Performing well during peer/coach cases but not during actual interviews

BCG BCG Case Interview case coaching coaching mock case
New answer on Sep 02, 2021
7 Answers
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Anonymous A asked on Sep 01, 2021

Hi everybody,

I have been preparing for 8 weeks and have completed 50 cases with peers and 14 with coaches.

Fortunately, I have passed the round one interviews with BCG and will be proceeding to the final round of interviews in 1.5 weeks.

When I have mock case interviews with coaches, I perform well and do not stumble.

However, during my actual interviews, I take a longer time to process information, perform the calculation carelessly and convey the information in an unstructured manner.

How can I determine the root cause of this issue, and how can I solve it?

Appreciate any suggestions or insights.

(edited)

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Erica
Expert
updated an answer on Sep 01, 2021
Ex-McKinsey / 100% offer rate / LBS / Principle driven / Real case/ If you get the interview, you should get the offer!

Hi there. It seems like your issue is more psychological than technical - meaning your case skill should be good but you perform under average due to the stress you put on yourself during real interviews.

The following may be helpful for you:

- Do a more thorough background research on your interviewer, for example, google articles they wrote, videos they may have on youtube or ask people you know from BCG about their style, personalities, etc. This creates certainty to certain extent and will ease your nervousness quite a lot

- Start a casual chat with your interviewer before the interview, ask how his/her day is going or talk about the weather, any topic that breaks the ice

- Do a quick market sizing or small case as a warm up before the interview, which will help you settle into the case flow faster

These tips have helped me quite a lot before my interview. Hope it helps you too :)  

(edited)

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Anonymous A on Sep 01, 2021

Thanks Erica, I like your suggestions

Ian
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Sep 01, 2021
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate

Hi there,

100% agree and my thoughts exactly. You are in “practice” mindset with peers/coaches and in “oh shoot this is real” mindset during the interview.

A few tips:

  1. Try a new coach (try to find one that won't be “nice”). The fresh face will help you treat it like the real thing
  2. Ask the company to pair you with a consultant for a practice case (may be too late)
  3. Read up on various Q&As on anxiousness/nervousness…I've included some thoughts on that below

How to feel less nervous/anxious during the interview

  1. You might be experiencing burnout. Were you nervous when you first started, or did you enjoy it more? If you used to be better (i.e. more focused on the interesting aspect of the case etc.), then you need a break. Forcing this won't help. Stopping for a week or so in between interviews may actually let your body/mind recharge and get out of the fight-or-flight mode you might be in.
  2. Realize the interview is not a big deal. You might completely fail the interview. Totally bomb it. No job offer from McK. Ok...so what? Is your life over? Not even close! You have plenty of opportunities ahead of you and lots of great things on the horizon. It doesn't matter if it's McK or anyother company. Play the worst-case-scenario game. Life goes on.
  3. Realize your little case mistakes are not a big deal. Ok...you forgot to ask something....so what? I've never ever seen a perfect case. I've seen plenty of exceptional candidates. If you miss an item or two, but you're generally personable, drive towards to solution, communicate in a structured way, etc. it really doesn't matter...they've already decided they like you! Don't sweat the little things.
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Anonymous A on Sep 01, 2021

Thanks Ian, this is helpful

Agrim
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Sep 01, 2021
BCG Dubai Project Leader | Learn to think like a Consultant | Free personalised prep plan | 6+ years in Consulting

This happens to everyone - you are not alone.

The single biggest reason for this that I have realised throughout my life is that - “You are expecting way too much from yourself” and that is creating this pressure on you that makes you choke in the interview. Just relax! If you are doing well in practice, it means you have all the ingredients to succeed in the interview - why worry then?

You need to convince your mind that the actual interview is also just practice. It is easier said than done, but has worked for me in the past and has made a world of difference for me so far.

Do message me for specific tips on how to trick your mind.

Meanwhile, do check out these 2 other questions and the variety of answers on them.

https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/managing-anxiety-before-interviews-11039

https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/improving-confidence-11121

 

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Adi
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Sep 01, 2021
Accenture, Deloitte | Precision Case Prep | Experienced Interviewer & Career Coach | 15 years professional experience
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Anonymous A on Sep 01, 2021

Thanks Adi, appreciate it

Adi on Sep 01, 2021

All the best! You will be fine :)

Udayan
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Sep 01, 2021
Top rated Case & PEI coach/Multiple real offers/McKinsey EM in New York /6 years McKinsey recruiting experience

This is very common and you are not alone. There is a reason that interview performance is different to practice and it all boils down to how you react under stressful situations. When you are in an interview, the stakes are high, there is more to lose and there are subtle clues your brain picks up on that it chooses not to during a practice.

There is no magical cure for it. You have to train to always be present in the interview and you can look at breathing exercises (breathe in and out slowly by counting to 10 etc.) to remain calm and focused. Everything else from a technical perspective is exactly the same as a practice with peers. 

 

Udayan

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Sofia
Expert
replied on Sep 02, 2021
Top-Ranked Coach on PrepLounge for 3 years| McKinsey San Francisco | Harvard graduate | 6+ years of coaching

Hello,

If you are performing well in practice cases but feel like you are stumbling more in actual interviews, it seems like it would be a stress issue. The advice from the other coaches here is excellent, and I would just add a few things to think about:

  • Can you make your practice cases feel more like the real interview in any way? For instance, you could do a combined case + fit session, or get a coach to mimic the exact format of an interview (make small talk at the start, opportunity for you to ask questions at the end, etc.)
  • How can you help yourself relax more before the interview? I see burnout in a lot of candidates these days. If you're practicing cases and running through frameworks until the last minute, I'd recommend doing something to take your mind off the interview the night before - listen to some music, go for a walk, get lots of sleep, etc.
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Florian
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Sep 02, 2021
Highest-rated McKinsey coach (ratings, offers, sessions) | 500+ offers | Author of The 1% & Consulting Career Secrets

Hey there,

That definitely sounds like stage fright / just being more nervous in the situation. 

There are a few things you can do in the short term to overcome to work on that:

  1. Remember that the interviewers want you to succeed and believe already that you have what it takes (since you made it to the interviews and cleared the first round). They are your allies in this process
  2. Remember that you have what it takes from your experience with a. coaches, b. peers, and c. in the first round. You would not have made it otherwise
  3. Use positive visualizations of how the interviews are going well just like Olympic athletes visualizing them winning the race. Use Google for more on good visualization techniques
  4. The best interview performances usually happen in the flow state. Read about Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's book on that and how to achieve this state
  5. Add meditations and sports to your prep regime, frees the mind, and help you get calmer and more focused

All the best,

Florian

 

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Erica gave the best answer

Erica

Ex-McKinsey / 100% offer rate / LBS / Principle driven / Real case/ If you get the interview, you should get the offer!
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