Analyzing MBB (McKinsey, BCG, Bain) - the three renowned Management Consulting Firms’
In the following post, HKCareers has analyzed MBB (McKinsey, BCG, Bain) - the three renowned Management Consulting Firms’ 1️⃣reason for failing Aptitude Test 2️⃣recruitment process 20/21 3️⃣short term and long term preparation to apply for them.
1️⃣Reason for failing Aptitude Test
Other than a small number of headcounts accepted for MBB, their extremely difficult assessment is another reason making it not easy for students to get into MBB.
📍Company-made Apt test System:
Unlike most of the investment banks and big firms, MBB has developed their own Apt Test System, making it hard for applicants to find a database online to practice.
📍Changes in the evaluation method every year:
Due to Covid-19, most workers will need to work from home, hence most of the companies’ evaluation methods remain unchanged. However, for MBB, they continued their change every year including this year with the affection of Covid-19.
2️⃣MBB recruitment process 20/21
📍McKinsey:
Same as last year, candidates will go through the Apt Test in the first stage. Instead of having the Apt Test System that everyone is familiar with, they have developed a new Game Assessment. So even if you have applied for McKinsey last year, you will not have the same assessment as last year.
📍BCG:
Surprisingly, candidates won’t be working on Apt test in the first stage this year😳, they would be working on Case Study instead! For case study, candidates would work on some calculations and do analysis on the given case information to answer questions listed on the system.
📍Bain:
In the first round of the assessment, candidates would go through a Written Test. The content and method of the written test is actually very similar to the BCG case study test. BCG would give you 3 medium-length Cases, and you would need to answer 7-8 questions for each case, including calculations, company strategy related questions and more.
3️⃣Short term and Long term preparation to apply for MBB
📍Short Term:
In order to pass the Initial Screening, candidates need to understand that no matter the test is BCG’s Case Analysis or Bain’s Written Test. ✅The calculations involved are not testing your numerical skills, but how you apply the accounting concepts to calculate ratios, profit margins or gearing. ✅In addition, your answers should always be related to Strategy, because they are testing on how you solve various problems based on different Business Scenarios. Keep in mind that all the marking criteria would be Consulting-related.
📍Long Term:
According to HKCareers observation and experience, students who could get into MBB successfully have all started their training very early, they have familiarized themselves with Business Case Analysis for a long period of time. For instance, they practice on how to analyse the cases from a Financial perspective or a Business Development perspective. If you would like to join MBB, make sure you work even harder than investment banking applications when it comes to Case Analysis training.
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