pwc video interview case study

The PwC Case Interview (Including Strategy&) – A Complete Guide

• Last Updated January, 2024

PwC is an accounting firm with a huge consulting arm. Its consulting business is as large as those of Bain, BCG, and McKinsey combined. If you’re interested in landing a job in the consulting industry, it’s a great firm to apply to because its business combines strategy consulting (Strategy&) as well as business transformation/implementation (PwC).

If you want to know more about PwC consulting and Strategy&, you’re in the right place! In this article, we’ll discuss:

• An overview of PwC Consulting and Strategy&.
• The PwC recruitment process.
• The PwC case interview.
• The behavioral/fit interview.
• The PwC group case.
• The PwC individual presentation.
• Our 5 tips for preparing for PwC and Strategy& interviews.

Let’s get started!

PwC Consulting and Strategy& - An Overview

The pwc group case, the pwc recruitment process, the pwc individual presentation, the pwc case interview (including strategy&).

5 Tips for Preparing for PwC and Strategy& Interview

The PwC Behavioral Interview

PwC Consulting and Strategy & - An Overview

5 Tips for Preparing for PwC and Strategy & Interview

PwC employs over a quarter of a million people in 155 countries worldwide. Its operations are divided into two parts: Trust Solutions and Consulting Solutions. Trust Solutions focuses on its accounting and tax services. PwC Consulting Solutions help a broad spectrum of clients navigate complex business issues by leveraging PwC’s significant experience and range of capabilities.

Client case studies include:

• helping TransRe adopt an enterprise resource planning system to collect and manage data, offering insight and improved decision-making.
• supporting Chipotle to implement a loyalty program to improve customer relationships, build loyalty, and drive business growth.
• providing pro bono consulting to charity The Trevor Project to strengthen its technological capabilities and optimize its volunteer recruitment process.

How does PwC Consulting differ from Strategy&?

In 2014, PwC acquired Booz & Co., the commercial arm of consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton, and renamed it Strategy&. While PwC Consulting focuses on typical management consulting cases and implementation projects, Strategy& specializes in strategy consulting.

Set up by PwC to attempt to compete with McKinsey, Bain, and BCG, Strategy& has over 3,000 consultants helping businesses shape their future strategies. Strategy& focuses on creating competitive advantage by “developing corporate and business unit strategies and building differentiating capabilities that outperform the competition.” ( Source: PwC )

Implementation of those strategies is handed over to PwC consulting teams. If you join PwC’s management consulting team you will, “help clients translate strategy into execution, closing the gap between ideas and outcomes, to transform the organization and achieve tangible business results.” (Source: PwC)

Like most other Big 4 firms (EY, Deloitte, and KPMG), the PwC recruitment process has multiple stages:

Stage 1: The PwC Application

For entry-level recruitment, the first stage of the PwC process is to submit an application form for the particular roles you’re interested in. You can search for your school’s application deadline on PwC’s interactive campus map. If you can’t find your school or have recently graduated, you should submit by their September deadline. You’ll be asked to pick your top 2 preferred office locations and you’ll need to submit a resume.

To learn more about how to write a stellar consulting resume, read Consulting Resume: Everything You Need to Know .

Stage 2: The PwC Online Test

A few hours after you’ve submitted your application, PwC will send you an assessment to complete via email. You have to complete the online test within 3 calendar days so it’s worth thinking about that when applying. The PwC online test is a series of games-based assessments to measure cognitive ability, behavioral preferences, and verbal and numerical reasoning.

Learn more by reading PwC Online Test .

Stage 3: The PwC Interview

If you successfully pass the online test, PwC will invite you to a series of interviews. These will include a case interview and behavioral interview and may include a group case and an individual presentation. The first of these interviews is sometimes conducted as a video interview where you’ll record your answers to a range of questions and case studies. Group interviews have traditionally been part of the recruiting process for sophomore consulting internship candidates and select other groups. It’s a good idea to clarify with your recruiting contact what types of interviews you’ll have.

In the past, the bulk of the remaining interviews, group, or individual activities took place during an assessment day. However, for 2021-22 recruitment, PwC US is moving to virtual interviewing. For Consulting Services, you’ll face two virtual, live interviews back-to-back. If you move forward in the process, there may be a final additional  interview.

Nail the case & fit interview with strategies from former MBB Interviewers that have helped 89.6% of our clients pass the case interview.

The case interview process is similar for both PwC Consulting Services and Strategy&. The case interviews are both candidate-led, which means you’ll be responsible for deciding what analysis you want to do and what the approach should be.

The PwC case interviews for Consulting Services applicants typically focus on profit optimization, cost optimization, and market sizing. For example, a recent candidate was asked to “Run me through a market sizing estimate of the iPhone market in Asia.”

For a breakdown of precisely what each of these types is, read Case Interview Types: Master Common Ones Before Your Interview .

The PwC Strategy& case interview includes more strategy-focused cases (such as make-vs-buy decisions, new product introduction, M&A, etc.), but how you tackle a case interview is the same no matter which area you’re applying for.

Following this 4-step model gives you the best chance for success:

• Understand the question . Make sure you understand what it is you’re being asked to do. Repeat back to the interviewing team what exactly you think the task is so they can correct you if necessary.
• Create a structured approach to the problem . Analyze what data you’ve been given and identify areas where you need more information about the client’s problem. Use a business framework to explore the case further or, better yet, create one of your own that’s specific to the issues in your case.
• Ask relevant questions and analyze the problem . Begin to share the assumptions you’re making about the case and ask the interviewing team questions about areas where you’re uncertain or need more data to inform your judgments.
• Effectively communicate your recommendation . Walk the interviewing team through your recommendation(s), explaining how you used the data provided to back up your recommendations. Make sure you call out any assumptions made or any risks associated with the action you’re proposing.

The fit or behavioral interview is a way for interviewers to figure out how well candidates would work within the firm’s culture and how they’d be in front of clients. Interviewers want to feel that they could work well with you if you were part of their team and that you’d represent the firm effectively on client projects.

While the exact questions will differ between firms, here are ten common questions asked in behavioral interviews:

PwC's Core Values

PwC has 5 core values that define its culture and approach:     

• Act with integrity
• Make a difference
• Work together
• Reimagine the possible

It’s important to ensure that when answering interview questions, you keep these values in mind. For example, if the interviewer asks you to tell them more about yourself or what you do for fun, pick stories that show where you’ve made a difference, challenged the status quo, or tried something new.

If you’re interviewing for several different firms, it’s important to tailor your responses to each individual firm. Try not to rely on stock answers about why management consulting is the role for you. Many other candidates will also be waxing lyrical about working with the best people, on the most interesting projects, for the most exciting clients.

Try researching cases the firm has recently been involved in and explain why they’re interesting to you. Or look into work the firm does regarding corporate social responsibility and talk about how it aligns with your values.

The Best Answers to PwC Behavioral Interview Questions Are Stories

Frame your examples as stories. Stories engage interviewers even after a long day interviewing dozens of candidates. While you want to remain professional, it’s ok to talk with emotion as you share your stories. Interviewers want to see humans, not robots! One of PwC’s core values is ‘Care’ so interviewers want to know what’s important to you and more about the things that make you you.

Make sure you also reflect on your own learning from the examples you want to share in your interview. You’ll likely be asked about how you work in a team, how you handle conflict, and how you overcome failure. Using a model like the ASTAR(E) framework helps you remember to share the effect that going through that experience had on you and how it’s changed how you would approach things in the future.

For the Strategy& interview specifically, it’s worth noting that you may face more behavioral questions than you expect. PwC is keen to check that you’re not just using Strategy& as an MBB backup and wants to make sure you’re a great fit for the firm.

To learn more about acing the behavioral interview, read The Consulting Fit Interview: What to Say, What NOT to Say .

PwC has traditionally used a group case as part of its recruiting process during the assessment day for some applicants (most frequently, undergraduate sophomores applying for internships). A typical group case experience involves you working within a small group to solve a business case.

Interviewers assess both analytical and behavioral competencies as you work in your team to solve the case. This means you have 2 roles during a group case. First, you need to contribute to solving the case — providing analysis, making logical assumptions and judgments, and offering insight to shape the overall recommendation you present to the client.

Secondly, you need to showcase how well you can work within a team — offering an opinion, demonstrating active listening, summarizing and building on others’ points of view, and leading the team towards consensus.

Recent interviewees have not had a group case as part of their PwC interview process. This is likely due to Covid restrictions, so make sure you are ready for a group case in the event PwC reintroduces them. If you want more help on preparing for a group case interview, read This Is What You Need to Know to Pass Your Group Case Interview .

As part of the recruitment process, you may be asked to prepare an individual presentation. This comes in the form of a written case presentation. Unlike other firms, PwC releases the information you’ll need to prepare your recommendation 48 hours in advance of the interview.

Using the information provided, you’ll have to prepare a PowerPoint presentation showing your analysis of the data, explaining any assumptions you’ve made, and detailing your client recommendations.

On the day of the interview, you’ll spend 15–30 minutes presenting your findings and then 15–30 minutes taking questions on them from the interviewing team.

Bain and BCG commonly request a written case, so this may feel familiar if you’ve interviewed for them. For more information on preparing for a written case interview, check out Written Case Interviews – Everything You Need To Know .

5 Tips for Preparing for PwC and Strategy& Interviews

Now you’re clear on the different elements that make up the PwC interviews, here are our top 5 tips for acing them:

1. Research

Make sure you do your research before your PwC or Strategy& interview. Understand what it is about the firm that appeals to you, what type of case work they’re involved in, and how else they get involved in the community.

It can sometimes be helpful to figure out what a company isn’t as much as what it is. So compare PwC to other firms and note the differences and why PwC still appeals. Learn their core values and what a typical day would involve as an analyst, or the specific role you’re applying for.

Ensure you also know as much as possible about the format for the interview. Are you expected to complete several tasks or just one? How much time will you have? Will you have a single interviewer or multiple? Company websites often describe the people they’re looking for to join their team — those will be the attributes you’ll be assessed against, so make sure you’re clear on what they are.

2. Prepare and Practice

Once you’ve done all your research, start your preparation. Use case interview examples to practice your casing skills. The linked page includes several PwC case examples as well as ones from other consulting firms. Make sure you feel confident in your case interview math skills too.

For your behavioral interview, make sure you’ve prepared answers to typical questions such as “Tell me about yourself” and “How would you manage a challenging team member?” Make sure your answers follow the ASTAR(E) framework and that you’ve tailored them to show off how you meet the PwC core values. You can practice answering these questions with a friend or coach until you feel confident in your responses.

3. Follow a Structure

Consulting firms are looking for structured thinkers who can solve a wide variety of business problems. Show your structured problem-solving skills by creating a framework that identifies the key issues you want to address in the case and use this framework to keep your progress in the case on track. Building your answers around a framework can help ensure you cover all the important points succinctly and confidently.

4. Explain Your Approach and Any Assumptions

Remember your math teacher always used to tell you to show your work? Well, it’s the same during consulting interviews. If you’re using data or solving math problems during your PwC case interview and you end up with an incorrect answer, it’s important to gain as much credit as possible.

Maybe you just made a small error in your calculation but your assumptions and approach were sound. The interviewer will never know that unless you walk them through the steps you take as you’re solving the case. Make sure you talk aloud as you’re putting together the pieces of the case and ensure you clearly state any assumptions you’ve made as you present your final recommendation. By making your assumptions clear, you‘ll allow your interviewer to guide you if you get off-track.

5. Communicate Confidently

In the PwC case interview, once you’ve decided on a recommendation, make sure you communicate your thoughts confidently. While interviewers are obviously interested in your analytical skills, business acumen, and logical approach, they also care about how you’re going to appear in front of clients. They need you to be able to effectively communicate your thoughts and respond appropriately to questions and feedback.

This is also true of the behavioral interview, where your interviewers also care about how you’ll fit within their team and what it’d be like to work long hours on a project with you. They’ll expect you to talk with passion about things you care about, offer thoughtful or interesting stories in response to questions, and seem friendly, competent, and approachable.

– – – – –

In this article, we’ve covered:

• The difference between PwC Consulting and Strategy&.
• The stages of the PwC recruiting process.
• What you need to know about the PwC case interview, behavioral interview, group interview, and individual presentation.
• 5 tips for success in PwC interviews.

