Should you mention your case prep in your CV?

Hi there,

1) Is it worth adding a line saying that you've done X number of cases with people from different countries, or should case prep not be referenced at all?

No, because what matters is if you can solve properly the case they give you, not how many cases you have done in the past. Additionally, given they take for granted you prepare before the interview, I agree with Alexandre that could give the impression that you are not confident about your level of prep.

The goal of the CV is to show you have proper skills, experiences and achievements, not that you have prepared for the interview – that will be evaluated during the interview process itself.

2) Is it fine to mention in the interests section how many countries you've travelled to / lived in, or would it come across as bragging?

It depends on how you present it, if properly reported it could be fine. It also depends on the “opportunity cost” – what else you would not mention instead of that due to lack of space.

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi,

I would not add the case prep portion to your CV. You can just show them how good you are during your interviews. I think you also wouldn't write the number of hours you studied for exams next to your GPA ;)

I personally think it is a good idea to add something more detailed (and out of the ordinary) to your interests section. That often makes for a good conversation topic, especially in the personal fit interviews.

Good luck

Hi,

My advice is to not mention the number of cases you've done. It can only be negative for their appreciation. Imagine you've done 30+ cases and your score is average… 

Your resume shouldn't be a way for you to show that you prepared yourself well. Only your performance will help you to get an offer. Trying to show that you were serious in your preparation will only show that you don't feel confident.

Concerning your second questions, I would say Yes if you visited these countries by your own means. If you mentionned it and everything was paid by your parents and they discover that during the interview, they will see you as a spoiled kid.

Hope it helps.

Hi there,

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

• First of all, I would highly advise you not to mention anything about your interview preparation in your CV. The purpose of a CV is to advertise your accomplishments, and thoroughly preparing for interviews is generally seen as a requirement rather than an accomplishment. Moreover, I would advise you to consider reaching out to a coach for a proper resume review, as you may not have the right understanding of the function of your CV.
• Regarding mentioning the number of countries you have traveled to, while I don't necessarily see it as an accomplishment, you can still include it. However, please keep in mind that you might be asked about it during the interview and be expected to share an interesting story. If most of the countries you've traveled to are simple vacation destinations, it might be best to leave this information out.

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 there,

Please do not add # of cases.

In terms of countries traveled/lived, this is a personal choice and depends on the rest of your resume + interests.

In my ideal world the resume itself carries with it those countries (on the right hand side against your education + work experience, with you citizenships listed, and with you languages spoken)

Hi there,

Should you state number of cases on your CV? No, absolutely no. As a prospective candidate, you will not get invited, based on your case prep progress, but based on whether your CV fits a consulting firms' screening criteria. Number of cases is not one of those and to be honest, the firms expect by default that you will show up prepared.

Put how many countries you've travelled in your CV? Yes, that's fine and nothing uncommon. If you'd like to tangibly showcase your interest in travelling as part of your personal interests, it's perfectly fine to add a bit of depth. Noone will interpret that as arrogance.

In case you do need coaching support to finetune your CV and get it MBB-ready, feel free to reach out to me or other coaches. Will be happy to help.

Regards, Andi

1. Number of cases

No, absolutely not. 

2. How many countries you travelled to.

This is positive. Consulting firms value people with life experience and a global mind (and that can deal with frequent travel / foreign cultures). Unless you just went to all of those countries to go to the beach. In other words, be prepared to discuss that experience in deeper detail in a way that values you professionally. 

Hi there,

2x No

It is not worth mentioning how many cases you have done to prepare. Ultimately they are interested in how well you perform in the cases that they give you on the day of the interview. Thorough preparation will help you doing a good job - but nothing for the CV/cover letter

International experience counts, if it is professional/educational experience. I.e., if you have done an internship/worked/studied abroad, pls mention. Do not mention vacations.

Best regards,

Andreas