Training · CO-2 · Lesson 00 of 06
Introduction
The rule
A case is a live problem-solving conversation. The interviewer is steering on purpose, and the score comes from how you think out loud.
What a case interview is
A case interview presents a business problem and asks you to solve it in about thirty minutes. It simulates client work: clarifying the problem, structuring an approach, analysing data, and recommending a decision.
Types of cases
Common case types recur.
- ·Profitability: why are profits falling?
- ·Market entry: should we enter this market?
- ·Growth: how can we grow revenue?
- ·M&A: should we acquire this company?
- ·Pricing: how should we price this product?
- ·Operations: how can we reduce costs or improve efficiency?
How you're scored
Interviewers assess structure, analytical accuracy, business judgement and communication. Arriving at a 'right' answer matters less than reasoning clearly and synthesising.
- Structuring
- 25%
- Quantitative analysis
- 25%
- Business judgement / creativity
- 25%
- Communication / synthesis
- 25%
Preparation plan
Learn core structures, then practise live cases with partners. Review each case for errors in structure, maths and synthesis. Drill mental maths daily.
What good looks like
Strong candidates are calm, organised and hypothesis-driven, and they connect each analysis back to the client's question.
Hold onto this
- ·Say your structure before you ask a single question.
- ·Summarise after every section; the interviewer is grading synthesis, not memory.
- ·Practise with real cases, out loud, against the clock.
Progress saved on this device
Education, not financial advice. Figures may be simplified for illustration.