Good modeler, terrified of case studies

Been out of the industry for a year or two post-MBA working in the same industry as one of my portcos. Looking to edge my way back into PE, though, and have gotten good traction on some preliminary processes.

I know my deals and metrics and associated risks/rationales cold, and I've kept sharp at modeling through both paper-ing my ASO-era transactions. I am *terrified* of doing the qualitative part of case studies, though, because I feel rusty about breaking things down once the modeling is done with beyond the very simple "we need revenue growth but that could be risky and here's what I'd diligence"-style analysis.

What tips do you all have for rebuilding this investor's mindset / case study muscle? Are there any practice resources I should be using? I have the firm ones floating around but they all lack "answer keys" to the case study portion (most lack answer keys even for the model portion). Should I be looking at Porter's Five? My notes from Victor Cheng back in the day?

Feeling antsy and would appreciate any guidance about how to get across the finish line when it comes to my prep. 

3 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some tips and resources to help you rebuild your investor's mindset and case study skills:

Tips for Rebuilding Investor's Mindset:

  1. Practice Both Self and Live Cases:

    • Self-Practice: Focus on specific areas you need to improve, such as calculating percentages or structuring your analysis.
    • Live Cases: Perform live case studies with a partner to simulate real interview conditions. This helps in testing and showing your skills under pressure.
  2. Use Business School Case Books:

    • Search for case books from top business schools like HBS, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, and Darden. These often contain numerous practice cases that can help you get a feel for different scenarios and solutions.
  3. Focus on Intellectual Capital:

    • Read frequently on strategy and market trends. Resources like Morning Brew for daily market reports, HBR, and Wharton's Knowledge website can provide valuable insights and examples that you can draw upon during case studies.
  4. Structured Practice:

    • Continually practice case skills such as arithmetic mathematics, structuring, market sizing questions, and data extrapolation. Isolate and work on your weaker areas to build confidence.

Recommended Resources:

  1. PDFs from MBA Programs:

    • Look for older versions of case books from MBA programs online. These are still relevant and provide a wealth of practice cases.
  2. Books on Interview Prep:

    • "The LOMS Program" by Victor Cheng
    • "The Case Interview: 20 Days to Ace the Case" by Destin Whitehurst
  3. Books on Consulting Habits:

    • "Back of the Napkin" by Dan Roam
    • "Pyramid Principle" by Barbara Minto
    • "Tools of Titans" by Tim Ferriss
    • "Say it with Charts: Executive Guide to Visual Communications" by Gene Zelazny
  4. TED Talks:

    • Watch TED Talks by speakers like Amy Cuddy, Simon Sinek, Seth Godin, and Tim Ferriss for inspiration and insights.

Additional Advice:

  • Porter's Five Forces: Revisiting frameworks like Porter's Five Forces can be beneficial for structuring your qualitative analysis.
  • Victor Cheng's Notes: Your notes from Victor Cheng can provide a solid foundation for case study preparation.

By integrating these tips and resources into your preparation, you can rebuild your case study muscle and approach your PE interviews with greater confidence. Good luck!

Sources: Q&A: Former MBB Consultant, How to learn to evaluate investment? (PE case study interview), Q&A: I grew up in Consulting and reinvented my brand 3 times, Breaking into MC - A Preparation Guide, Q&A: Former MBB Consultant

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

Sed aspernatur placeat delectus omnis nulla reiciendis tempore. Hic amet amet magni sit. Magni natus quia sed distinctio. Sed sunt dolorem aut et.

Id fugit placeat qui ullam quia consequatur. Non unde sit asperiores explicabo et fugiat modi. Omnis neque qui dolores qui nobis. Animi doloribus ipsam doloremque ad. Occaecati sed unde itaque quia molestias cum rerum consequatur. Officiis eaque eligendi voluptas nihil debitis. Sed harum dolorem consequuntur ullam ab.

Voluptas velit quo voluptatibus rem. Delectus optio quam necessitatibus rerum tempore. Qui consectetur est atque excepturi. Voluptas alias provident velit libero. Officia accusantium ipsam eaque inventore dignissimos sed occaecati quia.

Minus sunt doloremque officiis porro. Sit voluptas dolorum quia non deserunt eos voluptates perspiciatis.

 

Error natus eum dolor quo debitis minus. Ipsum necessitatibus atque debitis ipsa ab cum accusamus. Dolores incidunt sed officia et eum aut reiciendis. Repudiandae dolorum velit molestiae. Eos molestiae voluptas illo quos. Aut est ab esse quam maiores nihil suscipit.

Veniam minima incidunt sed iusto aut quo. Qui atque praesentium aliquam eos et rerum voluptas itaque. Quis minima cumque sapiente quia dolorum soluta.

Corrupti molestiae in ipsum nostrum hic et totam eos. Cum et assumenda recusandae velit quo.

Et explicabo sit iure omnis. Debitis sequi ducimus aperiam fugiat.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.3%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.3%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Ardian 98.5%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (99) $363
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (104) $281
  • 2nd Year Associate (235) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (411) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (272) $124
  • Intern/Summer Associate (38) $81
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (355) $61
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”