Still have questions?

• Our Ultimate Guide to Case Interview Prep .
• PwC Psychometric Assessment .
• The Big 4: How Do They Fit Into the Consulting Industry
• Group Case Interview .
• Written Case Interview .

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PwC Case Interview Guide 2024: Criteria, Technique & Tips

PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) is one of the  Big Four Consulting Firms (along with KPMG, Deloitte, and EY). Every candidate who wishes to land the offer from PwC must go through an essential round called a “ case interview ” in the Assessment Center.

In this article, we’ll cover the complete overview of the PwC case interview and the tips and techniques to help you ace your case interview round. 

Overview of PwC case interview

The PwC case interview is a candidate-led interview used to assess candidates for technology and management consulting positions . Candidates are required to go through three to four 45-minute case study sessions, which simulate the actual work of consultants in the firm. 

The three common case types in the PwC case interview are individual case, group case, and written case.

A candidate must go through the case interview round in a full-day event consisting of two to three stages, known as “Assessment Center” in Europe/Middle East and “Super Day” in the US.

The PwC case interviews occur after the video interview

Candidates have to pass three rounds (Application -> Online test -> Video Interview) before getting into the case interview round .

If you successfully pass the case interview round, you will advance into the final round - partner interview. If you pass this final round, you will receive an offer from PwC within two weeks.

Application round: Submit your resume and cover letters via PwC online application platform. You need to craft your resume in consulting style and have an impressive cover letter .

PwC Online test : Take a series of online psychometric assessments, including situational judgment and numerical, verbal, and logical reasoning.

Video interview: includes fit/behavioral interview and workplace case studies. You will record yourself answering the given questions. PwC has an e-learn preparation for the video interviews . You can check it out!

Case interview: includes a series of case interviews (individual and group) to assess candidates’ traits and abilities as consultants.

Partner interview: candidates will go through an “informal” talk with the partner or senior manager of the local office they apply. This is similar to the fit interview at Bain and BCG .

PwC interviewers value leadership and business acumen

To ace the PwC case interview, candidates must demonstrate they have the five crucial qualities needed by PwC. “Whole leadership” and “Business acumen” are highly valued since these two are essential qualities for an aspiring consultant.

The five qualities, as stated in their “The PwC Professional” framework , are:

Whole leadership: Lead yourself and others to make a difference and create a positive impact in a responsible, authentic, resilient, inclusive, and passionate manner.

Business acumen: Bring business knowledge, innovation, and insight to create distinctive value for clients and PwC.

Technical and digital: Apply a range of technical, digital, and other professional capabilities to deliver quality and value.

Global and inclusive: Operate and collaborate effectively with a mindset that transcends boundaries and embraces diverse perspectives.

Relationships: Build relationships of high value that are genuine and meaningful.

Source: PwC Global

PwC case interview format is candidate-led 

PwC case interview is a candidate-led case interview , similar to the BCG case interview and Deloitte case interview . The interviewer will present the issue and require the applicant to lead and control every stage to solve the case: structure the problem, develop frameworks, request data, synthesize results, and provide solutions.

Candidate-led cases focus on one big problem

In candidate-led cases, you have to figure out how to solve a big case . This is opposed to interviewer-led cases , where the interviewer presents smaller questions about the case to the candidate.

You should take a top-down approach - break the problem into small parts of the issue tree and tackle each one at a time. 

Candidate-led cases are flexible

In a candidate-led interview, the candidate can choose their own suitable approach.

The interviewer usually forms a “universe” of data on the client and their problems for you to explore. If your issue trees and solutions seem to go beyond the given information (in a good direction), the interviewer can “make up” new information on the spot to help you solve the case in your way.

Candidate-led cases focus less on being right

In a candidate-led interview, you put less emphasis on giving a definite “correct” answer and focus more on creating a structured, reasonable approach .

An “acceptable” margin of error is allowed in the candidate-led interview since you must break down the problems by yourself without much assistance from the interviewer. 

To ace the candidate-led case interview, you need to understand the fundamentals of a candidate-led case . Our Case Interview End-to-End Secrets Program features countless instant-result tips and techniques for case interviews to help you maximize your performance!

After learning the tips and some sample cases, you will need exclusive feedback. Book a meeting with our coaches at MConsultingPrep now! Those ex-consultants will help you practice specific candidate-led case interviews, give you the most detailed and concrete feedback, and suggest the most suitable improvement methods. 

Three PwC case types

PwC case interviews usually include three types of interviews: individual case interview, group case interview, and written case interview.

PwC individual case interview

This is the standard type of PwC case interview. PwC has a similar candidate-led case interview style to BCG and Deloitte. Candidates will receive the case from the interviewer, which they need to define the issue and give solutions. There will be two or three cases for a 45-minute session.

PwC group case interview

The group case interview is popular in BCG, Bain and Big Four firms. A group case interview will usually go through five stages:

Stage 1: You will be assigned to a group of 3–6 applicants.

Stage 2: The group will be given a case and relevant information to solve.

Stage 3: You will be given 10 minutes to examine the case and prepare alone or in collaboration with another team member.

Stage 4: The group will discuss case questions for 20 minutes while the interviewers observe and take notes.

Stage 5: The interviewers will ask questions about the cases in the next 20 minutes.

PwC written case interview

The final type of case interview at PwC is the written case presentation .

At PwC, the case question and data are usually provided 48 hours before the presentation. Candidates must prepare PowerPoint slides and evidence to support their findings on presentation day.

Each candidate would have 15-30 minutes for presentation and another 15-30 minutes for Q&A with the interviewer. 

Fundamental framework to solve PwC case interview

To solve the PwC case interview, you need to develop an issue tree to break down your case. To create a suitable issue tree, you can use common frameworks for case interviews : Profitability framework, Business situation framework, McKinsey M&A framework, 4P/7P marketing mix, or Porter’s five forces model. 

To further enhance your case interview performance, you can also apply five effective tools (or mini-frameworks): External vs Internal, Quantitative vs Qualitative, Costs vs Benefits, 2x2 Matrix, and SWOT analysis. 

Five common frameworks for case interview

Profitability framework is mostly used to mathematically break down problems before switching to the qualitative framework for solutions. To use the profitability framework, candidates will split profits into revenues and costs.

Business situation framework is used to analyze a company situation in four areas - Company, Competitor, Customer, Products (3C-1P). This 3C-1P framework is flexible for many purposes, however it may be too generic and need customization depending on the situations. 

McKinsey M&A framework is used to assess a proposed merger and/or acquisition on three aspects: standalone values of each involved company, their synergy, and other factors. This framework is MECE and promotes customizations, and is one of the best M&A frameworks. 

4P/7P marketing mix in marketing for tangible work analyzes the 4P - Product, Price, Place and Promotion; while in service marketing three other Ps will be added in - People, Process, and Physical evidence. This framework focuses on the marketing aspect, hence unsuitable for multi-function strategies. 

Porter’s five forces model analyzes the industry surrounding a business in five aspects - Suppliers, Customers, Competitors, New entrants, and Substitutes. This framework is used to get an industry overview and understand the client’s context.

Five effective tools for case interview

External vs Internal method is quick and easy to segment information about a particular entity. The internal branch concern what is inside or intrinsic of the said entity, and the external branch concerns the outside factors. 

Qualitative vs Quantitative mini-framework is used for evaluations. Dividing items into two MECE groups reduces confusion and minimizes the risk of missing an essential item. 

Cost vs Benefit in the decision-making process is very straightforward - if the benefits of an option outweigh its costs, that option can be chosen.

2x2 Matrix is a decision-making tool where options are examined using two criteria, each of which forms an axis of the matrix. 

SWOT analysis mini-framework is seldom used in case interviews for being too generic. However, it can be used for a quick and easy evaluation of a company’s positioning within the industry context. 

To have a deeper understanding of the common framework used in the case interview, you can check our free article on Case Interview Framework .

How to prepare for PwC case interview?

To ensure the best performance possible in the PwC case interview, you can follow this 5-step preparation.

Step 1: Familiarize yourself with candidate-led case examples

PwC hasn’t provided any case examples on its official site. Still, you can start with candidate-led case interview examples from Bain to familiarize yourself with the format and how to interact with the interviewer.

Bain case sample: Coffee Shop Co.

Bain case sample: FashionCo.

Bain case sample: Associate Consultant Mock video

You can also get familiar with more case interview samples and all instantly-effective tricks for case interviews with our Case Interview E2E Secret Program . You can learn all the fundamentals and expose to a more detailed and in-depth analysis of case interview samples with suggestions.

Step 2: Practice consulting math

Interviewers intensely evaluate potential consultants' mental math because consultants have to deal with quantitative data daily. It might take too long for them to bring out a calculator whenever they need to calculate anything, and doing so during a negotiation appears unprofessional. 

Some people find consulting math challenging at first; however, a few techniques can help you ease into the process while still practicing effectively, such as:

Train your head: Do your daily calculations mentally unless an EXACT answer is required.

Start with small steps: At the start, a piece of scratch paper and a 5% margin of error help; once you are confident, discard the paper and narrow down the margin.

Establish a routine: Allocate some time for daily practice. This may be hard at first, but you can feel the improvement once you’ve overcome the inertia.

Step 3: Develop business intuition

Having business intuition sharpens your performance significantly in case interviews. Working on intuition is a gradual process that takes practice every day. You can improve your business intuition through two means:

Written material: It's a good idea to read business papers daily. You can also find excellent articles on the McKinsey , Bain , and BCG websites. Be careful, though, Because the important thing is not how many pages you read but what you learn from them.

Experience and observations: Don't just show up to work; try to figure out what the senior managers are doing, the reasoning behind each decision they made, and how it has affected the organization.

Step 4: Learn the fundamentals and frameworks

Practice the use of hypotheses and issue trees, the MECE principle, and the frameworks until you are comfortable using them– they are the backbone of candidate-led case interviews.

It might be tempting at first to go straight for the frameworks – if you make this common mistake, get ready for some very unpleasant surprises in the interview. Frameworks need a lot of customization to fit actual cases , and to customize effectively; you need fundamental knowledge.

Step 5: Perform mock interviews

Mock interviews are a great way to simulate the actual case interview session. Find a former consultant to help you practice; they have been through countless case interviews, both real and mock, and they know what’s required of a candidate, so they’re the best people to run your simulations with. 

MConsultingPrep can help you connect with ex-consultant coaches to receive more personalized feedback to improve what is lacking in your performance and enhance your chances of landing the offer. Book your mock case interview session with us right now!

Tips for the perfect PwC case interview

Nine tips for the perfect pwc individual case interview.

Tip #1: Understand the procedure of a candidate-led case interview

There is a five-step procedure to approach the PwC candidate-led case interview. 

Taking the case: You need to take notes on all information regarding the clients and the case situation. Keep your notes organized to refer back to them easier.

Clarifying: You will have time to gain more information and/or clarify the points you haven’t fully understood about the cases.

Structuring: You will need to break down the case business problem into smaller components to create the issue tree , allowing you to solve it in an effective and cohesive manner.

Hypothesizing: You must develop the hypothesis based on evidence and available data about the problems and find the root cause. If the initial hypothesis in a branch of the issue tree no longer makes sense, go to the next branch. If the hypothesis matches, stick to it to find the root causes and solutions.

Pitching: The pitch is your case interview's final product, where you summarize all findings and recommendations to solve the case. You need to deliver the pitch in a structured, top-down manner.

Tip #2: Have a perfect case opening

There are four reasons to make a good case opening while you deliver your case interview:

First, it shows you have complete control of the upcoming problem-solving process, which is critical in candidate-led cases.

Second, you can demonstrate your whole leadership and relationships with proactiveness - aligning yourself with PwC's five qualities mentioned above.

Third, a good case opening creates a great first impression. Consultants are expected to perfect everything from the beginning to the end, so this could make a good head start for a 30-minute interview.

Finally, this is an opportunity to align during the interview. After the interviewer has outlined the case details, explain the case to the interviewer in your own words to ensure you grasp the issue and align with the interviewer.

Watch more: How to open a case perfectly?

Tip #3: Map your next moves

Pause occasionally to summarize where you are and where you’re going next. It gives you a sense of direction and authority; additionally, you get plus points in the interview for an organized approach. 

