875: Using Storytelling in Cases (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
Case Interview Preparation & Management Consulting | Strategy | Critical Thinking
Release Date: 08/10/2026
875: Using Storytelling in Cases (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
Case Interview Preparation & Management Consulting | Strategy | Critical Thinking
Storytelling is a very powerful technique to ensure someone remembers you after an interview. In fact, even when we screen people at Firmsconsulting today, we use this technique I applied as a partner. The rule is simple: if I can remember your key messages from the interview the next day, I would make you an offer. That, of course, assumes you had passed all the other hurdles well enough. One way to be remembered is to be your answers around compelling stories using the New York Times rule of facts, facts and facts with a beginning and end. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach...
info_outline
874: Managed out of McKinsey & BCG? (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
Case Interview Preparation & Management Consulting | Strategy | Critical Thinking
Too many clients panic when they are managed out of McKinsey, BCG or Bain. They assume the worst and imagine a tattered reputation. This could not be further from the truth. In this podcast, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we explain why it is in McKinsey’s and BCG’s best interest to never disclose you were managed out. It is part of their business models that the market never knows you may have been the world’s most ridiculous consultant. So, if you are being managed out, relax. You will be ok. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall...
info_outline
873: Why consulting stars are never managers (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
Case Interview Preparation & Management Consulting | Strategy | Critical Thinking
For this episode, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we explain how teams are assembled and the role given to consulting stars. Many assume being the manage means you are the best performer. That could not be further from the truth. Related: Learn more about consulting from our leadership publication Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
info_outline
872: Are you a consulting leader? (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
Case Interview Preparation & Management Consulting | Strategy | Critical Thinking
Many of us rely on titles to determine if we becoming leaders in a consulting firm. This podcast provides a more important of definition of consulting leadership: who does the consulting firm turn to in times of crises and how do they do so? In fact, you will see that a leader in a consulting organization can be as young as an analyst and a partner may not be a leader. In fact the level of candor between you and the existing leadership is the only measure that matters. This podcast explains this concept with various examples Related: - - Learn all about consulting from our Here...
info_outline
871: Myth of the Technology Strategy Study (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
Case Interview Preparation & Management Consulting | Strategy | Critical Thinking
Readers in other sectors like financial services, energy, retail, automotive etc., make a massive mistake when looking at the we have up on the site. They assume that the study will not train them about corporate strategy since it is about corporate strategy for technology company. That is major flaw. This podcast elaborates on some of these reasons: 1. Every corporate strategy study must be done for a client in a sector. Therefore it is impossible to find corporate strategy training which is generic - that is, not specific to a sector. 2. The thinking, techniques and training applied...
info_outline
870: Strategy Insight Ratio (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
Case Interview Preparation & Management Consulting | Strategy | Critical Thinking
Young consultants make some very common mistakes when they start out, and I explain how to use the strategy insight ratio to correct these problems. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
info_outline
869: Misunderstanding "Being Analytic" (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
Case Interview Preparation & Management Consulting | Strategy | Critical Thinking
Aspiring and some young consultants tend to have a narrow outside-in view of management consulting. They make significant assumptions about why and how strategy studies are done, and try to replicate this assumed behavior. They think "being analytic" means analyzing things before every decision is made. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
info_outline
868: How to Network with a Senior Partner (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
Case Interview Preparation & Management Consulting | Strategy | Critical Thinking
Networking with a partner is counter-intuitive. It is much easier to network with a McKinsey / BCG partner for at least four reasons. First, partners always return emails. Second, partners are generally willing to take a call just to explore your profile. Third, partners are less hung up on things like degrees etc. since they look deeper at a profile. Fourth, partners are accessible with easy to find details. That said, the trick to networking with partners is to treat them as a peer. As soon as you place them on a pedestal, you will kill your networking chances. Here are some free...
info_outline
867: Be a professional, don't be a business person (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
Case Interview Preparation & Management Consulting | Strategy | Critical Thinking
What is your understanding of the consulting culture or philosophy? What do you think defines and separates the top consulting firms from the others? For this episode, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we spoke about the real culture of consulting firms apart from what people think it is and what distinguishes great consulting firms from others. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this...
info_outline
866: Sanity Checking Estimations in Cases (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
Case Interview Preparation & Management Consulting | Strategy | Critical Thinking
Many candidates forget to sanity-check their calculations in a case. That is a bad idea. Without a sanity-check there is no way to meaningfully assess the accuracy of your answer. More important, how you perform the sanity check is the key. All sanity-checks must involve the reduction of the answer to a number that you can intuitively compare to your own experiences. Unless you do this, you can never defend your answer. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free...
info_outlineStorytelling is a very powerful technique to ensure someone remembers you after an interview. In fact, even when we screen people at Firmsconsulting today, we use this technique I applied as a partner. The rule is simple: if I can remember your key messages from the interview the next day, I would make you an offer. That, of course, assumes you had passed all the other hurdles well enough. One way to be remembered is to be your answers around compelling stories using the New York Times rule of facts, facts and facts with a beginning and end.
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