Free consulting interview prep resources: everything you can download today

The consulting recruitment process is one of the most demanding professional selection processes out there. Yet most candidates walk into it without truly understanding how it works. After 13 years in strategic consulting, 9 of them at Bain & Company where I evaluated over 300 candidates, I built a complete set of free consulting interview prep resources with one clear goal: to give every candidate a solid foundation, regardless of what materials they choose to work with afterward.

Here is everything you can download for free at NextEp MBB and how to make the most of it.

Your starting point: Crack The Interview Process (free, 50 pages)

This is where you begin. A complete book that walks you through the entire recruitment process from application to final interview. It is not a summary or a teaser: it is 50 pages written from the perspective of someone who spent years on the other side of the table.

I wrote it because nobody was taking the time to explain the process with the depth it deserves. There is plenty of scattered information about cases and frameworks, but very little about how the full machine actually works: what firms evaluate at each stage, why each filter exists, and how to maximize your chances at every step.

Inside you will find a step-by-step guide to the full application process, key principles for building a results-driven CV and a distinctive cover letter, what to expect from quantitative screening tests, case interviews, and fit interviews, an overview of major firms (MBB, Tier 2, Big 4, and boutiques), and a clear explanation of the consulting career path.

If you only download one thing, make it this. Everything else makes more sense once you understand the full map.

Practice workbooks: try the method before you commit

Each of NextEp’s paid books has a free edition that works as a standalone resource. These are not chopped-up chapters from the book. They are independent samples designed so you can practice with fresh exercises and evaluate whether the method works for you before going for the full version.

Case Workbook (44 pages)

Includes 2 complete cases with prompts, context, interviewer guides, charts, and detailed solutions. If you practice solo, use them as simulations. If you practice with a partner, one plays interviewer using the guide while the other solves. This is a sample of Crack The Case Interview, which contains 20 original cases.

Test Workbook (49 pages)

The first real filter at most firms is not the case: it is the test. And it is where most candidates get eliminated without expecting it. This workbook includes business case questions, data insights, critical reasoning, and GMAT-style quantitative problems. If you want to take this filter seriously, Crack The Test Workbook has over 150 problems organized by type.

Mental Math Workbook (10 pages)

Two full sessions of mental math and on-paper calculations with benchmark times so you can measure your level. Each session combines 56 rapid operations and 8 multi-step problems. If you are serious about the math side of consulting prep (and you should be), Crack The Math offers 60 progressive sessions with over 4,000 exercises.

FIT and Q&A Workbook (10 pages)

An introduction to the personal questions and Q&A that complement the case interview. You will see response structures, examples, and the approach to building your stories. The full book, Crack The FIT Interview, includes 85 essential questions, 7 story-building templates, and the 14 skills consulting firms evaluate.

Topic guides: clear direction in every area

Beyond the workbooks, there are four guides covering core aspects of the process. These are shorter, more direct documents designed to give you context and direction.

Recruitment Process Guide (9 pages)

A visual blueprint of the full application process and the firms in the market. If you need a quick understanding of how everything works before diving into the consulting recruitment process, start here.

Frameworks and Issue Trees Guide (17 pages)

The first minutes of a case are where the interviewer decides whether you can think with structure. This guide introduces the main frameworks (profitability, market, pricing, investment) and how to build issue trees from scratch. If case framing is your weak spot, this resource gives you the foundation. To master this area, Crack The Frameworks includes 20 practical exercises and analysis of 15 industries.

Interview Evaluation Guide (10 pages)

What interviewers are actually looking for at each stage. It is not what most people think. This guide explains the real evaluation criteria so you know exactly what to aim for in your preparation. For a deeper look at the personal side, check out the fit interview questions firms typically ask.

30 Preparation Tips Guide (8 pages)

A summary of the FlashTips: 30 concrete, actionable ideas, one per day, covering everything from your CV to mental math. No theory, no filler. Each tip is a single idea you can apply that same day.

Templates: CV and cover letter ready to use

Two Word templates (.docx) you can download and adapt directly.

The CV template follows the format consulting firms expect: one page, results-driven, with a structure that makes it easy for recruiters to scan quickly. If you want to go deeper on building a consulting CV, check the complete CV guide.

The cover letter template follows the three-paragraph, half-page format that works: direct, authentic, and professional. No empty phrases or unnecessary formalities. For more detail on how to write yours, see the consulting cover letter guide.

FlashTips: 30 consulting tips by email

FlashTips are a series of emails with practical preparation advice. Each email has one idea, actionable that same day, from the perspective of someone who evaluated over 300 candidates at Bain.

You get the first email instantly and the rest arrive every few days, over a few weeks. Each one with a single idea ready to apply.

The tips cover six areas: CV and cover letter, consulting process, frameworks, case practice, FIT questions, and mental math. Less than 2 minutes of reading per day. No spam, cancel anytime.

Sign up for free at the FlashTips page.

WhatsApp communities: practice with other candidates

We have two open WhatsApp communities (Spanish and English) where candidates organize to practice cases with each other. They are open groups: no agenda, no forced moderation, just a space to connect with people going through the same process.

Activity varies depending on the recruiting cycle. But the idea is simple: a place to find practice partners without having to search on your own.

How to use these free consulting interview prep resources

A candidate who only uses the free resources can build solid foundations. But this is one of the most demanding professional selection processes out there, and to stand out from the rest, at some point you need to take your preparation to the next level.

My recommendation if you are starting out:

First, download Crack The Interview Process (PDF) and read it cover to cover. Understand the full map before getting into the details. Second, identify where you are in your preparation plan and download the guides and workbooks that apply to your current stage. Third, sign up for FlashTips to get a daily reminder with interviewer perspective. And when you feel you need more depth in a specific area, the full books are designed to take you exactly to that next level.

You can download all resources from the resources page.

Frequently asked questions

Are these really free? Is there a catch?

They are 100% free, with no required subscription or payment details. I created them because I believe the foundations of this process should be accessible to everyone. The paid books exist for those who want to go deeper, but the free resources work on their own.

Do the free workbooks repeat content from the paid books?

No. Each free workbook has independent exercises that do not overlap with the full book. They are designed so you can practice with fresh material and evaluate whether the method works for you.

What order should I download them in?

Start with Crack The Interview Process (PDF) to understand the full process. Then, based on where you are: if you have tests coming up, the test workbook. If you are already working on cases, the case workbook. If math worries you, the mental math workbook.

Do I need the paid books to prepare well?

You can prepare with free resources alone, but you will hit a ceiling. The paid books offer practice volume, method depth, and complete coverage that a sample cannot provide. If your goal is MBB, the difference between “prepared” and “very prepared” is usually what determines who gets the offer.

Can I share these resources with other candidates?

Yes. The more people who prepare well, the better for everyone. Share the download links directly from the website.

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Ready to get started? Download all free resources from the resources page and sign up for FlashTips to get a daily tip with interviewer perspective. And if you want access to all our practice material in digital format, visit the Preparation platform.