This also gives your interviewer a chance to help you with your mistake. If your interviewer gives you advice, take it – assume it’s intended to be helpful.

Tip #4: Be consistent with your intended hypotheses

Always speak with the current hypothesis in mind, and that hypothesis must be in the issue tree. The sole purpose of the hypothesis-driven approach is to have your efforts and problem-solving steps guided and structured. 

Therefore, to avoid being overwhelmed by piles of data in your case interview, do a sanity check by returning to your issue tree - if what you're doing does not correspond to your present place on it, go back immediately!

Tip #5: Deliver your pitch in one structured manner

This is the most important tip to take because you need to show that you own the consultant qualities - being structured and straight to the point. Present your analyzes in one perfect, insightful, top-down, concise, and captivating final pitch.

Find a way to structure the problem; this will guide your discussion with the interviewer. Briefly explain the framework you plan to use, allowing the interviewer to comment. In general, the simpler the framework, the better. Once the interviewer endorses your framework, stick to it.

To structure your speech:

Begin with a summary line that states the key takeaway/intention.

Separate what you want to say into distinct sections. As much as possible, avoid jumping back and forth between items.

Number your items so you and your interviewer can keep track of them. It's even better to specify how many things you'll be discussing beforehand.

Make your recommendation based on the conclusions you reached from your discussion, even if you are unsure with so little data and time to discuss all the issues.

Tip #6: Make a personalized script

Make a script of what you're going to say and rehearse it a hundred times. Practice all of the formulaic phrases, such as the opening or data request. With enough practice, those lines will become second nature to you.

The secret to seeming professional in a case interview is to talk in a systematic and formal manner. Using scripts also saves brainpower, which you will undoubtedly want in case interviews.

Tip #7: Keep your notes organized

Neat note-taking greatly assists with your train of thought, making storing and organizing information easier. You're also demonstrating to the interviewer that you're well-organized and meticulous.

Divide your notes into three categories to make them easier to read and interpret: data, presentation, and scratch paper. When the interview begins, take three pieces of paper and name them appropriately. Here is the content that should be on each type of note:

Datasheet: note down and process any data the interviewer gives you, as well as your calculations.

Presentation sheets: draft things you’ll say to the interviewer.

Scratch paper: anything else you need to write out, such as brainstorming ideas.

Tip #8: Avoid long pauses

Take a minute to think; don't be afraid of the silence. If you really need silence to think, ask for a timeout or announce think-out-loud mode. However, taking it too long will backfire, especially if you can’t come up with something worthy of the long wait. Use the pause prudently, and always try to think as fast as possible while still being “correct”. 

Tip #9: Find and ask for more insights

Try your best to be in-depth and comprehensive with your analyzes. Always ask yourself, “Am I overlooking something?” and “Can I drill down further?”. 

This is also helpful when you are stuck in your analysis. You can try asking for insights from the interviewer (remember to state your purpose clearly) like this:

If you have a piece of data and don’t know what to make of it, ask for benchmarks to put the data into perspective.

If you are unsure which framework to employ, consider "segmentation" - look at how the customer or the industry often segments that item. If you need to know how they do it, ask the interviewer.

When you cannot see the problems in the case (probably resulting from the “MECE” of your issue tree), ask the interviewer nicely for a way out.

However, remember to manage your time well. If you take too long, the interviewer might force you to move on, and you will lose the time to solve the case holistically.

Four tips for the perfect PwC group case interview

You are being evaluated with many other candidates in group case interviews. So, how can you make yourself stand out? Here are six helpful recommendations to ace a group case interview.

Tip #1: Manage your ideas

Take your time processing the question and developing an orderly and structured response. If you allow yourself time to analyze, your answer will be more robust. Ask the interviewer for a few minutes to organize your thoughts, but avoid excessive silence when necessary.

Try not to intervene forcefully while others are speaking in group interviews. If you have a brilliant idea, write it down. That way, the flash of brightness won't fade from your memory.

Tip #2: Decide whether your role is a leader or team member.

This is the decision that needs to be made on the spot - other candidates are going for the “leadership role” of the discussion. If you want to lead, go right at it. However, you can still demonstrate desirable consultant qualities even as a team member.

If you decide to be the team leader, emphasize your facilitator role.

It’s a good idea to be proactive in proposing what topics to discuss, in what order they should be addressed, and how much time should be allocated to each issue. You can bring the group’s focus back together if the group gets off track.

By the end of the group discussion, make a point to compile people's different points. This puts you in a position to bring everyone together and ensure all candidates are on the same page.

If you decide to be a team member, speak to add value.

Candidates will take turns presenting answers to the interviewer. Before it’s your turn, listen carefully to other people’s answers and the interviewer’s feedback. This way, you can add valuable and helpful insights to the discussion. Remember, good points go to the quality of what you say, not the number of times you speak up.

Tip #3: Ask good questions

Asking outstanding questions will set you apart. It demonstrates that you are attentive and willing to learn more.

Great questions often target one or more objectives: explaining an unfamiliar term, clarifying the issue's purpose, or expanding the team's understanding of the setting or business.

Tip #4: View others as teammates

Seeing people as colleagues puts you in a collaborative attitude, which allows you to work successfully with others. You look to be both a helpful leader and a team player in this manner.

You can be the first to answer your interviewer's question to avoid seeming timid. You can encourage co-interviewees by emphasizing their excellent ideas, adding what you believe is lacking, and explaining your reasoning.

Three tips for the perfect PwC written case presentation

Tip #1: Skim and scan to gain an overview of the case quickly

Skim the data for a summary, then focus on supporting evidence. You need to remove irrelevant data by starting with a defined goal to find the data that answers questions or supports your findings.

You can practice speed-reading in daily activities. When reading newspapers, for example, ask yourself questions regarding the topics being covered, then explicitly hunt for solutions in the articles.

Tip #2: Timebox your activities during the presentation

To ensure adequate time management, allocate a precise time limit for each activity.

When that time limit is nearly over, quickly wrap up what you’ve been doing (e.g., skimming data) and move on to the next (structuring the problem).

In such a pressured interview setting, you easily make mistakes, so set aside some time for contingencies.

Tip #3: Present recommendations first

Tell them your solutions first, and explain later – it’s the results that count!

On a consultant's slide, the chart titles contain the most valuable insights, and their presentations and pitches start with the conclusion. You are an aspiring consultant, so act the same way during case interviews.

Scoring in the McKinsey PSG/Digital Assessment

The scoring mechanism in the McKinsey Digital Assessment

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PWC Case Interview: A Guide to Ace Your Interview

Are you preparing for a PWC case interview? Look no further! Our comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know to ace your interview and land your dream job at PWC.

Posted May 11, 2023

Table of Contents

If you're looking to kick-start your career at PWC, acing the case interview is a crucial step towards landing your dream job. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to nail the PWC case interview. From understanding the structure of the interview, preparing for the case analysis, demonstrating your problem-solving skills, and communicating your thought process effectively, we’ve got you covered. Let's dive in!

What is a PWC Case Interview?

A PWC case interview is the standard interview process for consulting positions at the firm. Unlike traditional interviews, case interviews simulate a real-world business problem that PWC may be facing. The goal is to assess your ability to analyze a problem, think critically, and develop a well-structured and pragmatic solution. As a result, the case interview is designed to gauge your problem-solving skills, business acumen, and communication ability.

During a PWC case interview, you will typically be presented with a business problem and given a limited amount of time to analyze the information provided, identify the key issues, and develop a solution. You will then be expected to present your findings and recommendations to the interviewer, who will ask follow-up questions to test your understanding of the problem and your ability to defend your proposed solution. It is important to remain calm and focused during the interview, and to communicate your thought process clearly and concisely.

Why PWC uses Case Interviews and what it entails

Case interviews are an accurate predictor of how a candidate would perform in the job they are applying for. It tests how one thinks on their feet, how analytical they are, and how strategic they can be. This is why many consulting firms prefer to use this type of interview process. At PWC, case interviews typically last for an hour or two and involve one or two interviewers. You'll be presented with a real-life business situation and asked to solve the problem.

One of the benefits of case interviews is that they allow candidates to showcase their problem-solving skills in a practical setting. This is particularly important for consulting firms like PWC, where clients rely on the expertise of consultants to solve complex business problems. By using case interviews, PWC can ensure that they are hiring candidates who have the skills and experience necessary to provide valuable insights to clients.

Another advantage of case interviews is that they provide candidates with an opportunity to learn more about the consulting industry and the types of challenges that consultants face on a daily basis. This can be particularly helpful for candidates who are new to the industry or who are considering a career change. By participating in a case interview, candidates can gain a better understanding of what it takes to succeed in consulting and whether it is the right career path for them.

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Tips for preparing for a PWC Case Interview

Preparation is key when it comes to acing a case interview. Here are a few tips to help you prepare:

• Research the company and the industry: Know the company and the industry trends. This will help you understand the case context better
• Practice with case studies: Practice with real-life case studies from books, websites, and other sources. This will help you develop your analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Mock interviews: Practice with friends, family, or other candidates. This will help you familiarize yourself with the interview process and receive feedback.
• Brush up on basic concepts: Brush up on fundamental business concepts such as finance, accounting, marketing, and strategy.

Understanding the structure of a PWC Case Interview

Before you can prepare for the PWC case interview, it's essential to understand the structure. This will help manage your time and develop a well-structured solution.

The interview typically follows this structure:

• Introduction: The interviewer will introduce themselves and explain the case scenario.
• Problem analysis: The interviewer will ask you questions related to the problem to assess your understanding.
• Case analysis: You'll be given time to analyze the case, and the interviewer will ask you to walk them through your approach.
• Solution development: You'll develop a solution based on your analysis, and the interviewer will ask follow-up questions to test your assumptions.
• Conclusion: The interviewer will conclude the interview and ask if you have any questions.

How to approach and analyze a case during the interview process

One of the essential skills tested in a case interview is your ability to analyze a business problem. Here are a few strategies to help you approach and analyze a case:

• Listen actively: Ensure that you understand the problem correctly by asking questions or restating key points.
• Structure your thoughts: Develop a framework to guide your analysis. This will help you to explore all relevant areas of the problem.
• Focus on key issues: Identify the significant issues and prioritize them based on their impact on the problem.
• Perform calculations: Use quantitative methods to solve the problem. This can be done through data analysis, financial calculations, or forecasting.
• Check your assumptions: Ensure your assumptions are reasonable and logically sound. Be prepared to defend your assumptions if challenged.

Best practices for communicating your thought process during the interview

During the case interview, how you communicate your thinking is just as important as what you say. Here are a few tips for communicating effectively:

• Be clear and concise: Communicate your thoughts in a clear and concise manner to ensure the interviewer understands your reasoning.
• Engage with the interviewer: Communicate with the interviewer throughout the case interview to ensure you're on the right track.
• Be confident: Confidence in your approach and reasoning is essential in communicating your thoughts effectively.
• Be flexible: Be open to feedback and adjust your thinking if necessary.

Common mistakes to avoid during a PWC Case Interview

Here are some common mistakes that candidates make during a case interview that you should avoid:

• Lack of structure: Structuring your thoughts is crucial during a case interview. It helps prevent you from missing critical details and ensures that you have a logical flow.
• Incorrect assumptions: Ensure that your assumptions are reasonable and based on the information provided in the case. Incorrect assumptions can lead to incorrect recommendations.
• Not enough analysis: Taking shortcuts can lead to missing critical details and flaws in your analysis. Ensure that you explore all significant issues and analyze them thoroughly.
• Not being data-driven: Use data and facts to support your analysis. It demonstrates that you're using a logical approach and improves the accuracy of your recommendation.

How to showcase your problem-solving skills during the interview

The PWC case interview is all about demonstrating your problem-solving skills and business acumen. Here are a few tips to showcase your problem-solving skills:

• Be logical: Demonstrate your logical thinking through how you guide the interviewer through your approach.
• Show creativity: Be creative in your approach and solution development when applicable. This showcases that you are not just giving a generic response.
• Show structure: A well-structured approach shows that you are thorough in your analysis and thought process.
• Provide actionable recommendations: Provide recommendations that the company can easily implement that will solve the issues discussed in the case.

Frequently asked questions during a PWC Case Interview

Here are some common questions that may come up during a case interview:

• What is the most significant issue facing the company?
• What would you do if you were in the client's shoes?
• What is the company's competitive landscape?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of the solution you are proposing?

