Stephan Spijkers

About Stephan Spijkers

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Announcement: Mckinsey PST practice book coming up!

September 6, 2013 by Stephan Spijkers 1 Comment

I’m sorry for the lack of activity surrounding CaseInterviewHQ.com lately: I have been very very busy and took a vacation to relax a little. That being said: I’m back and have a big announcement to make!

McKinsey Problem Solving Test (PST) : Practice Book

Many of my visitors (maybe even you) struggle with the PST and I get a lot of questions about it, from the very basic (“How long does it take? How many questions do I have to make per minute?”) to the more complicated (“What is the best way to tackle the PST? How should I prepare?”. In my book on case interviews, and my post on the McKinsey PST I answer many of these questions and if you haven’t: check them out.

My problem with the PST

When I practiced for the PST, I had one big issue: practice material. There is one case from McKinsey and some from other consulting firms, but that’s it. Some people are offering practice PSTs at ridiculous prices and/or without sufficient information on how to prepare for the McKinsey Problem Solving Test in general. ‘Cracking the Case’ features detailed practice instructions and a practice case with 7 questions, but that’s only one third of the full PST.

My solution: The Key to the PST

So I’ve set out to fix this and help you prepare for the PST with both detailed instructions and a full practice PST. This new practice book will be launched in the coming months, so keep an eye out on this site…

Rating: 8.7/10 (3 votes cast)

Updated: Key to the PST

August 26, 2013 by Stephan Spijkers Leave a Comment

The best preparation for the McKinsey PST: now updated

The best book for your McKinsey Problem Solving Test preparation has been online for only three months, and it’s already being updated. Why? Well, let me share a secret with you about how the ‘Key to the PST’ came to be…

A request from a friend

When I finished writing my other book (“Cracking the Case“) I had asked some friends and colleagues to proof-read the book and distribute it freely if they wanted to help other friends with their case preparation. I received great feedback on my book and made some important improvements as a result.

One of my friends came back to me with a different kind of question: he was preparing for the McKinsey PST and found the section in “Cracking the Case” really helpful. He asked me whether I could write a whole practice problem solving test, so he could practice for the real PST. Since I just completed “Cracking the Case”, I did not really feel like writing another book so soon, but he kept asking and finally I gave in.

The Key to the PST

I drafted some extra questions and let him practice with it. I walked him through the answers and he later aced the ‘real’ PST. He then kept pushing me to share this book with the rest of the world, so I decided to polish the draft a little and put it online on CaseInterviewHQ. It was an instant success and I felt a little scared: it proved to be a great practice together with me walking you through the answers, but what if I wasn’t there in person?

The response I get from my readers however is great: it really helps people finish the PST with more confidence, more time left to review answers and better results. There were still some rough edges and I got great feedback from many readers: thank you! This resulted in the new version of the Key to the PST being released so soon: version 1.1 is available for download right now. It features more clear answer guidelines and some improved formulation of the questions, resembling the real PST even closer.

Thanks a lot for your great feedback (keep it coming) and good luck with your problem solving test and case interviews!

Best,

Stephan.

Rating: 8.5/10 (4 votes cast)

Summer Sale at CaseInterviewHQ : the best case interview book is now on sale!

June 8, 2013 by Stephan Spijkers Leave a Comment

Buy Cracking the Case now with 33% off!

Here at CaseInterviewHQ I want to help everyone spending their summer preparing for their consulting interviews. Through this site, its articles and my books I want to guide you through the whole interview process, from crafting the perfect consulting resume to helping you ace the case. And starting today, the best resource on getting a job in the management consulting industry is on sale!

The best book: from consulting resume and cover letter to the case interview.

Even though I launched my book on how to get a job in the consulting industry only a few months ago, I’m already working on a lot of updates and tweaks to the original version, based on input from my readers. Just as with this site, I want Cracking the Case to be the most up-to-date resource on the management consulting interview process.

Should I buy Cracking the Case, if you are updating the book?

Yes, now is even better than ever: for only $19 you’ll get the full guide and free lifetime updates. Which means you’ll get the updated version as soon as I’ve finished it, for free! Want some more info before you decide to buy? Check out this page, with a free preview!

I’m not Apple

I have a love/hate relationship with Apple: I love their products, but hate their upgrade cycle and policy. If you buy a new MacBook or an iPad just before the new version is released, you pay full pice for a product outdated in weeks. I want you to know that I’ll extend the 60-day return policy until 60 days after I’ve updated Cracking the Case. So if you’re not happy with it, you can still get a full refund. So go and buy the best book on case interview preparation now!

Rating: 8.5/10 (2 votes cast)

The Key to the PST: Now Available

December 20, 2012 by Stephan Spijkers Leave a Comment

The best guide for the McKinsey Problem Solving Test (PST) is now available

Have you downloaded the official McKinsey PST practice and are you looking for more? Want to make sure you ace the McKinsey Problem Solving Test? Want to make it to the live interviews? But you can’t find any decent practice books for a good price online? Fret no more: The Key to the PST is available now.

