I am having my R2 Bain London Interview coming up soon, does anyone have any resources/tips on how I can prepare for it?

Hi James,

Q: I am having my R2 Bain London Interview coming up soon, does anyone have any resources/tips on how I can prepare for it?

A final round/ round 2 normally has the same structure as the first round (fit + case + your questions – although at Bain sometimes fit is done in a separate interview, different from the one with the case).

In a final round, the interviewers might:

1. Spend more time on fit and your alignment with the company.
2. Ask questions related to the areas of improvement for which you got feedback after the first round.
3. Not use a “standard” case. During one of my finals, I had one interview made by two market sizing questions and a brainteaser, without any business case.

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To prepare, you can work on the following:

1. Review your fit answers – they might spend more time on the fit part compared to the first round.
2. Work on the case areas they mentioned you could improve, if any (you can base that on the feedback they provided, if present).
3. Focus your case prep on the weakest areas. If you are tracking your performance, you can do drills for the areas where you are struggling the most / review cases where you made mistakes.

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Extra reading:

▶ How to Prepare for a Consulting Interview

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Good luck!

Francesco

Hey there,

Congrats on passing the first round!

95% of partner rounds are just as standardized as the first round. The reason why you read about freestyle partner experiences is that they deviate from what people expect, hence they post about it more frequently online, hence giving others the impression it is much more common.

Additionally, partner rounds are often perceived as more challenging, just because it's a partner sitting across the table rather than a more junior colleague. It is purely based on the impression and not on the content. :-)

EDIT: Adjusting this part of the answer now after having more information on the request:

I have a few tips for written case interviews as well:

#1 Already have a plan when you go in for the written case

Since time is usually limited, you should have a plan on how long you want to spend on each task of the assignment beforehand.

#2 Focus – quickly separate crucial information from the noise

Written cases usually present you with an information overload that you need to sort out

#3 Graphs and charts – interpret and distill key insights from graphs and charts

Written cases bombard you with charts, graphs, tables, and other visual depictions of data that you should use to test your hypotheses. Learn how to quickly read and interpret them

#4 Math – quickly draft equations and conduct pen-and-paper math

Get into the habit of quickly setting up and simplifying calculations

#5 Storyline – draft a compelling storyline and tell it with visually appealing outputs

Create a top-down storyline of your recommendations. State your primary recommendation, then use supporting arguments to strengthen your position

#6 Presentation and defense – communicate and defend your recommendation top-down

If you have to present your findings at the end of the case, follow the top-down approach of your slide deck. Be confident and engaging when going through your recommendation and supporting arguments.

All the best for your second round!

Cheers,

Florian

To prepare for your R2 Bain London interview, focus on these key areas:

• Top-Down Communication: Partners value clarity and structure, so ensure your answers are concise and organized.

• Unusual Cases: Be ready for cases that deviate from standard frameworks, and practice adapting to non-typical scenarios.

• Outstanding Stories: Prepare compelling examples and polished answers to explain why Bain is your ideal fit.

• Act on Feedback: Incorporate any feedback you received from earlier rounds to show growth and readiness.

Best,

Alberto

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Explore my latest case inspired by a real MBB interview: Chic & Stitch

• Dont ignore the Fit Interview:
  • Research Bain’s culture and values to tailor your responses and show genuine motivation and authenticity
• Master the Case:
  • Focus on building core problem solving skills - structuring cases using logic , drawing actionable insights from data.
  • Address weaknesses from R1 using feedback and practice.
  • Stay flexible and adapt your structure based on new information.
• Practice with Mocks:
  • Simulate interviews with peers or coaches to refine your structuring, and communication 
    
    Best of Luck