How to Prep for (and Ace!) a Case Interview

Even if the term “case interview” is new to you, the concept itself is probably familiar.

Maybe you’ve heard of Google asking odd questions like, “How many tennis balls do you think you can fit on a plane?” or “How many dimes are in an amusement park?”

These questions are odd and seemingly have little to do with the real business world. But they serve a purpose.

A case interview might consist of questions like these or it might entail more real world “cases” to solve. For example, you may be asked something like this: “Your client is a major publishing house that is currently losing $50 million a year. How do you turn that around?”

In either case, the concept is pretty straightforward: You, the interviewee, are offered a problem of some sort and asked to find a solution.

The goal is, primarily, to see how you approach the problem and the thought process you use to come to a conclusion. Rarely are they looking for an actual correct “answer.”

Case interviews are common in the consulting world, where critical thinking skills are of the utmost importance. Outside of that, certain organizations—like Google—pride themselves on using this unique interview style.

In order to ace your case, consider the following points.

Do your research

Before any interview, you should always do your research to see what you can learn about the expectations. Websites like Glassdoor.com offer an insider’s look at the process and often provide specific questions that have been asked of others.

Some organizations that rely on case interviews will specifically state as much on their website or within correspondence from HR. Take the information to heart and expect to be faced with some challenging and perhaps unusual scenarios to dissect.

Pay close attention

When a case is presented, listen closely to what is really being asked and what information is provided. Part of what they want to know is how quickly you pick up on important details and how you weigh the facts offered.

Also read: 3 Mindset Shifts to Rock Your Job Interview

Use a systematic approach

In most cases, you’ll have to make a number of assumptions. For example, if you’re trying to determine how many dimes are in an amusement park, you need to have an idea of what park you’re considering and what time of year it is. That will determine the number of people there and the amount of cash on hand.

Most often, the interviewer doesn’t want you to ask questions about these things. Your assumptions show your approach. Remember too that it’s acceptable to use existing knowledge to speculate about things you don’t know. Whenever possible, rely on data to support your claims.

For example, if you’re tasked with creating a plan to turn around a publishing house in decline, and you know that Amazon sold 5 million Kindles last quarter, you can use that to calculate the increasing popularity of e-books—and thus the potential gain with an expansion into this market.

Explain your thinking succinctly

The most important part of the case interview is in your delivery of the conclusion. Your goal should be to offer a final “answer” and then efficiently explain how you got there. Outline your key assumptions and the steps you took in a simple, coherent fashion.

Recognize that the interviewer may question your assumptions—and that’s okay! Don’t let that throw you off course. If your strategy is sound, stick with it. At the same time, show flexibility by adjusting when a valid counter-argument is raised.

Finally, remember that these kinds of questions require thought. Don’t feel pressured to answer quickly. It’s expected that you take some time to consider your conclusion. You may be facing a time limit, so don’t dawdle, but avoid the urge to make random guesses you can’t defend.

Case interviews are nerve-wracking, but they can also be very interesting. Try to view it as a puzzle. Don’t force pieces in where they don’t fit. Instead, mull over the possibilities and leverage your intellect, creativity, and problem-solving skills. As with any interview style, practice makes perfect. Search for sample case interview questions and get to work. Doing this will help you gain comfort and confidence in the process.