A comprehensive guide to getting an MBB offer.

Management consulting is an increasingly popular option for medics transitioning from clinical roles, but competition for places is growing. If you’re serious about making the move, then preparation is everything – and here are the resources you’ll need to succeed.

1. Learn the basics of a case interview

All 3 MBB firms use case interviews as part of their hiring process, with each lasting between 20-40 minutes. You will be presented with a business problem based on a real-life case study, but any additional information offered varies considerably between firm and round.

Components of a successful case interview include:

• Asking relevant questions to bring clarity to the business problem (not using a cookie-cutter approach with the same list of questions for each case)
• Take your time to structure your case thoroughly because a strong case structure can instantly swing the case in your favour. But also include second and third-order points and show depth in the answer; this will set you apart
• Ask before approximating any math - a straightforward, helpful point. Cases are renowned for complex math, but approximating can get you 90% of the way; just remember to ask the interviewer first!
• Structure your brainstorms. Structured thinking is easier to follow and leads to better quality ideas – don’t simply list everything that comes to your mind
• Separate rough work from neat work. A tip I picked up later in my preperation was to keep rough and neat workings separate and only use one side of A4 at a time. At the end, you can summarise the neat workings and present it back easily

Several books try to walk you through a business case, but the best resource I found was Crafting Cases. Their free introductory case breaks cases into their components and provides a drill to hone your skills. If you want to go deeper, they also offer several paid courses on their website, www.craftingcases.com

1. Practice live reps early on

Getting into practising live reps with others early on is critical. It accelerates your learning and gives you active feedback each time. The best places to find others to practice with include:

• MBB Case Prep Facebook group – a pretty reliable and active resource
• Case Coach (subscription required) – my preferred option. You can filter by time zone, language and experience

Although there’s no magic number, I aimed for ~100 live reps before my interview. This ensured I had practised each case style and was familiar with the different components.

1. Track your cases and your progress

Learning from your mistakes and completing a variety of cases will level up your preparation. While no single profitability or market-entry cases are the same as the last, there will be similarities, and pattern recognition will help save time. After practising and reviewing your notes, reflecting on each case will reinforce your knowledge.

I used Notion to track my cases, but you can use Excel or Word.