Dude, case interviews require outrageous prep hours. Can probably study for and pass the bar with the same prep effort. All for an interview type that only a handful of firms use

like
Posting as :
works at
You are currently posting as works at

Then don’t

likesmart

Big agree. Most people I know who got in did a dozen.
Anecdotally, I did a dozen first time and didn’t get in. Did another corporate job for a few months, did one practice case and then got in the next year.

like

those prep hours made me a better communicator
Wasn’t a complete waste

like

This is definitely a good by-product. I started doing them to switch from turnaround to strategy, have gotten much better at communicating and problem stating

FYI - Cases interviews are becoming a normal part of the process for any corp strategy role

like

Fair. TBH that’s why I didn’t waste time doing prep and went to a consulting firm that didn’t make interviews so difficult

There’s no way the two are comparable. A senior partner in a law firm would probably have to study to take the bar again due to a wide array of specialized content knowledge that they don’t use daily.

A case study is a way of breaking down a problem and thinking through a standard set of levers that are applicable across different industries and functions. Unless a firm was giving out highly detailed / technical cases, very little prep should be needed.

I think I went into my case interviews having barely heard of the concept. Cases are mostly supposed to test problem solving and the ability to learn and contribute quickly in an area you may not be already expert in. If you struggle with them without lots of prep, you might also struggle with consulting as a job.

The thing is these don’t come naturally. These consulting firms are asking you to spend dozens of hours developing a new, non-transferable skill before even working there. This disincentives some star candidates with real experience/skills from applying

Completely agree - I spent more time preparing for case interviews / consulting prep than I did for all of my business school classes combined.

I took the bar for two different states. I promoted you that requires more hours than preparing for a case interview.

Honestly though, if universities were really doing their jobs in general ( I realize some have casing clubs) these interviews shouldn’t be difficult. IMO, it is the lack of teaching structured critical thinking that apply to consulting at schools outside of the Top 25 schools is where we fall short…so folks appear to lag behind even though they have MBAs from other schools.

I realize this may be considered a hot take.

If need to study that much, maybe consultings not the right career for you.

Related Posts

Are y’all waiting to do a mega backdoor Roth to see what they do about build back better this year or just moving forward with it?

like

What’s your favorite truck on the market right now (full or mid)?
Finally decided to get a truck (for various reasons, I’ll spare you the details). I really like Tacomas, but I’m 6’3, 230lbs and it kind of feels too small/narrow when I’m sitting in it. Not sure I need a full size truck, although I would love one! TIA

like

Hi everyone!

Came to Vancouver pretty recently - are there any interesting networking events around?

Anything sales or consulting oriented would be amazing.

I’d love your recommendations 😊

like

Hi Everyone, Started my career in government 5 years ago working in an operational role, then focussed on HR for 3 years working my way up to a middle manager role in HR as a business partner and completed my Level 7 CIPD. I don’t think HR or government is for me anymore and looking to find something new, now 24 feel I have a lot of transferable skills and knowledge but worried about private companies in other professions taking me seriously. Grateful for any advice - thanks in advance!

like

Hello fishes,
What kind of unique onboarding practices your organisations have?

likehelpful

First time posting here! I have been tasked with creating a military leave differential pay policy and was curious if anyone would be willing to provide any resources. Thanks!

https://www.goldmansachs.com/insights/pages/crypto-a-new-asset-class-f/report.pdf Haven’t read the full report yet, but we are launching a digital assets desk. We don’t trade the physical yet, only synthetics. Institutional adoption continues to gain momentum.

like

Got an offer. But, the employer is not willing to wait for year end joining bonus. This is already an earned bonus for FY21 with payout 3 months later in Dec.
The sign on doesn’t cover the year end bonus with a gap of 18K. Otherwise, I want to accept the offer. How would you approach this conundrum?

like

Engagement Director (FINS) at Salesforce…what TC to expect? What are travel expectations?Salesforce

like

Hi,
How long will it take to release offer letter LTI

like

I have 5.5 yoe as a developer and a current CTC: of 9 LPA

I got the offer letter from Tata technology 15 LPA and cognota 15.5 LPA . 

and Fujitsu offer letter is in pipline . 

