Case Preparation

The goal of the case interview is to explore the candidate’s analytical skills, thought structure, creativity, and communications skills.

Case interview tips

Listen/Read carefully. Make sure you are answering the question that has been posed. If you are not sure, you can clarify the question by restating it to the interviewer or even by asking questions.

Organize your thoughts. Define the key issue and develop a framework to approach it. Approach the problem first in terms breadth and then depth.

Think out loud. Feel free to let the interviewer know what you are thinking. It is much more important to demonstrate a logical thinking process than simply to arrive at a solution.

Ask questions to get more information but let the interviewer know why you need this information. If the interviewer stops giving details at some point, use assumptions based on your business knowledge or common sense.

Catch clues from the interviewer. If you stray from the proper approach, the interview may give you some hints. Pay attention to these clues and they may help guide you toward the solution.

Summarize periodically. Summarize your findings and their further implications at each step. At the end of the interview, present your hypothesis, key findings, and solutions as well as alternatives. You can draw sketches if it helps.

Preparation for case interview

Being adept at case interviews is a learnable skill. You can become more polished by practicing with friends, family, with a tape recorder, or even in front of a mirror. Information or advice from school career development centers or alumni who work at consulting companies will be helpful.