Preparing for follow-up questions after the case analysis

After proposing your solution, the interviewer will likely ask follow-up questions to test your assumptions and understand your reasoning. Here are some tips to help you prepare:

• Be confident: Be confident in your solution, reasoning, and assumptions. If you're not confident, the interview can question your problem-solving abilities.
• Think critically: Think critically and analytically about your solution, highlighting potential flaws, and their potential impact.
• Be open to feedback: Be open to feedback and adjust your thinking if necessary. This demonstrates humility and flexibility in your approach.

How to demonstrate your passion and fit for the company culture

PWC is known for its unique culture, where diversity, community, and teamwork are highly valued. During the case interview, you can demonstrate your fit with the company's culture by:

• Demonstrating passion: Show passion for the job and the company by discussing how you align with the company's philosophy and mission statement.
• Be engaging: Engage with the interviewer and ask questions related to the company culture that demonstrates your interest in the company beyond the role.
• Showcase teamwork: Show teamwork by highlighting how you work well with others. This can be presented through past work or academic scenarios.

Tips for following up after the interview

After the interview, it's essential to follow up with a thank-you email and reiterating your interest in the position. This shows professionalism and a genuine interest in the job.

Success stories of individuals who aced their PWC Case Interviews

There are many success stories of candidates who aced the PWC case interview. These stories can inspire you and provide insight into their approaches and strategies. Here are a few:

In conclusion, acing the PWC case interview can be challenging, but with preparation, structure, and logic, you can boost your chances of success. It's essential to remember that the case interview is about demonstrating your problem-solving ability and suitability for the company culture. By focusing on these priorities, you'll give yourself the best chance of landing the job. Go get it!

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Hacking the Case Interview

PwC (including Strategy&) interviews consist of case interviews, written case interviews, group case interviews, and behavioral or fit interview questions. The office and group that you are interviewing for will determine which of these types of interview questions you will get.

If you have an upcoming interview with PwC or Strategy&, we have you covered. In this article, we’ll go through in detail:

• PwC and Strategy& interview processes
• The 6 steps to solve any PwC (Strategy&) case interview
• PwC (Strategy&) case interview examples
• The PwC (Strategy&) group case interview
• The PwC (Strategy&) written case interview
• PwC (Strategy&) behavioral or fit interview questions
• Recommended PwC (Strategy&) case interview resources

If you’re looking for a step-by-step shortcut to learn case interviews quickly, enroll in our 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.

PwC and Strategy& Interview Processes

Strategy& interview process.

If you are applying to Strategy&, the interview process typically consists of two rounds. Each round has two to three 45-minute interviews.

These interviews will be focused on case interviews and behavioral or fit interview questions. Roughly half of the time will be spent on the case interview. Your interviewers will try to save the last 5 to 10 minutes of each interview for your questions.

Here is what a Strategy& interview process could look like:

• Strategy& first round interview : Two 45-minute interviews. For both interviews, roughly 10 minutes will be spent on behavioral or fit questions, 30 minutes will be spent on the Strategy& case interview, and the last 5 minutes will be time for you to ask questions.
• Strategy& final round interview : Three 45-minute interviews. One interview will be more heavily focused on behavioral or fit interview questions. The other two interviews will be primarily focused on Strategy& case interviews.

It is important to know that Strategy& emphasizes behavioral and fit interview questions much more than the average consulting firm. You’ll spend a bit more time answering these questions than you would at firms such as Bain, BCG, Deloitte, or Accenture.

Interviewers want to ensure that candidates that are interviewing for Strategy& actually want to work there. They want to screen out candidates that are treating Strategy& as a backup firm to McKinsey, BCG, and Bain.

PwC Consulting Interview Process

If you are applying to Management Consulting,  Technology Consulting , or Risk Consulting, you may have an online assessment and up to three rounds of interviews.  

• PwC Assessment Test : online assessment used to evaluate cognitive skills and overall competency
• PwC first round interview : One 30-minute interview with a recruiter focused on behavioral or fit interview questions
• PwC second round interview : Two interviews focused on case interviews and behavioral or fit interview questions
• PwC third round interview : Three to five interviews focused on case interviews, behavioral or fit interview questions, a written case interview, and/or a group case interview

There is a lot of variability in the types of interviews you could get in your last round of interviews. Depending on the office and group, some candidates may get a written case interview or a group case interview. Others may just get normal case interviews.

The 6 Steps to Solve Any PwC (Strategy&) Case Interview

PwC and Strategy& case interviews are all candidate-led. This means that you will be expected to drive the direction of the case. You will suggest what areas to explore, what analyses to do, and what the next step should be.

On Strategy&’s case prep website , they state that there is no single correct way to answer a case. If you show your thought process and develop logical and reasonable conclusions, you will have successfully solved the case.

Follow these six steps to solve any case interview.

1. Understand the case

The case will begin with the interviewer giving you the case information. While the interviewer is speaking, make sure that you are taking meticulous notes on the most important pieces of information. Focus on understanding the context of the situation, the company, and the objective of the case.

2. Verify the objective

Understanding the business problem and objective of the case is the most important part of the case interview. Not addressing the right business question is the quickest way to fail a case interview.

Make sure that you ask clarifying questions to better understand the business situation and problem. Then, confirm that you understand the case objective with the interviewer. This ensures that you start the case on the right track.

3. Create a framework

Develop a framework to help you tackle the business problem. A framework is a tool that helps you structure and break down complex problems into smaller, more manageable components. With a framework, you’ll be brainstorming different ideas and organizing them into different categories.

Afterwards, walk the interviewer through your framework. They may ask a few questions or provide some feedback to you.

For a complete guide on how to create tailored and unique frameworks for each case, check out our article on case interview frameworks .

4. Develop a hypothesis

After creating a framework, you should develop a hypothesis. A hypothesis is an educated guess on the answer based on the data and information that you have so far.

Your hypothesis does not need to be correct. You’ll be continuously testing and refining your hypothesis throughout the case. The purpose of having a hypothesis is to guide your analysis and ensure that you are spending your time answering the right questions.

5. Test your hypothesis

The majority of the case will be spent testing your hypothesis.

After stating your hypothesis, it is up to you to lead the direction of the case. Depending on the context of the case, you may want to ask for data to do some analysis. You may also want to explore qualitative questions that you have. As you uncover more information, your hypothesis will likely have to change. 

Sometimes, your hypothesis will be completely wrong and you’ll need to develop a completely new hypothesis to test. Other times, your hypothesis may be on the right track, but you’ll need to refine or narrow it down further.

Throughout the rest of the case, you’ll be answering a mix of quantitative and qualitative questions. Make sure that after each question, you explain how your answer impacts your hypothesis or answer to the case.

6. Deliver a recommendation

In the last step of the case interview, you’ll present your recommendation and provide the major reasons that support it. You do not need to recap everything that you have done in the case, so focus on summarizing only the facts that are most important.

It is also good practice to include potential next steps that you would take if you had more time or data. These can be areas of your framework that you did not have time to explore yet or lingering questions that you do not have great answers for.

PwC (Strategy&) Case Interview Examples

We've compiled examples of PwC and Strategy& case interviews below that were given to candidates in the past.

Example #1 : How can Royal Caribbean cruises double revenue over the next five years?

Example #2 : Your client is a national packaging manufacturing company that makes cardboard boxes in various sizes. How can they improve profitability?

Example #3 : The top two concrete suppliers in South America are considering a merger. Should they merge? What considerations would you think through when making this decision?

Example #4 : A fast food chain based in Alabama is considering introducing fresh meat hamburgers into their menu. They previously have only served hamburgers made from frozen meat patties. What will be the impact of introducing fresh meat hamburgers?

Example #5 : A construction company is considering increasing their prices for road maintenance services. Should they increase prices? If so, by how much should they increase prices by?

Example #6 : A national insurance company is looking for opportunities to cut costs. What recommendations would you have for them?

Example #7 : A prestigious undergraduate university in the northeast is considering launching online learning classes that would be available for students that are not enrolled in their on-campus classes. What considerations would you think through in order to determine if this is a good idea?

Example #8 : A local airline is considering adding alcoholic beverages to their menu of in-flight food and drink. What will be the impact on profitability for this business decision?

For more practice, check out our article on 23 MBA consulting casebooks with 700+ free practice cases .

The PwC (Strategy&) Group Case Interview

For some offices, PwC (Strategy&) uses a group case interview in their final round of interviews. This special type of case interview focuses on assessing how well you can collaborate and work with other people. Teamwork is an essential skill to have.

Here’s what you should expect:

• You’ll be put into a group with 3 to 5 other candidates
• The interviewer will hand out the case background materials
• You’ll have 10 to 15 minutes to review the materials and prepare
• The group will have an open discussion for 15 to 20 minutes
• During this discussion, interviewers will be observing candidates and will not interfere
• Afterwards, the interviewer will ask the group specific questions for 15 to 20 minutes

Your goal in a group case interview is to add value to the group. There are six different ways that you can do this:

• Lead or facilitate the discussion : You can propose what topics to discuss, the order they should be discussed in, and how much time should be allocated towards each topic. If the group gets off track, you can bring the group’s focus back together.
• Expand upon other people’s ideas : If a group member suggests a great idea or raises a good point, build upon it and make it even better.
• Synthesize information : You can summarize information that other people have said and reconcile different viewpoints and ideas together.
• Keep track of time : You can volunteer to keep track of time and make sure that the group is on track.
• Play devil’s advocate : You can help your group develop strong ideas by testing the team’s thinking by considering potential risks or downsides of their ideas.
• Take notes:  You can keep track of what other people are saying so that you can recall what has been discussed if any group members have questions.

An important thing to remember about group case interviews is to treat your group members as teammates instead of competition. This is not an exercise in which you are competing with others.

Interviewers are trying to determine whether you would be a great teammate. Multiple people or even all people in your group can receive job offers. Therefore, focus on adding value to the group rather than on making yourself look better than your group members.

For a full guide on group case interviews, check out our consulting group case interview step-by-step guide .

The PwC (Strategy&) Written Case Interview

For some offices, PwC (Strategy&) uses a written case interview in their final round of interviews. This special type of case interview focuses on assessing how well you can analyze information and communicate your insights.

• PwC (Strategy&) will provide you with case background material
• You will have an hour to review the material and prepare 3 to 5 slides
• You will have 30 minutes to present and discuss your recommendation with the interviewer, who will challenge your assumptions and ask follow-up questions

To solve any written case interview, follow these eight steps.

1. Understand the business problem and objective

The first step in completing a written case interview is to understand what the objective is. What is the primary business question you are trying to answer with the data and information provided?

2. Read the list of major questions

Some written case interviews will provide you with a list of 3 – 4 key questions that you will be expected to address or answer. Read through these questions first since these will be the questions that you will want to prioritize.

If the written case interview is more open-ended and does not provide you with a list of key questions, skip this step and move onto the next step.  

3. Skim the materials

Next, flip through the information packet that is provided to see what information is available. Identify what data you have and what data you do not have.

The goal in this step is not to read and analyze every slide. That would take too much time. Instead, by seeing what information exists, you will be able to better prioritize what you spend your time reading and analyzing.

4. Create a framework

Before you begin reading and analyzing the information in the slides in more detail, you should create a basic framework to help guide your analysis. If you are provided with a list of key questions or pre-filled slide templates, then this will likely be the foundation of your framework.

Otherwise, based on what information exists in the information packet, identify the three to four key questions you need to answer or investigate.

5. Read and analyze the material 

Afterwards, read and analyze the information that is relevant to each area of your framework. As you begin answering questions and drawing insights, make sure to write a one or two sentence summary. This will make it easier to decide on a recommendation later.

6. Decide on a recommendation

Review the list of key takeaways that you have summarized from answering all of the major questions in your framework. Decide on what recommendation these findings collectively support.

Remember that there is typically no right or wrong recommendation. As long as your recommendation is supported by data and evidence, you will be in great shape.

7. Create your slides

Once you have a recommendation, it is time to start filling in your slides. You should use the following structure when creating your slides:

• Slide 1: Present your recommendation and the three reasons that support it
• Slide 2: Present your first reason and the data that supports it
• Slide 3: Present your second reason and the data that supports it
• Slide 4: Present your third reason and the data that supports it
• Slide 5: Summarize everything that you’ve covered so far
• Slide 6: Propose potential next steps

8. Prepare for potential questions

If you have any time remaining, brainstorm potential questions the interviewer may ask you during your presentation. They may want to know how you performed your analysis or how you reached your conclusions.

