Pick your path
Hiring works differently at each stage: a first degree, a Master in Management, an MBA, an executive MBA, a PhD, or years at work. A one-page map of the usual entry route for each, so you know which lesson to read next.
Key takeaways
- The case skills are the same at every stage. What changes is the door you come in through, when it opens, and what the firm expects you to bring.
- You still need the case skills: structure, maths, reading charts and a clear answer.
- You still need stories about your past, told with results.
- You still need to know the firm's own steps and dates, from its careers page.
Key idea
The case skills are the same at every stage. What changes is the door you come in through, when it opens, and what the firm expects you to bring.
People come to business problem solving from many places. Some are 18 and in their first year of study. Some have worked for 20 years and are studying in the evenings. Firms hire both, but through different routes. Find your row below, then read the lesson for it. You can read the others too, because many people sit across two rows.
| Starting point | Usual way in | When it usually happens | What firms look for most |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's student | An internship, then an offer; or a graduate programme in the final year | Often a year or more before the start date | Grades, problem solving, and signs of drive |
| Master in Management student | The same entry roles as a bachelor's graduate, often in the same process | Often in the first term of a one or two year course | The same, plus a clear reason for the course |
| MBA student | A summer internship between the two years, then an offer; or direct full-time hiring | Often in the first year of the programme | Past impact at work, leadership, and case skill |
| Executive MBA student | Usually an experienced hire route, an internal move, or a sponsored return to the employer | Any time, on the firm's rolling timetable | Depth in an industry or a function |
| PhD, doctor, lawyer or other advanced degree | Dedicated advanced degree routes at some firms, or the experienced hire route | Often the year before the start date | Clear problem solving and plain-English answers |
| Working, any number of years | Experienced hire roles, at a level linked to your years and depth | All year, as roles open | What you achieved, and what you add to the team |
| Changing direction later in a career | Specialist and expert roles, industry roles, or in-house strategy | All year | What transfers, shown with numbers |
So-what
Find your row, note when your door opens, and plan your preparation to finish before then.
Three things every row has in common
- You still need the case skills: structure, maths, reading charts and a clear answer.
- You still need stories about your past, told with results.
- You still need to know the firm's own steps and dates, from its careers page.
You are studying for an executive MBA while working full time. Which route is most common for you?
What stays the same at every stage?
Sources for this lesson (1)
- Recognized public explanations of case-interview concepts and terms
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