Strategy& Final Round

Case Interview Final Round preparation strategy&
New answer on Oct 31, 2023
5 Answers
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Anonymous A asked on Dec 04, 2016

Hi guys,

I am having my final round assessment center with Strategy& this wednesday. Can anyone shed some insights on the interview process? I will have 2 case interview and a presentation session? what format will the presentation session be like and how to prepare (i heard that we need to present in front of two partners, is it true?) also, for the case interview, since I am interviewing for the M&A Team, will my case interview be merger and acquisition cases? or market sizing like my first round interivew... Thanks,

Jenny

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Raj
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Oct 31, 2023
FREE 15MIN CONSULTATION | #1 Strategy& / OW coach | >70 5* reviews |90% offers ⇨ prep-success.super.site | MENA, DE, UK

Hi Jenny, congratulations on reaching the final round assessment center with Strategy&! The interview process typically consists of two case interviews and a presentation session.

For the presentation session, it is true that you may be required to present in front of partners. The format may vary, but it often involves presenting a business-related topic or a case study that you have prepared in advance. The partners will assess your ability to communicate effectively, analyze information, and present your ideas in a structured and persuasive manner. To prepare, I recommend practicing your presentation skills, organizing your content logically, and anticipating potential questions or challenges from the partners.

Regarding the case interviews, as you are interviewing for the M&A Team, it is likely that you will be given merger and acquisition cases. These cases will test your ability to analyze complex financial and strategic considerations, evaluate potential synergies, and make recommendations for successful M&A transactions. However, it's always a good idea to be prepared for other types of cases as well, such as market sizing or business strategy, as they may still be included in the final round.

To prepare for the case interviews, I suggest reviewing M&A frameworks, practicing mental math for quick calculations, and honing your problem-solving skills. Familiarize yourself with common M&A concepts, such as due diligence, valuation methods, and integration planning. Additionally, it can be helpful to practice with case partners or engage in mock interviews to simulate the interview environment.

Remember to stay calm, think critically, and communicate your thoughts clearly during the assessment center. Good luck with your final round at Strategy&!

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Anonymous B replied on Dec 05, 2016

Dunno if this helps since I dunno which country u r applying n my interview was a few years back. Had it on campus in India with booz & company. There were 3 rounds:
Round 1: Case Study Interview

  • Short personal fit interview (be prepared to answer thoroughly any point on resume. In my case we discussed 1 point for about 20 mins!)
  • actual case interview. I was presented the case and then I solved it together with the interviewer in about 40 mins

Round 2: Personal interview and case study

  • PI for about 20 mins: common questions like tell me about yourself, what qualities does a good consultant have, also general knowledge questions like what went wrong with enron etc.

  • case study: it was something about advising an oil marketing company on whether or not they should launch a card payment option

Round 3: HR interview. its basically a personal fit interview talking about previous working experience etc.

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Astrid
Admin
replied on Dec 05, 2016
PrepLounge Head of Product & Marketing

Hi Jenny,

Congratulations on getting into the final round with Strategy&!

As far as I know, the interview process may differ slightly depending on the country you are applying to.

In Germany, the interview day should proceed somewhat like the following:

1. First Round:

  • Case Interview (in German):
    • personal fit interview (~15 min)

    • case study (~40 min)

    • questions from your side (~5 min)

    • This is your chance to show them your analytical and quantitative skills as well as your creativity and ability to communicate The type of case depends on the interviewer, but usually it is based on actual projects or scenarios (no brainteasers). It is not so much the result that matters but rather your approach to get to the result.

  • Case Interview (in English):
    • same structure as above

  • Presentation:
    • ​​you have to solve a problem based on information given (~25 min.)

    • presentation of your results and further questions (~10 min.)

    • This is your chance to show them your presentation skills. In a short time period, you have to identify the right information and present your results in a clear and structured manner.

2. Lunch Break

3. Second Round

  • Case Interview (in German):
    • same structure as above

  • Partner Interview:
    • this can be another case interview or just a casual conversation depending on the previous rounds and the partner’s mood

4. Feedback

  • Your personal feedback will be directly given to you at the end of the interviews. If you were successful, they will already make you an offer.

I don’t know if you have seen this but on the Australian Strategy& website, you can find some info on the interview process in Australia and further tips for solving cases. You might want to check that out.

I hope this helps and that someone will still share their first hand experience with Strategy& here on the forum!

And if not, maybe you can share your experience next week - it could be really helpful for future candidates :)

But for now, I wish you all the best for your interview on Wednesday!!!

Best wishes,

Astrid

PrepLounge Community Management

PrepLounge Consulting Q&A Forum

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Kelsey replied on Feb 04, 2017

HI Jenny, hope your application went well. do you mind sharing your experience in Strategy&. many thanks,

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Clara
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Oct 31, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

Congrats for moving to final round!

As it has been outlined, its very similar, but :

  • Cases you can expect are more "free riding" - less organized than the ones your found in the 1st round or most prep pages
  • Stronger emphasis in the FIT part, as outlined before by other coaches.

If you are interested in deepening your knowledge and preparation on the FIT part, the "Integrated FIT guide for MBB" has been recently published in PrepLounge´s shop (https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/tests-2/integrated-fit-guide-for-mbb-34)

It provides an end-to-end preparation for all three MBB interviews, tackling each firms particularities and combining key concepts review and a hands-on methodology. Following the book, the candidate will prepare his/her stories by practicing with over 50 real questions and leveraging special frameworks and worksheets that guide step-by-step, developed by the author and her experience as a Master in Management professor and coach. Finally, as further guidance, the guide encompasses over 20 examples from real candidates.

Furthermore, you can find 3 free cases in the PrepL case regarding FIT preparation:

- Intro and CV questions > https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/fit-interview/intermediate/introduction-and-cv-questions-fit-interview-preparation-200

- Motivational questions > https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/fit-interview/intermediate/motivational-questions-fit-interview-preparation-201

- Behavioural questions (ENTREPRENEURIAL DRIVE) >https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/fit-interview/intermediate/behavioral-questions-entrepreneurial-drive-fit-interview-preparation-211

Feel free to PM me for disccount codes for the Integrated FIT Guide, since we still have some left from the launch!

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Raj gave the best answer

Raj

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