Schedule mock interviews on the Meeting Board, join the latest community discussions in our Consulting Q&A and find like-minded Interview Partners to connect and practice with!
Back to overview

When to start with the preparation process?

Hi everybody

which time horizon do you guys suggest for a proper interview preparation. I mean all in all, e.g., case studie practice, PEI prep etc. to my background: I am currently doing my PhD and have a quite clear idea about when to to my interviews. Namely July 2019.

Thank you very much!

5
2.7k
12
Be the first to answer!
Nobody has responded to this question yet.
Top answer
Sidi
Coach
on Mar 06, 2019
McKinsey Senior EM & BCG Consultant | Interviewer at McK & BCG for 7 years | Coached 400+ candidates secure MBB offers

Hi! From my experience, 8 weeks is a realistic time frame for covering all aspects of becoming "offer-ready" while still having to work/study. However, it varies for each person, also based on whether some flawed habits need to be "unlearned". 

Cheers, Sidi

on Mar 06, 2019
Hi Sidi! Thanks for your help.
on Mar 06, 2019

I think that really depends on your background. The word "PhD' raises red flags for me. When I finished my PhD, writing the thesis and then defending it took a ton of time. The last three months were full of 80 hour weeks, and I would not have been able to also prepare for case interviews. So be careful with this time commitment, most people underestimate it.

And then, it also depends on what you've been doing and on how much you actually need to prepare. If it's a PhD in economics you'll have a good starting position, but otherwise you might have to invest significant time into practicing mental math, learning business basics, or even networking (even if it's just to build a network of case study partners).

Good luck!

3
Anonymous B
on Mar 05, 2019

Now :)

2
Clara
Coach
on May 31, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

 For your FIT prep in particular:

On top of the insights already shared in the post, 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.

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

Hope you find it useful!

Best,

Clara

Deleted user
on Sep 19, 2020

Hi A,

The best option would be to start preparing in advance because time's gonna be tight. You need over a hundred hours of preparation in general.

So in order to get it through without any rush, you better start now and spend about 3 months preparing, to apply in the middle of the preparation process, as my colleagues have mentioned.

Best, André

0
Similar Questions
Consulting
Preparing for McKinsey PEI
on Jul 10, 2024
Global
7
4.5k
Top answer by
Nilay
Coach
Former McKinsey Sr Engagement Manager | Trained McKinsey interviewer (100+ interviews, 500+ coaching sessions)
116
7 Answers
4.5k Views
+4
Consulting
A&M PEPI Associate - Case Study & Excel Exercise
on Jan 25, 2025
Global
2
2.5k
Top answer by
Hagen
Coach
#1 recommended coach | >95% success rate | 8+ years consulting, 8+ years coaching and 7+ years interviewing experience
68
2 Answers
2.5k Views
Consulting
PEI - What if I don't have a story to tell?
on Aug 23, 2024
Global
5
1.5k
Top answer by
Ex-McKinsey |5y consulting experience | Specialization in Psychology | Proven holistic mentor
46
5 Answers
1.5k Views
+2
How likely are you to recommend us to a friend or fellow student?
0 = Not likely
10 = Very likely
Thanks for your feedback! Your opinion helps us make PrepLounge even better.