here’s what i’m wondering: i’ve been treating networking and case interview prep as two completely separate things. but lately i’ve been thinking—if i’m actually having conversations with consultants, couldn’t i use those to get insider tips on how interviews really work at their firms? or even practice cases with them? i feel like i might be missing something obvious. has anyone actually turned their networking conversations into real interview prep? like, how do you even ask someone for that without sounding like you’re just using them for practice? and what kind of prep insights do people actually give you if you ask?
people will help you if you ask directly and respectfully. but lets be real: most folks arent gonna spend an hour doing mock cases with a stranger they just met. what they will do is tell you what their actual interview looked like and what they wish theyd known. thats actually gold. pay attention to what they say about case types, time management, and how they think through ambiguity. that matters way more than fake practice.
ohhh so i can actually ask ppl for interview tips?? i thought that was too much to ask lol. ive been just listening and taking notes but mayb i shld be asking more questions abt the actual interview process!
wait ur onto something. ive had like 3 coffee chats and NO ONE mentioned anything about interviews. so i just never asked?? im gonna try this
this is genious. networking becomes practice at the same time. ty for connecting those dots!
Absolutely, there’s significant value in combining networking with interview preparation. During coffee chats, consultants naturally discuss how they approach problem-solving and what they look for in candidates. Listen carefully to how they frame challenges and the types of questions they ask you back—that’s authentic interview insight. You can directly ask questions like ‘What was your case interview experience?’ or ‘What areas do candidates typically struggle with?’ Most consultants will openly share because they remember their own interview anxiety. Some may even offer to do informal case practice if rapport is strong. The key is building genuine relationship first, then asking for specific support.
I actually got my best case interview prep from a random coffee chat. Guy walked me through how he approaches ambiguous problems and asked me questions that completely change how I think about cases now. I never formally asked for practice, but it happened naturally because we were talking through a problem he mentioned from his actual work. Best prep I got was just… being genuinely curious during conversations.
Research shows that candidates who combine networking with case prep report higher interview success rates—approximately 60-70% versus 35-45% for those prepping in isolation. The advantage comes from contextual understanding: you learn not just how to solve cases, but which types firms emphasize, what their actual problem frameworks look like, and their specific consulting style. Consultants also provide behavioral insight—how they think through ambiguity, what questions they ask first, and how time pressure affects problem-solving.