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Interview feedback: how can I improve?

Feedback interview feedback
New answer on Jun 05, 2020
10 Answers
1.2 k Views
Anonymous A asked on Jun 04, 2020

I did two interviews in two different days with the same company, the first one was behavioural (which I passed) and the second one was a business case (which I didn't). I asked for feedbacks and that's what they told me: I did well the analytical part, I was very good at giving concrete solutions but I was not that organised, especially in communicating (I know it's important how to comunicate), and then I showed lack of logical reasoning. They told me that I could improve by practicing but I really don't know how. I would appreciate some suggestions! Thanks in advance :)

(edited)

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Robert
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jun 04, 2020
McKinsey offers w/o final round interviews - 100% risk-free - 10+ years MBB coaching experience - Multiple book author

Hi Anonymous,

For improving, a structured process for yourself is key.

Meaning:

  • Make notes of all feedback which you receive
  • Group your feedback into meaningful buckets
  • Prioritize issues to work on
  • Review this list before next case interview session and focus on a few key aspects until you get them right (don't try to achieve everything at once - you will most likely by mediocre if you spread yourself too thin)
  • Review this list after each case interview session to add new feedback and to review (honestly!) on how you did on the key areas you wanted to concentrate on

Hope this helps - if so, please be so kind and give it a thumbs-up with the green upvote button below!

Robert

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Axel
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Content Creator
replied on Jun 05, 2020
Bain Consultant | Interviewer for 3 years at Bain |Passionate about coaching |I will make you a case interview Rockstar

Hi

Based on the feedback, although extremely high-level, it sounds like your issues are:

1. Not framing the problem correctly

2. Not leveraging top-down communications

3. Your approach was not addressing the drivers of the problem

I would recommend that you book a session with a coach to get more in-depth feedback and ways to tackle your specific problems as its very hard to give you good advice based on the feedback provided.

-A

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Vlad
Expert
replied on Jun 05, 2020
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

It's really hard to help you without knowing your current stage:

  • What was the feedback?
  • How many cases have you done so far?
  • What were the feedbacks from the other partners? Were they in line with the interview feedback?
  • What have you done so far to work on that issue?

Best

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Anonymous A on Jun 05, 2020

Sorry, I wrote the entire message but somehow only the title has been published! I write it again: I did two interviews in two different days with the same company, the first one was behavioural (which I passed) and the second one was a business case (which I didn't). I asked for feedbacks and that's what they told me: I did well the analytical part, I was very good at giving concrete solutions but I was not that organised, especially in communicating (I know it's important how to comunicate), and then I showed lack of logical reasoning. They told me that I could improve by practicing but I really don't know how. I would appreciate some suggestions! Thanks in advance :) I did few cases because I applied one month ago and they told me that they were looking for senior positions, and then one week before the interview they called me.

Anonymous replied on Jun 05, 2020

Dear A,

Most probably you need to work on your top-down communication skills and on the case-cracking skills, as far as I can observe it from feedback.

Regarding the second one, it's hard for me to judge just on these very generic description. I would rather suggest to take one session with a coach on the platform, who can provide to you more specific feedback to where do you stand and help you to designate the preparation plan, which is tailored to specific situation and needs.

Hope, it helps,

Best,

André

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Francesco
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Content Creator
replied on Jun 05, 2020
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success (➡ interviewoffers.com) | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi there,

the feedback they provided is quite generic, thus it is difficult to provide specific advice.

Communication issues may be related to:

  • Not presenting first the first level of your structure and then the details of it
  • Not using “buckets” to present, using “first”, “second”, “third”
  • Not explaining what you want to do to the interviewer in a clear way

Lack of logical reasoning could be related to:

  • Your structure was not fitting the question asked
  • You didn’t have a hypothesis-driven approach
  • You did not connect the insights of the case to derive the next steps to follow

However, without additional information, it is difficult to understand which one they referred to and therefore define the best plan of action to follow.

I would recommend to identify the exact issues doing p2p sessions with someone else and if needed post a specific question on that, if possible with a concrete example of your current approach.

Best,

Francesco

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Anonymous replied on Jun 04, 2020

Can you please elaborate ?

However, make sure that you really understand every word of the feedback. Otherwise, do not hesitate to ask questions.

David

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Anonymous A on Jun 04, 2020

Sorry, I wrote the entire message but somehow only the title has been published! I write it again: I did two interviews in two different days with the same company, the first one was behavioural (which I passed) and the second one was a business case (which I didn't). I asked for feedbacks and that's what they told me: I did well the analytical part, I was very good at giving concrete solutions but I was not that organised, especially in communicating (I know it's important how to comunicate), and then I showed lack of logical reasoning. They told me that I could improve by practicing but I really don't know how. I would appreciate some suggestions! Thanks in advance :)

(edited)

Ian
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jun 04, 2020
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate

Hi there,

Please elaborate! What was the feedback you recieved...there's many ways to improve :)

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Anonymous A on Jun 04, 2020

Sorry, I wrote the entire message but somehow only the title has been published! I write it again: I did two interviews in two different days with the same company, the first one was behavioural (which I passed) and the second one was a business case (which I didn't). I asked for feedbacks and that's what they told me: I did well the analytical part, I was very good at giving concrete solutions but I was not that organised, especially in communicating (I know it's important how to comunicate), and then I showed lack of logical reasoning. They told me that I could improve by practicing but I really don't know how. I would appreciate some suggestions! Thanks in advance :)

(edited)

Anonymous replied on Jun 04, 2020

Hi there,

I think you missed to further explain your question. In case you asking in a general way, I would recommend keeping a notepad of the various comments you have received and when practicing cases, ask your interviewer to test you on those areas.

I hope this helps

Khaled

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Anonymous A on Jun 04, 2020

Sorry, I wrote the entire message but somehow only the title has been published! I write it again: I did two interviews in two different days with the same company, the first one was behavioural (which I passed) and the second one was a business case (which I didn't). I asked for feedbacks and that's what they told me: I did well the analytical part, I was very good at giving concrete solutions but I was not that organised, especially in communicating (I know it's important how to comunicate), and then I showed lack of logical reasoning. They told me that I could improve by practicing but I really don't know how. I would appreciate some suggestions! Thanks in advance :)

(edited)

Réka
Expert
replied on Jun 05, 2020
3+ years McKinsey consulting experience|Strategy @ Coursera |Oxford MBA

Hi A,

Both structuring and (top down) commuications are muscles that you can train with practice.

1. Make sure you are familiar with a few concepts (e.g., MECE, pyramid principle)

2. Whenever you practice 1-on-1 case solving with someone, ask them to focus on your performance in these areas.

3. You can also practice structuring cases on your own by reading the prompt and thinking about the initial structure in 1-2 minutes. Then check the case solution.

I hope it helps!

Best,

Réka

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Clara
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Content Creator
replied on Jun 05, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

Don´t worry, it´s a very common feedback for someone who is not yet in the advanced stage of prep.

It´s related to structure: how you get the information, process it, organize it, and finally present it.

It´s very accionable by practicing in the right way (e.g., with structure-heavy cases, the right approaches -not frameworks, it´s very different-, and the right corrective feedback).

PM me if you need help with it, I can send you cases tought precisely for this.

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

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Robert gave the best answer

Robert

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McKinsey offers w/o final round interviews - 100% risk-free - 10+ years MBB coaching experience - Multiple book author
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