Hey everyone, I just finished my Bain second round interviews and wanted to get your thoughts on my chances. I had two case interviews and the results were pretty different. The first one didn’t go great - I got really confused about what the interviewer was asking and needed a lot of help to get to the right answers. It wasn’t that the case was super hard, I just couldn’t wrap my head around what they wanted from me. The second interview went much better though. I’d rate my performance around 8.5 out of 10. I didn’t mess up any major parts but had a few small hiccups along the way. Given this mixed performance, what do you think my chances are of getting an offer? Has anyone been in a similar situation before?
Mixed results don’t kill your chances! That strong second interview proved what you can do. Bain cares more about growth and adaptability than perfect scores. Keep your head up!
This happens more often than you’d think, and it’s not just about nailing every case. Consulting firms look at the whole picture - how you communicate, your problem-solving style, whether you’d fit the culture. The fact you improved so much between interviews actually helps you. It shows you can adapt and learn quickly, which they love. What matters is how you handled the struggle in that first interview. Did you stay calm, ask good questions, work well with your interviewer? I’ve seen people stumble through cases but still get offers because they showed strong thinking and great interpersonal skills. Plus, your second interview being solid proves you’ve got what it takes. Honest truth? It’s tough to predict with mixed results like yours. But I’ve seen candidates advance from similar spots. Don’t fixate on the rough interview - focus on what you learned from both. The decision probably comes down to the candidate pool and whether your interviewers saw growth potential in you.