Preparing for these potential questions will help your presentation go much more smoothly. You will also feel much more confident while presenting.

For a full guide on written case interviews, check out our consulting written case interview step-by-step guide .

PwC (Strategy&) Behavioral or Fit Interview Questions

In addition to case interviews, you will likely be asked a few behavioral or fit interview questions. There are ten questions that are most commonly asked.

1. Why are you interested in working at PwC or Strategy&?

How to answer: Have at least three reasons why you’re interested in working at PwC or Strategy&. You could mention that you loved the people that you have met from the company so far. You can talk about PwC’s massive global presence and expertise in nearly any industry or function. You can speak to how PwC provides strategy and implementation, so you can see the impact of your work.

2. Why do you want to work in consulting?

How to answer: Again, have three reasons why you’re interested in consulting. You could mention the fast career growth opportunity, the opportunity to develop soft and hard skills, or the level of impact that you can make by working with large companies on their most challenging issues.

3. Walk me through your resume

How to answer: Provide a concise summary of your work experience, starting with the most recent. Focus on emphasizing your most impressive and unique accomplishments. At the end, tie your experiences to why you are interested in consulting.

4. What is your proudest achievement?

How to answer: Choose your most impressive, unique, or memorable accomplishment. Structure your answer by providing information on the situation, the task, the actions you took, and the results of your work.

5. What is something that you are proud of that is not on your resume?

How to answer: This is a great opportunity to highlight an accomplishment that is not related to your professional work experience. Perhaps there is a non-profit that you volunteer at, a side project or business that you work on, or a hobby that you have won awards or recognition for. Choose something that is impressive and interesting.

6. Tell me about a time when you led a team.

How to answer: If possible, choose a time when you directly managed a person or a team. For this question and the following questions, make sure that you structure your answer. Structure your answer by providing information on the situation, the task, the actions you took, and the results of your work. This is known as the STAR method and is commonly used to answer behavioral or fit interview questions.

7. Give an example of a time when you faced conflict or a disagreement.

How to answer: When answering this question, focus on emphasizing the steps you took to resolve the conflict or disagreement. Speak to the interpersonal skills you had to use in order to mediate the situation. Interviewers want to know that you are a great mediator and that you can handle conflict in a constructive way.

8. Tell me about a time when you had to persuade someone.

How to answer: Choose a time when you were able to change someone’s mind. Focus on emphasizing the steps that you took to persuade that person and what impact and results this had. Interviewers want to know that you are a great communicator and a good people person.

9. Describe a time when you failed.

How to answer: Choose a time when you failed to meet a deadline or did not meet expectations. Focus on emphasizing what you learned from the experience and how you used that experience to deliver even better results in the next opportunity that you got. Interviewers want to see that you don’t get discouraged from failure and that you treat those experiences as learning opportunities.

10. What questions do you have for me?

How to answer: This is a great opportunity to get to know the interviewer on a more personal level. Ask them questions about their experience in consulting or their career. Express genuine interest in what they have to share and ask follow-up questions. The more you can get the interviewer talking about themself, the more likely they will have a positive impression of you.

For a step-by-step guide on how to best answer all of these questions and more, check out our complete guide on consulting behavioral interview questions .

Recommended PwC (Strategy&) Case Interview Resources

Here are the resources we recommend to learn the most robust, effective case interview strategies in the least time-consuming way:

• 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.
• 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.
• Case Interview Coaching : Personalized, one-on-one coaching with former consulting interviewers
• 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
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Business case prep

Our interview process includes a total of three to four 45-minute interviews. Both sessions include a real-world case discussion that allows you to demonstrate your analytical skills. 

The business case is your opportunity to show us how you go about solving sophisticated business problems and how you structure your thoughts.

Here are some tips to help you do well in the business case interview:.

• Listen carefully; ask questions if there are any points you don’t understand.
• After the interviewer outlines the case parameters, summarize the case for the interviewer in your own words to confirm you understand the problem.
• Take a minute to think; don't be afraid of the silence.
• Find a way to structure the problem; this will guide your discussion with the interviewer. Briefly explain the framework you plan to use, giving the interviewer a chance to comment. In general, the simpler the framework, the better. Once the interviewer endorses your framework, stick to it.
• Start with the first element of your framework and work through the answer out loud so the interviewer can evaluate your analytical structure and help you along.
• Be aware of the time you have; move through your framework at a pace that allows you to touch on all the elements you described at the beginning.
• Pause every so often so your interviewer has a chance to course correct. If your interviewer gives you advice, take it – assume it’s intended to be helpful.
• Toward the end of the case discussion, be prepared to take a stand and make a recommendation. You might feel uncomfortable making a call with so little data and so little time to discuss all the issues. Remember that this is just an exercise. Make your recommendation based on the conclusions you were able to reach from your discussion.
• Be confident and – perhaps most important – relax and try to have some fun. You’ll feel more self-assured if you practice, practice, practice before the interview.
• You can get sample cases to practice on from the consulting club at your school. Don’t read the cases ahead of practicing – find a partner (ideally a second-year student who just completed a consulting internship) to test you. Don’t be embarrassed if you don't do well. No one performs well on all cases, especially in the beginning.

Remember, there is no single right way of answering a case. If you’ve shown your thought process and come to logical and reasonable conclusions, you will successfully " crack the case. "

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Interviews and assessment centres

Tips for how to answer pwc interview questions.

Jacky Barrett

30 Oct 2023, 09:59

Read on for an overview of the PwC interview process for its graduate roles and for approaches for answering some of the PwC interview questions you might encounter.

Jump to: Past PwC interview questions you could be asked

You may face up to three separate interviews before being offered a graduate role at PwC. The first is the pre-recorded PwC video interview. The second could be a video call with a member of staff during the virtual assessment day. Depending on the role, you may be invited to a third and final interview that takes place after the virtual assessment day – the firm, however, doesn’t state whether this is held in person or remotely.

At any one of your interviews, you can expect to be asked motivational questions that assess why you want to work for PwC, behavioural questions that determine how well you match the firm’s core values and competency-based questions that assess your skills against the skills that make up the ‘PwC Professional’ leadership framework. You can learn about the ‘PwC Professional’ framework in our overview of the PwC graduate recruitment process and also on the employer’s website.

GET THE CONTENT YOU’RE AFTER

Read graduate insights and more advice tailored to landing a job at PwC.

PwC interview questions you are likely to be asked for graduate roles

We can’t tell you exactly what questions you’ll be asked at your PwC interview, but we can talk about questions applicants have faced in the past and offer advice on good approaches to take.

Make sure to research the PwC Professional framework, the graduate role and the organisation’s core values to gain an understanding of the skills and behavioural traits that PwC is looking for. You could use your findings to come up with a list of questions that you might get in addition to the ones we’ve listed below. Practising in advance how you’d respond to each question will increase your chances of interview success.

Jump to a specific question:

• Describe a situation in which you’ve had to deal with a difficult person .
• Describe a problem that you have encountered in your studies or work experience and how you managed to overcome it .
• Why do you want to work in this role ?
• What are your major achievements to date ?
• What was the latest technology you learned, what inspired you to learn it and how has it been useful to you ?
• What do you anticipate that you’ll be doing in your first year at PwC ?
• Tell us about a time when you led a team .
• Tell us about a time when you’ve shown courage or done something out of the ordinary ?

PwC interview question 1: Describe a situation in which you’ve had to deal with a difficult person

Approach to take: Imagine, for example, that you were part of the team at PwC working on the case of a gaming retailer who recently went into administration. Hundreds, potentially thousands, of jobs could be lost and you’re attempting to sell at the best price while saving as many jobs as possible. On one side, you’ll have concerned employees, and on the other you’ll have hard-negotiating business people looking to keep the sale price as low as possible.

Bear scenarios like these in mind when selecting your example for this question – try to think of a similar situation where you’ve had to consider the interests of two conflicting groups. Explain the problem you faced and explain how you went about your actions. Don’t complain about the difficult person: you need to show that you were capable of managing the working relationship.

Key thing to remember: Think about the competencies you will be tested on. For example, this question could be an opportunity to demonstrate that you have courage and integrity. But don’t just cite these buzzwords – back them up with evidence.

PwC interview question 2: Describe a problem that you have encountered in your studies or work experience and how you manged to overcome it

Approach to take : A workplace or academic problem could be one of many things – a difficult group-project teammate, struggling to balance university and work commitments, difficulty understanding course material or having a lack of confidence in your part-time job, for example. With your answer, try to choose an example that resembles a situation you might encounter in the graduate role (you’ll need to have researched the role) and show PwC interviewers that you’re someone that focuses on solutions rather than problems by emphasising the measures you took to overcome and successfully resolve a problem rather than the problem itself.

Key thing to remember: There’s a behavioural and competency element to this question. PwC wants to see that you are a problem solver, but is also looking at the way that you approach tackling a problem and that you are resilient enough to see your solution through. Your example should demonstrate your ability to think methodically with an outcome in mind and to then act accordingly. The CAR method will help you to explain your example by giving the c ontext of the situation (in this case the problem), the a ctions you took as an individual and the r esults (that you resolved the problem).

• Find out what makes an employee a good problem solver and why resilience is important for dealing with setbacks.

PwC interview question 3: Why do you want to work in this role?

Approach to take : Ask yourself, what is it about the role that interests you and why do you want this position at PwC over another organisation? You’ll need to consider the different aspects of the graduate programme, such as the responsibilities, the type of clients that you’ll work with, how your role fits into the business area and the aims of the business area. Arm yourself with knowledge of client projects relevant to the department you’re applying to (which you can find in the case study directory on PwC’s website) so that you can give specific examples of the type of work that you are excited to get involved in at the firm.

Key thing to remember: PwC interviewers are looking for genuine enthusiasm for working for PwC in this role. They will judge this partly by the amount of research you've carried out into both the role and the organisation, and how you can link your personal career ambitions with what you'd be doing in the role and with the firm's values and work culture. They will also judge this partly by your demeanour and body language.

• Learn the art of answering ‘ Why do you want this position? ’

PwC interview question 4: What are your major achievements to date?

Approach to take: You won’t be able to include everything here – that’s why PwC is asking for ‘major’ achievements. This could be almost anything but don’t go back to your school days (unless you have a unique and outstanding achievement from then). It could be a successful campaign to become a student committee member, winning an essay prize or raising a significant sum for a charity, for example. Almost anything is valid, but don’t be vague. You can work outside the box a little on this one by using a more personal achievement, such as overcoming shyness, as your example. The important thing is that you can put your finger on how you achieved your goal.

Key thing to remember: It’s not enough just to reference a position – you may well have been president of the finance society at your university but, if you can’t give a specific example of a major achievement while in that post, it’s irrelevant. Bear in mind that PwC wants to see evidence of certain competencies, such as adapting quickly to change, so choose examples that show your flexibility.

• We’ve got more, in-depth advice on answering interview questions about achievements .

PwC interview question 5: What was the latest technology you learned, what inspired you to learn it and how has it been useful to you?

Approach to take : The fact that PwC asks how the latest technology you learned has been of use suggests that your inspiration for learning it should be tied to how the technology has been helpful to you. Think about what you were trying to achieve by learning this technology. How has it made your life easier? Did you perhaps learn it to help resolve a problem? For example, have you learned how to create a CV in Adobe InDesign to better your job application prospects? Or have you recently learned how to create spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel in order to record funds raised at university society events?

Key thing to remember: Don’t fret if the latest technology that you learned wasn’t something highly technical such as a computer programming language. The firm isn’t trying to gauge whether you are a technology whiz, but rather that you are technically and digitally oriented (an attribute outlined in the PwC professional framework), that you see the value in and importance of upskilling and learning new technologies and that you do so with specific intentions in mind.

• Discover top tips on how to build coding skills from industry professionals.

PwC interview question 6: What do you anticipate you will be doing in your first year at PwC?

