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Hacking the Case Interview

We’ve compiled 50 case interview examples and organized them by industry, function, and consulting firm to give you the best, free case interview practice. Use these case interview examples for practice as you prepare for your consulting interviews.

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.

Case Interview Examples Organized by Industry

Below, we’ve linked all of the case interview examples we could find from consulting firm websites and YouTube videos and organized them by industry. This will be helpful for your case interview practice if there is a specific consulting industry role that you are interviewing for that you need more practice in.

Aerospace, Defense, & Government Case Interview Examples

• Agency V (Deloitte)
• The Agency (Deloitte)
• Federal Finance Agency (Deloitte)
• Federal Civil Cargo Protection Bureau (Deloitte)

Consumer Products & Retail Case Interview Examples

• Electro-light (McKinsey)
• Beautify (McKinsey)
• Shops Corporation (McKinsey)
• Climate Case (BCG)
• Foods Inc. (BCG) *scroll to bottom of page
• Chateau Boomerang (BCG) *written case interview
• PrintCo (Bain)
• Coffee Co. (Bain)
• Fashion Co. (Bain)
• Recreation Unlimited (Deloitte)
• Footlose (Deloitte)
• National Grocery and Drug Store (Kearney)
• Whisky Co. (OC&C)
• Dry Cleaners (Accenture) *scroll to page 15
• UK Grocery Retail (Strategy&) *scroll to page 24
• Ice Cream Co. (Capital One)

Healthcare & Life Sciences Case Interview Examples

• GlobaPharm (McKinsey)
• GenCo (BCG) *scroll to middle of page
• PrevenT (BCG)
• MedX (Deloitte)
• Medical Consumables (LEK)
• Medicine Company (HackingTheCaseInterview)
• Pharma Company (Indian Institute of Management)

Manufacturing & Production Case Interview Examples

• Aqualine (Oliver Wyman)
• 3D Printed Hip Implants (Roland Berger)
• Talbot Trucks (McKinsey)
• Playworks (Yale School of Management)

Social & Non-Profit Case Interview Examples

• Diconsa (McKinsey)
• National Education (McKinsey)
• Conservation Forever (McKinsey)
• Federal Health Agency (Deloitte)
• Robinson Philanthropy (Bridgespan)
• Home Nurses for New Families (Bridgespan)
• Reach for the Stars (Bridgespan)
• Venture Philanthropy (Bridgespan)

Technology, Media, & Telecom Case Interview Examples

• NextGen Tech (Bain)
• Smart Phone Introduction (Simon-Kucher)
• MicroTechnos (HackingTheCaseInterview)

Transportation Case Interview Examples

• Low Cost Carrier Airline (BCG)
• Transit Oriented Development (Roland Berger)
• Northeast Airlines (HackingTheCaseInterview)
• A+ Airline Co. (Yale School of Management)
• Ryder (HackingTheCaseInterview)

Travel & Entertainment Case Interview Examples

• Wumbleworld (Oliver Wyman)
• Theater Co. (LEK)
• Hotel and Casino Co. (OC&C)

Case Interview Examples Organized by Function

Below, we’ve taken the same cases listed in the “Case Interview Examples Organized by Industry” section and organized them by function instead. This will be helpful for your case interview practice if there is a specific type of case interview that you need more practice with.

Profitability Case Interview Examples

To learn how to solve profitability case interviews, check out our video below:

Market Entry Case Interview Examples

Merger & acquisition case interview examples.

Growth Strategy Case Interview Examples

Pricing case interview examples.

New Product Launch Case Interview Examples

Market sizing case interview examples.

To learn how to solve market sizing case interviews, check out our video below:

Operations Case Interview Examples

Other case interview examples.

These are cases that don’t quite fit into any of the above categories. These cases are the more unusual, atypical, and nontraditional cases out there.

Case Interview Examples Organized by Consulting Firm

Below, we’ve taken the same cases listed previously and organized them by company instead. This will be helpful for your case interview practice if there is a specific company that you are interviewing with.

McKinsey Case Interview Examples

BCG Case Interview Examples

Bain Case Interview Examples

Deloitte Case Interview Examples

Lek case interview examples, kearney case interview examples, oliver wyman case interview examples, roland berger case interview examples, oc&c case interview  examples, bridgespan case interview examples, strategy& case interview examples, accenture case interview examples, simon kutcher case interview examples, capital one case interview examples, case interview examples from mba casebooks.

For more case interview examples, check out our article on 23 MBA consulting casebooks with 700+ free practice cases . There additional cases created by MBA consulting clubs that make for great case interview practice. For your convenience, we’ve listed some of the best MBA consulting casebooks below:

• Australian Graduate School of Management (2002)
• Booth (2005)
• Columbia (2007)
• Darden (2019)
• ESADE (2011)
• Fuqua (2018)
• Goizueta (2006)
• Haas (2019)
• Harvard Business School (2012)
• Illinois (2015)
• INSEAD (2011)
• Johnson (2003)
• Kellogg (2012)
• London Business School (2013)
• McCombs (2018)
• Notre Dame (2017)
• Queens (2019)
• Ross (2010)
• Sloan (2015)
• Stern (2018)
• Tuck (2009)
• Wharton (2017)
• Yale (2013)

Consulting casebooks are documents that MBA consulting clubs put together to help their members prepare for consulting case interviews. Consulting casebooks provide some case interview strategies and tips, but they mostly contain case interview practice cases.

While consulting casebooks contain tons of practice cases, there is quite a bit of variety in the sources and formats of these cases.

Some practice cases are taken from actual consulting interviews given by consulting firms. These are the best types of cases to practice with because they closely simulate the length and difficulty of an actual case interview. Other practice cases may be written by the consulting club’s officers. These cases are less realistic, but can still offer great practice.

The formats of the practice cases in consulting casebooks also vary significantly.

Some practice cases are written in a question and answer format. This type of format makes it easy to practice the case by yourself, without a case partner. Other practices cases are written in a dialogue format. These cases are better for practicing with a case interview partner.

MBA consulting casebooks can be a great resource because they are free and provide tons of practice cases to hone your case interview skills. However, there are several caveats that you should be aware of.

• Similarity to real case interviews : Some cases in MBA consulting casebooks are not representative of actual case interviews because they are written by consulting club officers instead of interviewers from consulting firms
• Quality of sample answers : While consulting casebooks provide sample solutions, these answers are often not the best or highest quality answers
• Ease of use : Consulting casebooks are all written in different formats and by different people. Therefore, it can be challenging to find cases that you can consistently use to practice cases by yourself or with a partner

Therefore, we recommend that you first use the case interview examples listed in this article and wait until you’ve exhausted all of them before using MBA consulting casebooks.

Case Interview Examples from HackingTheCaseInterview

Below, we've pulled together several of our very own case interview examples. You can use these case interview examples for your case interview practice.

1. Tech retailer profitability case interview

2. Airline profitability case interview

3. Ride sharing app market entry

4. Increasing Drug Adoption

How to Use Case Interview Examples to Practice Case Interviews

To get the most out of these case interview examples and maximize your time spent on case interview practice, follow these three steps.

1. Understand the case interview structure beforehand

If case interviews are something new to you, we recommend watching the following video to learn the basics of case interviews in under 30 minutes.

Know that there are seven major steps of a case interview.

• Understanding the case background : Take note while the interviewer gives you the case background information. Afterwards, provide a concise synthesis to confirm your understanding of the situation and objective
• Asking clarifying questions : Ask questions to better understand the case background and objective
• Structuring a framework : Lay out a framework of what areas you want to look into in order to answer or solve the case
• Kicking off the case : Propose an area of your framework that you would like to dive deeper into 
• Solving quantitative problems : Solve a variety of different quantitative problems, such as market sizing questions and profitability questions. You may also be given charts and graphs to analyze or interpret
• Answering qualitative questions : You may be asked to brainstorm ideas or be asked to give your business opinion on a particular issue or topic
• Delivering a recommendation : Summarize the key takeaways from the case to deliver a firm and concise recommendation

2. Learn how to practice case interviews by yourself 

There are 6 steps to practice case interviews by yourself. The goal of these steps is to simulate a real case interview as closely as you can so that you practice the same skills and techniques that you are going to use in a real case interview.

• Synthesize the case background information out loud : Start the practice case interview by reading the case background information. Then, just as you would do in a live case interview, summarize the case background information out loud
• Ask clarifying questions out loud : Just as you would do in a live case interview, ask clarifying questions out loud. Although you do not have a case partner that can answer your questions, it is important to practice identifying the critical questions that need to be asked to fully understand the case
• Structure a framework and present it out loud : Pretend that you are in an actual interview in which you’ll only have a few minutes to put together a comprehensive and coherent framework. Replicate the stress that you will feel in an interview when you are practicing case interviews on your own by giving yourself time pressure.

When you have finished creating your framework, turn your paper around to face an imaginary interviewer and walk through the framework out loud. You will need to get good at presenting your framework concisely and in an easy to understand way.

• Propose an area to start the case : Propose an area of your framework to start the case. Make sure to say out loud the reasons why you want to start with that particular area
• Answer each case question out loud : If the question is a quantitative problem, create a structure and walk the interviewer through how you would solve the problem. When doing math, do your calculations out loud and explain the steps that you are taking.

If the question is qualitative, structure your thinking and then brainstorm your ideas out loud. Walk the interviewer through your ideas and opinions.

• Deliver a recommendation out loud : Just as you would do in a real case interview, ask for a brief moment to collect your thoughts and review your notes. Once you have decided on a recommendation, present your recommendation to the interviewer.

3. Follow best practices while practicing case interviews :    

You’ll most likely be watching, reading, or working through these case interview examples by yourself. To get the most practice and learnings out of each case interview example, follow these tips: 

• Don’t have notes or a calculator out when you are practicing since you won’t have these in your actual interview
• Don’t take breaks in the middle of a mock case interview
• Don’t read the case answer until you completely finish answering each question
• Talk through everything out loud as if there were an interviewer in the room
• Occasionally record yourself to understand what you look like and sound like when you speak

4. Identify improvement areas to work on

When the case is completed, review your framework and answers and compare them to the model answers that the case provides. Reflect on how you could have made your framework or answers stronger.

Also, take the time to reflect on what parts of the case you could have done better. Could your case synthesis be more concise? Was your framework mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive? Could your math calculations be done more smoothly? Was your recommendation structured enough?

This is the most important part of practicing case interviews by yourself. Since you have no partner to provide you feedback, you will need to be introspective and identify your own improvement areas.

At the end of each practice case interview, you should have a list of new things that you have learned and a list of improvement areas to work on in future practice cases. You’ll continue to work on your improvement areas in future practice cases either by yourself or with a partner.

5. Eventually find a case partner to practice with

You can only do so many practice case interviews by yourself before your learning will start to plateau. Eventually, you should be practicing case interviews with a case partner.

Practicing with a case partner is the best way to simulate a real case interview. There are many aspects of case interviews that you won’t be able to improve on unless you practice live with a partner:

• Driving the direction of the case
• Asking for more information
• Collaborating to get the right approach or structure
• Answering follow-up questions

If you are practicing with a case partner, decide who is going to be giving the case and who is going to be receiving the case.

If you are giving the case, read the entire case information carefully. It may be helpful to read through everything twice so that you are familiar with all of the information and can answer any question that your partner asks you to clarify.

As the person giving the case, you need to be the case expert.

You should become familiar with the overall direction of the case. In other words, you should know what the major questions of the case are and what the major areas of investigation are. This will help you run the mock case interview more smoothly.  

Depending on whether you want the case interview to be interviewer-led or candidate-led, you will need to decide how much you want to steer the direction of the case.

If your partner gets stuck and is taking a long time, you may need to step in and provide suggestions or hints. If your partner is proceeding down a wrong direction, you will need to direct them towards the right direction.

Where to Find More Case Interview Examples

To find more case interview examples, you can use a variety of different case interview prep books, online courses, and coaching. We'll cover each of these different categories of resources for more case interview practice in more detail.

Case Interview Prep Books

Case interview prep books are great resources to use because they are fairly inexpensive, only costing $20 to $30. They contain a tremendous amount of information that you can read, digest, and re-read at your own pace.

Based on our comprehensive review of the 12 popular case interview prep books , we ranked nearly all of the case prep books in the market.

The three case interview prep books we recommend using are:

• Hacking the Case Interview : In this book, learn exactly what to do and what to say in every step of the case interview. This is the perfect book for beginners that are looking to learn the basics of case interviews quickly.
• The Ultimate Case Interview Workbook : In this book, hone your case interview skills through 65+ problems tailored towards each type of question asked in case interviews and 15 full-length practice cases. This book is great for intermediates looking to get quality practice.
• Case Interview Secrets : This book provides great explanations of essential case interview concepts and fundamentals. The stories and anecdotes that the author provides are entertaining and help paint a clear picture of what to expect in a case interview, what interviewers are looking for, and how to solve a case interview.

Case Interview Courses

Case interview courses are more expensive to use than case interview prep books, but offer more efficient and effective learning. You’ll learn much more quickly from watching someone teach you the material, provide examples, and then walk through practice problems than from reading a book by yourself.

Courses typically cost anywhere between $200 to $400.

If you are looking for a single resource to learn the best case interview strategies in the most efficient way possible, enroll in our comprehensive case interview course .

Through 70+ concise video lessons and 20 full-length practice cases based on real interviews from top-tier consulting firms, you’ll learn step-by-step how to crush your case interview.

We’ve had students pass their consulting first round interview with just a week of preparation, but know that your success depends on the amount of effort you put in and your starting capabilities.

Case Interview Coaching

With case interview coaching, you’ll pay anywhere between $100 to $300 for a 40- to 60-minute mock case interview session with a case coach. Typically, case coaches are former consultants or interviewers that have worked at top-tier consulting firms.

Although very expensive, case interview coaching can provide you with high quality feedback that can significantly improve your case interview performance. By working with a case coach, you will be practicing high quality cases with an expert. You’ll get detailed feedback that ordinary case interview partners are not able to provide.

