Preparation time

Hello,

The true answer is that it fully depends on the individual! But that doesn't help you for planning purposes, so I can tell you that in general most candidates need to do somewhere between 20-30 cases and 2-5 hours of behavioral prep to get interview ready. Depending on your schedule and responsibilities, this is usually comfortably feasible in 1-3 months, though some candidates prefer a more accelerated pipeline where they're cramming hard for 3-4 weeks. Working smarter not harder, such as by getting feedback from an expert coach who can tell you what to target in practice, can really speed up your preparation too.

 It's definitely harder if you have a full-time job, but not impossible, and I've coached many candidates who have balanced consulting recruiting with full-time work. If you are able to work on cases a couple of evenings a week + devote some solid time to prep on weekends, you can absolutely balance the two. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to make sure you can do all this practice (I generally advise candidates who are working full-time to start preparing sooner than candidates who are at university or not working), and be reasonable about what you can accomplish - you don't want to burn out halfway through. Feel free to DM me if you have more questions about this! 

Hi there,

1) How long on average does it take to prepare properly for consulting interviews? 

It highly depends on:

• The material you use
• Your initial level

Most candidates need 100+ hours to be ready. With coaching and/or good material, you can decrease the amount substantially.

2) Also, is it possible to prepare well enough for interviews while having another full-time job that requires lots of effort and time?

Yes, I helped many candidates who had full-time jobs. You just need to:

1. Be efficient with your time with a proper prep plan
2. Plan in advance so that you can spread the preparation over a longer time horizon compared to the situation where you did not have to work

You can find some tips on how to prepare below:

▶ How to Prepare for a Consulting Interview

Best,

Francesco

Hi there,

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:

• First of all, the time needed to prepare for the consulting interview process can greatly vary. It largely depends on your prior knowledge, your experience with case studies, and your proficiency in answering personal fit questions. Generally, I would say a solid preparation could take anywhere from several weeks to several months.
• Moreover, balancing interview preparation with a full-time job can indeed be challenging but it's definitely doable, and I helped quite a few candidates to secure the offers they desired. I would highly advise you to prioritize your time and tasks wisely. Use your free time effectively, such as evenings or weekends. Remember, quality over quantity holds true for consulting interview preparation as well.
• Lastly, consider seeking the help of an experienced coach, which can significantly decrease the time needed to be prepared for consulting interviews, even with a small number of sessions.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hi there,

if you start from zero and you can fully focus on the preparation, I would say 6 weeks is a good timeframe to consider. It allows you to continuously improve while providing enough time to let it all sink in. If you are working another full time job, the time needed likely increases in order to prepare well.

Best

Hi there,

I recommend 2-3 months and approx 10 hours per week.

This varies based on a number of factors:

1. Your starting point
2. Your related experience
3. Your intelligence and how quickly you learn
4. How much brainpower you have
5. What tools you're using (easy to use the wrong ones)
6. How you're studying (easy to study in the wrong way)
7. If you're using a coach

Given you have another full time job you absolutely should consider coaching.

Here's some reading to help you in your prep: https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/pitfalls-case-interview-preparation

Hi there, 

That's a great question and it already shows that you're taking a methodical approach to this. 

I'd say on average 8-12 weeks.

It really depends on you and:
1. How much quality time you can invest in your prep (block 1-2h of practice every day, ideally at times during the day when you are not tired)

2. Whether you know on what to focus on (related to also point 3 below - get a coach early on to give you an assessment of what you're naturally good at, what you need to work on and what resources you'd need)

3. Whether you work with a coach

It's also critical to have a great application strategy from the get-go. Here's a guide on how to build one:

• Maximising your chances of getting a consulting job during an economic downturn

Best,
Cristian

Hi there,

as usual, this really depends, but for an average candidate, I typically see 4-6 weeks as an averae timeline, if you are able to build and follow a daily, continuous prep routine. 

However, this can vary significantly in both directions, based on a number of factors such as..

• Starting point / existing foundations
• Candidate's time commitment & discipline
• Candidate's aptitude and learning style
• Access to resources / good coaching
• etc  

Hope this helps.

Regards, Andi