Approach to take: The groundwork needs to be done first by researching the business area and role and you can do this by heading to the ‘Our business areas’ page of the PwC website. Some of you will be conducting research to help clients rearrange or sell parts of their business as they go into administration. Others will be preparing documentation and presentations on things like sector surveys. Other graduates will be interviewing members of staff for audits of companies. Many of these tasks will overlap, but each will be distinct to divisions and their sub-divisions.

Key thing to remember: Don’t jump the gun and state everything that you want to achieve in your career; you may well also be asked where you see yourself in five to ten years, but that’s not what this question is about. You need to stay focused on what you will be doing day to day in your team – PwC wants to know that you’ve made an informed choice and that you’ll be happy working for the organisation.

• Get more first-hand insight into working at PwC from accounting associate Shuyan Liu and technology consultant Kerry Beckett .

PwC interview question 7: Tell us about a time when you led a team

Approach to take: Focus on yourself –applicants often fall down on this question by saying what the team did, rather than what they did. Think about the kind of team you’ll be involved with at PwC – if you’re applying for a role in audit and assurance, you may well be the person in your team who takes responsibility for researching a particular topic. You’ll need to be able to relay your research to colleagues and will sometimes have to take the lead in determining how to apply that research. Is there anything from your background that matches this kind of scenario?

Key thing to remember: Know your CV inside and out!

• Discover how to develop your leadership potential .

PwC interview question 8: Tell us about a time when you’ve shown courage or done something out of the ordinary

Approach to take : Think of the cowardly lion from The Wizard of Oz . Courage is not necessarily about fighting off evil hordes in battle armour – it’s about facing something you don’t want to face.

You’ll find in your first years with PwC that you’ll frequently be put into new scenarios and, while this is exciting to some, it can be extremely daunting to others. If, for example, you’re given the task of working through the line items in the accounts of a relatively small firm, you’re likely to find you’re given a broader field of personal responsibility and this will change to some degree for every single company you help to audit.

Go back to times when you’ve been taken out of your comfort zone while at university – perhaps in doing a presentation on a topic you knew nothing about, or taking the lead on a project when you hadn’t been given that kind of responsibility before. You probably found you had the courage all along.

Key thing to remember : ‘Out of the ordinary’ does not have to be something completely bizarre. Think of this more as doing something out of the ordinary for you . When have you had to do something you wouldn’t ordinarily do, given the choice?

If you haven’t already, make sure to create your profile on targetjobs to follow PwC and receive the latest advice, events, vacancies and news from the employer.

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1. PwC - Application Form

2. pwc - immersive job preview assessment, 3. pwc - games-based psychometric assessments, 4. pwc - video interview, 5. pwc - assessment day, 6. pwc salary progression, frequently asked questions, pwc application process & interview questions (2024).

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While some elements of the PwC graduate application process may vary according to the role, there are five basic steps that all applicants can expect to follow.

• Online application form
• Online immersive job preview assessment (also known as a situational judgement test )
• Games-based psychometric assessment – A series of games designed to measure cognitive skills and behavioural preferences
• Video interview – Recording answers to a range of interview questions
• Assessment day – Simulating a real working day at PwC

Throughout the process, PwC looks for evidence that you have the skills and qualities to succeed within its organisation. So, before you start your application, make sure you understand the specific requirements and have a clear idea of how you can demonstrate these.

It is vital to do research before you begin your application. You will need to show you have a firm understanding of the business world in general, as well as being able to talk confidently about yourself, PwC and the role you’re applying for.

You'll want to look at information from:

• PwC’s website
• Relevant professional bodies
• The financial media (online, print and television)
• Any contacts you may have at PwC or similar organisations

PwC aims to complete the recruitment process, from the initial online application to the final assessment day, within six weeks.

The firm states that, for most undergraduate and graduate programmes, it recruits on a rolling basis, with roles filled on a first-come-first-served basis.

So it is definitely worth applying as early as you can.

The application form may seem straightforward, but it is your first chance to make a good impression and many fail to progress any further. So make sure you have prepared thoroughly.

Before you begin, gather all the details you'll need about your education and employment history , including work experience placements.

Remember that PwC can check your answers later in the process, so don’t be tempted to lie or prevaricate.

Read the instructions on the application form carefully and proofread everything you write, checking for spelling and grammar, as well as accuracy and fluency.

Questions might include giving five reasons why you are interested in working at PwC, or outlining what you think you will be doing during your first year in your chosen programme.

Your answers should be concise and to the point – you will have the chance to elaborate further at later stages.

Avoid vague statements and give specific examples .

Don’t regurgitate sentences and phrases from PwC’s brochures and marketing materials – they want to get a sense of your personality so answer in your own words.

Be aware that PwC will perform background checks and pre employment screenings for successful applications. This can also include criminal record checks.

Practice PwC Interview with JobTestPrep

If your application is accepted, your first assessment will be the online immersive job preview assessment , which PwC refers to as ‘Career Valuation’.

This type of test is also known as a situational judgement test . Employers use them as a convenient way to select the most suitable candidates from a large group of applicants.

PwC’s situational judgement test comprises around 15 questions presented in a series of short videos, which give scenarios of what it is like to work at PwC and within the role applied for.

The candidate is then prompted to answer questions based on what they saw. For each situation, a number of actions or responses will be suggested (generally four or five options) and you must choose the most and least effective .

It is important to remember that this stage of the process is designed to test your suitability more than your ability. If you do not get through to the next stage then you should not regard it as a failure on your part.

Instead, it suggests that the role you’ve applied for, and possibly a career at PwC in general, would not be the right fit for you in the long term.

Having said that, you can prepare for the assessment to some extent:

Research core competencies . The test will be seeking to pick up on certain qualities that it wants to see in candidates, so spend some time thinking about the key competencies required for the specific role or programme. Research on the PwC website should help with this. Keep these competencies in mind as you go through the test, bearing in mind that a question may address more than one competency at a time.

Be honest when giving your answer. The test is designed to show who you are as a person, how you would handle different workplace situations, and if PwC is a good fit for you. You won’t do yourself any favours in the long run by trying to adopt a persona or second-guessing what PwC would like you to say.

Take the test in a quiet room , free from distraction.

Take your time . Study the detail of each scenario, and read the question and possible responses carefully, before giving your answer.

Only use the information provided . Do not make assumptions or draw conclusions based on similar situations you may have come across in the past.

For more tips, head over to our article on situational judgement tests .

Prepare for PWC Assessment

The immersive job preview assessment is graded automatically. If you make it through this stage, you will be sent an invitation to move on to the games-based psychometric assessment stage – or ‘ Career Unlocked ’ – which is also completed online.

You do not need to do this immediately, so don’t rush into it unprepared. Check the deadline and come back to it when you are ready.

The games are designed to look at:

• Cognitive skills
• Natural behavioural preferences (how you overcome challenges or obstacles, how you approach goals, etc.)
• Numerical aptitude
• Reasoning ability
• Decision-making skills

The assessment consists of 11 games with numerical calculations and logical reasoning at the end.

Games include memory tests, assessing facial expressions and even one where you have to tap a button to inflate party balloons until they pop (this one judges calculated risk-taking).

Games-based tools are being used more and more in the graduate recruitment process, as a way to assess various competencies and personality traits.

However, it may still feel like an alien concept for anyone who has not previously encountered games like this during a job application . Don’t panic – the games are designed to be very simple to play, even for non-gamers.

The following tips should help you perform your best:

You will need at least an hour to complete the games.

Play the games on a phone or tablet . If yours is old or sluggish, try to borrow a newer, more powerful one as many of the games rely on reaction time. It is not recommended to play on a PC or laptop.

Make sure you are not disturbed . Find somewhere quiet and free from distraction to play. Switch your phone to 'Do Not Disturb'.

Read the instructions carefully . Before each game, you will be told how to play and what the goal is. Bear in mind that the time you take to play impacts your final score, so you are aiming for speed as well as accuracy.

Remember there is a job at stake . Playing a computer game may seem more enjoyable than taking a test but you should take it just as seriously. Stay focused.

Be yourself . PwC uses these games to find out more about your personality and abilities. They want to see how you would deal with different situations and whether you have the qualities sought. If you try to second-guess what each game is assessing, you will slow yourself down. Respond to each game honestly.

Likewise, don’t let anyone else play in your place . Aside from the fact that it’s cheating, these games are designed to assess how you will fit with the company. Asking someone else to stand in will not do you any favours.

Treat every game as a new experience . You may have come across similar games in other recruitment processes, or just through playing for pleasure, but the PwC games are assessing traits that are particularly important to the company culture. Approach them as a totally new experience, rather than trying to draw on past experiences that may not be relevant.

Inform PwC if you have a disability . If you think this might affect your performance, it can be accounted for or accommodated in the assessment.

Try out a practice game . Arctic Shores, the company that makes Career Unlocked, provides a free practice game called Firefly Freedom on its website. This is not the same as the games in the assessment, but will give you an idea of the style.

Read our Career Unlocked article for more information and tips on playing the games.

If you score particularly highly in the games-based assessment, you may immediately pass on to the next stage of the application process.

Otherwise, you will receive an automated response letting you know that you will be sent your result after the final deadline for completing the assessment.

If you need to prepare for a number of different employment tests and want to outsmart the competition, choose a Premium Membership from JobTestPrep . You will get access to three PrepPacks of your choice, from a database that covers all the major test providers and employers and tailored profession packs.

Get a Premium Package Now

Once you have successfully completed the first three stages of the application, you will pass on to the ‘ Career Conversation ’ stage.

You will receive an email invitation to PwC’s video interview portal, where you record your response to a range of questions and case studies.

This replaces the first interview stage in the old application process, which previously took place in person or on the phone, and was conducted by a PwC Manager or Senior Manager.

You should have a few days to complete the video interview (make sure you check the deadline), so take some time to prepare and ensure that you have a suitable setup.

Here are a few tips:

If you do not feel comfortable speaking into a camera then record yourself answering some practise questions, and watch the videos back to see where you could improve. Think about your body language and how you are engaging with the camera.

Find somewhere suitable to complete the interview. This should be a quiet, comfortable space where you won’t be disturbed while you record your responses.

Check what will be visible behind or around you in the video. Make sure the area is clean and tidy ; remove anything that may strike the wrong note or raise eyebrows.

Dress smartly . Treat the interview as though you were meeting a PwC manager in person and dress accordingly. If in doubt, look at images on the company’s website to get an idea of suitable attire.

For more hints and tips, read our article on preparing for a video interview .

The interview will consist of 10 questions. These will include some typical interview topics – such as why you want the role and what qualities you will bring to it – as well as situational judgement questions and a case study .

You will have two minutes to prepare and three minutes to answer, for all except the case study question. For this, you will have 10 minutes to prepare and five minutes to answer.

Want to be sure of success in your next interview? Click here to learn more about InterviewGold, the easy online interview training system. You get real questions, winning answers and expert advice.

Prepare for PWC Interview

The Global Leadership Framework

The video interview gives you an opportunity to explain why you are interested in a career with the company.

While preparing, think about the qualities and skills that PwC is looking for in successful candidates. PwC has identified the core attributes that make up its global leadership framework (The PwC Professional) as:

• Whole leadership – Being able to lead in a way that makes a difference and delivers results.
• Business acumen – Business knowledge and awareness.
• Technical capabilities – The ability and knowledge to perform specific tasks.
• Global acumen – Understanding how a business operates on an international level.
• Relationships – The ability to build genuine relationships based on trust.

Wherever possible, try to incorporate evidence of these attributes into your answers.

PwC is searching for candidates who truly understand the business, so it's worth mentioning what differentiates PwC from its competitors. For instance, you may touch on the training PwC offers, its turnover and/or its range of clients, again providing evidence to back up your statements.

Sample Questions

Questions may include some of the following, or variations on these themes:

• What do you consider to be your strengths?
• What are your development areas?
• How do you structure your time at university, ensuring you balance your personal life?
• Tell me about a difficult experience at work or university, and how you dealt with it.
• What made you decide to join this Professional Service?
• What do you know about our business?
• Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
• What are your major achievements to date?
• Describe how you see the role of a graduate at PwC.
• What is the biggest mistake you have made? What did you learn from this mistake?
• Tell me about a time when you have worked in a team. What was your role?
• How does PwC add value to its clients?
• Tell me what you know about the qualification which you will be studying.
• Explain when you have been in a situation working towards a deadline and the parameters changed.
• Can you discuss any recent developments that have strongly affected PwC and the accounting industry?
• What can you tell me about the line of work to which you have applied?
• What do you think you will be doing in your first year at PwC?