Know that you do not need to purchase case interview coaching to receive a consulting job offer. The vast majority of candidates that receive offers from top firms did not purchase case interview coaching. By purchasing case interview coaching, you are essentially purchasing convenience and learning efficiency.

Case interview coaching is best for those that have already learned as much as they can about case interviews on their own and feel that they have reached a plateau in their learning. For case interview beginners and intermediates, it may be a better use of their money to first purchase a case interview course or case interview prep book before purchasing expensive coaching sessions.

If you do decide to eventually use a case interview coach, consider using our case coaching service .

There is a wide range of quality among coaches, so ensure that you are working with someone that is invested in your development and success. If possible, ask for reviews from previous candidates that your coach has worked with.

Summary of the Best Case Interview Resources

To prepare for consulting case interviews, we recommend the following resources to find more case interview examples and practice:

• 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
• Resume Review & Editing : Transform your resume into one that will get you multiple interviews

Land Multiple Consulting Offers

Complete, step-by-step case interview course. 30,000+ happy customers.

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!

The IGotAnOffer team

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100 Best Case Study Questions for Your Next Customer Spotlight

Published: November 29, 2022

Case studies and testimonials are helpful to have in your arsenal. But to build an effective library, you need to ask the right case study questions. You also need to know how to write a case study .

Case studies are customers' stories that your sales team can use to share relevant content with prospects . Not only that, but case studies help you earn a prospect's trust, show them what life would be like as your customer, and validate that your product or service works for your clients.

Before you start building your library of case studies, check out our list of 100 case study questions to ask your clients. With this helpful guide, you'll have the know-how to build your narrative using the " Problem-Agitate-Solve " Method.

What makes a good case study questionnaire?

The ultimate list of case study questions, how to ask your customer for a case study, creating an effective case study.

Certain key elements make up a good case study questionnaire.

A questionnaire should never feel like an interrogation. Instead, aim to structure your case study questions like a conversation. Some of the essential things that your questionnaire should cover include:

• The problem faced by the client before choosing your organization.
• Why they chose your company.
• How your product solved the problem clients faced.
• The measurable results of the service provided.
• Data and metrics that prove the success of your service or product, if possible.

You can adapt these considerations based on how your customers use your product and the specific answers or quotes that you want to receive.

What makes a good case study question?

A good case study question delivers a powerful message to leads in the decision stage of your prospective buyer's journey.

Since your client has agreed to participate in a case study, they're likely enthusiastic about the service you provide. Thus, a good case study question hands the reins over to the client and opens a conversation.

Try asking open-ended questions to encourage your client to talk about the excellent service or product you provide.

Free Case Study Templates

Tell us about yourself to access the templates..

Categories for the Best Case Study Questions

• Case study questions about the customer's business
• Case study questions about the environment before the purchase
• Case study questions about the decision process
• Case study questions about the customer's business case
• Case study questions about the buying team and internal advocates
• Case study questions about customer success
• Case study questions about product feedback
• Case study questions about willingness to make referrals
• Case study question to prompt quote-worthy feedback
• Case study questions about the customers' future goals

Showcase your company's success using these three free case study templates.

• Data-Driven Case Study Template
• Product-Specific Case Study Template
• General Case Study Template

You're all set!

Click this link to access this resource at any time.

Case Study Interview Questions About the Customer's Business

Knowing the customer's business is an excellent way of setting the tone for a case study.

Use these questions to get some background information about the company and its business goals. This information can be used to introduce the business at the beginning of the case study — plus, future prospects might resonate with their stories and become leads for you.

• Would you give me a quick overview of [company]? This is an opportunity for the client to describe their business in their own words. You'll get useful background information and it's an easy prompt to get the client talking.
• Can you describe your role? This will give you a better idea of the responsibilities they are subject to.
• How do your role and team fit into the company and its goals? Knowing how the team functions to achieve company goals will help you formulate how your solution involves all stakeholders.
• How long has your company been in business? Getting this information will help the reader gauge if pain points are specific to a startup or new company vs. a veteran company.
• How many employees do you have? Another great descriptor for readers to have. They can compare the featured company size with their own.
• Is your company revenue available? If so, what is it? This will give your readers background information on the featured company's gross sales.
• Who is your target customer? Knowing who the target audience is will help you provide a better overview of their market for your case study readers.
• How does our product help your team or company achieve its objectives? This is one of the most important questions because it is the basis of the case study. Get specifics on how your product provided a solution for your client. You want to be able to say "X company implemented our solution and achieved Y. "
• How are our companies aligned (mission, strategy, culture, etc.)? If any attributes of your company's mission or culture appealed to the client, call it out.

How many people are on your team? What are their roles? This will help describe key players within the organization and their impact on the implementation of your solution.

Case Study Interview Questions About the Environment Before the Purchase

A good case study is designed to build trust. Ask clients to describe the tools and processes they used before your product or service. These kinds of case study questions will highlight the business' need they had to fulfill and appeal to future clients.

• What was your team's process prior to using our product? This will give the reader a baseline to compare the results for your company's product.
• Were there any costs associated with the process prior to using our product? Was it more expensive? Was it worth the cost? How did the product affect the client's bottom line? This will be a useful metric to disclose if your company saved the client money or was more cost-efficient.
• What were the major pain points of your process prior to using our product? Describe these obstacles in detail. You want the reader to get as much information on the problem as possible as it sets up the reasoning for why your company's solution was implemented.
• Did our product replace a similar tool or is this the first time your team is using a product like this? Were they using a similar product? If so, having this information may give readers a reason to choose your brand over the competition.
• What other challenges were you and your team experiencing prior to using our product? The more details you can give readers regarding the client's struggles, the better. You want to paint a full picture of the challenges the client faced and how your company resolved them.
• Were there any concerns about how your customers would be impacted by using our product? Getting answers to this question will illustrate to readers the client's concerns about switching to your service. Your readers may have similar concerns and reading how your client worked through this process will be helpful.
• Why didn't you buy our product or a similar product earlier? Have the client describe any hesitations they had using your product. Their concerns may be relatable to potential leads.
• Were there any "dealbreakers" involved in your decision to become a customer? Describing how your company was able to provide a solution that worked within those parameters demonstrates how accommodating your brand is and how you put the customer first. It's also great to illustrate any unique challenges the client had. This better explains their situation to the reader.
• Did you have to make any changes you weren't anticipating once you became a customer? Readers of your case study can learn how switching to your product came with some unexpected changes (good or bad) and how they navigated them. If you helped your client with troubleshooting, ask them to explain that here.

How has your perception of the product changed since you've become a customer? Get the interviewee to describe how your product changed how they do business. This includes how your product accomplished what they previously thought was impossible.

Case Study Interview Questions About the Decision Process

Readers of the case study will be interested in which factors influenced the decision-making process for the client. If they can relate to that process, there's a bigger chance they'll buy your product.

The answers to these questions will help potential customers through their decision-making process.

• How did you hear about our product? If the client chose to work with you based on a recommendation or another positive case study, include that. It will demonstrate that you are a trusted brand with an established reputation for delivering results.
• How long had you been looking for a solution to this problem? This will add to the reader's understanding of how these particular challenges impacted the company before choosing your product.
• Were you comparing alternative solutions? Which ones? This will demonstrate to readers that the client explored other options before choosing your company.
• Would you describe a few of the reasons you decided to buy our product? Ask the interviewee to describe why they chose your product over the competition and any benefits your company offered that made you stand out.
• What were the criteria you used when deciding to buy our product? This will give readers more background insight into the factors that impacted their decision-making process.
• Were there any high-level initiatives or goals that prompted the decision to buy? For example, was this decision motivated by a company-wide vision? Prompt your clients to discuss what lead to the decision to work with you and how you're the obvious choice.
• What was the buying process like? Did you notice anything exceptional or any points of friction? This is an opportunity for the client to comment on how seamless and easy you make the buying process. Get them to describe what went well from start to finish.
• How would you have changed the buying process, if at all? This is an opportunity for you to fine-tune your process to accommodate future buyers.
• Who on your team was involved in the buying process? This will give readers more background on the key players involved from executives to project managers. With this information, readers can see who they may potentially need to involve in the decision-making process on their teams.

Case Study Interview Questions About the Customer's Business Case

Your case study questions should ask about your product or solution's impact on the customer's employees, teams, metrics, and goals. These questions allow the client to praise the value of your service and tell others exactly what benefits they derived from it.

When readers review your product or service's impact on the client, it enforces the belief that the case study is credible.

• How long have you been using our product? This will help readers gauge how long it took to see results and your overall satisfaction with the product or service.
• How many different people at your company use our product? This will help readers gauge how they can adapt the product to their teams if similar in size.
• Are there multiple departments or teams using our product? This will demonstrate how great of an impact your product has made across departments.
• How do you and your team currently use the product? What types of goals or tasks are you using the product to accomplish? Get specifics on how the product actively helps the client achieve their goals.
• If other teams or departments are using our product, do you know how they're using it? With this information, leads can picture how they can use your product across their teams and how it may improve their workflow and metrics.
• What was the most obvious advantage you felt our product offered during the sales process? The interviewee should explain the benefits they've gained from using your product or service. This is important for convincing other leads you are better than the competition.
• Were there any other advantages you discovered after using the product more regularly? Your interviewee may have experienced some additional benefits from using your product. Have them describe in detail what these advantages are and how they've helped the company improve.
• Are there any metrics or KPIs you track with our product? What are they? The more numbers and data the client can provide, the better.
• Were you tracking any metrics prior to using our product? What were they? This will allow readers to get a clear, before-and-after comparison of using your product.
• How has our product impacted your core metrics? This is an opportunity for your clients to drive home how your product assisted them in hitting their metrics and goals.

Case Study Interview Questions About the Buying Team and Internal Advocates

See if there are any individuals at the customer's company who are advocates for your product.

• Are there any additional team members you consider to be advocates for our product? For example, does anyone stick out as a "power user" or product expert on your team? You may want to interview and include these power users in your case study as well. Consider asking them for tips on using your service or product.
• Is there anyone else on your team you think we should talk to? Again, the more people can share their experience using your product, the better.
• Are there any team members who you think might not be the biggest fans of our product or who might need more training? Providing extra support to those struggling with your product may improve their user experience and turn into an opportunity to not only learn about their obstacles but turn them into a product fan
• Would you share some details about how your team implemented our product? Get as much information as possible about the rollout. Hopefully, they'll gush about how seamless the process was.
• Who from your company was involved in implementing our product? This will give readers more insight into who needs to be involved for a successful rollout of their own.
• Were there any internal risks or additional costs involved with implementing our product? If so, how did you address them? This will give insight into the client's process and rollout and this case study question will likely provide tips on what potential leads should be on the lookout for.
• Is there a training process in place for your team's use of our product? If so, what does it look like? If your company provided support and training to the client, have them describe that experience.
• About how long does it take a new team member to get up to speed with our product? This will help leads determine how much time it will take to onboard an employee to your using your product. If a new user can quickly get started seamlessly, it bodes well for you.
• What was your main concern about rolling this product out to your company? Describing their challenges in detail will provide readers with useful insight.

Case Study Interview Questions About Customer Success

Has the customer found success with your product? Ask these questions to learn more.

• By using our product can you measure any reduced costs? If it has, you'll want to emphasize those savings in your case study.
• By using our product can you measure any improvements in productivity or time savings? Any metrics or specific stories your interviewee can provide will help demonstrate the value of your product.
• By using our product can you measure any increases in revenue or growth? Again, say it with numbers and data whenever possible.
• Are you likely to recommend our product to a friend or colleague? Recommendations from existing customers are some of the best marketing you can get.
• How has our product impacted your success? Your team's success? Getting the interviewee to describe how your product played an integral role in solving their challenges will show leads that they can also have success using your product.
• In the beginning, you had XYZ concerns; how do you feel about them now? Let them explain how working with your company eliminated those concerns.
• I noticed your team is currently doing XYZ with our product. Tell me more about how that helps your business. Illustrate to your readers how current customers are using your product to solve additional challenges. It will convey how versatile your product is.
• Have you thought about using our product for a new use case with your team or at your company? The more examples of use cases the client can provide, the better.
• How do you measure the value our product provides? Have the interviewee illustrate what metrics they use to gauge the product's success and how. Data is helpful, but you should go beyond the numbers. Maybe your product improved company morale and how teams work together.

Case Study Interview Questions About Product Feedback

Ask the customer if they'd recommend your product to others. A strong recommendation will help potential clients be more open to purchasing your product.

• How do other companies in this industry solve the problems you had before you purchased our product? This will give you insight into how other companies may be functioning without your product and how you can assist them.
• Have you ever talked about our product to any of your clients or peers? What did you say? This can provide you with more leads and a chance to get a referral.
• Why would you recommend our product to a friend or client? Be sure they pinpoint which features they would highlight in a recommendation.
• Can you think of any use cases your customers might have for our product? Similar industries may have similar issues that need solutions. Your interviewee may be able to provide a use case you haven't come up with.
• What is your advice for other teams or companies who are tackling problems similar to those you had before you purchased our product? This is another opportunity for your client to talk up your product or service.
• Do you know someone in X industry who has similar problems to the ones you had prior to using our product? The client can make an introduction so you can interview them about their experience as well.
• I noticed you work with Company Y. Do you know if they are having any pain points with these processes? This will help you learn how your product has impacted your client's customers and gain insight into what can be improved.
• Does your company participate in any partner or referral programs? Having a strong referral program will help you increase leads and improve customer retention.
• Can I send you a referral kit as a thank-you for making a referral and give you the tools to refer someone to us? This is a great strategy to request a referral while rewarding your existing customers.
• Are you interested in working with us to produce additional marketing content? The more opportunities you can showcase happy customers, the better.

Case Study Interview Questions About Willingness to Make Referrals

• How likely are you to recommend our product to a friend or client? Ideally, they would definitely refer your product to someone they know.
• Can you think of any use cases your customers might have for our product? Again, your interviewee is a great source for more leads. Similar industries may have similar issues that need solutions. They may be able to provide a use case you haven't come up with.
• I noticed you work with Company Y; do you know if they are having any pain points with these processes? This will help you learn how your product has impacted your client's customers and gain insight into what can be improved.

