Profile evaluation

Hi Karimbek,

1) What do you think, is my profile good to push for Junior Associate/Associate role at MBB? 

Your profile seems good. To increase your chances of invitation you should have 3 things: a great CV, a great Cover and a referral. You can find more on that at the link below:

▶ How to Get an MBB Interview Invitation

2) As coaching seems expensive to me, is it possible to prepare low budget with peer casing?

It is possible, although most likely it won’t be as effective as coaching. You can find below a few tips on how to prepare:

▶ How to Prepare for a Consulting Interview

Good luck!

Francesco

You have a decent CV, but it's probably easier for someone in the country to judge. Is it top 5%? Top 2%? For someone with ~3 years experience considering both academics and work?

If so, you have a good chance of getting an interview. If only top 10%, you are not out. Below that, you really need to do a lot of networking to get a referral.

Regarding coaching - you are getting this wrong. Currently your peers that are applying are unlikely to be very well prepared. If you do a good preparation you will clearly stand out from the croud.

Hi Karimbek,

I think this is an interesting question that may be relevant for many people. I would be happy to share my thoughts on it:

• Based on the information provided, it appears that you have a solid foundation for pursuing a career in strategy consulting. Your experience as a CEO of a local streaming startup, as well as your strong analytical and quantitative skills, can be assets in a consulting role.
• As for your suitability for a Junior Associate/Associate role at MBB, it ultimately depends on the current needs of the firms. However, your background and experience appear to align well with the types of skills and experience that these firms typically look for in entry-level consulting roles. Additionally, the fact that your CV was pre-screened by McKinsey Central Asia office and the opening of a BCG office in your country, it could be a good indication that you are a suitable fit.
• As for preparing for consulting on a budget, it's certainly possible to do so. Peer casing is one way to prepare, where you practice solving cases with friends or classmates who are also preparing for consulting interviews. Additionally, there are many free resources available online (especially on PrepLounge), such as case interview frameworks, practice cases, and tips on how to approach cases.
• It's worth noting that coaching can be expensive, but it can also be a worthwhile investment if you're committed to pursuing a career in strategy consulting. Coaching can provide you with personalized guidance, feedback, and support, which can be invaluable in helping you to improve your case interviewing skills and increase your chances of success in the recruiting process.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to address your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hi Karimbek,

How exciting!

Yes, I think your profile looks good (without seeing your actual resume). Get networking and make your profile as strong as possible!

100% you can prepare without a coach. Of course, us coaches will always “push” our services, and we 100% increase your odds, reduce mistakes, reduce prep time, etc. There's a lot of benefit to coaching (genuinely!), BUT, so many people also make it without coaching. 

If you put in the time/effort you can absolutely do it!

Here's some reading to get you started: https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/pitfalls-case-interview-preparation

Hi there,

Very cool and interesting profile! Let me tackle your questions directly:

1) What do you think, is my profile good to push for Junior Associate/Associate role at MBB? BCG has opened an office in my country recently, and my CV was pre-screened by McKinsey Central Asia office in career fare. Bain Middle East office is also an option. With your profile and the right networking strategy, you should be able to land a referral and potentially an invitation for an interview. Given your introversion, networking might present more of a challenge for you than for others. If this is a concern, you might want to get some coaching support. And remember to always have your most updated and impeccable CV ready to share when networking!

2) As coaching seems expensive to me, is it possible to prepare low budget with peer casing? Yes of course, but it's less efficient with lower conversion rates, statistically speaking. If you consider the actual ROI, it won't look so expensive all of a sudden… However, if you're on a budget I suggest to start with peer coaching to get some experience, identify your weaknesses, and find an experienced coach that can help you close the most pressing gaps and bring out your strengths in 1-2 sessions in a very targeted way.

Hope this helps. Best of luck!

Hi Karimbek,

What an exciting opportunity to build a new office from scratch.

1. Given your background, I believe you definitely have a shot, especially at BCG in your home country.

In general, I would make sure to network with consultants of all target firms and target offices to score a referral, then apply. 

2. It is possible and most people make it into MBB without a coach if you look at the broader picture…

Make sure that you practice with other candidates that are strong, use high-quality materials and drills, and potentially interview courses (you likely need to pay for this but it is much cheaper than a coaching session).

All the best,

Florian