I'm a experienced professional (~10yrs) and have been able to get an interview with a MBB firm for a role that is more implementation\enablement focussed.
I'm a from an outside the Target (actually way the heck outside, seriously you can't even see the water) school pool, and I'm doing a MBA part time as well.
I've done a bit of networking, some lurking on here and Mr Cheng's website to get past the first interview. I'm proof that someone with an unusual background if they want to put in the effort can get a look-in.
Any tips for the next 6 interviews will be appropriated- I know- Case prep, Case prep and more case prep.
Would you think that Mental maths- GMAT type or similar, would help?
In the GMT+8 timezone if there is anyone looking for a case partner.
Cheers
Not sure about the interviews for implementation side, but as for the actual job, it is of course very focused on getting things done and hands-on, operational experience. This is then something you would want to show during the interview. Good luck!
Just an update- So after 40 odd Skype and live practice interviews, 8 real ones, ~400hrs private study and more than a normal amount of anti-social activity for prep, an MBB offer has been gained and accepted- rather unexpectedly.
Should be starting after my notice period with my current employer, and am looking forward to the new career.
Keep on trying, it can happen with persistence.
Congrats, Mike_888. So, were your interviews more like the "standard" case interview or there was some "implementation" side to it? Did Victor Cheng's materials help, or did you switched to something different? Will be great to know your IV experience.
Big congrats, once again.
Blends of fit, experience and Case, over video link-up and in person. One ~75 min video interview with a partner was purely on how to make change in an organisation at a conceptual level. Nudge theory was useful there as was getting into employee\ individual motivation. Zero maths involved.
Making the VC stuff your own- a Customer make a Decision to Purchase your Companies or Competitors Product was how I remembered the Business situation frame work and adapted accordingly.
Profit and Loss is pretty much all I do so that was not too much bother.
Mergers and acquisitions are about making the sum of the parts better than the parts individually- how do the points of difference get magnified in the merger.
Congrats! That's great news. Thanks for following up on your original post.
To anyone just finding this thread now (as I did), my answer to the original question...
...would be "fit prep, fit prep, fit prep." Acing the case is pretty much table stakes. The behavioral portion of the interview is where you really have a chance to differentiate. Also, building good rapport early buys you some leeway on the case.
"Acing the case is pretty much table stakes"
Has the case interviews become easier? Or am I just been terrible at improving during my practice cases? Please explain.
I wouldn't say they've become easier at all. I think that many candidates will "ace" them, but there is an upper-bound on how much creativity you can demonstrate and insight you can draw without being completely off the wall with your approach.
The behavioral or "fit" interview is where candidates really set themselves apart. This where the fundamental question, "Do I really want this person on my team?" gets answered. It also usually comes first, which means your interviewer has already started forming an impression of you before you even get to the case. If that impression is positive, they may be more forthcoming with data and more likely to attribute a simple math error to one-time fluke. If that impression is negative, even a minor mistake can reinforce their less-than-stellar image of you.
Interesting. That's to say there a healthy level of subjectivity to the "objective" process. It does makes sense.
Also, a fair amount of objectivity to the "subjective" behavioral process. It's actually designed not be subjective at all. Double that for McK PEI.
I think that having a solid case interview base is the first step. Think of it as a set of skills for a utility infielder- >.250 batting average, clean pick up of ground balls and the ability to hit 1st- 3rd from pretty much any situation are de-rigour.
What then put you apart- fit, story and attitude- are the little things like are you a good base runner, do you show up early to hitting practice, do throw downs for the team etc.
I had a good story and interacted well with the interviewers (from the feedback). Other plus was active listening and bringing real life experiences to the "OK so how would you approach getting this part of the "answer" onto the ground, if you met with resistance".
Areas for improvement were maths confidence- I was slower and double checked some areas before saying that I was sure about them.
Coming in at Consultant+1\ Associate+1 sort of level.
One interviewer ran about 20mins over, just because we were having a good discussion. Consulting is a relationships industry and if you are able to talk with all types of people at length and have fun then you may be more likely to have the edge on a maths genius that may not have the same softer skil set.
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