Case Study Interview Questions to Prompt Quote-Worthy Feedback

Enhance your case study with quotable soundbites from the customer. By asking these questions, prospects have more insight into other clients and their success with your product — which helps build trust.

• How would you describe your process in one sentence prior to using our product? Ideally, this sentence would quickly and descriptively sum up the most prominent pain point or challenge with the previous process.
• What is your advice to others who might be considering our product? Readers can learn from your customer's experience.
• What would your team's workflow or process be like without our product? This will drive home the value your product provides and how essential it is to their business.
• Do you think the investment in our product was worthwhile? Why? Have your customer make the case for the value you provide.
• What would you say if we told you our product would soon be unavailable? What would this mean to you? Again, this illustrates how integral your product is to their business.
• How would you describe our product if you were explaining it to a friend? Your customers can often distill the value of your product to their friends better than you can.
• What do you love about your job? Your company? This gives the reader more background on your customer and their industry.
• What was the worst part of your process before you started using our product? Ideally, they'd reiterate how your product helped solve this challenge.
• What do you love about our product? Another great way to get the customer's opinion about what makes your product worth it.
• Why do you do business with us? Hopefully, your interviewee will share how wonderful your business relationship is.

Case Study Interview Questions About the Customers' Future Goals

Ask the customer about their goals, challenges, and plans for the future. This will provide insight into how a business can grow with your product.

• What are the biggest challenges on the horizon for your industry? Chances are potential leads within the same industry will have similar challenges.
• What are your goals for the next three months? Knowing their short-term goals will enable your company to get some quick wins for the client.
• How would you like to use our product to meet those challenges and goals? This will help potential leads understand that your product can help their business as they scale and grow.
• Is there anything we can do to help you and your team meet your goals? If you haven't covered it already, this will allow your interviewee to express how you can better assist them.
• Do you think you will buy more, less, or about the same amount of our product next year? This can help you gauge how your product is used and why.
• What are the growth plans for your company this year? Your team? This will help you gain insight into how your product can help them achieve future goals.
• How can we help you meet your long-term goals? Getting specifics on the needs of your clients will help you create a unique solution designed for their needs.
• What is the long-term impact of using our product? Get their feedback on how your product has created a lasting impact.
• Are there any initiatives that you personally would like to achieve that our product or team can help with? Again, you want to continue to provide products that help your customers excel.
• What will you need from us in the future? This will help you anticipate the customer's business needs.
• Is there anything we can do to improve our product or process for working together in the future? The more feedback you can get about what is and isn't working, the better.

Before you can start putting together your case study, you need to ask your customer's permission.

If you have a customer who's seen success with your product, reach out to them. Use this template to get started:

Thank you & quick request

Hi [customer name],

Thanks again for your business — working with you to [solve X, launch Y, take advantage of Z opportunity] has been extremely rewarding, and I'm looking forward to more collaboration in the future.

[Name of your company] is building a library of case studies to include on our site. We're looking for successful companies using [product] to solve interesting challenges, and your team immediately came to mind. Are you open to [customer company name] being featured?

It should be a lightweight process — [I, a product marketer] will ask you roughly [10, 15, 20] questions via email or phone about your experience and results. This case study will include a blurb about your company and a link to your homepage (which hopefully will make your SEO team happy!)

In any case, thank you again for the chance to work with you, and I hope you have a great week.

[Your name]

If one of your customers has recently passed along some praise (to you, their account manager, your boss; on an online forum; to another potential customer; etc.), then send them a version of this email:

Hey [customer name],

Thanks for the great feedback — I'm really glad to hear [product] is working well for you and that [customer company name] is getting the results you're looking for.

My team is actually in the process of building out our library of case studies, and I'd love to include your story. Happy to provide more details if you're potentially interested.

Either way, thank you again, and I look forward to getting more updates on your progress.

You can also find potential case study customers by usage or product data. For instance, maybe you see a company you sold to 10 months ago just bought eight more seats or upgraded to a new tier. Clearly, they're happy with the solution. Try this template:

I saw you just [invested in our X product; added Y more users; achieved Z product milestone]. Congratulations! I'd love to share your story using [product] with the world -- I think it's a great example of how our product + a dedicated team and a good strategy can achieve awesome results.

Are you open to being featured? If so, I'll send along more details.

Case Study Benefits

• Case studies are a form of customer advocacy.
• Case studies provide a joint-promotion opportunity.
• Case studies are easily sharable.
• Case studies build rapport with your customers.
• Case studies are less opinionated than customer reviews.

1. Case studies are a form of customer advocacy.

If you haven't noticed, customers aren't always quick to trust a brand's advertisements and sales strategies.

With every other brand claiming to be the best in the business, it's hard to sort exaggeration from reality.

This is the most important reason why case studies are effective. They are testimonials from your customers of your service. If someone is considering your business, a case study is a much more convincing piece of marketing or sales material than traditional advertising.

2. Case studies provide a joint-promotion opportunity.

Your business isn't the only one that benefits from a case study. Customers participating in case studies benefit, too.

Think about it. Case studies are free advertisements for your customers, not to mention the SEO factor, too. While they're not promoting their products or services, they're still getting the word out about their business. And, the case study highlights how successful their business is — showing interested leads that they're on the up and up.

3. Case studies are easily sharable.

No matter your role on the sales team, case studies are great to have on hand. You can easily share them with leads, prospects, and clients.

Whether you embed them on your website or save them as a PDF, you can simply send a link to share your case study with others. They can share that link with their peers and colleagues, and so on.

Case studies can also be useful during a sales pitch. In sales, timing is everything. If a customer is explaining a problem that was solved and discussed in your case study, you can quickly find the document and share it with them.

4. Case studies build rapport with your customers.

While case studies are very useful, they do require some back and forth with your customers to obtain the exact feedback you're looking for.

Even though time is involved, the good news is this builds rapport with your most loyal customers. You get to know them on a personal level, and they'll become more than just your most valuable clients.

And, the better the rapport you have with them, the more likely they'll be to recommend your business, products, or services to others.

5. Case studies are less opinionated than customer reviews.

Data is the difference between a case study and a review. Customer reviews are typically based on the customer's opinion of your brand. While they might write a glowing review, it's completely subjective and there's rarely empirical evidence supporting their claim.

Case studies, on the other hand, are more data-driven. While they'll still talk about how great your brand is, they support this claim with quantitative data that's relevant to the reader. It's hard to argue with data.

An effective case study must be genuine and credible. Your case study should explain why certain customers are the right fit for your business and how your company can help meet their specific needs. That way, someone in a similar situation can use your case study as a testimonial for why they should choose your business.

Use the case study questions above to create an ideal customer case study questionnaire. By asking your customers the right questions, you can obtain valuable feedback that can be shared with potential leads and convert them into loyal customers.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in June 2021 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

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The Best Case Interview Books to Ace Your Consulting Interview

‍ As someone who has gone through dozens of consulting interviews, I can tell you that it is not a walk in the park. Consulting firms use case interviews to test your problem-solving, your mental agility, and your communication, to name just a few. To ace your consulting interview, you need to be well-prepared – one of the best ways to get ramped up quickly in the early days of your case prep is by reading case interview books . In this article, I will share the best case interview books that will help you prepare for your consulting interview.

Introduction to Case Interviews

A case interview is a type of job interview in which the candidate is presented with a business problem or scenario and asked to solve it. The candidate is expected to ask questions, gather information, and provide solutions to the problem. Case interviews are commonly used by consulting firms to assess a candidate’s ability to think critically, analyze data, and communicate effectively.

Why You Need Case Interview Books

Case interview books are an essential part of your consulting interview preparation. These books provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to solve complex business problems. They help you understand the structure of case interviews, the types of questions you can expect, and the best way to approach each question. Case interview books also provide you with practice cases and sample solutions, which allow you to practice your problem-solving skills.

Top Qualities to Look for When Selecting Case Interview Books

There are several qualities you should look for when selecting your top case interview books . Here are what some of the best case interview prep books have in common:

• Comprehensive content: The best case interview prep books  cover a wide range of topics, including case interview frameworks, market sizing, business situations, and various industries. This will ensure that you are well-prepared for different types of cases you might encounter during your interviews.
• Clear and concise explanations: A good case interview book should provide clear and easy-to-understand explanations of complex concepts and frameworks, making it easier for you to grasp and apply them during your practice sessions and interviews.
• Real-life case examples: The best case interview books include a variety of real-life case examples with detailed solutions, allowing you to understand the thought process behind solving different types of cases and to practice applying the frameworks and concepts you’ve learned.
• Step-by-step approach: A well-structured book should guide you through a step-by-step approach to case interview preparation, starting from the basics and gradually progressing to more advanced topics and techniques.
• Tips and strategies: The best case interview prep books generablly provide valuable tips and strategies for tackling case interviews, such as how to structure your thoughts, ask the right questions, and present your findings effectively.
• Practice questions and exercises: case interview books that include numerous practice questions and exercises are always more helpful than those that do not. This enables you to apply the concepts and frameworks you’ve learned and to hone your skills through practice.
• Up-to-date information: The best case interview books are up-to-date with the latest trends and changes in the consulting industry, as this will make your preparation more relevant and effective. That said, don’t throw out a case book just because it’s old – some of my favorites are 5+ years old and still have some of the best cases I know!

The Best Case Interview Books For Your Prep

• Case In Point: Complete Case Interview Preparation by Marc P. Cosentino
• Case Interview Secrets: A Former McKinsey Interviewer Reveals How to Get Multiple Job Offers in Consulting by Victor Cheng
• The Harvard Business School Case Interview Workbook: With 65+ Cases and Other Interview Questions and Tips by Robert M. Case
• Crack the Case System: Complete Case Interview Prep by David Ohrvall
• Consulting Interview Case Preparation: A Complete Guide by Shaun Glassman

A Comprehensive Review of the Best Case Interview Prep Books

1. Case In Point: Complete Case Interview Preparation by Marc P. Cosentino

Case In Point is perhaps the most popular of the case interview book s on the market. It is a comprehensive guide to case interviews and provides a clear understanding of the structure of case interviews, the types of questions you can expect, and the best way to approach each question. The book also has a good selection of practice cases and sample solutions, which allow you to practice your problem-solving skills. That said, I personally find it to be too generic and focuses a bit too much on the what and less on the why of casing.

• Comprehensive guide to case interviews
• Great for beginners starting at 0
• Clear understanding of the structure of case interviews
• Good selection of practice cases and sample solutions
• Written by an expert in the field
• Outdated in approach
• Frameworks are often generic
• Can be too detailed for some readers
• Much less valuable after the candidate has even a basic understanding of cases

2. Case Interview Secrets: A Former McKinsey Interviewer Reveals How to Get Multiple Job Offers in Consulting by Victor Cheng

Case Interview Secrets is written by a former McKinsey interviewer and provides a unique perspective on case interviews. The book provides a clear understanding of the structure of case interviews, the types of questions you can expect, and the best way to approach each question. The book also has a good selection of practice cases and sample solutions, which allow you to practice your problem-solving skills. Like case in point I also do not love this casebook as it is quite outdated and uses an old-school approach to casing. It’s very much focused on classic case types, which are becoming ever-less common.

• Written by a former McKinsey interviewer
• Unique perspective on case interviews
• Some of the cases are too easy
• Outdated approach
• Generic frameworks
• Focuses more on classic case types/frameworks, rather than the thinking

3. The Harvard Business School Case Interview Workbook: With 65+ Cases and Other Interview Questions and Tips by Robert Mellon

The Harvard Business School Case Interview Workbook is a comprehensive guide to case interviews. The book provides a clear understanding of the structure of case interviews, the types of questions you can expect, and the best way to approach each question. The book also has a good selection of practice cases and sample solutions, which allow you to practice your problem-solving skills.

• Some readers may find the writing style too dry

4. Crack the Case System: Complete Case Interview Prep by David Ohrvall

Crack the Case System is a comprehensive guide to case interviews. The book provides a clear understanding of the structure of case interviews, the types of questions you can expect, and the best way to approach each question. The book also has a good selection of practice cases and sample solutions, which allow you to practice your problem-solving skills.

• Some readers may find the writing style too simplistic

5. Consulting Interview Case Preparation: A Complete Guide by Shaun Glassman

Consulting Interview Case Preparation is a comprehensive guide to case interviews. The book provides a clear understanding of the structure of case interviews, the types of questions you can expect, and the best way to approach each question. The book also has a good selection of practice cases and sample solutions, which allow you to practice your problem-solving skills.

Bonus: Breakdown of Some of My Favorite MBA Case Interview Books

Ross Casebook

The Ross casebook offers a comprehensive overview of firms, industries, and key concepts. Its cases also come with proposed frameworks, making it a valuable resource for case interview preparation. In my view it’s one of the best case interview prep books for those looking for more in-depth industry and company breakdowns.

Columbia Casebook

Ideal for candidates in the later stages of their preparation, the Columbia casebook categorizes cases by industry, case type, and firm (e.g., BCG, Bain). Additionally, it assesses the difficulty of each case across math, structure, and creativity, helping you focus on specific areas of improvement. This is one of best case interview books  if you’re looking to get a wide range of lots of different cases across case types, industry, and difficult level.

Stern Casebook

You might think I’m biased to say that the Stern casebook is one of the best case interview books out there, but it truly is! It provides an excellent industry overview and features clear, easy-to-follow cases. Cases are organized by interviewer-led and interviewee-led formats and ranked by difficulty, allowing for a tailored practice experience. Their cases are clear and easy to read (especially as an interviewer), and they provide a great range of scenarios and case flows.

Haas Casebook

Similar to the Stern casebook, the Haas casebook categorizes cases by interviewer-led and interviewee-led formats and ranks them by difficulty, making it another useful resource for honing your case interview skills. Haas goes quite in depth in the process of the case interview and how to prepare optimally, joining it with Ross in the category best case interview prep books for those just starting out.

Darden Casebook

The Darden casebook sorts cases by firm and industry and ranks them by difficulty across quantitative, qualitative, and overall aspects, offering a well-rounded collection of cases to practice with. While I find the cases a bit easier and more straightforward in terms of flow, when I’m trying to trip up a candidate in math Darden cases are my go-to. While most case interview books have math, Darden has a great range and difficulty of case math.

