Which casebook's math/charts are similar to real interviews?

casebook
New answer on May 17, 2023
4 Answers
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Anonymous A asked on May 13, 2023

Dear all, just wonder which casebooks have match/chart interpretation similar to real interviews? I have a few casebooks, but some of them have very complicated math/charts questions like IESE, and some have very simple math. Which casebooks do you recommend? Thanks. 

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Ian
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updated an answer on May 13, 2023
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate

Hi there,

I highly highly recommend using Rocketblocks. They have great practice charts/exhibits.

I also recommend you start doing more daily reading (like the Economist and BCG Insights), where you will be exposed to more charts/math.

The casebooks I like the best are Stern, Columbia, Hass, Darden.

(edited)

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Cristian
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replied on May 13, 2023
#1 rated MBB & McKinsey Coach

Hi there,

My primary recommendation is to use the cases published by coaches on PrepLounge. For instance, the ones that I published are from real McKinsey interviews that took place within the last couple of months and which I then slightly disguised for confidentiality purposes. These will give you a strong indicator of what to expect in the interviews, plus you will get to understand what a passing answer looks like.

Aside from this, some of the case books from business schools are useful. I would suggest that you used books that are as recent as possible (last 2-3 years) so they are closer to the types of questions asked during interviews these days. My preferred one is the one from INSEAD.

Best of luck with the prep!

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Anonymous updated the answer on May 13, 2023

Great question! You have latched on to a real disconnect between practice resources and eventual experiences at interviews.

I'm not a heavy user/endorser of Casebooks by School, so I cannot give you the references you seek. I can however give you some helpful guidance nevertheless:

1. Actual Case interviews do not mirror many practice Cases which seem to require arithmetic gymnastics and rabbit hole re-directs.

Your observation in this direction is absolutely correct! However, caution should be taken when reflecting on this as you do not want to rest on your oars when the Prep going gets tough

It should be noted, too, that while these Cases can often exaggerate or distort the flow, content, and delivery of your interview Cases, they are still a viable practice resource as long as the Case partner(s) you work with are solid.

So, what can you do?

(See No. 2)

2. You can (and absolutely should!) focus on sourcing high-quality Case partners!

The quality of practice (other than your own efforts) leans heavily on the skill, experience, and dedication of your Case partner. The inconvenient truth is that the majority of people available to Case with are not very good Case partners. This is potentially harmful because they can miss blind spots, reinforce bad habits, and perpetuate this notion that the quantity of Cases completed, the better prepared they shall be. And the more complicated the Cases they have completed, even better they seem to think.

I would wager that there is a looser correlation across these than these folks would like to believe.

So, what can you do?

You should over-index on finding great Case partners. A great Case partner can parse even the clunkiest Case to design pathways that lead to worthwhile learning objectives and actionable feedback. An average Case partner will rarely rise to the occasion of delivering a great learning experience no mater how excellent the Case is. Wagyu beef may be an excellent cut of meat, but it still needs an expert hand to bring out its choice attributes.

Of course, you should avoid Case sources that have a reputation for clunkyness (a certain name is oft-mentioned in these very forums, a name which decorum precludes me from repeating), but the takeaway is Partner Quality > Case quality.

3. Understand the importance of arriving at great insights in shorter time-frames.

Straying slightly from your question, I wanted to highlight another disconnect between practice sessions and actual interviews. Most practice sessions I see run for close to 40 minutes. Many exceed this. 

Most interview Cases, however, will rarely crack 30 minutes. Some might even get you through in 25 minutes. If one has practised running the 10k consistently at the 5-minute-kilometre pace, they might gasp here and there if suddenly required to run it at a 4-minute-kilometre.

So, what can you do?

Identify areas where you struggle to perform and/or where your completion/delivery eats up a considerable amount of time. The Case interview is a dance of great nuance between the candidate and the skilled Case partner and one that is difficult to replicate. In going through my actual interviews at the top firms, I was always struck by how much seamless and elegant control the interviewers were able to project. It is a degree of performance you will hardly see in even the most solid of Case partners, so finding that calibre of partner at some phase in your journey would ultimately pay sizeable dividends.

I know your original question was about Case resources and I expect that someone shall be along shortly to give you the specifics on that. Meanwhile, I hope the above was useful.

(edited)

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Sofia
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replied on May 17, 2023
Top-Ranked Coach on PrepLounge for 3 years| McKinsey San Francisco | Harvard graduate | 6+ years of coaching

Hello,

I recommend going to company websites to see the practice cases they have up for reference. Here are a few cases on PrepLounge that I think are fairly representative of case maths too:

https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/interviewer-led-mckinsey-style/intermediate/supermovil-telco-startup-market-expansion-184

https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/candidate-led-usual-style/intermediate/bain-case-old-winery-166

https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/interviewer-led-mckinsey-style/advanced/mbb-final-round-case-smart-education-198 (the budget analysis is on the harder side imo)

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Ian gave the best answer

Ian

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