In a two-part InsideIIM interview, Pratik Ranjan—Principal at Boston Consulting Group and IIM Lucknow alumnus—breaks down exactly what makes recruiters stop and say, “Let’s interview this candidate.”
Kick things off by watching our two‑part sit‑down with Varnika Chaturvedi: in Part 1 she relives the nerve‑shredding CAT fiasco, her small‑town roots in Agra and the eye‑opening culture shock at MANIT that pushed her to chase skills over scores; in Part 2 she peels back the curtain on Accenture’s high‑stakes consulting floor, wrestles with the brutal feedback loop that shaped her professional grit, and explains why stacking engineering, fintech and MBA smarts made her the perfect fit for a rocket‑ship AI start‑up.
XLRI Jamshedpur and XLRI Delhi NCR celebrate a significant milestone as they proudly announce 100% placements for the graduating class of 2022-24 across their Two-year PGDM (BM) and Two-year PGDM (HRM) programs.
Unlock the Secrets of Management Consulting! Presenting the third edition of the highly-rated InsideIIM's Consulting Masterklass Course, a one-of-a-kind approach to building your dream career in Management Consulting with live sessions by Akshay Sirsalewala – having experience in BCG, Deloitte India, and PwC USI. Add to this, an actual consulting live project, case interviews & guesstimates prep & you've got a winner!
Consulting case interviews are a critical component of the hiring process at top-tier management consulting firms like McKinsey, Bain, and BCG. These interviews assess a candidate's problem-solving skills, business acumen, and ability to think critically under pressure. One of the most valuable resources for preparing for these interviews is case books. However, using case books effectively is an art in itself. In this article, I explore the correct way to leverage case books for preparation in consulting case interviews.
What Are Case Books?
Case books are comprehensive collections of real or simulated business cases from real interviews conducted by consulting firms. These cases cover a wide range of industries and business problems, making them an invaluable tool for aspiring consultants. Typically compiled by business schools, consulting clubs, or independent consultants, they serve as the foundational preparation for the interviews.
The Correct Way to Leverage Case Books
1. Selecting the Right Case Books
The first step in leveraging case books effectively is to choose the right ones. Not all case books are created equal, and the quality of cases can vary significantly. Here are some criteria to consider when selecting case books:
- Source credibility: Look for case books from reputable sources, such as top business schools or consulting clubs affiliated with your target firms.
- Recency: Consulting case interview formats can evolve over time, so opt for recent case books to ensure relevance.
- Diversity: Select case books that cover a range of industries, functions, and difficulty levels to broaden your skillset.
- Realistic cases: Ensure that the cases closely resemble the types of problems posed in real consulting interviews.
Learn how to ace your upcoming Consulting Interviews! Check the details here!
2. Understand the Case Structure
Consulting continues to be a dream job for many. Despite the fact that it's regarded as being demanding, the glamor, stature, and benefits linked to the position make it one of the most sought-after career options. One of the biggest drivers for this trend is that roles like Management Consulting offer exposure across a diverse set of industries - Consulting firms work with corporates, state and central governments, international governments, and even other Consulting firms! But perhaps an even bigger driver is the Consultant Salary at the end of every month.
In a two-part InsideIIM interview, Pratik Ranjan—Principal at Boston Consulting Group and IIM Lucknow alumnus—breaks down exactly what makes recruiters stop and say, “Let’s interview this candidate.”
Kick things off by watching our two‑part sit‑down with Varnika Chaturvedi: in Part 1 she relives the nerve‑shredding CAT fiasco, her small‑town roots in Agra and the eye‑opening culture shock at MANIT that pushed her to chase skills over scores; in Part 2 she peels back the curtain on Accenture’s high‑stakes consulting floor, wrestles with the brutal feedback loop that shaped her professional grit, and explains why stacking engineering, fintech and MBA smarts made her the perfect fit for a rocket‑ship AI start‑up.
XLRI Jamshedpur and XLRI Delhi NCR celebrate a significant milestone as they proudly announce 100% placements for the graduating class of 2022-24 across their Two-year PGDM (BM) and Two-year PGDM (HRM) programs.
Unlock the Secrets of Management Consulting! Presenting the third edition of the highly-rated InsideIIM's Consulting Masterklass Course, a one-of-a-kind approach to building your dream career in Management Consulting with live sessions by Akshay Sirsalewala – having experience in BCG, Deloitte India, and PwC USI. Add to this, an actual consulting live project, case interviews & guesstimates prep & you've got a winner!
Consulting case interviews are a critical component of the hiring process at top-tier management consulting firms like McKinsey, Bain, and BCG. These interviews assess a candidate's problem-solving skills, business acumen, and ability to think critically under pressure. One of the most valuable resources for preparing for these interviews is case books. However, using case books effectively is an art in itself. In this article, I explore the correct way to leverage case books for preparation in consulting case interviews.
What Are Case Books?
Case books are comprehensive collections of real or simulated business cases from real interviews conducted by consulting firms. These cases cover a wide range of industries and business problems, making them an invaluable tool for aspiring consultants. Typically compiled by business schools, consulting clubs, or independent consultants, they serve as the foundational preparation for the interviews.
The Correct Way to Leverage Case Books
1. Selecting the Right Case Books
The first step in leveraging case books effectively is to choose the right ones. Not all case books are created equal, and the quality of cases can vary significantly. Here are some criteria to consider when selecting case books:
- Source credibility: Look for case books from reputable sources, such as top business schools or consulting clubs affiliated with your target firms.
- Recency: Consulting case interview formats can evolve over time, so opt for recent case books to ensure relevance.
- Diversity: Select case books that cover a range of industries, functions, and difficulty levels to broaden your skillset.
- Realistic cases: Ensure that the cases closely resemble the types of problems posed in real consulting interviews.
Learn how to ace your upcoming Consulting Interviews! Check the details here!
2. Understand the Case Structure
Consulting continues to be a dream job for many. Despite the fact that it's regarded as being demanding, the glamor, stature, and benefits linked to the position make it one of the most sought-after career options. One of the biggest drivers for this trend is that roles like Management Consulting offer exposure across a diverse set of industries - Consulting firms work with corporates, state and central governments, international governments, and even other Consulting firms! But perhaps an even bigger driver is the Consultant Salary at the end of every month.