The Right Caser

However, the best case interview book you can have is…drumroll…a great case partner! Remember that simply reading a “hard” case from a particular company or having a friend case you is not enough. The way you are cased is crucial for your success. An experienced coach can make even the easiest case feel like a nightmare, so if you’re looking to be thoroughly prepared for the toughest cases, consider hiring a professional coach. The key lies in the delivery of the case!

How to Choose the Best Case Interview Book for You

Choosing out of all of our list  best case interview books depends on your personal preferences and needs. Consider the following factors when choosing a case interview book :

• Your level of experience: If you are a beginner, choose a case interview book that provides a clear understanding of the structure of case interviews and the types of questions you can expect. If you are more experienced, choose a book that provides more challenging cases and advanced techniques.
• Your learning style: Choose a case interview book that suits your learning style. If you prefer a more visual approach, choose a book with diagrams and charts. If you prefer a more interactive approach, choose a book with practice cases and sample solutions.

Your career goals: Choose a case interview book that is relevant to your career goals. If you are applying to a specific consulting firm, choose a book that focuses on that firm’s interview style.

Reminder: Your Caser Matters Just As Much (If Not More!) Than The Case Itself

Bear in mind that most cases can be somewhat unrealistic, and no case will perfectly match what you’ll face during an actual interview. Therefore, the key is to gain exposure to a wide variety of cases (both standard and nonstandard) and interviewers. If you’re truly looking to push yourself and prepare for the toughest cases, consider hiring a coach, as their expert delivery and guidance can be invaluable in ensuring your success. Please keep in mind the following to optimize your casing experience:

Find Good Case Partners: When preparing for case interviews, it’s essential to recognize the importance of having good case partners, not just good case interview books ; Even the best case interview books can’t overcome a bad caser. Working with skilled casers who push you during the process is crucial to helping you prepare for even the most challenging interviews.

Get a Diverse Set of Case Partners: It is important to collaborate with a diverse range of case partners, rather than solely relying on one or two friends. This diversity in partners exposes you to various case styles, perspectives, and techniques, thus broadening your understanding and skillset. 

Can Others in Cases That You Struggled In: Take the time to case others with the cases that you struggled with. You can learn as much by casing others as by being cased. Look at what they do well, and look to incorporate. Look at what they do poorly, and avoid. The more times you give a case you struggled in, the more you’ll learn about that case and start to understand it.

Consider Coaching: The way you are cased matters more than the specific case or casebook you use, so consider hiring a coach if you’re aiming to be prepared for the most demanding cases.

Other Resources for Case Interview Preparation

Apart from case interview books , there are other resources you can use to prepare for your consulting interview. These include:

• Consulting firm websites: Most consulting firms provide information on their interview process and the types of questions they ask. Use this information to prepare for your interview.
• Online forums: There are several online forums where candidates discuss their consulting interview experiences and share tips and advice.
• Consulting clubs: Join a consulting club at your school or university. These clubs often offer case interview workshops and practice sessions. Additionally, from there you can generally access a range of  case interview books

Preparing for McKinsey Imbellus?

If you’re preparing for the McKinsey Imbellus, casebooks won’t help. We highly recommend the  #1 Simulation in the market  

Conclusion: The Importance of Using the Best Case Interview Prep Books in Your Consulting Interview Prep

Case interview books are an essential part of your consulting interview preparation. They provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to solve complex business problems. The best case interview books are comprehensive, have a good selection of practice cases and sample solutions, include tips and strategies, and are well organized . Choose a book that suits your personal preferences and needs, and use other resources such as consulting firm websites, online forums, and consulting clubs to further prepare for your interview. With the right preparation, you can ace your consulting interview and land your dream job.

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Case Interview Study Samples

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These case studies represent cases across firm styles (McKinsey, Bain, BCG, Deloitte, & more), including interviewer-led and interviewee-led (candidate-led) cases. The video examples demonstrate the nuances of the virtual case interview and include feedback from an MBB coach. The sessions feature consultants or consulting candidates.

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280 Free Case Interview Examples

Do you want to get access to over 280 free case interview examples (with answers)?

If you have interviews planned at McKinsey ,  The Boston Consulting Group , or any other consulting firm, you are probably looking for case interview examples.

So, to help you prepare, I have compiled a list of 280 free case interview examples:

• Over 30 free case interview examples (+ interview prep tips) from the websites of top consulting firms
• More than 250 free case interview examples from top business school case books

Moreover, you’ll get  my take on which case studies you will likely have in interviews.

In short, the resources listed hereafter will be very helpful if you are starting out or have already made good progress in preparing for your case interviews.

One last word : check out this free case-cracking course to learn how to crack the most recent types of case questions consulting firms use in actual interviews.

Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

Get the latest data about salaries in consulting, mckinsey: tips and case interview examples.

McKinsey & Company’s website is definitely one of my favorites.

Because this gives so much insightful information about the role of a consultant and what the hiring process looks like.

Therefore, I highly recommend spending time on their website, even if you are not targeting McKinsey.

In the meantime, here are 8 McKinsey case interview examples

• Electro-light
• GlobaPharma
• National Education
• Talbot trucks
• Shops corporation
• Conservation forever

Check out the McKinsey Hub : A library of 20+ free resources that cover everything you need to secure a job offer at McKinsey.

Besides, here is another McKinsey case interview example.

This case interview question has been recently asked in a real interview:

𝘦𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘊𝘰, 𝘢 𝘑𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘷𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴, 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉2𝘉 𝘴𝘦𝘨𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉2𝘊 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦, 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘥𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵. 𝘏𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘦𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘊𝘰’𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘴𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘌𝘖 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘰𝘶𝘵.

How would you approach this business problem?

When ready, check this video below where I present how to approach this problem.

BCG: Tips And Case Interview Examples

The Boston Consulting Group website  states something very important: the goal of the hiring process is to get to know you better, which means, in the context of Consulting interviews, understanding how you solve problems .

Remember this: in case interviews,  to show how you think is MUCH MORE IMPORTANT than to find an answer to the case .

As a result, you will have case study questions to showcase your problem-solving skills. Likewise, fit interviews have the same purpose: to show what problems you faced and how you resolved them.

• BCG interview prep tips
• BCG’s interactive case tool
• BCG case interview example: climate change challenge
• BCG case interview example: GenCo
• BCG case interview example: FoodCo

Check out the BCG Hub : A library of 20+ free resources that cover everything you need to secure a job offer at BCG.

Bain: Tips And Case Interview Examples

Bain & Company’s website highlights something very important: successful applicants manage to turn a case interview into a conversation between two consultants .

In other words, you don’t want to appear as a candidate but as a consultant !

To do this, you need to master the main problem-solving techniques that consulting firms want to see.

• Bain interview prep tips here and here
• Bain case interview examples: coffee , fashioco
• Bain case interview sample videos: a first video , a second video

Check out the Bain Hub : A library of 20+ free resources that cover everything you need to secure a job offer at Bain & Company.

Deloitte: Tips And Case Interview Examples

As for the BCG’s section above, the Deloitte website clearly states that in case interviews , it is much more important to show how you think and interact with your interviewer than to find the right answer to the case.

• Deloitte interview prep tips
• Deloitte case interview examples: here (more than 15 case interview examples)
• Deloitte case interview example: Federal Agency
• Deloitte case interview example: Recreation Unlimited
• Deloitte case interview example: Federal benefits Provider
• Deloitte case interview example: Federal Civil Cargo protection Bureau

Get 4 Complete Case Interview Courses For Free

You need 4 skills to be successful in all case interviews: Case Structuring, Case Leadership, Case Analytics, and Communication. Join this free training and learn how to ace ANY case questions.

Oliver Wyman: Tips And Case Interview Examples

Like the Deloitte website, Oliver Wyman’s website points out that, above all,  you must demonstrate your ability to think in a structured, analytical, and creative way.

In other words, there are no right or wrong answers, but only showing how you solve problems matters.

• Oliver Wyman interview prep tips
• Oliver Wyman case interview examples: here (Aqualine) and here (Wumbleworld)

Kearney: Tips And Case Interview Examples

Now it’s time to tell you something you could have heard a hundred times.

Yet too many candidates do it.

Do NOT force your solution to adapt to a standard framework . As a result, this will only take you to a place you don’t want to go: the pool of rejected candidates .

To learn more about this, check the “What Not To Do” section on the AT Kearney website .

• Kearney interview prep tips
• Kearney case interview examples: here and here
• Kearney case book: here

Strategy&: Interview Prep Tips

Strategy& doesn’t provide case study examples on its website, but it shares insights on career progression, which I recommend reading when you prepare for your fit interviews.

• Strategy& interview prep tips

Roland Berger: Tips And Case Interview Examples

I like the examples of case studies presented on the Roland Berger website .

Because the two examples of case studies are very detailed and illustrate the kind of solutions your interviewers expect during case discussions.

• Roland Berger interview prep tips
• A first Roland Berger case interview example: part 1 and part 2
• A second Roland Berger case interview example: part 1 and part 2

Alix Partners: Interview Prep Tips

Like Strategy&, Alix Partners doesn’t provide case study examples on its website.

However, they give an overview of what they are looking for: they want entrepreneurial, self-starter, and analytical candidates, which are skills that all consulting firms highly appreciate .

• Alix Partners interview prep tips

OC&C: Interview Prep Tips

Here are two case study examples from OC&C:

• Imported spirit
• Leisure clubs

253 Case Studies From Business School Case Books

Most of these 253 case study examples are based on case interviews used by consulting firms in real job interviews .

As a result, you can have a good idea of the case study questions you can have when interviewing at these firms .

The Full List Of 253 Free Case Study Examples

• Chicago business school
• Australian Graduate School of Management
• Columbia business school
• Harvard business school
• Wharton business school (2009)
• Wharton busines school (2017)
• Darden business school

Do you want to practice a specific type of case study? Now you can…

I have sorted this list of 253 case studies by type:  profitability, market expansion, industry analysis, pricing, investment or acquisition,  and guesstimates (also known as market sizing questions).

Bonus #1: Know The Types Of Cases You Are Likely To have During Your Interviews

• Profitability cases (29% of cases from that list)
• Investment cases (19% of cases from that list)
• Market sizing questions (15% of cases from that list)

As a result, assuming you’ll have 6 interviews (and therefore 6 case interviews) during the recruitment process:

• “Profitability cases are 29%”  means that chances to have 2 profitability case studies during your recruitment process are very high
• “Investment cases are 19%”  means that chances to have 1 investment case study during your recruitment process are very high.
• “ Guesstimates are 15%”  means that chances of having  1 market sizing question during your recruitment process are high.

Bonus #2: The 10 Cases I Recommend You Doing Now

Over 250 examples of case interviews are a great list, and you may not know where to start.

So, I’ve compiled a list of my 10 favorite case studies.

The 5 case studies I recommend doing if you are a BEGINNER

1. stern case book: drinks gone flat (starting at page 24).

This is a good introduction to a common type of case (declining sales here). I liked the solution presented for this case, particularly how it started by isolating declining sales (what range of products? Volumes or prices, or both?).

2. Stern case book: Sport bar (starting at page 46)

This is an investment case (should you invest in a new bar). Even if the solution presented in this case book is not MECE , it covers the most common quantitative questions you might have in such a case. I recommend doing this case.

3. Stern case book: MJ Wineries (starting at page 85)

This is a profitability case. I liked the solution presented in this case because it illustrates how specific good candidates should be. The case concerns wine, so a good candidate should mention the quality of lands and grapes as important factors.

4. AGSM case book: Piano tuners (starting at page 57)

This is a typical market sizing question. How to answer this type of question is a must-know before going to your interviews.

5. Darden case book: National Logistics (starting at page 49)

Again, this is a very common case (how to reduce costs). I liked the broad range of questions asked in this case, covering key skills assessed by consulting firms during case interviews: brainstorming skills (or creativity), quantitative skills, and business sense.

The 5 case studies I recommend if you are more ADVANCED in your preparation

1. stern: the pricing games (starting at page 55).

This case study asks you to help your client assess different business models. I liked this case because the range of issues to tackle is quite broad.

2. Wharton 2017: Engineer attrition at SLS Oil & Gas Services (starting at page 55)

I liked this case study because the case prompt is uncommon: your client has been facing a very high attrition rate among its population of Engineers. As a result, it’s very unlikely that your solution fits a well-known framework, and you’ll have to demonstrate your problem-solving skills by developing a specific solution.

3. Wharton 2017: Pharma Company Goes International, Outsources Benefits, Integrates New Technology (starting at page 95)

This case is about a client considering outsourcing a part of their activity. Even though I don’t know if this type of case study is very common, I had many case studies like this when I passed my interviews a few years ago. And I always found them difficult!

4. Insead: Gas retail case (starting at page 73)

The question in the problem statement is very broad, making this case difficult. So, only good candidates can have a structured case discussion here.

5. Darden: Fire Proof (starting at page 84)

This is a market entry case. Try to solve it by developing a structure as MECE as possible.

CareerInConsulting.com's Free Resources

Access my exclusive free training to help you prepare for your case interviews .

Besides, you can learn my step-by-step guide to answering market sizing questions .

You’ll get my formula to solve all market sizing questions.

Moreover, if you are a beginner, you can read my article on how to solve business cases (+ a 4-week prep plan to get case interview ready).

Also, check these 11 must-know frameworks to ace your case interviews.

Finally, you can read the articles in the blog section of my website.

That’s quite a list.

To complete this list, check this free case interview course , where you’ll find case questions recently asked in actual interviews.

Now, I’d like to hear from you.

Which key insights were new to you?

Or maybe I have missed something.

Either way, let me know by leaving a comment below.

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You need 4 skills to be successful in all case interviews: Case Structuring, Case Leadership, Case Analytics, and Communication. Enroll in our 4 free courses and discover the proven systems +300 candidates used to learn these 4 skills and land offers in consulting.

Case collection: Harvard Business Publishing

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Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Harvard Business Publishing (HBP) is the leading provider of teaching materials for management education.