A full featured e-guide, delivered instantly

The Key to the PST is an e-guide delivered instantly, so you can start or continue your practice right now! Don’t waste a minute of practice and buy this excellent insider’s guide here. Want to know what you get? The Key to the PST features an insider’s guide on how to prepare for the PST and maximize your score during the test itself. It also features a full practice Problem Solving Test, with 3 cases and 26 questions, just like the real PST.

More info and a free preview

Want more information on this new guide to the PST? Click for a free preview and more info on my most recent guide.

Rating: 10.0/10 (1 vote cast)

Updated: Case Interview preparation material.

March 18, 2012 by Stephan Spijkers Leave a Comment

We have started updating pages and articles on our site and one page that received a major overhaul was the preparation material page.

Case Interview Preparation

In an effort to help structure your case interview preparation, we launched a special page that lists all posts and pages that will help your perform before and during the case interview. Want to know how to fine-tune your resume? Or learn the basics of the case interview? Check it out right here.

Rating: 9.7/10 (3 votes cast)

Cracking the Case Available Now!

February 21, 2012 by Stephan Spijkers Leave a Comment

The best book on case interviews is now available!

It took many hours to complete and even more to fine-tune and perfect it, but ‘Cracking the Case’ is finished and available now! Click here to find out everything about the book’s features, special bonuses and content previews.

Having finished the book, I will also have more time on my hands to update the blog, so stay tuned for further updates.

Rating: 9.5/10 (2 votes cast)

Cracking the Case: Available February 21

February 14, 2012 by Stephan Spijkers Leave a Comment

The ‘all-in-one’ book I wished I had when interviewing with firms such as McKinsey, BCG and Bain.

Cracking the Case:

Guides you all the way, from cover letter to case interview.
Explains how consulting firms use your cover letter and resume, and how to make sure you stand out.
Features the essential method to answer any interview resume question thrown at you.
Explains which two essential consulting skills you must showcase during the personal interview.
Includes a detailed guide on written cases such as the McKinsey Problem Solving Test, including a unique sample question.
Comes with a detailed guide on Guesstimate/Market Sizing questions, including four golden principles and pitfalls to avoid.
Supplies you with three easy to use business case frameworks and explains how to use them for maximum effect.
Comes with three business cases solved by an example candidate elaborated in more than thirty pages, so you can learn from his faults.
Includes an approach to any brainteaser, with seven sample brainteasers to practice.

Cracking the Case is an essential tool in preparing for the selection process used by management consulting firms. No guide will prepare you better for the case interview, as it’s the most up-to-date, most complete guide and available here, starting February 21.

Want a discount voucher when it comes out? Follow Case InterviewHQ on Facebook, Twitter or GooglePlus.

Rating: 9.5/10 (2 votes cast)

“Cracking the Case” Announced

February 3, 2012 by Stephan Spijkers Leave a Comment

When I was preparing for my case interviews I tried to gather all the material I could find. In the process I spent hundreds of dollars and countless hours reading crappy books. With the help of all the books, audio guides and websites, I did achieve success and I’ve shared my techniques during training courses and one-on-one practice sessions ever since. But when they asked me which book they had to read, I always ended up recommending multiple titles: a lot of reading, which is not very efficient if you have only four days to the interview.

A few months ago, I decided to write my own book in which I distilled all the knowledge and experience I’ve gathered personally, while also adding insights from others active in the strategic consulting industry. It covers the selection process from cover letter and resume to case interview, features examples, expert tips, fully elaborated practice cases and even a practice PST question. See below for sample pages:

It’s almost finished and should find its way to this site within this month. Want an e-mail when the book is published? Leave your e-mail adress below (no spam, no daily newsletters, just an announcement when the book is finished).

Follow CaseinterviewHQ on Facebook, Twitter or GooglePlus if you want to receive a discount voucher when it comes out.

Rating: 9.0/10 (1 vote cast)

Which MBA gets you into McKinsey?

January 28, 2012 by Stephan Spijkers 2 Comments

Most strategic consulting firms offer their employees the option of a sponsored MBA at any of the world’s leading business schools. This looks more generous than it is: even though they pay the astronomical tuition fees, the fine print tells you that you’ll be working for McKinsey, BCG or Bain for at least a couple of years after finishing your MBA to pay off their ‘gift’. Applying for an MBA while working at these firms has an additional advantage: they let you in more easily.

But what if you’re not one of those lucky few? What if you are considering an MBA to later join a consulting firm? Which MBA gives you the best chances on a job at McKinsey, BCG or Bain? Well XiaoXiao Ma was wondering the same thing and investigated how many people working at MBB had an MBA from which business school. The list with his results below comes from the Consulting Times:

There are some important caveats however: he does not exclude sponsored MBA-ships and does not include consultants with an MBA that worked at MBB but then left for other jobs. Nor does he take firm size or school size into account. That being said: the results are not so surprising: HBS, INSEAD and Wharton “supply” the most consultants.

If you want a job at McKinsey, BCG or Bain, I suggest you first apply now before you do an MBA. Read the Company Profiles and my book to increase your chances on a job. Good luck!