What kind of cases for BCG final round

Hi there,

Regional variations in interview details, including the seniority of interviewers, do exist. For instance, in Germany, the seniority remains consistent across interview rounds, and the same set of cases is usually used in both rounds, ensuring a consistent experience. In contrast, some regions involve more senior interviewers in the final round. 

Drawing from my experience conducting final round interviews in various regions, I am happy to provide a perspective on your questions.

1) On prepared vs unstructured

The cases are carefully prepared before the interview. Interviewers have the freedom to create cases based on their experience. It's uncommon for an interview to be entirely unstructured, except perhaps in rare partner interviews (no personal experience here). Some cases have no exhibits, interviewers have freedom in preparing them.

2) On brainsteasers

Typically, you won't encounter brainteasers; instead, you'll face real business problems. The scope of these problems can vary widely, extending beyond the mentioned case types. For instance, my favorite case involved addressing corporate culture improvement. The complexity of cases may be influenced by geography, with shorter, self-timed cases limiting intricacy in some regions. Contrasting this with longer interviews often seen e.g. on youtube, one can observe the difference in focus, with shorter cases emphasizing pragmatism and drive.

3) Cases based on candidate CV

Uncommon, with a similar rationale and exception as your first question.

That being said, it's crucial to master a versatile approach to any case and be prepared for diverse scenarios. While understanding the interview mode at a specific firm is beneficial, the bulk of your preparation should focus on developing problem-solving skills applicable to any setting.

Best of luck with that!

Gero

Hi there,

Here's a REAL BCG questionmy candidate was just asked:

Your client is the CEO of marketing at Green university, a small regional university (Bachelors+ Masters in Healthcare offered). There has been a decrease in undergraduate enrollments (from 3,000 to 1,500). We need to work through sustainability, revenue, and other implications.

Here's another REAL BCG question just asked:

(Interviewer skipped framework) Medical device company with 6 devices (spine, hips). Each device focuses on a different part of the body and competes with other companies. What is your recommendation on 2 units that have the best value and 2 that should be de-valued (showed exhibit)

HEre is ANOTHER one:

Your client is an airline that has been facing a decline in “on time performance”. They want you to figure out what’s going on and recommend a solution.

==============================

What's the case type?

What's the trend?

What's the pattern?

THERE IS NOT ONE

I'm not kidding in all my past Q&As when I say you cannot play the prediction game with interviews.

Rather, train yourself to be ready for ANYTHING. Build up the core skills required. You're trying for the easy way out - there isn't one!

HEre's some reading to help:

The Most Common Pitfalls in Case Interview Preparation
 

Dos and Don'ts in a Case Interview
 

How to Shift Your Mindset to Ace the Case
 

Candidate-Led Cases: What to Expect With Example Cases

Hi there,

1) For example, do most BCG interviewers prepare the case in advance with supporting material (graphs, charts, etc) or is it less structured? 

It might depend on the office/partner. When I interviewed myself, I got a “standard” final round business case and an interview without any business case/graph (two estimation questions and one brainteaser).

2) I was also wondering whether cases such as the well-known ‘estimate the number of golf balls that can fit in an airplane’ type can be asked on the final round or whether there are more profitability, market entry, M&A kind of cases?

In my final, I had to estimate the number of tennis balls sold in Italy. So estimations are possible. Their frequency depends on the office.

3) Do the BCG interviewers ask questions related to the candidate, i.e. looking at the CV and see that the candidate has some experience working in a restaurant so the case is ‘Estimate the market size of fast food’? Is it common at BCG?  

They might ask questions based on your CV, but based on the candidates I helped is unlikely that they will structure a case based on that.

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi there!

The short (and probably disappointing) answer is that there are no typical BCG cases. 

They can come in any shape or form, from any industry or case type. 

Let me take your questions one by one:

1) For example, do most BCG interviewers prepare the case in advance with supporting material (graphs, charts, etc) or is it less structured? 

It's rather an industry standard that final-round interviewers are more senior, and thus they tend to step out of the typical interview structure. It's not a BCG thing. I would say, indeed, that exhibits are less common in the second round (but this is based on empirical evidence, not hard data). 

2) I was also wondering whether cases such as the well-known ‘estimate the number of golf balls that can fit in an airplane’ type can be asked on the final round or whether there are more profitability, market entry, M&A kind of cases?

Yes, they do still ask market sizing questions. My last interview with McKinsey was a market sizing question (that I partially bombed). 

3) Do the BCG interviewers ask questions related to the candidate, i.e. looking at the CV and see that the candidate has some experience working in a restaurant so the case is ‘Estimate the market size of fast food’? Is it common at BCG?  

Sometimes. For instance, in one of my interviews, we started chatting about the high turnover rate in consulting (i.e., people leaving in 2 years). So the interviewer came up with a case on the spot so we could solve the ‘turnover’ problem in consulting. It was quite fun and absolutely unstructured, so do expect them to get creative either based on your CV or your chat with them. 

Best,
Cristian

Hey,

1) For example, do most BCG interviewers prepare the case in advance with supporting material (graphs, charts, etc) or is it less structured? 

Most cases are prepared in advance, but in some instances the interview is less structured. For example, I know about a BCG partner who preferred to give a candidate an ad-hoc case from his last project.

2) I was also wondering whether cases such as the well-known ‘estimate the number of golf balls that can fit in an airplane’ type can be asked on the final round or whether there are more profitability, market entry, M&A kind of cases?

You can expect all types of cases during a final round. Also, the cases vary depending on geography. In the Middle East, I've heard, there are a lot of market sizings given.

3) Do the BCG interviewers ask questions related to the candidate, i.e. looking at the CV and see that the candidate has some experience working in a restaurant so the case is ‘Estimate the market size of fast food’? Is it common at BCG?  

Hmm…I've never heard about such examples, but during an interview everything can happen.On the other hand, it makes more sense to test how a candidate would fare in an industry that they have no experience in.

Hope this helps,
Nick

Hi there,

There is no specific pattern for second round interviews at BCG. Sometimes you can expect a little less structure and a more conversational / informal case if the interviewer is quite senior.

In any case, you prepare for the second round the exact same way as for the first.

Best,

Alberto

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Check out my latest case based on a real MBB interview: Sierra Springs