HBP was founded in 1994 as a not-for-profit, wholly-owned subsidiary of Harvard University, reporting into Harvard Business School. HBP's mission is to improve the practice of management in a changing world. This mission influences how they approach what they do and what they believe is important.

With approximately 450 employees, primarily based in Boston, with offices in New York City, India, Singapore, Qatar and the United Kingdom, HBP serves as a bridge between academia and enterprises around the globe through its publications and multiple platforms for content delivery, and its reach into three markets: academic, corporate, and individual managers. HBP has a conventional governance structure comprising a  Board of Directors , an internal  Executive Committee , and Business Unit Directors.

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The Case Centre distributes a comprehensive range of materials including the complete collection of more than 7,500 Harvard Business School case studies, teaching notes, background notes, case videos, and a selection of software ancillaries.

Also included are:

• Brief Cases that are rigorous and compact with five-eight pages and three-four exhibits
• case studies that are popular for undergraduate-level courses
• executive education cases that provide rich yet efficient learning for managers at every level.

Additional top quality HBP teaching materials available from The Case Centre include:

• articles from the  Harvard Business Review  and other top management journals
• case method books from the Harvard Business School Press
• over 2,000  individual chapters  from popular Harvard Business School Press books
• newsletter articles  from Harvard Management Update, Strategy & Innovation, Negotiation, and Balanced Scorecard Report
• Core Curriculum Readings  that cover the foundational concepts, theories, and frameworks that business students must learn. Authored by faculty at Harvard Business School, each Reading includes a teaching note, related course materials, and exhibit slides. Many include test banks, practice questions, video clips, and Interactive Illustrations to enhance student comprehension of specific topics.

HBP also offer a number of free cases.  Browse here

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For any queries related to the Harvard Business Publishing collection, please visit:

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35 Case Interviews Examples from MBB / Big Four Firms

Studying case interview examples is one of the first steps in preparing for the  management consulting  recruitment process. If you don’t want to spend hours searching the web, this article presents a comprehensive and convenient list for you – with 35 example cases, 16 case books, along with a case video accompanied by detailed feedback on tips and techniques.

A clear understanding of “what is a case interview” is essential for effective use of these examples. I suggest reading our  Case Interview 101  guide, if you haven’t done so.

McKinsey case interview examples

Mckinsey practice cases.

• Diconsa Case
• Electro-Light Case
• GlobaPharm Case
• National Education Case

What should I know about McKinsey Case interviews?

At McKinsey, case interviews often follow the interviewer-led format , where the interviewer asks you multiple questions for you to answer with short pitches.

How do you nail these cases? Since the questions can be grouped into predictable types, an efficient approach is to master each question type. However, do that after you’ve mastered the case interview fundamentals!

For a detailed guide on interviewer-led cases, check out our article on McKinsey Case Interview .

BCG & Bain case interview examples

Bcg practice cases.

• BCG – Written Case – Chateau Boomerang

Bain practice cases

• Bain – Coffee Shop Co.
• Bain – Fashion Co.
• Bain – Mock Interview – Associate Consultant
• Bain – Mock Interview – Consultant

What should I know about BCG & Bain case interviews?

Unlike McKinsey, BCG and Bain case interviews typically follow the candidate-led format – which is the opposite of interviewer-led, with the candidate driving the case progress by actively breaking down problems in their own way.

The key to acing candidate-led cases is to master the case interview fundamental concepts as well as the frameworks.

Some BCG and Bain offices also utilize written case interviews – you have to go through a pile of data slides, select the most relevant ones to answer a set of interviewer questions, then deliver those answers in a presentation.

For a detailed guide on candidate-led cases, check out our article on BCG & Bain Case Interview .

Deloitte case interview examples

Deloitte practice cases.

Undergrad Cases

• Human Capital – Technology Institute
• Human Capital – Agency V
• Strategy – Federal Benefits Provider
• Strategy – Extreme Athletes
• Technology – Green Apron
• Technology – Big Bucks Bank
• Technology – Top Engine
• Technology – Finance Agency

Advanced Cases

• Human Capital – Civil Cargo Bureau
• Human Capital – Capital Airlines
• Strategy – Club Co
• Strategy – Health Agency
• Technology – Waste Management
• Technology – Bank of Zurich
• Technology – Galaxy Fitness

What should I know about Deloitte case interviews?

Case interviews at Deloitte also lean towards the candidate-led format like BCG and Bain.

The Deloitte consultant recruitment process also features group case interviews , which not only test analytical skills but also place a great deal on interpersonal handling.

Accenture case interview examples

Accenture divides its cases into three types with very cool-sounding names.

Sorted in descending order of popularity, they are:

These are similar to candidate-led cases at Bain and BCG. albeit shorter – the key is to develop a suitable framework and ask the right questions to extract data from the interviewer.

These are similar to the market-sizing and guesstimate questions asked in interviewer-led cases – demonstrate your calculations in structured, clear-cut, logical steps and you’ll nail the case.

These cases have you sort through a deluge of data to draw solutions; however, this type of case is rare.

Capital One case interview examples

Capital One is the odd one on this list – it is a bank-holding company. Nonetheless, this being one of the biggest banks in America, it’s interesting to see how its cases differ from the consulting ones.

Having gone through Capital One’s guide to its cases, I can’t help but notice the less-MECE structure of the sample answers. Additionally, there seems to be a greater focus on the numbers.

Nonetheless, having a solid knowledge of the basics of case interviews will not hurt you – if anything, your presentation will be much more in-depth, comprehensive, and understandable!

See Capital One Business Analyst Case Interview for an example case and answers.

Other firms case interview examples

Besides the leading ones, we have some examples from other major consulting firms as well.

• Oliver Wyman – Wumbleworld
• Oliver Wyman – Aqualine
• LEK – Cinema
• LEK – Market Sizing
• Kearney – Promotional Planning
• OC&C – Imported Spirits
• OC&C – Leisure Clubs

Consulting clubs case books

In addition to official cases, here are a few case books you can use as learning materials.

Do keep in mind: don’t base your study on frameworks and individual case types, but master the fundamentals so you can tackle any kind of case.

• Wharton Consulting Club Case Book
• Tuck Consulting Club Case Book
• MIT Sloan Consulting Club Case Book
• LBS Consulting Club Case Book
• Kellogg Consulting Club Case Book
• INSEAD Consulting Club Case Book
• Harvard Consulting Club Case Book
• ESADE Consulting Club Case Book
• Darden Consulting Club Case Book
• Berkeley Consulting Club Case Book
• Notre-Dame Consulting Club Case Book
• Illinois Consulting Club Case Book
• Columbia Consulting Club Case Book
• Duke Consulting Club Case Book
• Ross Consulting Club Case Book
• Kearney Case Book

Case interview example – Case video

The limitation of most official case interview examples is that they are either too short and vague, or in text format, or both.

To solve that problem for you, we’ve extracted a 30-minute-long, feedback-rich case sample from our Case Interview End-to-End Secrets Program .

This is a candidate-led, profitability case on an internet music broadcasting company called Pandora.

In 30 minutes, this candidate demonstrates the exact kind of shortcoming that most candidates suffer during real case interviews – they come in with sharp business senses, then hurt their own chances with inadequate techniques.

Here are seven notable areas where the candidate (and you) can improve:

Thanking Throughout the case, as especially in the opening, he should have shown more appreciation for the time the interviewer spent with him.

Structured opening The candidate’s opening of the case feels unstructured. He could have improved it by not mixing the playback and clarification parts. You can learn to nail the case in a 3-minute start through this video on How to Open Any Case Perfectly .

Explicitness A lot of the candidate’s thought process remains in his head; in a case interview, it’s better to be as explicit as possible – draw your issue tree out and point to it as you speak; state your hypothesis when you move into a branch; when you receive data, acknowledge it out loud.

Avoiding silence The silence in his case performance is too long, including his timeout and various gaps in his speech; either ask for timeout (and keep it as short as possible) or think out loud to fill those gaps.

Proactivity The candidate relies too much on the interviewer (e.g: asking for data when it can easily be calculated); you don’t want to appear lazy before your interviewer, so avoid this.

Avoiding repeating mistakes Making one mistake twice is a big no-no in consulting interviews; one key part of the consulting skill set is the ability to learn, and repeating your mistakes (especially if the interviewer has pointed it out) makes you look like someone who doesn’t learn.

Note-taking Given the mistakes this candidate makes, he’s probably not taking his notes well. I can show you how to get it right if you watch this video on Case Interview Note-Taking .

Nonetheless, there are three good points you can learn from the candidate:

The candidate sums up what he’s covered and announces his upcoming approach at the start and at key points in the case – this is a very good habit that gives you a sense of direction and shows that you’re an organized person.

The candidate performs a “reality check” on whether his actions match the issue tree; in a case interview it’s easy to lose track of what you’re doing, so remember to do this every once in a while.

The candidate prompts the interviewer to give out more data than he asked for; if anything, this actually matches a habit of real consultants, and if you’re lucky, your interviewer may actually give out important pieces you haven’t thought of.

These are only part of the “ninja tips” taught In our Case Interview E2E Secrets Program – besides the math and business intuition for long-term development, a key feature is the instant-result tips and techniques for case interviews.

Once you’ve mastered them, you can nail any case they throw at you!

For more “quality” practice, let’s have a mock case interview with former consultants from McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Oliver Wyman, Strategy& and many other consulting firms. They will help you identify your problem areas and give you actionable feedback, making your preparation much easier and faster.

Hi! This is Kim and welcome to another performance in the Tips & Techniques part of our amazing End-to-end program. You are about to hear a really interesting performance.

There is a common Myth that Profitability cases are easier. Well, for beginners, that’s may make sense, but I would argue that Profitability cases can be really tricky and candidates without good foundation will make about the same level of mistakes regardless of type of cases given.

The profitability case we are about to watch will show that. It’s a very unconventional

Profitability. It started out like a typical one but getting more and more tricky toward the end.

The candidate is fairly good in term of business intuition, but the Tips & Techniques aspect needs a lot of fine tune! Now let’s go ahead and get started! 

It’s actually a little better to playback the case information and ask clarifications. The candidate does not distinguish between the two and do both at a same time. Also, the candidate was asking these clarifications in an unorganized and unstructured fashion. This is not something terrible, but could have been better, especially when this is the very first part of the case, where the crucial first impression is being formed.

My pitch would sound like this:

“That’s a very interesting problem and I am happy to get the chance to solve it. First of all let me tell you my understanding of the case context and key objectives. Then I would like to ask a few clarifying questions regarding a few terminology and concepts. Both of these are to make sure that I will be solving the right problem.

So here is my understanding of the case: The client is ABC. Here are some DEF facts about the situation we just talked about. And the key case question is XYZ.

Does that correctly and adequately summarize the case?”

Once the interviewer confirms, I would move to the clarification part as follows: “Now I would like to ask a few clarification questions. There are three of them: No 1, … No 2, … and No 3, …”

You may see above pitch as obvious but that’s a perfect example of how you should open any cases. Every details matters. We will point out those details in just a second. But before we do that, it’s actually very helpful if you can go back, listen carefully to the above pitch, and try to point out the great components yourselves. Only after that, go back to this point and learn it all together.

Alright, let’s break down the perfect opening.

First of all, you hear me say: “That’s a very interesting problem and I am happy to get a chance to solve it”. This seems trivial but very beneficial in multiple ways:

1. I bought myself a couple of seconds to calm down and get focused. 2. By nature, we as human unconsciously like those who give us compliments. Nothing better than opening the case with a modest compliment to the interviewer.

And (c) I showed my great attitude towards the case, which the interviewer would assume is the same for real future consulting business problems.

You should do that in your interviews too. Say it and accompany it with the best smile you can give. It shows that you are not afraid of any problems. In fact, you love them and you are always ready for them.

Secondly, I did what I refer to as the “map habit”, which is to always say what you are about to do and then do it. Just like somebody in the car showing the drivers the route before cruising on the road. The driver would love it. This is where I said: “Let me tell you my understanding of the case context and key objectives. Then ABC…”.

Third, right at the beginning of the case, I try to be crystal clear and easy to follow. I don’t let the interviewer confused between playing the case vs. asking clarification questions. I distinguish between the two really carefully. This habit probably doesn’t change the outcome of how the case goes that much, but it certainly significantly changes the impression the interviewer has of me.

Fourth, in playing back the case, each person would have a different way to re-phrase. But there are three buckets to always include:

1. Who is the client 2. The facts regarding the client and the situation and (c) The key question and the objective of the case.

Fifth, after playing the case context and objectives, I pause for a second and ALIGN with the interviewer: “Does it correctly and adequately summarize the case?”. This is a habit that every consulting manager loves for young consultants to do. Nobody wants first-year folks to spend weeks of passion and hard-work building an excel model that the team can’t use. This habit is extensively taught at McKinsey, Bain and BCG, so therefore interviewers would love somebody that exhibits this habit often in case interview.

Lastly, when asking clarification questions, you hear me number them very carefully to create the strong impression that I am very organized and structured. I said I have three clarifying questions. Then I number them as I go through each. No.1, No.2, and No.3.

Sometimes, during interviews it’s hard to know exactly how many items you are going to get. One way is to take timeout often to carefully plan your pitch. If this is not possible in certain situations, you may skip telling how many items you have; but you should definitely still number your question: No.1, No.2; and so on. 

Just a moment ago, the candidate actually exhibited a good habit. After going through his clarification questions, the candidate ended by asking the “is there anything else” question. In this case, I actually give out an important piece of data.

Though this is not very common as not every interviewer is that generous in giving out data. But this is a habit management consultants have to have every day when talking to experts, clients, or key stakeholders. The key is to get the most data and insights out of every interview and this is the type of open-ended question every consultant asks several times a day.

To show of this habit in a case interview is very good!

There are three things I would like you to pay attention to:

First, it took the candidate up to 72 seconds to “gather his thoughts”. This is a little too long in a case interview. I intentionally leave the 72 seconds of silence in the recording so you get an idea of how long that is in real situations. But it’s worth-noting here is not only that. While in some very complicated and weird cases, it’s ok to take that long to really think and gather ideas. In this case, the approach as proposed by the candidate is very simple. For this very approach, I think no more than 15 to 20 seconds should be used.

