Struggling in my first consulting case. How long does it usually take to get the flow in cases? I feel that I am not learning quickly enough.
(edited)
Struggling in my first consulting case. How long does it usually take to get the flow in cases? I feel that I am not learning quickly enough.
(edited)
Hi there!
First of all, breathe. I absolutely bombed my first case! There are so many stories at MBB of new hires doing horribly to start, only to become the stars of the cohort later down the road.
Now that you've taken a breathe, let's take some action :)
First: Read the 25 tips in my consulting handbook here: https://www.spencertom.com/2018/01/14/consulting-survival-guide/
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Second: In terms of doing well in your role when you're there:
1) Understand the context/prompt (what role are you in, what company, who's watching, etc.)
2) Understand the objective (what, specifically, is expected from you...both day to day, and in your overall career progression)
3) Quickly process information, and focus on what's important - Take a lot of information and the unknown, find the most logical path, and focus on that.
4) Be comfortable with the unknown, and learn to brainstorm - Ask for help! Ask you Pl and other consultants for help where you're struggling. Don't be afraid with not knowing something...but identify what that something is and look for help in it. Run towards the unknown.
In summary, there will always be a flood of information, expectations, competition etc. and not enough time. Find out which ones matter when. (i.e. be visibile and focus efforts on the things that people care about)
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Third: Here are some great prior Q&As for you!
https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/how-hard-is-it-to-excel-in-top-consulting-firms-6762
Hi,
The first 1-2 projects will always be tough. Try to:
Best
Hi, even if it's a matter of quality and not quantity, after 10-15 cases you should notice a good improvement in fluency and structuring
Best,
Antonello
Dear A,
Are you talking about case preparation, or your first case as a team member?
Best,
André
Hi Anonymous,
Couple of points to your question(s):
Hope that helps - if so, please be so kind to give it a thumbs-up with the green upvote button below!
Robert
Hi there,
This is quite common. I usually suggest the following to manage the first months in consulting:
If you need additional help, please drop me a message.
Best,
Francesco
Hi!
Are you referring to case studies or are you referring to the actual work as a team member on a consulting project?
Cheers, Sidi