The final stage of the PwC application process is the assessment day , also known as ‘ Career Focus ’.

Sometimes referred to as a PwC assessment center, the day is set up as an immersive ‘day in the life’ experience. It is designed to mirror how a typical working day may play out if you were offered the job, and brings together everything you have learned about life at PwC in the previous stages of the process.

You will be given a laptop and will be required to work in groups and individually on a variety of tasks and case studies, while PwC assessors look on.

The day will end with a coaching interview where you will be asked to reflect on how the day went. This will last around 20 minutes.

Dress for the day as you would for an interview or a day in the office – smartly and conservatively.

The day will bring together candidates applying for a range of roles, so you will not necessarily be in direct competition with others in your group.

However, it goes without saying that this is a highly competitive event, and your last chance to demonstrate that you have what it takes to succeed in a career at PwC. The success rate for candidates at the PwC assessment center is about 10%, so it's important to be prepared.

As the activities you will take part in simulate real-life scenarios that you might come across in your role at PwC, it is vital to have a thorough understanding of the business, its clients and the market it is operating in.

So, set aside some time ahead of your assessment day to do some detailed research into the company:

Read up on the company through its own website and other resources, such as finance media. Have a firm grasp of the PwC working culture .

Download PwC’s latest annual report and make notes on the key points. Finding ways to reference and apply your findings during the course of the day will mark you out as someone with sound business acumen and a keen eye for detail.

At the very least, make sure that you have figures in your head for PwC’s turnover, how much of that is profit and how much debt the company carries.

Have an understanding of the company’s key challenges in the current marketplace and its aims for the next five years .

Some tasks begin with each person being given a brief – in a group exercise you may all receive the same brief or the brief may be different for each candidate.

Most commonly, the briefs describe a made-up company that is in the process of a financial update or move.

You will be given time to read through the documents provided and make notes. There may be calculations to be made and you will be given a calculator.

Once you have read through the material, you will discuss your findings with the group and make recommendations for the company and its future.

Other activities may involve being asked to analyse the contents of a brief and report it to the assessors, either via a presentation or in a written report :

If you give a presentation, this will be followed by around 10 minutes of questioning. The assessors will want to see that you can communicate clearly, fluently and confidently. They will be looking for evidence that you are adaptable, open-minded and practical when responding to questions.

With a written report, you will need to set out your conclusions clearly and concisely, showing your key findings along with your recommendations for the future.

You may also be asked to complete an in-tray exercise to assess your time-management skills and ability to prioritise, along with your written communication skills.

This task involves sorting through a number of emails and answering questions about the information they contain. You will then need to write an email to a fictional co-worker explaining what you have done, and any tasks that they now need to take care of.

Throughout every task, keep a close eye on the time – it’s a good idea to wear a watch. And check your spelling, grammar and fluency of language for any written tasks.

For group tasks, you will be assessed as much for your ability to work effectively as a team as for your own personal contribution.

Don’t become so caught up in your own performance that you lose sight of how you are interacting with others:

• Speak up but don’t dominate discussions . Make sure everybody has a chance to speak.
• Speak clearly and confidently when contributing ideas and thoughts.
• Make eye contact .
• Listen to what others have to say . Don’t interrupt, but expand on their points where relevant.
• Be diplomatic .
• Don’t veer off track or become bogged down in trivial matters.
• Pause from time to time to summarise the group’s progress so far.

Once you have completed the PwC assessment center, you will undoubtedly be keen to know how long it takes to hear back from PwC. Expect to wait at least two weeks for PwC to confirm successful results with a job offer or send rejection emails.

Salary progression and bands vary depending on particular PwC roles.

However, an analyst can expect to earn around £28,000 a year, while senior associates may earn around £40,000 to £46,000 a year and managers may earn around £60,000 to £80,000 a year.

Expect an annual increase in pay relevant to the level of the respective role.

What are the benefits of working at PwC?

PwC is one of the Big Four accounting firms, and as such, is a career destination for interns, graduates and experienced professionals.

There are other benefits to working at PwC other than just the name, however.

First, the competitive salary is combined with specific core benefits and a discretionary bonus scheme, known at PwC as the Personal Financial Reward.

Alongside this, employees at PwC have many learning opportunities, from leadership training to obtaining professional qualifications, all with flexible working options and the ability to choose when (and where) you work within a planned framework.

As to be expected from a financial firm, the financial benefits include mortgage advice, access to high street shopping discounts and ensuring the financial wellbeing of employees and their families.

With the family side of things, PwC also offers childcare vouchers and enhanced parental leave.

For employees, the chance to build and grow through PwC is often more than enough – working alongside some of the brightest minds in the financial industry to develop and grow. PwC offers employees the opportunity to be empowered so that they can make a difference and feel truly valued.

What is the hiring process at PwC?

The hiring process at PwC is a multi-stage process, which you would expect for roles that are as highly sought after as they are in a Big Four financial business.

The first stage is the online application form , where you will list your education, experience and contact details. You will need to use to answer some questions.

Next is the stage known at PwC as Career Valuation . This is a situational judgment test that offers video-based scenarios that you might face on the job.

If you are successful, you will be invited to complete the Career Unlocked games-based psychometric tests. These are completed online, assessing candidates based on their personality, work behavior, cognitive skills, reasoning, numerical aptitude and decision-making through a series of games.

Following this, candidates might be invited to complete a Career Conversation , which is a video interview where you will need to record your responses to different motivational questions and complete a case study and make the right recommendations.

The final stage in most cases is the Career Focus assessment day, where you will have an immersive opportunity to experience life as a PwC employee.

The stages in the process do depend on the role that is applied for, but it is a good idea to be prepared for them all just in case.

How should I prepare for an interview at PwC?

Preparation is key for the interview at PwC , and one of the main things that you need to do to be prepared is some research.

Find out all you can about the job role and responsibilities, look for all the information you can about PwC and the business, including how it fits into the wider financial industry.

In the lead-up to the interview, think of ways that your experience can be used to demonstrate how you match the requirements of the role. These experiences will help you answer questions where you need to give specific examples of using those skills or competencies.

Whether you are going to be having a video interview or a face-to-face interview, the basic preparation is the same – ensure that you are well-rested, eat a good meal and stay hydrated.

Dress smartly and make sure you look presentable, make eye contact (either with the people interviewing you or with the camera lens) and answer succinctly without waffling.

For the video interview, make sure that all your technology is working as it should be before you get started, and for a face-to-face interview be sure to turn up early.

What are the best websites to get prepared for the PwC interview?

As you are expected to have a good working knowledge of PwC and the wider financial industry throughout the application process and especially in the interview, one of the best websites to use is the PwC public site.

All the financial reports and all the information about the services that PwC provides are here, alongside new reports so you can get your research done.

If you are looking for the very best website to get prepared for your PwC interview, then the first place you should be looking is the PwC Employability Hub .

There is a lot of information here that will help you through all the stages of the application process which is perfect for those looking for a new role.

Aside from this article, you will find a lot of detail about what to expect when you apply to PwC in various Wikijob articles, including the PwC working culture , information about PwC internships , and a deeper dive into the Career Unlocked games-based assessments.

How difficult are consulting case interviews at PwC?

Consulting case interviews are designed to be challenging so the recruitment team and managers can be sure that applicants have the knowledge, skills and experience that is needed to work in a consultant position at PwC.

You can expect your consulting case study to be complicated, and there might not be an obvious solution – but make sure that you keep to a structure and talk through the options with the interview team so that they can see your process.

Isolate the issues, talk them through and think about how you would be measuring success. Try and give a recommendation where you can.

The consulting case interview might be something that you complete on your own, or as part of a team. Be prepared to work with others to try and find a useful recommendation.

What are the topics for a PwC interview?

The PwC interview , whether video or in person, is based on several different topics and types of questions.

Some of the questions will be motivational, around why you have applied to work a PwC and why you have chosen that specific role or program. These are looking to discuss your plans as well as what has encouraged you to apply.

Other questions will be asking for examples from your experience that demonstrate your competencies – things that are specific to the role and the wider company culture at PwC.

You might be asked to describe a time when you worked as part of a team or when you have been a leader. You will be expected to give a succinct answer that showcases your skills.

In the interview , you will also be asked to consult on a case study, based on a realistic scenario involving a fictional customer of PwC. You will need to work through the information and data to make a recommendation, discussing your results as you do it.

What are some topics of group discussion for a PwC interview?

On the PwC assessment day , you could be given several different exercises to work through as a group. Some of the topics for group discussion are based on fictional customer case studies, where you will be expected to work as if you are part of a team of consultants already employed at PwC.

For this, you will all be given a brief, with some information that is the same as everyone else, and other information that is given individually.

For the first part of the exercise, you will have some time to work individually and get all the data you can from your notes, and then in the second part, you will need to share all the information and discuss as part of a team to decide on what to recommend.

How long does the PwC application process take?

PwC wants to make the application process quick and straightforward, so the company aims to get an applicant through the whole process in about six weeks from the initial application to the final assessment day.

Applications for internships and graduate programs are taken on a rolling basis so it is a good idea to get your application form in as soon as you can.

When should I expect feedback after the PwC interview?

When you apply for a role at PwC, you can expect the application process to be relatively quick, which is surprising for a Big Four firm.

The recruitment team aims to get candidates through the process within six weeks from the initial application to the final assessment day.

Once you have completed the final assessment day, it can take up to two weeks to receive an offer (or rejection), depending on the workload of the HR and recruitment teams at the office you have applied for.

You might also be interested in these other Wikijob articles:

Or explore the Interview Advice / Company Interview Questions sections.

47 case interview examples (from McKinsey, BCG, Bain, etc.)

One of the best ways to prepare for   case interviews  at firms like McKinsey, BCG, or Bain, is by studying case interview examples. 

There are a lot of free sample cases out there, but it's really hard to know where to start. So in this article, we have listed all the best free case examples available, in one place.

The below list of resources includes interactive case interview samples provided by consulting firms, video case interview demonstrations, case books, and materials developed by the team here at IGotAnOffer. Let's continue to the list.

• McKinsey examples
• BCG examples
• Bain examples
• Deloitte examples
• Other firms' examples
• Case books from consulting clubs
• Case interview preparation

Click here to practise 1-on-1 with MBB ex-interviewers

1. mckinsey case interview examples.

• Beautify case interview (McKinsey website)
• Diconsa case interview (McKinsey website)
• Electro-light case interview (McKinsey website)
• GlobaPharm case interview (McKinsey website)
• National Education case interview (McKinsey website)
• Talbot Trucks case interview (McKinsey website)
• Shops Corporation case interview (McKinsey website)
• Conservation Forever case interview (McKinsey website)
• McKinsey case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)
• McKinsey live case interview extract (by IGotAnOffer) - See below

2. BCG case interview examples

• Foods Inc and GenCo case samples  (BCG website)
• Chateau Boomerang written case interview  (BCG website)
• BCG case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)
• Written cases guide (by IGotAnOffer)
• BCG live case interview with notes (by IGotAnOffer)
• BCG mock case interview with ex-BCG associate director - Public sector case (by IGotAnOffer)
• BCG mock case interview: Revenue problem case (by IGotAnOffer) - See below

3. Bain case interview examples

• CoffeeCo practice case (Bain website)
• FashionCo practice case (Bain website)
• Associate Consultant mock interview video (Bain website)
• Consultant mock interview video (Bain website)
• Written case interview tips (Bain website)
• Bain case interview guide   (by IGotAnOffer)
• Digital transformation case with ex-Bain consultant
• Bain case mock interview with ex-Bain manager (below)

4. Deloitte case interview examples

• Engagement Strategy practice case (Deloitte website)
• Recreation Unlimited practice case (Deloitte website)
• Strategic Vision practice case (Deloitte website)
• Retail Strategy practice case  (Deloitte website)
• Finance Strategy practice case  (Deloitte website)
• Talent Management practice case (Deloitte website)
• Enterprise Resource Management practice case (Deloitte website)
• Footloose written case  (by Deloitte)
• Deloitte case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

5. Accenture case interview examples

• Case interview workbook (by Accenture)
• Accenture case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

6. OC&C case interview examples

• Leisure Club case example (by OC&C)
• Imported Spirits case example (by OC&C)

7. Oliver Wyman case interview examples

• Wumbleworld case sample (Oliver Wyman website)
• Aqualine case sample (Oliver Wyman website)
• Oliver Wyman case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

8. A.T. Kearney case interview examples

• Promotion planning case question (A.T. Kearney website)
• Consulting case book and examples (by A.T. Kearney)
• AT Kearney case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

9. Strategy& / PWC case interview examples

• Presentation overview with sample questions (by Strategy& / PWC)
• Strategy& / PWC case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

10. L.E.K. Consulting case interview examples

• Case interview example video walkthrough   (L.E.K. website)
• Market sizing case example video walkthrough  (L.E.K. website)

11. Roland Berger case interview examples

• Transit oriented development case webinar part 1  (Roland Berger website)
• Transit oriented development case webinar part 2   (Roland Berger website)
• 3D printed hip implants case webinar part 1   (Roland Berger website)
• 3D printed hip implants case webinar part 2   (Roland Berger website)
• Roland Berger case interview guide   (by IGotAnOffer)

12. Capital One case interview examples

• Case interview example video walkthrough  (Capital One website)
• Capital One case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

13. Consulting clubs case interview examples

• Berkeley case book (2006)
• Columbia case book (2006)
• Darden case book (2012)
• Darden case book (2018)
• Duke case book (2010)
• Duke case book (2014)
• ESADE case book (2011)
• Goizueta case book (2006)
• Illinois case book (2015)
• LBS case book (2006)
• MIT case book (2001)
• Notre Dame case book (2017)
• Ross case book (2010)
• Wharton case book (2010)

Practice with experts

Using case interview examples is a key part of your interview preparation, but it isn’t enough.