But I am expecting at least 18 -19 LPA. how to deal with the company for salary hikes. ?  which company is best ?

like

Can anyone share the salary breakup for HSBC for 12LPA or any other package. I have HR round to be scheduled in next week. Need screenshot to understand the breakup, so that I can negotiate based on the basic and Variable pay.

like

Does Globant terminates the employment of certain trainees after their probation(3 Months) based on their performance in the training period? Some of the fresher trainees were laid off this morning without giving a notice or reason.

We were told that the probation period is a training period & not an elimination one. It was shocking as a few of those trainees were actually good.

like

Looking to exit UTHEALTH SA for other opportunities. Healthcare is great but pay/retirement is womp-womp. How is comp and benefits at your company? Can someone who has been in academic medicine as a Clinical Reporting Analyst transition to other industries? Thoughts fishies.

like

How much time does HPE(Aruba) takes time to release offer latter?

FAANG PMTs salaries?
Looking to hear about PMT/ Sr. PMT / Principal PMT Salaries

like

8 year android. current 16 ctc.
ibm offer 7b and 20. is it low? can i negotiate without counter offer?

like

Any cheap gym membership in the King Of Prussia area? Currently with LA fitness but if I can lower gym cost that’d be great.

like

Anyone know of any firms/companies that are still hiring but don't require prior legal experience? Unemployed and job hunting and trying to gain experience but have not had any luck (not a lawyer fyi)

Additional Posts in Consulting

Have the Big 4 raised their initial post-MBA salaries to somewhat match the recent MBB offer changes?

like

Looking for book recommendations on strategy/strategic thinking. Something along the lines of Contagious but open to any options. Thanks in advance!

like

I am a recent college grad working in consulting under Internal Audit branch I absolutely hate it. I love the company any ideas as to how i should ask to switch divisions I’ve only been in the role 5 months

like

How does end year profit sharing work in EY for new partners? Any idea how much it was per partner in UK last year roughly?

like

What's the easiest Olympic sport?

First year in consulting, is it worth purchasing a car this early? I’m living at home and about a 45 minute car ride away from my home office. Any suggestions? What have you done?

like

Looking for book recommendations; any favorites? Interested in both fiction and educational/self-improvement (for example, investment / finance books, time management, etc). I feel my vocab is...

like

Been working as a consultant for a few months and my motivation is struggling.

For those who persevered to a director level or higher, what was/is your guiding force? Your ‘why’?

like

If you get laid off when you’re in the middle of an interview process elsewhere, do you tell the prospective employer?

like

Does anyone hate how are low engagement margins force us to only charge 40 hours a week despite the fact that we work 60+

like

Best consulting firms (including boutiques) if you want to do product design/development

like

Considering the FRM certification. Those who’ve taken it, how quant heavy is it? I have a compliance risk background and don’t have a deep math or statistics background. However, I want to expand my skillset. Any thoughts?

like

CFA or CAIA?

STARTUP FOUNDERS and FAANG: would you rather hire MBB with 3-4 years of exp or Tier 2 with 5-6 years? If you could isolate those variables and everything else held constant.

like
likehelpful

Here's to Friday workdays!

like

Can anyone refer me to the Amex Delta Platinum? Thanks!

like

What are some publications, books, podcasts, online classes etc that can help me prepare for my first year in consulting? Have 5 years of experience in finance and making the jump to consulting.

like

For all the young minds that are slogging away and pissing their life away on useless PPTs hoping that things are better when you are a partner - they are not - get out now!

like

A friend of mine from a top tier consulting firm was counseled out. Do you consider it ethical that his career counselor is intentially spreading the information to his colleagues and to other consultants from other companies in the project? What can he do about it? Specially that he considers the potential layoff is purely based on the current situation (chargeability was low) and not on his performance (they said that his contribution to BD during his bench time was low)?

like

New to Fishbowl?

Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
That was just a preview…
Sign Up to see all discussions
  • Discover what it’s like to work at companies from real professionals
  • Get candid advice from people in your field in a safe space
  • Chat and network with other professionals in your field
Sign up in seconds to unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.

Already a user?
Login here

Share

Embed this post

Copy and paste embed code on your site

Preview

Download the
Fishbowl app

See what’s happening in your industry
from the palm of your hand.

A phone with Fishbowl app

Scan your QR code to download
Fishbowl app on your mobile

Download app

Sign up for free to view this conversation on Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Already have an account? Log in

Sign up for free to continue using Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use(New) and Privacy Policy(New)
Messaging rates may apply

Already have an account? Log in

For account settings, visit Fishbowl on Desktop Browser or

General

Legal