Community Forum
Ask anything about cases, applications and recruiting. Members and coaches answer.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
How detailed should your 'why consulting' answer actually be?
- Interview Process
My why consulting answer is getting kinda long because I try to explain the work, learning, people, and why now. It sounds fine on paper but in an int it starts feeling rehearsed. How much detail do you actually need before it becomes too much?
Mayank G.CoachYour answer should be specific enough to sound personal but short enough to feel conversational. Usually two or three reasons are enough if each one connects to your own experience.
Should I put an incoming job on my consulting resume if I haven't started yet?
- Resume
I accepted a role that starts in a couple months, but I'm also applying for consulting now. The incoming job is relevant and probably stronger than one older experience on my CV. Would you list it as incoming, or does that look weird since I haven't actually done the job yet?
Mayank G.CoachYou can list an incoming role if it is confirmed and relevant, but label it clearly as incoming with the expected start date. Do not write bullets that imply you have already done work there.
Interviewer challenged basically every answer I gave. Was I doing badly?
- Interview Pressure Testing
In my mock, the interviewer kept pushing back on almost every recommendation and assumption. I started changing answers too quickly because I thought the pushback meant I was wrong. In a real int, how do you tell pressure testing from an actual signal that your logic is weak?
Mayank G.CoachInterviewers may challenge a good answer to test conviction, adaptability, or how you handle disagreement. Pushback does not automatically mean the answer is wrong.
I can solve the case but my final recommendation still sounds weak. How do I fix it?
- Synthesis & Insights
My math and structure are usually fine, but at the end I basically repeat what we did instead of giving a sharp recommendation. It sounds more like a recap than an exec-level answer. What should I practice to make the final 60 seconds actually convincing?
Mayank G.CoachA strong recommendation answers the original question first, then gives the two or three pieces of evidence that matter most. Do not replay the entire case chronologically.
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.
Bain TestGorilla: how much prep should go to verbal/critical thinking vs numerical?
- Bain TestGorilla
Numerical is definitely my weaker area, but I don't want to ignore the verbal and critical thinking sections and then get surprised. If one section is clearly weaker, would you spend like 70-80% there or keep prep more balanced?
Mayank G.CoachIf numerical reasoning is clearly the weaker section, it makes sense to allocate more time there, but not 100% of your preparation. You still want enough exposure to the other modules that the format does not surprise you.