How to Crack Consulting Case Interviews: The Complete Preparation Guide

Here’s the universal approach that works across all case types.

Step 1: Listen and Clarify (2 minutes)

What to do:

• Listen actively while taking brief notes
• Pause for 10-15 seconds to absorb
• Ask 1-3 clarifying questions

Good clarifying questions:

• “Is our goal to increase profits in the short term or long term?”
• “Are we focused on one geography or globally?”
• “What does success look like—a specific profit target?”careerinconsulting​

What NOT to ask:

• Random questions about details you haven’t analyzed yet
• Questions the case already answered

Step 2: Structure the Problem (30-60 seconds)

What to do:

• Take 30-60 seconds to think silently
• Jot down your structure (usually 3-4 main branches)
• Present it confidently: “Here’s how I’d like to approach this…”
• Explain the logic behind your structure briefly

Example structure presentation:
“To understand why profits fell, I’ll look at Revenue—broken into price and volume across segments—then Costs, both fixed and variable, and finally External factors like competition or regulation that might have changed. Does this sound reasonable?”igotanoffer+1​

Pro tip: Always end with “Does this make sense?” or “Should I adjust anything?” Shows collaboration.

Step 3: Drive the Analysis (Main bulk of case)

What to do:

• Work through your structure systematically
• Ask for specific data as you need it (don’t ask for everything upfront)
• When you get numbers/charts, think aloud as you interpret them
• Share observations and what they mean

Good example:
“So revenue dropped from $100M to $85M. That’s a 15% decline. Can we break this down by product line to see where the drop is concentrated?”

[Gets data showing Product A fell 30%, Product B flat]

“Interesting—Product A is driving most of the decline while Product B held steady. This suggests the problem might be specific to Product A. Could we explore what changed—pricing, competition, or customer preferences?”careerinconsulting+1​

What makes this good:

• You’re driving the conversation
• You’re thinking out loud
• You’re building hypotheses and testing them

Step 4: Do the Math (Throughout case)

When quantitative problems come up:

• Write down the numbers clearly on your paper
• Say your approach out loud before calculating
• Round intelligently to make math easier (49.8 → 50)
• Do the math step-by-step verbally so interviewer follows
• Sense-check your answer (“This means 20% growth, which seems reasonable given…”)careerinconsulting+1​

Never do silent math in your head—interviewers can’t see your thinking.

Step 5: Synthesize and Recommend (Final 2-3 minutes)

What to do:

• Briefly summarize 2-3 key findings
• Make a clear recommendation
• Acknowledge risks and next steps

Strong closing example:
“Based on our analysis, I recommend the client enter the Indian market, specifically targeting Tier 1 cities first with a premium positioning. Here’s why: The market is large and growing at 12% annually, competition is fragmented, and our brand strength gives us an advantage.

The risks are regulatory uncertainty and distribution challenges, so I’d suggest a phased approach—pilot in Mumbai and Delhi for 6 months, measure results, then scale nationally if metrics hit targets.

Next steps would be finalizing go-to-market partners, setting up local operations, and developing city-specific marketing campaigns.”myconsultingoffer​

What makes this strong:

• Clear stance (“I recommend…”)
• Supporting reasons (market size, growth, brand)
• Risk awareness
• Practical next steps