Lateral Interview Prep

For lateral interview prep, especially for a power & energy group, here’s a breakdown of resources and strategies based on the most helpful WSO content:

Case Prep Resources

1. Case in Point

   • Offers foundational frameworks and understanding of case interviews. Focus on the 100 pages related to frameworks and brainstorming high-level areas.
   • Great for building a base but remember to customize frameworks to the specific case.

2. Case Interview Secrets by Victor Cheng

   • Provides a deeper dive into structuring frameworks from scratch and understanding the consulting mindset. This is highly applicable for on-the-job thinking and case execution.

3. CraftingCases (Free)

   • Includes articles, a free 7-day crash course, and self-study drills. It’s a favorite for breaking down case components and practicing walkthrough examples.

4. RocketBlocks (Free Trial)

   • Excellent for consulting drills like mental math, case structuring, and data extrapolation. The 7-day free trial is worth exploring.

5. Victor Cheng’s Looking Over My Shoulder (Paid)

   • A paid walkthrough of case interviews where you can observe an interviewee’s execution and learn from the narrator’s insights. Best used after completing 5-10 cases.

6. University Case Books (Free)

   • Search for “[University Name] + Case Book + Year” (e.g., “Darden 2013 Case Book”). These provide a wealth of cases to practice.

7. PrepLounge (Free)

   • A platform to find case partners globally. It’s hit or miss, but you might connect with experienced individuals for live practice.

General Interview Prep

1. Behavioral Questions

   • Prepare 5-10 pre-canned frameworks for common behavioral questions like “Why power & energy?” or “Tell me about a time you navigated conflict.”
   • Structure answers in 4-6 bullet points, focusing on authenticity and avoiding generic stories.

2. Technical Knowledge

   • Brush up on financial modeling, valuation, and industry-specific metrics for power & energy (e.g., EBITDA multiples, energy market trends).
   • WSO’s Financial Modeling Resources and Excel Resources can be helpful here.

3. Networking

   • If possible, reach out to someone in the group or firm to gain insights into their specific focus areas. This can help tailor your preparation.

4. Mock Interviews

   • Use WSO’s Mock Interviews with Pros to simulate the interview environment and get feedback.

5. WSO Courses

   • Explore WSO’s Investment Banking Interview Prep and Consulting Case Interview Prep for structured guidance.

Additional Tips

• Focus on Industry-Specific Cases: Tailor your practice to cases relevant to power & energy, such as market entry, pricing strategy, or operational efficiency.
• Practice Live Cases: Perform live cases with a partner to simulate real interview conditions.
• Drill Weak Areas: Identify specific skills (e.g., mental math, structuring) and work on them separately.

This combination of resources and strategies should set you up for success in your lateral interview. Good luck!

Sources: Case Prep, Q&A - Consulting interview prep - firm specific questions, New Case Webinars in WSO Consulting Prep Pack, Q&A: Recent graduate starting at MBB soon