“I found my mentoring session with André very helpful, particularly because I came into it with very little understanding of commercial banking. My background is in life sciences and healthcare, and most of my career exploration so far has focused on consulting. Although I had become interested in commercial banking, I had not previously explored the area in any depth. I therefore needed a clear starting point and an honest conversation about what I should understand before deciding whether to pursue it.
André helped me establish that starting point. The session gave me a clearer way to think about commercial banking, how it differs from consulting, and what I still need to learn. Before the conversation, I was looking at opportunities and wondering whether I should begin applying alongside consulting applications. Afterwards, I understood that I needed to take a step back and make a more informed decision about whether the work genuinely interests me.
One of the most valuable aspects of the session was how it helped me recognise the gaps in my current understanding. I knew that I was new to banking, but I did not necessarily know which questions I needed to answer for myself. André’s guidance helped me think more clearly about where I am now, what I am missing, and what I should begin doing next. Having that direction was useful because it made the process feel more manageable. Rather than treating banking as a broad and unfamiliar industry, I now have a clearer starting point for learning about it.
A particularly helpful message was that I should first develop a better understanding of commercial banking and assess whether I actually like the work. I took away a sensible sequence: understand the area, decide whether it appeals to me, and then, if it does, commit to learning and preparing for applications. If I discover that the work does not suit my interests, I should be willing to recognise that and focus my efforts elsewhere. That advice sounds straightforward, but it was an important perspective for me at this stage.
The conversation made me realise that I should not rush into applying for commercial banking roles simply because I have found programmes that look interesting. Before the session, I was at risk of moving too quickly from curiosity to applications without having a strong enough understanding of the career itself. André helped me see the value of being more deliberate. I would rather make a considered application based on a genuine interest in the work than spend time applying to positions I cannot yet explain my motivation for pursuing.
Another important takeaway was recognising how substantial the differences between banking and consulting can be. Because consulting has been my main focus, it had become my reference point when thinking about other careers. The session helped me realise that I cannot assume banking will involve similar work, suit the same preferences, or require exactly the same preparation. I need to understand banking on its own terms rather than view it mainly as another option alongside consulting.
I also appreciated that the session was useful even though I did not finish it with a final career decision. At this exploratory stage, greater clarity about what I do not yet know is meaningful progress. I now feel better equipped to evaluate my interest, identify what I need to learn, and decide whether commercial banking deserves a more focused place in my career plans.
Overall, André was very helpful, and the session met an important need for me as someone starting with limited knowledge of the field. Its greatest value was giving me direction and encouraging a more thoughtful approach to my next steps. I left with a clearer understanding of my knowledge gaps, a more realistic perspective on the difference between banking and consulting, and a better sense of how to move forward before committing to applications.”
Yes it's possible, but you have to grind. Search around /r/consulting for more preparation tips - that community is much more active than wso.
It's totally possible, my suggestion would be get Case in Point and read that until you start reciting it when you do practice cases. Once you have the frameworks down you'll be good to go.
I prepped my case interviews for maybe 2 1/2 weeks
Yes, but Amazon prime the fuck out of some materials (case interview secrets or case in point are the standards), get through them ASAP and then do a case a day until your interviews. I like Case Interview Secrets because its less memorization but if your business sense is weak go with case in point. Two cases a day if possible, but leave yourself time to review what you did right and wrong after and to incorporate your feedback. It's helpful to redo your frameworks and your quant after too to see if you could have done it better. Find people who have been successful in recruiting to help give feedback on your cases if possible.
I want to second case interview secrets over case in point. I also did 1-2 cases/day for 6-7 days/week for 4-5 weeks and felt like I did a bit more than enough. It's definitely possible.
What do you mean that Case Interview Secrets has less memorization? Would I still be fine getting Case Interview Secrets if I memorize the frameworks in there? Is there anything in Case in Point that would really help me that Case Interview Secrets does not have?
There are fewer frameworks in Case Interview Secrets. Case in Point focuses on a framework for every situation, Case Interview Secrets is more focused on customizing some basic frameworks. If you can master the latter it is more powerful in interviews. If you think you're weak on business knowledge, it may be easier to have more frameworks available but generally I've been more impressed with folks who can come up with an approach that's familiar but that doesn't force a situation into a predetermined box, which Case Interview Secrets is better at.
totally. Get the book by Victor Cheng and practice as many case studies as you can (many firms have example ones online). If possible, try and get a buddy to do mock case interviews. My situation was a bit different than yours (I applied for a summer internship), but I successfully completed my case interviews with only 2 weeks of practice or so
You need to have multiple case partners to go through cases with you as well. Reading cases out of a book will not prepare you for real cases. Also make sure to get help from current consultants.
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