Preparing for Management Consulting

3 min read

We promised to start with an action-oriented article focused on preparation. Today, let’s talk about a (to-the-point) strategy for management consulting preparation.

Soon, a detailed plan will be released which will talk about optimizations and nuances (basis our experience) along the way to deliver the best results.

Who should read this:

• An undergrad student getting started with consulting preparation

• Anyone who wants a know-how on the basics of consulting preparation

Assumptions:

• Applying to consulting companies and have submitted resumes

• Shortlist released or will be released in a few days

• Buddy round will begin soon, and final interviews will take place on December 1, 2022

Points to Note:

• Change your steps accordingly if the assumptions and timeline do not match

• If it’s not crunch time for you yet, I’d recommend that you wait for the other articles

Steps:

Note: It’ll be helpful to follow the order if you’re new to consulting preparation

• Victor Cheng Video Series: 12 videos that will tell you what comprises consulting (and its preparation)

  • Get through them quickly and do not focus on details

• Case Interviews Cracked (By Sankalp Kelshikar, Saransh Garg): Read through chapters 1-4 to get targeted inputs on how to solve cases (and guesstimates)

  • Pay attention to details in the content

  • The content in these chapters is crisp and adds real value

  • They also take you through 2 solved cases explaining why they’ve solved them in that way

Note: It is only at this point that your actual preparation will start. Everything and anything you do before doing your 1st mock case interview is a precursor to preparation.

• Mock case interviews: Begin doing cases (and guesstimates) with batchmates (or friends) who are also preparing (preferably at the same preparation stage as you)

  • There are broadly 3 types of cases:

    • Profit (and loss)

    • Market Entry

    • Unconventional (whatever does not fit in the first two sections)

  • Begin with Profit (and loss) cases first, then move to market entry and come to unconventional ones at the end

  • As you get some confidence while doing cases, start reaching out to people who work in consulting (college seniors or otherwise) to conduct your mock interviews

  • Remember to take feedback at the end of ALL cases and make notes throughout

• HR (and fit) interview preparation: We will release a write-up on this later

  • Begin preparing for ~20 days before your final interviews

  • Spend limited time on finding resources online with common HR interview questions

  • Reach out to seniors in consulting for company-specific questions (if any)

  • Make sure that the standard questions are well prepared (timed and structured)

All the best :)

Do share your thoughts on the write-up and any topic we should write about.

We would love your feedback and try to incorporate it.

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