Experienced consultant in Tier 2 firm. Happy to help with cases from time to time, drop me a msg.
Hey everyone - preparing for Bain interviews and from conversations with a few friends who have gone through the process last year, it appears Bain interviews do take on some elements of being "interviewer led", e.g. for cases where the focus is on one specific issue / requires a deep dive on one branch of the expected issue tree. Can anyone who has gone through their process within the last 2 years verify or comment on this?
Also, if anyone is preparing for Bain, feel free to drop me a msg if you would like to practice.
Cheers.
Hey everyone - preparing for Bain interviews and from conversations with a few friends who have gone through the process last year, it appears Bain interviews do take on some elements of being "interviewer led", e.g. for cases where the focus is on one specific issue / requires a deep dive on one branch of the expected issue tree. Can anyone who has gone through their process within the last 2 years verify or comment on this?
Also, if anyone is preparing for Bain, feel free to drop me a msg if you would like to practice.
First of all - it is a myth that at McK and BCG all cases are Interviewer led. I know a lot of partners who don't hesitate to ask the interviewee lead the case.
Secondly - indeed almost all Bain cases are interviewee led. Thus you have to drive the case and you have to come to a certain number and the conclusion in the end.
It may seem to you that these 2 types of cases are different, however, the interviewer-led type is just a simplified version of the interviewee-led case. My advice is to prepare a lot in the interviewee-led format so that you could solve both easily.
Now, how to approach them?
1) It's even more important to ask the clarifying questions in the beginning:
- Clarify the business model (i.e. how the business works and what are the revenue streams / core products or business lines)
- Clarify the objective both in money terms and timeline (e.g. Our objective is to increase profits by 5M in 5 years). When you have a to select from several options in a case - clarify the selection criteria
- Clarify other possible limitations if you feel that it's necessary
2) You lead the case through the structure you've prepared a) asking questions and trying to identify the root cause of the problem in the branch of your structure b) making a transition to the next branch c) proactively calculating the data and making data-driven conclusion from the data they give you d) Making a conclusion when they ask you to finish a case
The general algorithm may be something like this:
Ask for a piece of data / info you've defined in a structure
Compare the data with historical trend / becnhmarks
If you find something interesting ask for the root / cause or state the hypothesis
If no root/cause at this point available - ask for segmentation to drill down further. Make a new structure if needed to identify the root-cause
Once you are done with analysis in one branch of your framework (found the root-cause / found nothing interesting) - summarize what you've learned so far and move to the next one or give the conclusion
Best!
Hi,
First of all - it is a myth that at McK and BCG all cases are Interviewer led. I know a lot of partners who don't hesitate to ask the interviewee lead the case.
Secondly - indeed almost all Bain cases are interviewee led. Thus you have to drive the case and you have to come to a certain number and the conclusion in the end.
It may seem to you that these 2 types of cases are different, however, the interviewer-led type is just a simplified version of the interviewee-led case. My advice is to prepare a lot in the interviewee-led format so that you could solve both easily.
Now, how to approach them?
1) It's even more important to ask the clarifying questions in the beginning:
- Clarify the business model (i.e. how the business works and what are the revenue streams / core products or business lines)
- Clarify the objective both in money terms and timeline (e.g. Our objective is to increase profits by 5M in 5 years). When you have a to select from several options in a case - clarify the selection criteria
- Clarify other possible limitations if you feel that it's necessary
2) You lead the case through the structure you've prepared a) asking questions and trying to identify the root cause of the problem in the branch of your structure b) making a transition to the next branch c) proactively calculating the data and making data-driven conclusion from the data they give you d) Making a conclusion when they ask you to finish a case
The general algorithm may be something like this:
Ask for a piece of data / info you've defined in a structure
Compare the data with historical trend / becnhmarks
If you find something interesting ask for the root / cause or state the hypothesis
If no root/cause at this point available - ask for segmentation to drill down further. Make a new structure if needed to identify the root-cause
Once you are done with analysis in one branch of your framework (found the root-cause / found nothing interesting) - summarize what you've learned so far and move to the next one or give the conclusion
The case study is the most important element of the case interview, which you'll have to nail in order to get into strategic consulting. Here you can learn the specific skills and concepts necessary to solve them.
