How to use my time properly?
Hey everyone!
I will be commencing my Management Masters soon in the EU. As of now, I'm hell bent on getting into Consulting. My long term goal is PE. However, I'm having some starting trouble preparing for the cases.
I haven't cased in my life. And trying to find structured info on the internet has been quite disappointing. I want guidance as to how I should prepare. The good people here has helped me with a lot of stuff in the past.
I was planning on starting with Case in Point, then pick one of the case books and follow its style throughout. By the time I reach my B-school (commencing on September this year), I intend to find a case buddy to do cases with. I also heard my B-school provides free access to Case coach.
My question is HOW CAN I PRODUCTIVELY USE MY TIME PREPARING FOR CASES? Is my plan good enough? Also, which case books should I get (please specify the year if you can)? Are there any good YT channels dedicated to Case Interview Prep or Casing in general?
All suggestions are highly appreciated. Thank you so much!
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's a structured approach to effectively use your time preparing for case interviews, especially as you aim to transition into consulting and eventually private equity:
Start with Foundational Materials: You mentioned starting with "Case in Point". This is a good choice as it provides a comprehensive overview of case interview frameworks and types of cases you might encounter. However, also consider "Case Interview Secrets" by Victor Cheng for a deeper understanding of what interviewers look for during a case interview.
Diversify Your Case Sources: While sticking to one style of case book can provide consistency, it's beneficial to expose yourself to a variety of case types and styles. You can find numerous case books from different MBA programs online. These are often freely available as PDFs and, although they might be older versions, they still provide valuable practice. For instance, look up "[Business School Name] Case Book" to find these resources.
Structured Practice Routine: Divide your preparation into several phases:
Utilize Online Resources: For ongoing practice, consider websites like caseinterview.com and preplounge.com. They offer not only cases but also planning tools and community support. Additionally, platforms like RocketBlocks can help you hone specific skills like mental math and chart analysis.
YouTube Channels: There are several useful YouTube channels dedicated to case interview preparation. Channels like "FirmsConsulting", "MBB Consultant Tips", and "Crafting Cases" offer detailed walkthroughs of case interviews, tips on delivery, and common mistakes to avoid.
Regular Review and Adaptation: Regularly assess your progress and adapt your study plan based on areas where you feel you need more practice. This could mean focusing more on certain types of cases or revisiting foundational materials.
Feedback and Iteration: After each practice session, especially with peers or mentors, seek feedback. Understand what you did well and what could be improved. Use this feedback to refine your approach and techniques.
By following this structured approach, you can make the most of your preparation time before starting your Management Masters. This will not only prepare you for case interviews but also give you a solid foundation in analytical thinking required for a career in consulting and private equity.
Sources: Q&A: Former MBB Consultant, 3 Things to keep in mind for case interview prep: Fall Interview Season is around the corner, Breaking into MC - A Preparation Guide, Q&A: Former MBB Consultant, Consulting Recruiting 2023
Not sure if this is a genuine post... (cause it would take 45 secs to check YouTube for case prep videos, for example) but I'll answer anyway.
Case prep materials
Timeline
Hope this helps
Thank you so much for these amazing suggestions. And yes, this is a genuine post from someone who is keen to find the BEST resource for case prep. I know there are a shit ton of materials out there. I just don't want to be the guy who tries out a platform for six months feeling that there are better resources out there. Luckily, my B-school provides CaseCoach access.
I'm planning to read Case Interview Secrets to get an idea about the whole recruiting process. Only then, I was planning to delve into the Case Books. I also heard Crafting Cases platform is quite good. I would love to know your take on this. And thanks again for the comprehensive reply. I believe a lot of noobs like me would benefit from this in the future.
I dont know any of these resources, unfortunately, but Im sure they're very good (except CaseCoach, because I used it for my case prep, and I liked it). Given the wide availability of information on case interviews, it would be very unlikely that they would give bad advice.
As for prep steps, I can link you to previous answers I have given on the topic:
Hope this helps. In general looking for previous comments from me will usually link to answers on case prep. Also recommend comments from: StratCo (McK London), Parmesan123123 (former Bainie, I think), FinnesseGod (regular contributor & well-versed in consulting prep), and Canadiens16 (T2 partner, I believe).
Thank you so much for putting those together. I know it took a lot of work. I'm truly grateful. I belive this would really help me get started. I will keep an eye on the comments from the names you mentioned. Thanks again. God bless.
There are so many resources online… you should put more effort into it, that said, easy:
- Read case in point
- Watch the victor cheng case prep videos
- Join your university’s case prep society if you have one
- Join one of these case prep websites, do 1-2 cases a week
- You should have your internal case framework, be great at mental math, and have done 30-50+ cases by the time you interview, in addition, you need to be great at spinning your story and speaking through your interests and what makes you different (if you don’t have anything, find a new hobby now).
- If you’re a woman/minority, join the dedicated events like BCG for women all that stuff, it literally triples your chances of getting an offer. They LOVE “diversity”
Hi. Thanks for the reply. For the sake of clarification, I've never said I couldn't find resources on the internet, I specifically mentioned finding 'structured info' has been difficult. There were lot of options and platforms like CaseCoach, CraftingCases, etc. I wanted to find the BEST resource out there so that I won't regret opting it later on.
And thanks again for the crisp reply. I think I do have some pretty convincing reasons to choose Consulting. I'm planning to join the Consulting club of my b-school as well.
I am not a woman. But I'm from a third world country in South Asia. I don't know if that would help or not.
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