No.2, with that said, I have told I really like the fact that this candidate exhibits the “map” habit. Before going straight to the approach he draws the overall approach first.

No.3. You also see here that the candidate tried to align the approach with me by asking my thoughts on it. As I just said on the previous comment, this is a great habit to have. Not only does it help reduce chance of going into the wrong direction in case interviews, but it also creates a good impression. Consulting interviewers love people doing it often!

Here we see a not-really-bad response that for sure could be much better. The candidate was going into the first branch of the analysis which is Revenue. I would fix this in 3 aspects:

First, even though we just talked about the overall approach, it’s still better to briefly set up the issue tree first then clearly note that you are going into one branch.

Second, this is not a must, but I always try to make my hypothesis as explicitly clear as possible. Here the candidate just implicitly made a hypothesis that the problem is on the revenue side. The best way to show our hypothesis-driven mindset is to explicitly say it.

Third, you hear this a ton of times in our End-to-End program but I am going to repeat it again and again. It is better to show the habit of aligning here too. Don’t just go into revenue, before doing that, give the interviewer a chance to agree or to actually guide you to Cost.

So, summarizing the above insights, my pitch would sound something like this:

“So as we just discussed, a profit problem is either caused by revenue or by cost. Unless you would like to go into cost first, let’s hypothesize that the problem is on revenue side. I would like to look deeper into Revenue. Do we have any data on the revenue?”

And while saying this, you should literally draw an issue tree and point to each as you speak.

There is an interesting case interview tip I want to point out here. Notice how the candidate responds after receiving two data points from me. He went straight into the next question without at least acknowledging the data received and also without briefly analyzing it.

I am glad that the candidate makes this mistakes… well, not glad for him but for the greater audience of this program. I would like to introduce to you the perfect habit of what you should react and do every time you have any piece of data during case interviews. So three things you need to do:

Step 1: Say … that’s an interesting piece of data. This helps the interviewer acknowledge that you have received and understand the data. This also buys you a little time. And furthermore, it’s always a good thing to give out modest compliments to the interviewer.

Step 2: Describe the data, how it looks, is there any special noteworthy trend? In this case, we should point out that revenue actually grew by more than 50%.

Also notice here that I immediately quantified the difference in specific quantitative measurement (in this case, percentage). Saying revenue went up is good, but it’s great to be able to say revenue went up by more than 50%.

Step 3: Link the trend identified back to the original case question and the hypothesis you have. Does it prove, disprove, or open up new investigation to really test the hypothesis? In this case, this data piece actually opened up new investigating areas to test the hypothesis that the bottleneck is within revenue.

My sample pitch for this step 3 would sound like this: “It’s interesting that revenue went up quite a bit. However, to be able to fully reject our hypothesis on the revenue, I would like to compare our revenue to that of the competitors as well.”

Then only at this point, after going through 3 steps above, I ask for the competitors’ revenue like the candidate did.

Notice here that I ended up asking the same question the candidate did. This shows that the candidate does have a good intuition and thought process. It’s just that he did all of these implicitly on his head.

In consulting case interview, it’s always good to do everything as explicitly as possible. Not only is it easier to follow but it helps show your great thought process.

… the rest of the transcript is available in our End To End Case Interview

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Preparing for case interviews is a hard task when you only have 1 week, so the first part you need to learn during this time is fundamentals of case interview

Case interview in consulting is difficult with the passing rate is around 10%. This is because big consulting firms keep an extremely high recruitment standard

A case interview is where candidates is asked to solve a business problem. They are used by consulting firms to evaluate problem-solving skill & soft skills

Product Management Case Study Interview Preparation Guide

Preparing for a product management case study interview can seem daunting. With the right preparation strategy, anyone can master this critical PM interview component.

First, we'll demystify case study interviews and their role in assessing PM candidates. Then you'll learn step-by-step techniques to solve case studies, along with sample responses. By the end, you'll have a game plan to confidently showcase your product thinking.

Introduction to Product Management Case Study Interviews

Product management case study interviews are an important part of the interview process for aspiring product managers. In these interviews, candidates are presented with a business case scenario and asked to analyze the situation, identify key issues, and propose data-driven solutions.

Preparing for PM case study interviews requires dedicating time to understand what these case studies entail, as well as practicing sample cases. With the right preparation, candidates can confidently demonstrate their skills in areas like product strategy, analytical thinking, and communication.

Understanding the Role of Case Studies in PM Interviews

Product management case studies aim to simulate real-world scenarios a PM could face. Interviewers use case study questions to evaluate how candidates would:

• Analyze ambiguous business situations
• Identify the key issues and problems
• Research potential solutions
• Use data and metrics to support decisions
• Communicate recommendations effectively

Essentially, case study interviews enable hiring managers to assess if a candidate can think strategically and make product decisions like an experienced PM.

Rather than testing specific subject knowledge, case studies evaluate a candidate's structured problem-solving abilities. Preparing for these interviews is therefore critical for aspiring product managers.

The Importance of Preparation for Product Management Success

Taking time to prepare for PM case studies interviews is an investment that pays dividends in the long run. Preparation builds three key success skills:

• Structured analytical thinking: Practice analyzing sample cases to develop a methodical approach to solving problems. Break down issues, research multiple solutions, use data to decide, and clearly communicate recommendations.
• Product management knowledge: Understand PM strategy frameworks to analyze case details from a product perspective. Recognize how elements like market conditions, user needs and tech constraints affect product decisions.
• Communication abilities: Construct logical narratives that explain your analysis and recommendations. Prepare to answer follow-up questions on the feasibility, impact and priorities of your proposed solutions.

With these core skills developed through case study preparation, candidates can tackle product management roles with the strategic thinking required to succeed. The time invested is well worth the career advancement and leadership opportunities that follow.

How to prepare for case study interview for product manager?

Here are 4 key things you should do to prepare for a product management case study interview:

Understand the case study you are getting

• Do research on the company and product. Understand the product's key features, target users, business model etc.
• Read up on similar products in the market. Compare features, pricing models, USPs etc.
• Product management case study interview questions often relate to the company's actual products/services. Having this context will help you think through the case.

Know who will be ingesting your case study

• Understand if your interviewers will be from product, marketing, technology or strategy roles.
• Align your approach and terminology to their background and expectations. A PM would look for different things vs a marketer.

Set barriers and clarify assumptions

• Clearly call out any assumptions you make due to lack of information.
• Highlight limitations and barriers that would impact proposed strategies. Interviewers want to see this critical thinking.

Apply the open-ended or narrow strategy

• For open-ended case studies, take a broad approach and think through multiple alternatives.
• For narrow case studies, go deep into analysis before making focused recommendations.

Following this product management case study interview prep approach will demonstrate strong analytical and critical thinking skills expected from PM candidates. Use the tips to tailor your case study interview preparation.

How do you write a case study in product management?

When writing a case study for a product management interview , the key is to demonstrate your structured thinking and ability to analyze data to drive decisions. Here are some tips:

Establish market characteristics

• Gather information on market size, growth trends, customer segments, competitive landscape, etc. This context sets the stage for your analysis.
• For go-to-market case questions, focus more on understanding customer needs, pain points, and willingness to pay.

Layout your approach

• Briefly explain how you would structure your analysis given the case data and timeline. For example:
• Customer discovery
• Competitor benchmarking
• Financial modeling
• Prototyping and testing

Prioritize your actions

• Walk through your proposed approach in sequence, explaining why you are taking certain actions first.
• For example, you may start by deeply understanding customer needs before developing product prototypes.

The key is to demonstrate a structured, data-driven approach to product decisions. Share your logic and assumptions clearly. Use cases and examples to illustrate key points.

Integrate feedback loops to iterate on product-market fit . Avoid big bang launches without validation.

By following this framework, you can showcase strong product management skills - even without prior PM experience!

How do you prepare for a case study interview?

Here are some key ways to prepare for a product management case study interview:

Review sample cases and outline your answers

• Search online for product management case study interview examples. Review the case details and business context thoroughly.
• Outline your approach to analyzing the case. Think through how you would frame the key issues, gather data, develop hypotheses, test solutions, present recommendations, etc.
• Draft sample responses to common case questions like "How would you design the product features?" or "What metrics would you track?" Refine your answers to demonstrate strong analytical and problem solving skills.

Practice mental math to work with quantitative data

• Case studies often involve numerical data analysis. Practice doing quick mental calculations to efficiently process statistics like revenue, user growth rates, conversion percentages, etc.
• Build intuition for metrics - e.g. is a 5% conversion rate good or bad? Getting comfortable working with numbers will help you have more productive discussions.

Review brain teasers and practice solving them

• Many case interviews incorporate business brain teasers to evaluate your logical thinking. Search for popular brain teasers and practice solving them under time pressure.
• Identify patterns in how you approach open-ended problems. Brainstorm multiple creative solutions and highlight your problem-solving process.

Practice case interviews with friends

• Set up mock case interviews with friends also applying for product management roles. Take turns being the interviewer and interviewee.
• Treat practice interviews seriously - have the interviewer give real-time feedback on your structured thinking.
• Iterate on your interview approach to sharpen your ability to clearly communicate complex ideas and solutions.

With diligent preparation across these areas, you'll feel more confident tackling a product management case study interview. Reach out for any other tips!

How do I prepare for a product management interview?

Here are 4 key ways to prepare for a product management interview :

• Study your frameworks - Get familiar with important PM frameworks like the Product Development Lifecycle, Opportunity Assessment, and Prioritization. Understand how and when to apply them. Resources like Product Gym's PM Program have case studies to practice.
• Research the "Four Mindsets of Product Management" - The four mindsets are user focus, business focus, technical focus, and team leadership. Prepare stories from your experience that demonstrate these mindsets.
• Become a product management nerd - Immerse yourself in PM best practices. Read blogs, listen to podcasts, and connect with other PMs. Resources like Product Management Case Studies and Product Design can level up your knowledge.
• Don't be shy about asking your network for help - Reach out to friends, colleagues, mentors who have PM experience. Ask for their tips, practice interviews, feedback on your stories. Leverage your network.

The key is structured preparation across frameworks, mindsets and soft skills. Resources like Sample Questions and interview tips are helpful. With practice, research and help from your network, you can ace your PM interview.

Dissecting Product Management Case Study Interview Questions

Product management case study interviews aim to evaluate a candidate's analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, communication skills, and overall fit for the product management role. Here are some of the most common types of PM case study interview questions you may encounter:

Challenges in Product Design and How to Navigate Them

Product design case studies focus on the ideation, prototyping, and testing involved in bringing a new product to market. Some examples of product design case study questions include:

• How would you design an app to allow travelers to easily book flights, hotels, rental cars, and other travel arrangements all in one place? Walk through your thought process from idea generation to prototyping and user testing.
• Our company is looking to launch a smart home device. How would you approach the product design process? Outline key considerations around hardware components, software capabilities, target consumer segments, pricing strategy, and go-to-market plan.

To tackle these types of case studies, structure your thought process using a framework like the double diamond design process. Clarify the problem you are trying to solve, ideate potential solutions, describe how you would prototype and test your ideas, and determine how to measure success once launched. Discuss tradeoffs you may need to make regarding features, pricing, and timeline. Provide realistic examples if possible.

Strategizing for Product Success: A Look at Product Strategy Case Studies

Product strategy case studies deal with high-level strategic issues like market positioning, growth opportunities, and competition. Some examples include:

• Our food delivery app has solid market share in urban areas. How would you expand into suburban and rural markets? Consider pricing, driver supply, restaurant availability, and marketing tactics.
• Our e-commerce site seems to have hit a plateau in terms of new customer acquisition. How would you analyze why and determine new strategies for growth?

For these types of case studies, leverage frameworks like Porter's Five Forces to analyze the competitive landscape. Outline the Total Addressable Market (TAM) and serviceable markets to quantify growth potential. Use data to back up your recommendations around pricing, partnerships, marketing channels, and positioning. Discuss risks and provide contingency plans.

Mastering Quantitative Analysis in PM Case Studies

Quantitative PM case studies require breaking down and analyzing numerical data to drive insights and strategy. Examples include:

• Our food delivery app is seeing higher customer churn over the past few months. Based on the provided customer usage data, what insights can you draw about why customers are churning, and what would you recommend to address it?
• We are considering a subscription pricing model for our software rather than a per-seat licensing model. Using the attached financial data, analyze the pros and cons of this pricing change and whether you would recommend for or against it.

For analyzing numerical data, leverage methods like cohort analysis, A/B testing analysis, pricing models, ratio analysis, and forecasting. Structure your thought process, analyze the data to draw insights about root causes, conceptualize solutions or strategic recommendations, and determine how you would measure success if implemented. Quantify the market opportunity and expected business impact to build a compelling case.

Preparing for the variety of PM case studies noted above takes practice over time. Work through examples, learn relevant frameworks, sharpen your quantitative abilities, and hone your communication skills. With diligent preparation, you can master the PM case interview and demonstrate your ability to strategically solve problems.

A Structured Approach to Solving PM Case Studies

A framework all PM candidates should follow when working through a case study.

Clarifying the Case Study Prompt: The First Step to Success

When presented with a product management case study interview prompt, it is crucial to take a moment to clearly understand the key details. This includes clarifying any ambiguous information by asking thoughtful questions of the interviewer.

Be sure to identify the product management case study interview goals and constraints provided in the prompt before beginning your analysis. Understanding these guides will enable you to tailor your response appropriately.

For example, key goals may relate to increasing revenue, improving user retention rates, or reducing customer support cases. Constraints could include budget limitations, technical capabilities, or timelines.

Taking the time upfront to comprehend the case study setup will pay dividends in structuring an effective response later on. Don't rush this step!

Why Structuring Matters: Organizing Your Case Study Response

With a clear understanding of the product management case study interview prompt established, the next step is organizing your response. This is where outlining an agenda slide can be invaluable.

An agenda slide visually sequences the main points you intend to cover in your response. This demonstrates to your interviewer that you can methodically break down the complex problem presented in the case study.