Case Interviews can be led by the candidate or by the interviewer: In Candidate-led cases the main challenge is the structure. In Interviewer-led cases the main challenge is to adapt quickly
Bain case: Asian lubricants producerLubricantsCo, a very successful Asian premium producer of lubricants in their native region, would like to further increase their revenue and profit. The product range ranges from lubricants in the automotive sector (e.g. motor and gear oil) to industrial applications (e.g. fats, heavy-duty oils).
According to preliminary examinations, further growth potentials in the Asian core market are rather limited. Thus LubricantsCo would like to investigate options to internationalize in the passenger car business – also outside the premium segment which is given priority.
Therefore your consulting firm was instructed to elaborate a market entry strategy for the European market.
LubricantsCo, a very successful Asian premium producer of lubricants in their native region, would like to further increase their revenue and profit. The product range ranges from lubricants in the automotive sector (e.g. motor and gear oil) to industrial applications (e.g. fats, heavy-duty oils).
... Open whole case
Bain Case: Old WineryYou have inherited the “Old Winery” from your grandfather, a winery which has been family owned for five generations and can be dated back to the 16th century.
Half of the eleven hectares are used to grow white grapes, the other half to grow red grapes. They are grown in the conventional way, i.e. they are not organically farmed and certified. The vine stocks are in a good condition regarding age and care. Overall, only ¼ of the harvest is made into wine by the winery itself; the rest is sold.
Your grandfather never wanted to change the image of the winery and left the managerial and administrative task to a young and energetic wine-maker. Due to the not so well-known brand , the demand for the “Old Winery” wine is currently rather low.
You do not intent to run the winery operatively, given your limited knowledge of wine making, but find the idea of owning a winery exciting. Your plan is to give the winery some fresh impetus.
You have inherited the “Old Winery” from your grandfather, a winery which has been family owned for five generations and can be dated back to the 16th century.
Half of the eleven hectares are used to grow white grapes, the other half to grow red grapes. They are grown in the conventional way, i.e. ... Open whole case
Bain Questions
Tell me about a difficult situation you had to cope with.
Tell me of a task which you didn’t like doing and explain why you performed it nevertheless.
Why do you do things?
What do you like doing most / What is your favorite hobby?
Walk me through a situation where you showed leadership skills.
Tell me about a difficult situation you had to cope with.
Tell me of a task which you didn’t like doing and explain why you performed it nevertheless.
Why do you do things?
What do you like doing most / What is your favorite hobby?
Walk me through a situation where you showed leadership skills ... Open whole case
Powered Wheelchairs We have been hired by the CEO of Comfort Chairs, a company that manufactures complex powered wheelchairs. Comfort Chairs has headquarters in Sweden with manufacturing in Sweden and sales all over Europe. The company enjoys a strong market position and is known for being a pioneer in its industry. It was recently acquired by a leading global private equity firm that is interested in driving the international growth of Comfort Chairs. Especially, the US market looks very interesting.
The CEO has hired you to help him with two things:
1. Determine the size and the growth of the US market for complex powered wheelchairs.
2. Analyze whether entering the US market is attractive.
We have been hired by the CEO of Comfort Chairs, a company that manufactures complex powered wheelchairs. Comfort Chairs has headquarters in Sweden with manufacturing in Sweden and sales all over Europe. The company enjoys a strong market position and is known for being a pioneer in its industry. It ... Open whole case
Coronavirus Times - COVID-19 BrainteaserYou and your family are faced with a challenging set of decisions. Due to coronavirus, your partner has taken a 20% paycut and you are worried you may lose your job. In addition, while daycare is still open, you are worried that sending your two children there will increase the risk of them bringing the virus back to your house, where your elderly grandparents are also staying.
How would you go about thinking about this problem, and what would you recommend?
You and your family are faced with a challenging set of decisions. Due to coronavirus, your partner has taken a 20% paycut and you are worried you may lose your job. In addition, while daycare is still open, you are worried that sending your two children there will increase the risk of them bringing ... Open whole case
Structure Anything 
