fundamentals. Revisit the basic concepts of case interviews, like frameworks such as profitability, Porter's Five Forces, and market sizing techniques. Building a solid foundation is crucial for tackling more complex cases down the line.

To ease yourself back in, practice with 2-3 simpler cases. Focus on understanding the case context, identifying key issues, and structuring your approach. As you regain confidence and proficiency, gradually increase the complexity of the cases you tackle.

Engage in mock interviews with a study partner. Find someone who has experience with casing and take turns playing the interviewer and interviewee. This way, you can practice solving cases under timed conditions and receive feedback on your structure, communication, and problem-solving approach.

Online resources are a goldmine for case interview practice. Take advantage of websites, forums, and video platforms that offer case interview examples, frameworks, and tips. Expose yourself to a variety of cases and learn from experienced professionals.

If you feel you need personalized guidance, consider seeking professional coaching. A trained case interview coach can provide expert assessment, tailored guidance, and speed up your progress. I'm a trained interviewer myself, and I'd be more than happy to help you with your coaching!

Remember, with the right approach, dedication, and expert assessment, you can bounce back in no time. Reflect on your past experience, revisit the fundamentals, practice with a variety of cases, and seek guidance when needed.

Pedro
Coach
on May 30, 2023
Bain | EY-Parthenon | Former Principal | 1.5h session | 30% discount 1st session

Just quickly review your previous cases. And then go back to doing “live” cases again. 

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