At some point you’ll want to practise with friends or family who can give some useful feedback. However, if you really want the best possible preparation for your case interview, you'll also want to work with ex-consultants who have experience running interviews at McKinsey, Bain, BCG, etc.

If you know anyone who fits that description, fantastic! But for most of us, it's tough to find the right connections to make this happen. And it might also be difficult to practice multiple hours with that person unless you know them really well.

Here's the good news. We've already made the connections for you. We’ve created a coaching service where you can do mock case interviews 1-on-1 with ex-interviewers from MBB firms . Start scheduling sessions today!

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Assessments - what to expect

We use various methods to assess candidates during our recruitment process.

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Often assessment tools are used in addition to reviewing candidates' CVs and application forms followed by formal interviewing.

Tools, such as ability tests, offer us objective information about candidates' abilities. Each candidate who applies for a role will offer a unique set of skills, experience and characteristics. If we identify key abilities required for a role we can introduce different tools into the process to measure these abilities. All candidates for the role can then be compared in terms of the level of skill they demonstrate in the assessment.

Our assessment tools

Ability tests, case studies or in-tray exercises, personality questionnaires, online assessment, assessment in person, prepare for taking tests.

Ability tests are usually presented in a multiple-choice question and answer format for completion either online or in person at one of our offices. All questions have a single correct response and alternative incorrect responses. Your achievement is measured on the basis of the number of correct answers you can provide in the time allowed. The best strategy for tests of this nature is to work as quickly and accurately as you can, but not so quickly that you make careless mistakes. If you are not sure of an answer, mark your best choice but avoid wild guessing. 

• Candidates applying for roles which require numerical reasoning skills, i.e. the ability to extract and understand numerical information provided in a range of formats (e.g. graphs or tables), may be asked to undertake a numerical reasoning exercise.
• Candidates applying for roles which require an ability to understand written information in reports or briefs may be required to undertake a verbal reasoning exercise. These exercises typically consider a candidate's ability to extract relevant information from written text.

These tools can take a variety of forms, including case studies or in-tray exercises. 

• Candidates applying to a role where industry knowledge is essential, and consultation may be required, may be given a case study exercise. The content of the case study is directly relevant to the role for which candidates are applying. In these cases, candidates are required to use their existing knowledge and experience to identify key information from the brief. This information may then need to be reported on orally or in writing in the form of actions recommended for the client concerned. 
• Candidates applying for roles which require planning, organising and coordination may be asked to undertake an in-tray exercise. In an in-tray exercise the candidate is presented with a number of pieces of information which they are asked to sort, prioritise and take action on.

Personality questionnaires measure a candidate's preferences for certain types of behaviour. Candidates are asked to describe themselves - their preferences in communicating and interacting with others and their typical working style - by rating the extent to which a number of statements apply to themselves. The output is a report which describes the candidate's likely working style, interpersonal approach and preferences overall. Personality questionnaires are not used to sift candidates out of the recruitment process. Rather, they add to the richness of the information gathered in other parts of the assessment process which recruiters can use when considering a candidate's suitability for a particular role overall. There are no right or wrong answers in a personality questionnaire. The best response to offer is an honest one.

If you are asked to complete any assessment exercises as part of your application to PwC, you will be advised in advance of the particular tools that will be used.

• Visit the British Psychological Society testing centre online 

Ability tests as well as personality questionnaires can be administered online. If you are asked to undertake an online assessment, you will need access to the internet. Make the necessary preparations to ensure that you are not interrupted (e.g. turn off your phone and let people know that you should not be disturbed). Allow yourself more time than required for the actual test/assessment so that you can go through the instructions, and any example questions, at a relaxed pace. You can get first hand experience of taking online ability tests by doing an online practice test. You can visit www.shldirect.com and try one now.

Notes about SHL's practice tests

SHL is a company that specialises in producing psychometric tests. On the SHL Direct site you’ll find some examples of verbal and numerical reasoning test questions, similar to those you would find on real tests.

If you choose to complete the timed practice tests, you’ll be asked to register your details on this site. This is to help SHL develop a better understanding of who completes their practice tests and they will use this information to ensure the feedback you receive is relevant to you specifically. You won't have to wait for a login to be sent to you and you will be able to proceed directly to the test itself.

The actual test will be timed, so bear this in mind during your practice runs. The best approach is to work both quickly and accurately, so keep calm and think about your answers.

If you’re invited to attend an assessment session, this will most often take place in one of our offices. You may be assessed on your own or with a group of candidates. If you are part of a group, please be considerate of any other candidates you meet, including respecting their privacy and confidentiality. If you are asked to take one or more psychometric tests at one of our offices, the testing session will be managed by a certified Test Administrator.

More about what happens at a test session

Ability tests are standardised to make sure all candidates' assessment experiences are consistent.

Following a brief introduction by your Test Administrator, the formal test will begin. The instructions for doing the test will be read to you. This may seem a little formal but we do it for good reason: we want to makes sure that each person taking the test is given all the relevant information, accurately and completely.

During each test's introduction, you will be given some example questions. These are provided to help you understand what you have to do before you start the test itself. You will also be offered an opportunity to ask questions before you start the test. If you have any questions in advance you might find answers to them on the frequently asked questions page.

Once your test session has been completed your scores will be considered, along with the other information gathered during the recruitment process, and a recruitment decision will be made. At that point you will receive a written report (usually by email) which provides you with a meaningful interpretation of your test scores.

We’re committed to making sure that all job applicants are treated fairly and with respect, irrespective of an applicants actual or assumed background including age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race (including nationality and national and ethnic origins), religion or belief, sex, pregnancy or maternity and sexual orientation.

As a member of The Employers' Forum on Disability, we are committed to becoming disability-confident. We’ll be happy to discuss with you any reasonable adjustments needed to adapt our process for you fairly. Please contact us via our  recruitment queries webpage .

Interview types

The technical interview is your chance to provide additional evidence about how, in the past, you have applied you technical skills and knowledge to deliver exceptional work.

In addition, we will be keen to assess your commercial knowledge and industry expertise, including how this can apply in the current market and economic climate, alongside any relevant or current sector developments. Most importantly, consider what might differentiate you from our current employees and be prepared to talk about this in the context of what you have achieved so far in your career.

If you are used to speaking to colleagues and clients on the telephone, undertaking a telephone interview can appear to be relatively straightforward. However, even highly capable candidates can perform poorly at this early stage, sometimes failing to do themselves justice at all. Therefore, preparation for this element of the assessment process is as vital as stages much later on in the process.

For many candidates, the situation can feel rather contrived and impersonal, due to the lack of eye-contact and ability to build rapport. However, considering and adopting some of the points below can help you to make a positive impression and, ultimately, succeed at this stage:

• Find a place where you will not be interrupted, lay your CV/ any notes out in front of you so you can refer to them quickly if you need to.
• Have a pen and paper in case you need to make a note of anything, such as the question being asked or something you think you might want to explore later.
• Answer the ‘phone with a smile! Smiling can help you to relax and, as a result, you will come across as more confident, friendly and assertive.
• Talk clearly and distinctly and think about your pace; if the interviewer is asking you to repeat yourself it might be because you are talking too fast.
• Try to connect with the interviewer in some way to build rapport. Consider what you might have in common and draw on this to create a dialogue
• Take time to consider your answer, if necessary, and make it clear to the interviewer that this is what you are doing, rather than just going silent.
• Ask the interviewer to clarify what they are asking you if you are unsure or repeat the question back to them if you want confirmation - listening on the phone can be challenging and interviewers will be sensitive to this.
• Answer the question that was asked and be careful not to go off the point. Support your answers with real-life examples that you have prepared from previous experience.
• Finally express your motivation for applying for the role coherently and try to end the call on a positive note; thanking the interviewer for their time.

Interview tips

Depending on where you are in the assessment process, you might be invited to attend a telephone-based interview, a knowledge-based technical interview or a face-to-face interview.

At PwC, our interviewers will consider what your experience and skills demonstrate you are able to offer. Your interview is as important to us as it is to you. Here are some valuable tips to help you to succeed.

Whichever interview you are working towards, we would always recommend you start to prepare well in advance. A good place to start in all instances is to begin to understand the topics which will be discussed in your interview and to think about how your experiences, skills and knowledge relate to these.

Some guidance is provided below in relation to the different types of interview.

Our recommendations for your technical interview

• Know who to ask for on arrival – this will have been communicated to you
• Know your recruitment contact's telephone number in case of a delay or problem.
• Know the exact address and location of the PwC office you are attending.
• Give yourself plenty of time to get to the interview location.
• Dress in appropriate business wear.
• Know the content of your CV.
• Research PwC and the position you are applying for.

Before arriving

Our recommendations before arriving for your technical interview

• Listen carefully to what the interviewer is asking you; ask for clarification if you are unsure.
• Take time to consider your answer if necessary.
• Express yourself clearly and concisely.
• Be as specific as you can.
• Answer the question that was asked and be careful not to go off the point.
• Support your answers with real-life examples from previous experience.
• Express your motivation for applying for the role coherently.
• Ask considered questions about PwC and/or the area you will be working in.

During your interview

What to do during your technical interview

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Internal audit at the forefront: Practical strategies for IT risks, climate rules compliance, and value capture opportunities

May 16, 2024 12:30 pm — 2:00 pm edt.

Replay the webcast

Internal audit can play a pivotal role in managing the challenges of today's dynamic business landscape. Join us as we discuss the importance of implementing a proactive approach to addressing risks and capturing opportunities. The panel of risk leaders and PwC professionals will share their experiences and offer insights to help empower your internal audit function. This webcast aims to equip you with the knowledge and tools to transform your internal audit processes and create value for your organization.

Presenters: Michael Goetter , Executive Director, Internal Audit & Financial Governance, Clarios Ron Smith , Vice President – Internal Audit and Security, Eversource Energy Ryan Halversen , Director, Cyber, Risk & Regulatory, PwC US Amanda Herron , Partner, Cyber, Risk & Regulatory, PwC US Jeff Leedom , Partner, Cyber, Risk & Regulatory, PwC US Mike Maali , US Internal Audit Leader, PwC US Matt Seiler , Director, Cyber, Risk & Regulatory, PwC US Jeff Sorensen , Partner, Cyber, Risk & Regulatory, PwC US

Who should attend:  Chief Audit Executives, Internal Audit Executives, Risk Professionals.

CPE Credit:  This does not qualify for CPE.

© 2017 - 2024 PwC. All rights reserved. PwC refers to the PwC network and/or one or more of its member firms, each of which is a separate legal entity. Please see www.pwc.com/structure for further details.

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