This website uses cookies to enable essential functions like the user login and sessions. We also use cookies and third-party tools to improve your surfing experience on preplounge.com. You can choose to activate only essential cookies or all cookies. You can always change your preference in the cookie and privacy settings. This link can also be found in the footer of the site. If you need more information, please visit our privacy policy.
Data processing in the USA: By clicking on "I accept", you also consent, in accordance with article 49 paragraph 1 sentence 1 lit. GDPR, to your data being processed in the USA (by Google LLC, Facebook Inc., LinkedIn Inc., Stripe, Paypal).
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
MBB Final Round Case - Smart EducationOur client is SmartBridge, a nonprofit educational institution offering face-to-face tutoring services. The client operates in the US.
The mission of SmartBridge is to help as many students as possible to complete studies and prevent that they drop from the school system, in particular in disadvantaged areas.
The client is considering starting operations for its services in the Chicago area. They hired us to understand if that makes sense. Due to the nonprofit regulation, SmartBridge should operate on its own in the market, without any partnership.
How would you help our client?
Our client is SmartBridge, a nonprofit educational institution offering face-to-face tutoring services. The client operates in the US.
The mission of SmartBridge is to help as many students as possible to complete studies and prevent that they drop from the school system, in particular in disadvant ... Open whole case
Hot WheelsProblem definition: Our client is Korean Car Parts (KCP), a multi-national original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of car parts based in Korea. They've recently seen a decline in profits and have brought us in to understand how to address this falling profitability.
Problem definition: Our client is Korean Car Parts (KCP), a multi-national original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of car parts based in Korea. They've recently seen a decline in profits and have brought us in to understand how to address this falling profitability.
Open whole case
5 sessions package with Vlad 