Typically, an effective agenda slide for a PM case study interview will include:

• Clarifying questions
• Key assumptions
• Quantitative analysis
• Qualitative analysis
• Recommendations

Walking through each agenda item in a structured manner lends credibility to your thought process. It also ensures all critical aspects are covered before presenting your final recommendations.

Skipping this organizing step often leads responses feeling disjointed or lacking strategic insight. So take the time to outline your game plan!

Analytical Super Hack: Systematic Analysis for Insightful Conclusions

With your response structured, you can now dive into systematically analyzing the details presented in the product case study examples .

A helpful framework here involves first conducting quantitative analysis based on any numerical data provided - user numbers, conversion rates, revenue metrics, etc. Identify trends in the data and form hypotheses about what could be driving observed outcomes.

Next conduct qualitative analysis based on descriptions of user pain points, customer feedback quotes, persona details, etc. Look for common themes that either validate or disprove your hypotheses.

Finally, synthesize your quantitative and qualitative analyses to uncover powerful insights that will inform your recommended solutions. Don't jump straight to the recommendations without backing them up with analytical rigor!

Following this structured analytical approach demonstrates the strategic thinking and attention-to-detail that PM interviewers are looking for. So don't forget this super hack!

Essential PM Metrics and Concepts for Case Study Mastery

Optimizing user funnels in product management.

Understanding user funnels is critical for product managers. A funnel visualizes the customer journey from initial awareness to becoming an engaged user. Key metrics include:

• Acquisition : The number of new users acquired over a period. This measures the effectiveness of acquisition channels.
• Activation : The percentage of new users who have a meaningful first experience with the product. This indicates whether the onboarding flow is working.
• Retention : The percentage of users who continue using the product over time. This quantifies engagement and stickiness.

To optimize funnels, product managers should:

• Set goals for each metric and prioritize improvements
• Analyze data to identify drop-off points in the funnel
• Run experiments to reduce friction and improve conversion

For example, if activation rate is low, we could A/B test tweaks to the onboarding flow. Getting the funnel right is key for sustainable growth.

The Art of Market Sizing for Product Managers

There are two main approaches to estimating total addressable market (TAM):

• Top-down : Start with the total spending in an industry, then segment by product category and buyer persona. Apply adoption rate assumptions.
• Bottom-up : Identify target customers, understand their spending habits, then extrapolate to the broader market.

For example, a PM could research the pet care industry TAM, narrow to pet insurance, then apply an adoption curve for their specific product. Or survey potential customers on willingness-to-pay.

Being able to accurately size markets helps prioritize opportunities and forecast growth potential. Assumptions should be validated through customer research.

Exploring Monetization Models in Product Management

There are several common monetization models:

• Subscription : Users pay a recurring fee for ongoing access, e.g. SaaS apps. Provides predictable revenue.
• Ad-supported : Free for users, revenue from advertisements. Scales with user base.
• Transactional : Users pay per transaction, e.g. ecommerce. Revenue aligns with usage.
• Freemium : Free tier to acquire users, paid tier for advanced features. Upsell opportunity.

Choosing the right model involves evaluating customer willingness-to-pay, competitive landscape, and marginal costs. Testing pricing sensitivity can optimize monetization strategy.

Understanding monetization early helps build business models that work long-term. Pricing should balance value delivered and market standards.

Mastering the Product Manager Case Study Presentation

Designing impactful product manager case study slides.

When designing slides for a product manager case study interview presentation, focus on creating a logical flow that clearly conveys your thought process.

Here are some tips:

• Lead with the framework. Open by introducing the framework you will use to structure your response (e.g. Market Sizing, 5 Cs, Pros/Cons). This sets expectations.
• Use simple, readable slides. Avoid cramming slides with too much text or complex graphics. Use bullet points, headings, and simple charts to communicate key points.
• Map the framework to slides. Devote individual slides to each part of the framework so your presentation aligns logically.
• Visualize data-driven points. Use basic charts, graphs, or illustrations to visualize market size analyses, financial models, or user research insights.
• Summarize key takeaways. Close by recapping your overall recommendation and next steps in a final summary slide.

Effective Verbal Delivery Techniques for PM Interviews

When presenting your case study analysis, focus on speaking clearly while engaging your interviewer:

• Make eye contact. Look up from your slides frequently and make eye contact with your interviewer rather than reading directly from slides.
• Speak slowly and clearly. Nerves can accelerate speech, so consciously slow your pace. Enunciate words clearly as well.
• Use natural gestures. Use hand gestures and facial expressions to help convey your points rather than stiff body language.
• Gauge reactions and adjust. Observe interviewer reactions and body language. If they seem confused, clarify or provide more context.
• Be conversational. Pose rhetorical questions and speak conversationally rather than a rigid, scripted delivery.

Strategies for Handling Questions During Your Case Presentation

Fielding interviewer questions smoothly will demonstrate knowledge and build credibility:

• Listen fully before responding. Let the interviewer finish the entire question before jumping to reply. Repeat back key parts to confirm understanding.
• Ask clarifying questions if needed. Don't be afraid to ask for clarification if a question is unclear. Break the question down into parts.
• Provide concise yet comprehensive answers. Respond directly and fully while avoiding excessively long answers. Stick to relevant insights.
• Admit if you don't know. Don't try to invent answers. If you truly don't know, say so. Offer related experience or insights that could help.
• Connect answers back to framework. Relate your responses directly back to the parts of the framework covered earlier.

By designing structured slides, delivering insights clearly, and handling questions tactfully, you can showcase your product management skills during case study presentations. With practice, the case interview can become a platform to demonstrate your strategic thinking.

Practice with Real-World Product Case Study Examples

Working through real-world product management case study examples with model solutions is an excellent way to prepare for PM case interviews. Here are two examples to try.

Case Study Example: Food Delivery App Prototype Development

You've been asked to evaluate potential features and conduct usability tests for a food delivery app prototype.

Consider key elements like:

• Onboarding flow
• Menu navigation
• Order placement
• Driver tracking

Develop a prioritized list of features to test based on expected impact and effort required. Outline your usability test approach focusing on:

• Testing environment
• Participant criteria
• Key tasks to evaluate
• KPIs to measure

Provide any other recommendations on how to iterate and improve the app experience.

Case Study Example: Crafting a Growth Strategy for a Social Media Platform

A new social media platform wants to compete with incumbents like Facebook and Twitter.

Outline a strategy focused on:

• Defining the target audience
• Key platform differentiators
• Growth channels to activate
• Engagement and retention tactics

Include quantitative projections on addressable market size and multi-year growth trajectories. Provide examples of tactics to drive growth through both product development and marketing initiatives.

Resources for Comprehensive PM Interview Preparation

Overview of useful sites, books, and courses for continuing your PM interview preparation.

Leveraging RocketBlocks and Product Gym's PM Program

RocketBlocks and Product Gym's PM Program are two specialized platforms focused on preparing aspiring product managers for case study interviews.

RocketBlocks provides customized case prep based on your background and goals, with detailed explanations and frameworks around consumer tech PM interviews. Their platform offers 100+ cases, 1,500+ mocks, and customized study plans to help you practice.

Similarly, Product Gym's PM Program offers a structured 8-week prep course covering all aspects of PM interview preparation. Their training methodology focuses on real interview practice with feedback from senior PMs. Some key components include weekly mentor sessions, mock interviews based on actual PM case studies, and access to an exclusive PM community.

Both RocketBlocks and Product Gym emphasize actually practicing cases rather than just learning concepts. By working through numerous concrete examples and receiving expert feedback, these platforms aim to simulate the actual PM interview experience. This helps prepare aspiring PMs to think on their feet and structure their problem solving approach in a way that impresses interviewers.

Essential Reading: Books and Publications for Aspiring Product Managers

In addition to specialized PM interview prep platforms, reading books and publications focused on product management is invaluable preparation. Here are some top recommendations:

• Decode and Conquer : Regarded by many as the PM interview bible, this book by Lewis C. Lin provides a comprehensive framework and over 35 actual case walkthroughs. It covers product sense, estimation questions, metrics analysis, product design, and product strategy.
• Swipe to Unlock : A bestseller by Neel Mehta, Parth Detroja, and Aditya Agashe, this book shares insights from PM interviews at top technology companies. It features a 5-step framework, sample solutions, and tips from senior PMs.
• Cracking the PM Interview : Focused on product strategy and analytics questions, this book by Gayle McDowell has an extensive overview of PM interview best practices, with detailed examples.
• PM publications : Industry sites like Mind the Product and Product School regularly feature PM interview advice and case studies, which are quite informative.

Immersing yourself in specialized books and publications helps you internalize key PM frameworks while also learning how to structure your thinking. This level of preparation is what separates average from exceptional candidates.

Concluding Game Plan and Next Steps

To recap, here are some of the most critical skills to develop to prepare for a product management case study interview:

Mastering Core Competencies for PM Interview Success

• Structuring: Practice breaking down complex problems and organizing information clearly. Use frameworks like MECE to structure your thinking.
• Quantitative analysis: Brush up on your math and Excel skills. Make sure you can analyze data, create basic models, and communicate insights.
• Communication: Refine your ability to present ideas concisely. Prepare to answer questions clearly and confidently.
• Product judgment: Understand how to prioritize ideas and make product tradeoffs. Study examples and practice applying product principles.

Expanding Your PM Knowledge Base: A Continuous Learning Process

Here are some additional things you can do to continue expanding your PM knowledge:

• Read industry newsletters like The Hustle to stay updated on the latest tech and business trends.
• Study core SaaS metrics like customer acquisition cost, lifetime value, churn rate, etc. Understand how changes impact growth.
• Research companies you may interview with. Analyze their products, business models, and competitive landscape.

Consistently building your PM skills and knowledge will help you bring more insight into case study interviews. With the right preparation and practice, you can demonstrate your capabilities when it matters most. ‍

Additional Resources

• Real-world case studies to help you ace Product Management Interviews
• Case Studies for Product Management: A Deep Dive
• Product Teardown by The Product Folks
• How to make a Product Management Portfolio?

Latest Posts

This article will explore how product management side projects can catalyze professional development by allowing you to experiment with new methodologies and enhance your skillset.

This comprehensive guide promises to equip you with a structured approach to tackling product case studies. You'll gain frameworks to methodically analyze prompts and craft insightful solutions.

Through real-world application, valuable feedback, and community engagement with groups like The Product Folks, PMs can significantly accelerate their skill development and expertise in the dynamic field of product management.

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Case Questions

Smart phones are everywhere today. You probably have one nearby right now. However, access to landline phone service has not been complete for very long, and wireless service is not as widespread as many people might think. The first phone lines (landlines) connected Boston and Somerville, Massachusetts in 1877. The last town in the United States to receive landline service was Mink, Louisiana, a small community 100 miles south of Shreveport, which received landline service in early 2005. Check any major US wireless carrier, and its maps have gaps in service. Building networks of any kind takes planning, money, and time.

• What are some similarities between an entrepreneur starting a new business in a new profession in a new market and a telephone service network?
• How are the requirements for a telephone network infrastructure like those for a new entrepreneur?
• What are some estimated costs, not necessarily monetary ones?
• What are some benefits to an entrepreneur who enters a market with established networks?
• How do established networks save the entrepreneur valuable money and time?
• With limited resources, what criteria should an entrepreneur use to determine priorities of spending time, effort, and money in developing networks?
• Does each criterion have equal weight? Why or why not?

The Internet Association (IA, https://internetassociation.org/) was founded in 2012 as a trade association devoted to Internet-based companies. Founding companies included Google , Amazon , eBay , and Facebook . These Internet-based companies founded this new trade group because they did not have a voice in Washington, DC, with respect to potential regulations and laws. The IA has synergy—more influence as a group than each company would have individually.

• What prompted the formation of the IA?
• Was it for marketing purposes?
• Management support?
• Industry advancement?
• Regulatory influence?
• What are some secondary purposes for the IA?
• How might the original purpose of the organization shift as the industry matures?
• Will small companies enjoy the same benefits of the larger founding organization?
• Any new venture involves substantial risks and costs. How might a new Internet startup benefit from joining the IA?
• How else do the large corporations benefit besides having a say in the political discussion in Washington, DC?
• What time commitment should a new business make before expecting any positive return on investing time and money in a trade association?
• If joining the IA requires a membership fee, what determinants should you use to place a value on the amount spent for dues?
• What benefits of a trade association may be not easily linked to membership expenses?

In 1989, the new NFL owner of the Dallas Cowboys , Jerry Jones , fired the legendary coach Tom Landry and hired one of his former college football teammates, Jimmy Johnson , as the new head coach. Johnson faced the same problems that a new entrepreneur has: Who should be on my leadership team? What should be their responsibility? Out of twelve key coaching positions, Johnson kept only three coaches from Landry’s staff in the same positions and moved one coach to a different position. Within four years (1993), the Dallas Cowboys, under head coach Jimmy Johnson, won Super Bowl XXVII with six of the original coaches Johnson hired his first year still in the same positions.

• How is a startup similar to an existing organization that needs to be turned around? How are they different?
• What are some reasons to surround yourself with others instead of taking the attitude that “I can do it myself?”
• For any leader, what are some reasons that skills in identifying and recruiting key people are more important than technical skills?

Every four years, the United States elects a president. Although the incumbent might be reelected, the United States is guaranteed to have a new president at least every eight years. On winning the election, the new president must identify candidates for cabinet positions. Some potential candidates decline the invitation and voluntarily withdraw themselves from consideration. Those who accept the invitation are put through an intensive screening process. The president then submits cabinet-level nominees to the US Senate for confirmation. As in any close group, recruiting and selecting individuals to join the presidential cabinet is critical for the president to achieve any objectives or goals.

