
Case Interview Preparation & Management Consulting | Strategy | Critical Thinking
Firmsconsulting maintains a 80% success rate at placing clients within McKinsey, BCG and Bain. This is the highest in the industry and the rate is higher if we include other firms. We achieve this rate because we only use former partners from McKinsey, BCG et al to develop our clients. This makes us unique. We never use analysts, associates, engagement managers or associate principals. We also carefully select and develop clients on their communication, image, technical and case interview skills. This podcast channel describes our lessons from training our clients.
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Latest episodes

Mar 17, 2025 • 15min
763: Never start training with McKinsey cases (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
This is a mistake common to most case interview candidates. They start with the McKinsey approach. This is a very, very bad idea. McKinsey cases are those were the interviewer leads the case. If you are only trained to do cases in this format, you will never learn how to lead a case. This is no small matter. The prompts and guides provided by a McKinsey interviewer play a significant role in helping you through the case and you will struggle without them. It is best to first learn to do cases where you are pointing out the areas or importance, and once you have developed this skill, thereafter shifting to the interviewer-led format. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Mar 12, 2025 • 11min
762: Networking with more junior consultants (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
We use the terms junior consultants to loosely refer to anyone at the engagement manager level and below: senior associates, associates, consultants and analysts. Our history of working with so many clients indicates that the best results occur when networking directly with partners. There is no dispute on this point given the difference in our client base between those who networked with partners and those who did not. In this podcast we explain why it is better to network with partners and the inadvertent reasons why junior consultants will be less helpful. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Mar 10, 2025 • 15min
761: Taking resume feedback (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
Taking resume feedback is one of the most fundamental steps as you begin your application process and case interview preparation. If done badly, no matter how well you practice for cases, you will not get the interview. Feedback refers to two parts. First, is the philosophy around how you collect the feedback. Second, is the physical steps you take as you are collecting the feedback. Both are equally important. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Mar 5, 2025 • 16min
760: Stressful interview situations (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
This podcast examines the typical tell-tale signs candidates show when placed under stress in a case interview and offers suggestions on how to manage these situations. The key to managing this problem is not to reduce the stress, which may be impossible to do, but to change the way you show your stress. We also provide anecdotes on how our own clients manage, or struggle to manage, stress in their practice cases and interviews. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

7 snips
Mar 3, 2025 • 12min
759: Invisible presentation technique (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
Explore the intricacies of case interviews and the importance of clear communication. Discover essential techniques like the Blind Navigator and Airport Syndrome, designed to enhance your presentation skills. Learn about common pitfalls candidates face and how to structure your analysis for better engagement with interviewers. This discussion provides practical insights to master the art of communicating your thought process effectively, ensuring your ideas shine, even without visual aids.

Feb 26, 2025 • 11min
758: Confidence and content traps in case interviews (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
Confidence is crucial in case interviews, as the discussion highlights. Candidates often fall into the 'content trap' by relying on memorization rather than understanding core principles. Learning how to solve cases through a strong foundation of knowledge is more effective than simply practicing numerous cases. The podcast emphasizes quality over quantity in preparation, encouraging listeners to focus on grasping key concepts for success.

Feb 24, 2025 • 12min
757: Structure fails at 60% McKinsey cases (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
Many aspiring consultants mistakenly believe all McKinsey cases can be solved using standard frameworks. This can lead to failure, as about 60% of cases defy structure-based solutions. A coaching session reveals how to identify these tricky cases through Felix's journey. Additionally, the discussion emphasizes the importance of logical reasoning and understanding data, exemplified by a unique scenario involving a paper shredding company. Listeners gain valuable insights into effective strategies for tackling complex consulting interviews.

Feb 19, 2025 • 10min
756: Important case interview elements to consider (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
Delve into the core elements of case interviews, emphasizing the importance of understanding customers, competitors, and market dynamics. Discover how businesses thrive by accurately analyzing demand and competition. Real-world examples underscore the necessity of these insights for effective decision-making. Learn strategies that highlight overlooked factors which can dramatically influence profitability and success. Equip yourself with valuable resources for mastering strategy studies and crafting winning resumes.

Feb 17, 2025 • 5min
755: Brainstorming with definitions (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
For this episode, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we talk about brainstorming with definitions. Brainstorming is very difficult and a crucial skill to have when solving cases, especially with McKinsey where the interviewer will constantly ask you to probe and brainstorm different areas of the case. This podcast examines the initial parts of the brainstorming structure. Since brainstorming happens in such a rapid-fire format and appears unstructured, the speed at which it is done creates the illusion it lacks structures. Yet, it does have structure, but is merely done very quickly in the candidate's mind. This podcast will teach candidates how to generate a structure/definition that can be used to guide the development of options or paths in the brainstorm. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Feb 12, 2025 • 9min
754: Giving interviewers benefit of the doubt (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
For this episode, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we talk about the importance of you, the candidate, never ever giving the interviewer the benefit of the doubt, why this is vital, how to do this in a case and the improvement it will immediately deliver. The main value of adopting this mindset is that you tend to explain everything to the interviewer because you assume he is not aware of all the answers. If you enter an interview, assuming the interview is "perfect", you will tend to make assumptions which hurt your chances and damage your image. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo