Community Forum
Ask anything about cases, applications and recruiting. Members and coaches answer.
Can an experienced hire apply to multiple MBB offices at the same time?
- Experienced Hire
I'm flexible on location and there are 2 offices where my background could fit. I don't want to look unfocused or create some internal conflict by applying to both. For experienced hire recruiting, is it better to pick one office or can you apply to multiple?
Mayank G.CoachYou can often express interest in multiple offices, but the exact process varies by firm and geography. Avoid submitting duplicate applications blindly if the recruiting system expects one location preference.
What should you write down during a case interview versus keep in your head?
- Interview Process
I take too many notes during practice cases and then lose time looking through the page. If I take fewer notes, I'm worried I'll forget numbers or lose track of the structure. What information is actually worth writing down during a case interview, and what should you just process mentally?
Mayank G.CoachWrite down information you are likely to need again: the objective, your structure, key numbers, assumptions, and the main conclusions from each section. You do not need a transcript of everything the interviewer says.
How do you stop over-structuring simple cases?
- Case Structuring
I think I overcomplicate easy prompts because I'm trying to show enough depth. I end up with too many sub-buckets and then the actual case is simpler than my opening. How do you know when the structure is enough and you should just move on?
Mayank G.CoachOver-structuring usually comes from trying to demonstrate sophistication rather than solve the problem. Start with the minimum set of branches needed to answer the objective.
Is a referral still useful if the person barely knows you?
- Referrals
I have a loose connection at an MBB firm who said they'd be willing to refer me after one conversation. We had a good chat but obviously they don't know my work deeply. Does that kind of referral still help, or is it better to wait for someone who can actually speak to my background?
What do you do in BCG Casey when two answers both look reasonable?
- BCG Casey Chatbot
I keep getting questions where I can eliminate obvious wrong options, but the last two both seem defensible depending on how I interpret the data. What's the best way to break the tie without overthinking every q?
Mayank G.CoachWhen two answers look plausible, go back to the exact wording of the question and the evidence required to support each option. One choice often relies on an extra assumption.
Should I use scratch paper for every BCG CCA calculation?
- BCG CCA
I can do some of the math mentally, but under time pressure I worry about careless mistakes. Writing everything down feels safer but slower. For CCA, do people usually use scratch paper heavily or only for the harder calculations?
Mayank G.CoachUse scratch paper where it reduces mistakes: multi-step calculations, ratios, percentages, or numbers you need to compare. You do not need to write every simple operation.
BCG CCA: how should you divide your time between reading the case and answering the questions?
- BCG CCA
When I practice case-based assessments, I either spend too long reading everything up front or I rush into the questions and keep going back to the case information. For BCG CCA, what's a sensible balance between understanding the case first and preserving enough time for the actual questions?
Mayank G.CoachStart with a quick orientation to the case so you understand the objective, context, and where the information is located. Do not try to memorize every detail before looking at the questions.
What is the number 1 thing people get wrong in interviews?
- Interview Process
What is the number 1 thing people get wrong in interviews?
Is McK Solve practice still useful when the real scenarios can change?
- McKinsey Solve
I get that the exact scenarios won't be the same, so sometimes practice feels like I'm learning a fake version of the game. What part of Solve prep actually transfers to the real test if the data and setup can change?
Mayank G.CoachThe value of practice is not memorizing scenarios. It is learning the mechanics, how information is presented, what decisions require, and how to manage your attention and time.
R1 interview ended 10 minutes early. Should I be worried?
- R1 Interview
My R1 ended around 10 mins earlier than scheduled. We finished the case, had a bit of time for my questions, then wrapped. Is finishing early usually meaningless, or can it signal they already made up their mind?
Mayank G.CoachEnding early is not automatically negative. Some cases are shorter, some interviewers move quickly, and sometimes the candidate simply completes the required sections efficiently.
My case structure sounds good out loud but isn't helping me solve the case
- Case Structuring
I can give a clean opening structure and it sounds organized, but then I don't really use it to drive the case. It feels more like a performance than an actual problem-solving tool. How do I make the structure useful beyond the first 2 mins?
Mayank G.CoachA good structure should help you decide what to analyze next. If it only sounds organized in the first two minutes, it is probably too descriptive and not tied closely enough to the objective.
Should I take notes during McK Solve or keep everything on screen?
- McKinsey Solve
I write down a lot in practice because it helps me track numbers and options, but it also slows me down and I end up looking away from the screen a lot. How much note-taking is actually useful for Solve?
Mayank G.CoachSome notes can help, especially for numbers, option comparisons, or information you need to reuse. But extensive transcription can become a distraction in a time-constrained game.
Do you need to be fast from the start on Bain TestGorilla, or does pacing improve naturally?
- Bain TestGorilla
I'm still pretty slow even when I understand the q. I can get decent accuracy, but the pace is nowhere near where I want it. Should I force timed practice early, or build accuracy first and let speed come later?
Mayank G.CoachBuild accuracy first, but introduce timing early enough that the clock is not a surprise. Waiting until you feel perfect untimed can create a separate pacing problem later.
Consultant said 'keep in touch' but didn't offer a referral. Should I ask later?
- Networking & Coffee Chats
Had a good coffee chat and the consultant ended with 'keep in touch'. They didn't mention a referral and I didn't ask because it felt too early. If we reconnect later, is it okay to ask directly or should I wait and see if they offer?
Mayank G.CoachDo not interpret 'keep in touch' as a hidden promise of a referral. It is an invitation to maintain the relationship, not necessarily to ask immediately.
R2 case felt way less structured than R1. Is that normal?
- R2 Interview
My final-round case was much more conversational and the interviewer jumped around a lot compared with R1. I wasn't always sure what part of the case we were in. Are R2 cases intentionally less structured, or was that just interviewer style?
Mayank G.CoachFinal-round interviews can be more conversational and less predictable than R1, especially with senior interviewers. They may jump between analysis, judgment, and discussion more freely.
Is it bad to ask too many clarifying questions at the start of a case?
- Interview Process
I like to clarify the objective, geography, timeline, and a couple definitions before structuring. Sometimes I worry I'm turning the opening into an interrogation. How many clarifying q's is normal before it starts looking like I can't handle ambiguity?
Mayank G.CoachClarifying questions are useful when they change the way you would structure or solve the case. They are less useful when you are asking for details simply because uncertainty feels uncomfortable.
I keep making tiny arithmetic mistakes even when the setup is right. How do I fix that?
- Case Math
The annoying part is my equation is usually correct, then I mess up something stupid like a percentage or one digit in multiplication. Do I need more mental math drills, slower checking, or a different way of writing the calc?
Mayank G.CoachIf the setup is right but arithmetic errors keep happening, slow down the mechanical part slightly and create a repeatable checking habit. Rushing a correct equation into a wrong answer wastes the strongest part of your work.
How many coffee chats is enough before applying to one office?
- Networking & Coffee Chats
I've spoken with two people in the office I want and both chats were useful. I could keep reaching out, but at some point it starts feeling like networking for the sake of networking. Is 2-3 solid conversations enough, or do people usually do way more?
Mayank G.CoachThere is no magic number of coffee chats. Two or three useful conversations can be enough if you already understand the office, recruiting process, and culture.
Bain TestGorilla: is accuracy more important than finishing every question?
- Bain TestGorilla
I'm trying to improve my speed for Bain TestGorilla, but when I push myself to finish everything my accuracy drops noticeably. If I have to choose, is it generally better to answer fewer questions carefully or move faster and attempt everything?
Mayank G.CoachWithout knowing the exact scoring rules for a particular assessment, I would not assume that either completion rate or accuracy is always dominant. Your goal is to manage the tradeoff intelligently.
Is it worth applying to consulting if I only want to stay for two or three years?
- Consulting Career
I'm interested in consulting mainly for the learning curve and exposure, but I don't see myself staying long term. Realistically I would probably do two or three years and then move into industry. Is that a bad reason to apply, or is that actually a pretty normal plan for people entering consulting?
Mayank G.CoachThat is a very normal reason to enter consulting. Many people use the first few years to build problem-solving, client, and communication skills before moving into industry, startups, investing, or another path.