HELP! Preparation for MBB interview

Hi guys,

ABOUT ME: I am in the final year of my Masters in finance and have 10 months of work experience in Deals/Financial Advisory at KPMG. I am planning to apply for McKinsey BA, Kearney, and BCG (note: I am in Eastern Europe and these 3 companies are the leaders in that area). I am planning to put 100% effort into the preparation. I had calls with McKinsey BA and Kearney BA to get as much information as possible about the selection process. My weak points are mental math, and the recruiting test (Kearney has an initial test similar to the GMAT). My idea is to construct the following plan, so feel free to give me any advice, and be harsh and honest:

• Mid-September to Mid-October 2023: 
   1) Sending CV to recruiters
   2) Preparing for the Kearney recruitment test by using TTP (Target test prep for GMAT), and going through some
         materials I have related to the McKinsey Game - doing notes, and learn-by-heart, and then practice every day
   3) Going through some yt videos and other materials regarding the tips&tricks for mental math - doing notes,
        and learn-by-heart, and then practice every day
• Mid-October to December 2023: 
   1)  Going through "Case in Point" book - doing notes and learn-by-heart all tips, frameworks, and similar
   2) Going through all possible theoretical frameworks, including Business model canvas, Porters forces, SWOT,
        etc. - doing notes, learn-by-heart; purpose of this is to understand all these things to be able to create my own
        frameworks
   3) Going through Cheng's "Case interview secrets" - doing notes, and learn-by-heart all tips, frameworks, etc.
   4) Going through all Case interviews in "Case in Point", Cheng's book, LOMS-s - reading carefully, making notes
• December 2023 to February 2024
    1) Preparation for Behavioral interview - going through all yt videos and advices, making notes, etc. 
    2) Practice Case interviews with friends, planning to do some with BA from Kearney, and maybe I find someone
          online (I am in the FB group "MBB interviews" where it is possible to find interviewer)
 

• February 2024 - hopefully I will be able to solve tests (McK solve game, Kearney's recruitment test, etc)
• March/April 2024 - hopefully I will have interviews
WHAT DO YOU SAY GUYS? Will this be enough? What would you add to the plan? How long did you prepare for an interview (considering I am not at top tier university so I didn't have any preparation for this through the faculty like at top schools). Also what are the chances for hiring freezes in 2024 - in that case, I would be happy to get at least an internship, then go to big4 financial advisory (where I have secured placement btw) and after 1-2 years transfer to MBB.

 

MBBs are basically not hiring experienced hires (afaik). Better off investing all that prep time when the market recovers or getting an MBA so you have access to OCR

 

Oh misread that. Yes youll be eligible for regular analyst-level OCR. Not sure on the timeline in your region but your prep plan, materials-wise, looks good. Never forget that live practice is the only true way to get better. Best of luck!

 

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