• What kind of experience is beneficial to members of a board of directors for a local performing arts group? Should they be experienced in industry? Government? Fundraising? Management? Marketing? The arts?
• Besides experience, what other type of backgrounds should be considered? What about board members’ ages? Education? Gender? Residency? Financial Status? Connections to local or regional major employers?
• What can a new entrepreneur learn from an executive director of a nonprofit about selecting candidates to build a winning team? How important is it that some candidates decline to join the board? How long should members be on the board?
• How important is diversity in building a winning team? What skills must the entrepreneur perfect? What skills can be learned and developed later by the entrepreneur? Why is a variety of backgrounds, in the technical field and outside of the industry, important?
• Who is the actual team leader? (1) Entrepreneur? (2) Strongest personality? (3) Smartest? (4) Most technically skilled? (5) Financier? (6) Most experienced in management?

Narciso Gómez has worked in the service department at an auto dealership for about twenty-five years and has served as the service manager for the past seven years. He is qualified for retirement through the dealership but wants to open his own business. He is looking at buying a franchise, either a Jiffy Lube quick oil-change franchise that is for sale or a new SuperGlass Windshield Repair franchise. Both are automotive service and repair related, where he has plenty of experience.

• Besides his technical skills, what does Narciso need to consider before purchasing a franchise business?
• How might the estimated volume of work required to generate enough sales to cover his financial obligations affect his decision?
• The Jiffy Lube business model requires a four-bay facility. What does Narciso need to calculate in developing his business plan?
• The SuperGlass Windshield Repair is an on-site repair model whereby the technicians drive to the vehicle’s location for work. What should Narciso’s main concerns be in developing a business plan for this business model?

Han Jia-ying was an office manager for a construction company until she decided to be a stay-at-home mother with her kids. Her former employer has called her to take over some administrative work at home, such as payroll processing, payroll tax filings, bookkeeping, and other general administrative work. Her employer has said that some of his customers probably could employ her for their general administrative tasks.

• If she works from home, what type of scheduling issues does Jia-ying face? What might be some interruptions to her ability to meet specific deadlines, such as processing paychecks each week?
• If Jia-ying needs additional help, what options does she have? Would she be wise to hire an employee or seek some support from someone else? Who might that be? What problems might Jia-ying encounter when seeking a nonregular employee?
• Jia-ying will need new office equipment, including a new computer, a new scanner/printer, phone service, Internet connections, and so on. However, she is not tech savvy. How might she best manage working from home by herself, especially is something goes wrong or does not work?

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Good books for preparing cases.

What are some of the top 2-3 books for 'cases' ONLY? I am not looking for books like Case In Point etc. where more than half the book is dedicated to understanding what cases are, rather than the cases themselves.

I know Insead, and Kellog have theirs. But I am not sure how to get hold of them.

Overview of answers

• Date ascending
• Date descending

Hi Anonymous :) I would personally suggest Kellogg 2011, Wharton 2010, Stern 2016. I would strongly recommand you to start by reading and understanding the sectors trends in Stern 2016. That would be very helpful to tackle the cases. However, reading the cases in casebooks is not very uselful. You can leverage you experience in Preplounge by setting up meetings with mates/Experts and ask them to give you cases from those casebooks. Finally, I would strongly suggest you to read the press (FT, Wall street journal, Local & national business press in your contry) in order to be up to date with the businesses. I wish you the best for your preparation and do not hesitate to send me a message if you need any additional help/advice. Norah

Great recommendation on Stern 2016. Thanks Norah.

Please i need a recommendation for a book to study cases from

Here is a full approach that you can follow:

1) Start with "Case in point" book - you can download this book for free everywhere. It's not the best guide on how you should approach the cases, however, it will give you the basic understanding.

2) Start practicing cases with partners here or find them locally. !!! Find experienced partners or coaches who can provide a good feedback!!!

3) Purchase and read Viktor Cheng Book (Amazon Kindle store) and listen to LOMS (his website). I recommend to reread the book and listen to LOMS every 15 cases. Every time, having more experience, you’ll be finding something new.

4) Practice fast math

• Learn how to multiply double digit numbers (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ndkkPZYJHo)
• Learn the division table up to 1/11 (i.e. 5/6 = 83.3)
• Learn how to work with zeros (Hint: 4000000 = 4*10ˆ6)
• Use math tools (Mimir math for iOS), Math tool on Viktor Cheng website to practice

5) Below you can find a list of the most common case types and some high-level recommendations on structuring:

• Market sizing - structuring from the supply or demand side. Structuring using a formula or using an issue tree
• Profitability - basic profitability framework. Remember about different revenue streams and product mix
• Market context cases (Market Entry, New product, Acquisition, etc). Always start with the big picture "market". Finish with something specific to the case (e.g. How to enter?"). Structure it as if you are defining the work streams for the real project.
• Operational math problem (e.g. Should we increase the speed of an elevator or just buy a second one? How should we reduce the queues? Etc.) - Structuring as a process / value chain, with inflows, operations, and outflows
• Cost cutting - I provided the recommendations on structuring it here: https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/operations-cases-mck-1105#a2134
• Valuation - Purely financial structure with cash flows, growth rate, WACC / hurdle rate, etc.
• Synergies - revenue synergies (price, qty, mix) and cost synergies (value chain).
• Social / economics cases (e.g. How to improve the quality of life in the city? How to increase the revenues of the museum?) - huge variability. Practice 3-5 social cases before the interview

6) Also, I would try to focus on the most common industries in the following priority (sorted by probability of getting a case): 1-retail and CPG; 2-airlines; 3-Telecom; 4-banking; 5-natural resources; 6-tech

7) After solving 15-20 cases start preparation for the tests (Serch for PST / BCG online test here on preplounge)

8) ! Important: don't forget about the FIT interview part. Crafting you stories and backups stories will require a couple of weeks!

Here is a good list of articles regarding the different parts of the case:

1) Start with clarifying questions:

https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/clarifying-questions-1786#a3956

2) Communicating while structuring . Here is a long post by me on how to communicate the structure during the case study:

https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/how-to-communicate-its-structure-for-the-case-study-1313#a2806

3) Using hypothesis. I made a post about hypothesis here:

https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/how-to-state-a-hypothesis-and-match-to-the-structure-1156#a2268

4) Communicating while making calculations:

• Always tell the interviewer your approach
• Check with the interviewer that your approach is correct
• Come to the interviewer with some preliminary answers
• Check your assumptions with the interviewer

5) Communicating during the analysis of graphs / tables

• Take a minute to look at the graph. Read the graph title. Look at the graph type and define the type (pie chart, line chart, etc). Look at the legend (ask for clarifying questions if necessary). Identify whats going on on the graph. Look for: Trends, % structures. Look for unusual things - correlations, outliers,
• Make 3-4 conclusions from the graph. Think out loud on potential hypothesis on what could be the root cause / what are the consequences
• Prioritize the most important for your current analysis and move forward with the case

6) Communicating while having questions on creativity

• Ask an interview for a minute to think
• Think of several buckets of ideas (e.g. organic growth / non-organic growth / differentiation). Remember to think as big as possible
• Narrow down to each bucket and generate as many ideas as possible
• Present the structure (buckets) and then your ideas

7) Communicating your conclusion. You can find a good example I've posted here:

https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/how-much-answer-first-should-the-conclusion-be-1231#a2493

8) Communicating your FIT stories

Use the top-down approach while communicating your stories. "The Pyramid Principle" is the must-read by ex McKinsey on this topic.

I recommend using the STAR framework:

• In Situation , you should briefly provide the context, usually in 1 or 2 sentences
• Task usually includes 2 or 3 sentences describing the problem and your objective.
• Then you provide a list of specific actions you took to achieve the goal. It should take 1 or 2 sentences per action (Usually 3-4 actions). Note that the interviewer can stop you any minute and ask for more details.
• The results part should have 1 or 2 sentences describing the outcomes. This part is finalizing your story - make sure it can impress the interviewer and stay in the memory.

The best casebooks, in which cases are closer to real cases.

While I agree with Guennal, there are obviously far better resources than others. Some MBA books specifically think that what makes a case hard is loads of math and complex calculations (e.g. NPV) where this will rarely be true in actual interviews, especially at pre-MBA level.

My favourite resources for cases when I was applying were (you should be able to find 2 & 3 quite easily with a google search, if not message me and I can send them to you):

1) Company websites: McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Oliver Wyman, etc. all have excellent examples of cases online. These are useful as they come straight from the source and are generally a good indication of how cases at a specific company are structured

2) ESADE business school case book: This book provides some excellent tips and then dives into some great beginner/intermediate cases. In the second half of cases in the book there is a drop in quality, but it was still one of my favourite resources when practicing.

3) MIT Sloan 2011 casebook: In my opinion the best case book released by a business school I have seen. Excellent cases of ranging difficulty from actual companies, which most closely resemble actual cases you will receive while interviewing.

As I understand your question, you are looking for resources for cases, rather than a book to give you case methodology like Case in Point.

I can share my favourite resources for case interviews while I was going through interviews. You should be able to find all of these online quite easily:

1) Company websites: McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Oliver Wyman, etc. all have excellent examples of cases online. These are excellent as they come straight from the source and are generally a good indication of how cases at a specific company are structured

Best of Luck!

Case Books/Resources

• On your first question: case books such as Case in Point or Case Interview Secrets are a good starting point, but they will only provide you with a toolbox regarding how to frame your thinking vis-a-vis different business situation elements. It is however important to understand that practically all case books provide very poor guidance on HOW TO APPROACH a case and HOW TO DRAFT A ROADMAP for solving the case. This approach and roadmap needs to be rooted in rigorous and specific logic. This is completely different from the "framework learning philosophy" brought forward by most case books and are an actual root cause why many candidates will not be able to secure an offer.
• On your second question: you can send through PDFs via the normal chat function on Preplounge.

Cheers, Sidi

The BCG website has practise cases; most school consulting clubs also have books of prior cases. PrepLounge has a lot of material. Last but not least - obviously the former consultants here also have cases as well.

Ultimately though, it doesn't really matter: if you know how to crack a case, you know how to crack them all. This is why some people dont get a single offer, while others get them all. I suggest you focus on learning the basics (mechanics), no matter what company you will apply to.

Please do NOT try to download Case In Point for free. This would be illegal. Much as I like to criticize the book, it is still copyrighted. You want to be paid for your (intellectual) work, so does Marc Consentino.

Please respect the law; borrow the book from a friend, find a copy at your school, or purchase a used one - but outright downloading for free is piracy. Ask the Napster guys how that worked out for them.

in terms of resources, I would recommend the following:

• Read Case In Point or Case Interview Secrets for a general understanding of what a consulting interview is. Don’t focus too much on the structures proposed in the books though, as they are not good enough nowadays
• Start to read MBA Consulting Handbook – you can find several for free online (Insead is a good one to start). Read the cases and try to apply your structure. Whenever you see there is something missing, upgrade your structure with the new insides. Try to read at least a new case per day – in this way you will absorb a lot better the information with constant learning
• After having read the first 10 cases in books/handbooks and basic theory, start to practice live . There is a relevant part of the interview score which is based on your communication, which you cannot practice at all if you read cases only
• Once you feel you are not improving anymore, if you have a tight time constraint or if you want a realistic assessment of your level, consider using experts support to strengthen your performance

Hi Anonymous A,

thanks for asking your question on our Consulting Q&A !

On PrepLounge, you can find real company cases in our Case Library . All the cases with the company's logo on the right next to the heading are cases from the respective firm and are used in real case interviews. You can filter those cases by selecting "Real Case" on the left of the case list.

If you go through our Bootcamp and start practising cases with other candidates or experts, you will not need any casebooks - as Gabriel explained perfectly.

All the best for the rest of your case prep!

PrepLounge Community Management

Follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | twitter

Agree with Guennael. I started with Case in Point years ago which was a good start. I spent a lot of time reading multiple books after this but found that while it's a good start, the absolute best way to improve is to just do. Reading lots of cases isn't as helpful if it isn't paired with the practice bit. Chalking up lots of case experience and being deliberate in improving and laddering your skills will help build those case skills down to muscle memory. I have many of the casebooks mentioned but I never read them -- much rather have the case given to me by a case partner before reviewing it after. Actual / real cases I have received can be as simple as "I want to start a ramen shop. Should I? Where do I start?" to quite complex one with tricky business logic.

Best casebooks

Hey! By far the top options are Case in Point by Cosentino and 100 Case Interview Secrets by Victor Cheng. Cheng's website is also super helpful - I would keep that as a side resource as well. Always keep in mind though, you should keep expanding these frameworks and making them your own - don't just copy and paste :)

Hey anonymous,

I would also recommend finding people in consulting and having them give you cases they actually worked on. I have realized that this is the best way to understand how consulting actually works and it acts as a surprisingly impactful way to prepare for an actual case interview.

When it comes to books per se, I could not agree more with the comment above. Kellog 2011 is my favorite, given the quantitative nature of their cases. If you can solve that math, you should not fear what will come in the interview :)

Hope you find this helpful.

Here are some important books for your preparation

1) Read the "Case in point" book - you can download this book for free everywhere. It's not the best guide on how you should approach the cases, however, it will give you the basic understanding.

2) Read Viktor Cheng Book (Amazon Kindle store) and listen to LOMS (his website). I recommend rereading the book and listening to LOMS every 15 cases. Every time, having more experience, you’ll be finding something new.

And don't forget about practice cases with experienced partners or coaches who can provide good feedback!!!

Good luck! If you need some help, just drop me a line!

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Traditional advice for leaders who want to increase meeting participation call for clarifying expectations, setting clear agendas, and asking open-ended questions. While these strategies have their merits, they might not always work because they’re usually based on the leader’s assumptions about what the team needs, rather than facts about what they actually need. Managers who want their teams to be more engaged in meetings need to foster a safe, inclusive team culture, which requires a deep understanding of their team’s unique dynamics. The author presents several strategies for encouraging employees to engage during meetings.

Sue, a former client of mine, was starting a new VP role at a fintech organization. She found out quickly that the team she inherited had a lower level of participation, collaboration, questioning, and general engagement than the one she had left behind. This was particularly evident in team meetings.

• Luis Velasquez , MBA, Ph.D. is an executive coach who works with senior leaders and their teams to become more cohesive, effective, and resilient.  He is the founder and managing partner of  Velas Coaching LLC , a leadership facilitator at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, a former University professor, and research scientist. Connect with him on  LinkedIn.

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