McKinsey 1R interview

If you can prep live with people also ramping up for MBB, that would be best. Otherwise, check out places like PrepLounge or CaseCoach, where you can prep with others for free (although I think the free version may have a cap on # of practice sessions, I dont know as I paid for the course with material, so I had unlimited sessions).

During your prep, make sure to give cases as well as receive them:

1. Giving cases:

• Focus on 2-3 cases only and give those several times. The key is to know the case really well, so you can better direct your partners and become a better interviewer. This will make you a better candidate.

2. Receiving cases:

  a) Prep

• Take your notes on an A4 piece of paper, sideways (landscape rather than portrait orientation).
• Divide the piece into two big areas, drawing a line at about 1/4 to 1/3 from the left of the page.
• Left is for note taking during prompt and adding notes during your clarification questions.
• Right is for drafting your approach/framework (with Level 1 and Level 2 + some additional notes throughout the case)
• Do ALL calculations on a separate A4 page entirely.

  b) Clarifying the prompt (I used to go through these checklists in my head every time during a case, it's not exhaustive though)

• What is the "goal"? (e.g., profits? market share growth? buy someone for best price?)
• What is the geography? (e.g., US? France? London? Global)
• What are the relevant segments? (e.g., all customers? most profitable ones? bigger ones? new ones? young? etc.)
• What is the trend? (is the problem new? is it isolated to the client?)
• What exactly is the business model? (how do they really make money? - always useful to know, and often not clearly laid out in prompt)
• What is XXX? (there is ALWAYS a word, a business term, or something that is unclear. ASK what it is)

  c) Structure your thoughts

• What do I need to know/believe to be true in order to prove my hypothesis? (e.g., if hypo is Acquisition is good, then target must be profitable, integration must be simple and feasible, and price must be attractive)
• Relevant factors/drivers?
• Relevant steps?
• Do Level 1 well during the 90-120 secs you'll spend drafting your structure.
• If necessary finish Level 2 as you explain your structure/framework.

  d) Investigate

• Start with priority #1
• Signpost structure and analysis. (e.g., First I would like to do X, because  of 1 and 2. Second, I would like to look at Y because of 3 and 4)
• Explain WHY you do what you do and/or WHY you ask what you ask (e.g., if you ask about competition, tell the interviewer why you think it's important to look at them now)
• Relate every insight to the overall goal. (e.g., ok the target company is profitable, which means it should be an attractive acquisition target for our client)

  e) Summarise/synthesise

• Recap client problem briefly
• Give recommendation straight out.
• Give supporting points + risks/caveats
• Provide next steps

To this, I would add that to improve, you must be super set on feedback. Take it all. Ask for it only after the case (never during, stay focused on the task). Work on 1-2 areas specifically during the next case. Be selective about your partners, but at the same time, practicing with different people with different styles also is helpful (learn to balance that). If you find a good case partner (does not mean someone you like, but someone who gives you good constructive feedback) then practice more with them.

In 2 weeks, you should be able to do 10-15 cases, maybe even 20 if you push a bit. Don't cram in 50 in 2 weeks. You will see diminishing returns. Remember to be coachable. They dont seek perfect, they seek people who can learn and be taught. Take 1-2 days off before R1, as you'll need the rest.

Good luck!

EDIT: Yes, it's enough time. I took 3 weeks for my interviews and got my offer afterward. So, doable indeed. Just needs focus.