Looking Over My Shoulder, also known as LOMS, is 20 hours of audio recording of various consulting case interviews. If you’ve read Victor Cheng’s book Case Interview Secrets, you’ve likely been referred to or upsold on the program.

 

In these recordings, Victor Cheng interviews a variety of candidates in different case interview styles and formats. Cheng provides detailed commentary on each candidate’s performance in every step of the case interview.

 

The Look Over My Shoulder program currently costs $297.

 

For such a steep price, is the Look Over My Shoulder Program worth it? Is it the best case interview prep program in the market? Are there alternative resources that are better and cheaper?

 

In this comprehensive review of the Look Over My Shoulder Program, we’ll answer all of these questions and more.

While Look Over My Shoulder (LOMS) provides valuable perspectives and insights into the consulting case interview process, the $297 price does not justify its value as just an audio recording. There are plenty of mock case interview videos on YouTube that provide the same type of information more clearly and for free. For $297, there are other comprehensive case interview courses that will actually teach you step-by-step how to solve a case interview and provide plenty of mock cases that you can actually practice.

If you’re looking for a step-by-step shortcut to learn case interviews quickly, we'd recommend that you instead enroll in a comprehensive case interview course. These insider strategies from a former Bain interviewer helped 30,000+ land consulting offers while saving hundreds of hours of prep time.

 

What is the Look Over My Shoulder (LOMS) Program?

 

According to Victor Cheng, the goal of the Look Over My Shoulder Program is to help users “master the analytical problem-solving process desired by the top management consulting firms.” The program consists of 20 hours of audio recordings.

 

In these audio files, Victor Cheng interviews a variety of candidates in both interviewer-led and candidate-led case interview formats. Cheng provides detailed commentary on each candidate’s performance in every step of the case interview. There are eight cases that are used to interview 22 different candidates.

 

Cheng says that by listening in to what people do during case interviews, you will notice their case interview habits. By immersing yourself in these cases, you can internalize these habits and develop your own good habits that will lead to a good case interview performance.

 

The program has no video content. Victor Cheng claims that the audio delivery of the program forces uses to focus more on the content instead of focusing on the body language of candidates, which is not as relevant to their case skills.

 

Upon purchase, the program is delivered digitally within minutes of purchase, allowing users to start using the program immediately.

 

Cheng has said that there are no plans to update the Look Over My Shoulder Program, so it is likely to remain in its current form for years to come.

 

Benefits of the Look Over My Shoulder (LOMS) Program

 

1. Insights from a Former McKinsey Interviewer

 

Victor Cheng is a highly reputable case interview author, coach, and workshop leader. While recruiting for consulting, he passed 60 out of 61 case interviews, ultimately landing and accepting a job at McKinsey.

 

In the Look Over My Shoulder Program, Cheng provides real feedback and insights on candidates’ case interview performance from the perspective of a former McKinsey interviewer.

 

2. Learn the Difference Between Poor and Great Case Interview Performances

 

In the program, Cheng uses 8 cases to interview 22 different candidates. So, several candidates are given the same case. These candidates have a variety of different skill levels, so you’ll see what a poor case interview performance versus a great case interview performance sounds like.

 

You’ll notice things that candidates do that make them stand out from the crowd. You’ll also notice mistakes that candidates make that severely impact their case interview performance.

 

3. Variety of Cases

 

The eight cases covered in the program span a variety of different industries. Clients include a moving company, an Internet company, and a steel company. There are a mix of different case types, such as profitability and market entry cases. There is a focus on covering the types of cases you are most likely to see in your interviews.

 

4. Twenty Hours of Content

 

The Look Over My Shoulder Program has twenty hours of content. If you divide the price of the program, $297, by the hours of content, you are essentially paying $14.85 per hour to listen to the audio files. If you think about the price of the program this way, the price may not seem as high.

 

5. Convenient Format to Learn Case Interviews

 

Since the program consists entirely of audio, you can listen to the program’s mock interviews from anywhere. Whether you’re walking to class or commuting from home, the program is in a convenient format to be easily accessible even for busy people.

 

Look Over My Shoulder (LOMS) Positive Reviews:

 

“I purchased LOMS and was happy with my decision. It sure was expensive, but I found it far more helpful than Case in Point, or the vault guides.” (Review from WallStreetOasis)

 

“It's an excellent programme to practice cases by yourself, without a case partner. Especially if you haven't done many cases before, it can really give you a sense of the flow of a case interview, what/how to ask questions, and perhaps most importantly, what many of the common pitfalls are for candidates.” (Review from PrepLounge)

 “LOMS was the best educational resource to develop skills and best practices for case interviews. What differentiates LOMS from other books/resources is that it provides examples of the right and wrong way to go through a case interview. Very good for background knowledge and just starting out.” (Review from Reddit)

 

“LOMS helped me prepare for a case interview on short notice. I ended up getting the offer and would say my performance on the case was a big part of it.” (Review from CaseInterview.com)

 

Shortcomings of the Look Over My Shoulder (LOMS) Program

 

1. Listening to Cases is a Passive Exercise

 

While listening to other people do case interviews helps you become familiar with the structure and format of a case interview, it is not necessarily the best way to improve your actual case interview skills.

 

The best way to get better at solving cases is to practice case interviews either by yourself or through a case interview partner. Only through practice can you get better at developing structured frameworks, communicating clearly, and executing math proficiently.

