Hi guys,I am a recent graduate and I am preparing for interviews at the top tier consulting firms? I was wondering if there is anyone else on this forum doing the same? I'm finding hard to simulate case studies by myself, it would be great to practice with someone else!

Hey Tom, I am preparing for the top tier firms and I should apply shortly. have you already applied to any of them? Is anyone else doing the same?

Good luck gettin interviews. This year will be bad.

Why is so bad? All the recruitment teams stressed that they haven't changed the number of graduates for entry level. I'm sure it will be difficult but what can we do otherwise? I can't postpone my graduation, so I just need to try anyway.

There will simply be more competition, especially at grad level with the collapse of IB. You need to optimise your chances of getting A job not necessarily THE job. My suggestions:Evaluate who you are applying to: do you have the necessary quals and grades? I.e. if you are a 2:1 from Durham don't waste time chasing McKinsey in this environment.Spread your applications across several tiers - so apply to a few big name firms, a few mid market firms, and few boutiques. Don't make too many applications - 5 or 6 well prepared applications will stand you in a better chance than applying everywhere with little preparation.Be confident and identify what marks you out as an individual - grades are not enough, what makes you, you?Looks for every fragment of achievement in your academic life, societies you may have led, travel you undertook etc. Draw it all out - the smallest thing can differentiate you.Don't walk into interviews like its your last chance saloon - no one likes a pessimist in interviews.I think Tony R on this site does a case study tutorial which should be invaluable - he is ex Roland Berger so knows what he is talking about.

Mars makes some excellent points, as usual; however there is one bit with which I partially disagree..."I.e. if you are a 2:1 from Durham don't waste time chasing McKinsey in this environment."I fully recognise where he is coming from, but to put it simply if you apply you have a very, very slim chance but if you don't apply you have none at all. Such firms do hire people from places other than East Anglia College of Higher Education and Thames Valley Poly, but you WILL have to have something to make you stand out. It all comes down to getting to the first round interview. If you can get past the CV screen then it is possible to make up for supposed deficiencies in your education.There is some tangentially related advice in the book "How to get into the top MBA programmes." To paraphrase: Apply to one or two of your dream jobs, five or six realistic choices, and a few backup options which you are confident about.EC

Thanks guys! yeah I guess that it will be hard but as you say it's down to me to stand out. My feeling is that MC is an excellent place to start my career and I don't want to get a random job in the hope that next year or the year after the situation will be slightly better...so I just need to try and make sure I polish REALLY well my CV. Thanks again.

EC is right; I amend my advice and agree with Evil C.

Hi I am based in Loughborough and looking for a case interview partner who can practice case interview with me on a regular basis for 2-3 weeks. I have few interviews coming up from MBBB. I am looking for some one with whom i can regularly meet or do it by phone/Skype/gtalk etc. Location doesn't matter. Any body interested ??ThanksAKC