 

The biggest shortcoming of the Look Over My Shoulder Program is that it is a passive program in which you learn by listening instead of actually doing.

 

2. Heavy McKinsey Bias in the Cases

 

All of the cases in the Look Over My Shoulder Program are in the McKinsey case interview style. They are all highly structured and organized. While these may be great to study for McKinsey interviews, they are much less similar to the styles of cases that other firms such as BCG and Bain give.

 

BCG and Bain cases can be much less structured and more discussion-based. Therefore, if you are preparing for interviews at consulting firms besides McKinsey, know that this program has a heavy McKinsey style case bias.

 

3. There are Many Free Resources to Watch Case Interviews

 

If you feel that the $297 price tag for the program is expensive, know that there are tons of free videos of mock case interviews on the internet. Going on YouTube and searching for “mock case interview” or “practice case interview” will give you hundreds of free videos.

 

Many of these case interview videos are made by former McKinsey, BCG, and Bain consultants, so they can be high quality resources. Additionally, since these mock cases are in video format, you’ll actually be able to observe people’s poise and communication style.

 

4. The Program Does Not Directly Teach How to Solve Case Interviews

 

The Look Over My Shoulder Program consists solely of 8 cases. The program does not directly teach you exactly how to solve case interviews. Instead, it relies on providing commentary on other people’s case interview performance to give you case interview tips.

 

Considering the program costs $297, you are essentially paying $37 per case, which feels pricy.

 

It would have been nice if the program had a curriculum for teaching exactly what to do and what to say in every step of the case interview.

 

5. Repetitive Case Interview Strategies

 

All of the candidates that Victor Cheng interviews in the program have been taught to solve cases in the way that Victor Cheng teaches. Therefore, the case interview strategies and techniques you will observe will feel repetitive after watching a few cases.

 

It would have been more helpful to see candidates using a wide range of different strategies and techniques to see which ones perform the best. Unfortunately, you’ll observe a lot of the same cookie cutter strategies in most of the audio files.

 

Look Over My Shoulder (LOMS) Negative Reviews:

 

“Comparing my recruiting experience (at the undergraduate level) to what LOMS was like, I would say the interviews were actually very dissimilar. The LOMS interviews were extremely structured, while I found that my interviews (including second rounds with Bain and BCG) were much more conversational.” (Review from WallStreetOasis)

 

“Nothing is going to be more helpful than actually practicing with the right partners. I know plenty of people who didn't use LOMS and got MBB offers by practicing with the right group of people on a regular basis.” (Review from WallStreetOasis)

 

“To put it bluntly, what is most important is that you actually have the required knowledge and skills to begin with. LOMS is rather less useful for this - which should be the core of your preparation. Hearing another candidates' attempt to solve cases is not actually a particularly good way to learn how to solve them yourself.” (Review from Quora)

 

“I don't think [LOMS] worth it. I bought Case In Point and did my preparation through free websites and that was it. There is so much free information and free practice cases on the web that paying such a large amount for case prep material is unnecessary.” (Review from WallStreetOasis)

 

Overall Assessment of the Look Over My Shoulder (LOMS) Program

 

The Look Over My Shoulder (LOMS) is great for beginners that are trying to get a sense of what a case interview is like and want to see exactly how candidates tackle and solve cases. The biggest benefit to the program is seeing the differences between a poor case interview performance and a great case interview performance for the same case.

 

Users of the program should be aware that the cases in the program are most similar to McKinsey style cases. Cases from other firms, such as BCG and Bain, can be quite different from the cases in the program.

 

Users should also know that the best way to get better at case interviews is to either work through cases by yourself or simulate a case interview with a partner. So, users will need to supplement this program with other resources to get actual practice. Listening to cases can only teach you so much.

 

If the $297 price tag does not bother you at all, the program may be worth a purchase. However, there are many free case interview videos on YouTube that you can watch to get most of the benefits that you would have gotten from purchasing the Look Over My Shoulder Program. There are also much more valuable case interview prep books and courses that you can purchase with that $297 instead.

For example, the video below shows you exactly what a real case interview looks like:

If you found this review helpful, we also have comprehensive reviews on Case Interview Secrets by Victor Cheng, Case in Point by Marc Cosentino, and on whether case interview coaching is worth it.

 

Recommended Consulting Interview Resources

 

Here are the resources we recommend to land your dream consulting job:

 

For help landing consulting interviews

 

• Resume Review & Editing: Transform your resume into one that will get you multiple consulting interviews

 

For help passing case interviews

 

• Comprehensive Case Interview Course (our #1 recommendation): The only resource you need. Whether you have no business background, rusty math skills, or are short on time, this step-by-step course will transform you into a top 1% caser that lands multiple consulting offers.

 

• Case Interview Coaching: Personalized, one-on-one coaching with a former Bain interviewer.

 

• Hacking the Case Interview Book (available on Amazon): Perfect for beginners that are short on time. Transform yourself from a stressed-out case interview newbie to a confident intermediate in under a week. Some readers finish this book in a day and can already tackle tough cases.

 

• The Ultimate Case Interview Workbook (available on Amazon): Perfect for intermediates struggling with frameworks, case math, or generating business insights. No need to find a case partner – these drills, practice problems, and full-length cases can all be done by yourself.

 

For help passing consulting behavioral & fit interviews

 

• Behavioral & Fit Interview Course: Be prepared for 98% of behavioral and fit questions in just a few hours. We'll teach you exactly how to draft answers that will impress your interviewer.