deloitte case study interview pdf

• Hacking the Case Interview

Deloitte case interviews are the most difficult part of the interview process. Deloitte interviews are comprised of case interviews, a group case interview, and behavioral or fit interview questions. You will need to pass every single Deloitte case interview in order to land a job offer.

In this comprehensive article, we’ll cover exactly what to expect in your upcoming Deloitte interview and how to best answer all of the different types of questions, including Deloitte case interviews. We’ll cover in detail:

• Deloitte interview process
• What is a Deloitte case interview?
• What does a Deloitte case interview assess?
• How to solve Deloitte case interviews
• The different types of Deloitte case interviews
• Examples of Deloitte case interviews
• Deloitte case interview tips
• How to prepare for Deloitte case interviews
• How to solve the Deloitte group case interview
• Deloitte behavioral and fit interview questions
• Recommended Deloitte case interview resources

If you’re looking for a step-by-step shortcut to learn case interviews quickly, enroll in our case interview course . These insider strategies from a former Bain interviewer helped 30,000+ land consulting offers while saving hundreds of hours of prep time.

Deloitte Interview Process

The Deloitte interview process typically consists of two rounds of interview that include case interviews, a group case interview, and behavioral or fit interview questions. The entire interview process can take anywhere from one week to a few months.

Given its size, Deloitte may have a different interview process depending on the country or the office that you are interviewing for. However, the most common interview process consists of two rounds of interviews following the submission of your Deloitte resume .

• First round interviews : you will have one 30 to 45-minute behavioral interview and one or two 30 to 45-minute case interviews.
• Final round interviews : you will have a 30 to 45-minute behavioral interview, a 30 to 45-minute case interview, and a one hour group case interview

There are three important distinctions between your first round Deloitte interview and your final round Deloitte interview.

One, your interviewers will likely be more senior people at Deloitte. This means that the case interviews you receive may be a bit less structured and more qualitative in nature. The case interview may feel more like a discussion where you and the interviewer are discussing your opinions and ideas on a business problem.

Two, there will be more of an emphasis on assessing your fit with the firm. The first round interview is primarily used as a screener to determine whether or not you can solve case interviews effectively and whether or not you have the potential to be a great consultant.

Final round interviews will also continue to assess this, but interviewers will also be determining whether or not you would be a great fit with the office. Are you coachable and easy to work with? Are you collaborative? These are a few of the qualities that interviewers want to see.

Three, your interviewers may read the notes that your interviewers wrote during your Deloitte first round interview. If there was a particular area of the case interview that you struggled with, interviewers may want to test you again on it to make sure that it is not a significant weakness.

What is a Deloitte Case Interview?

A Deloitte case interview, also known as a “case” for short, is a 30 to 60-minute exercise in which you and the interviewer work together to develop a recommendation or answer to a business problem.

These business problems can be anything that real companies face:

• How can Amazon increase its profitability?
• What can Apple do to increase customer retention?
• How should Tesla price its new electric vehicle?
• Where should Disney open another Disneyland theme park?

Deloitte case interviews simulate what the consulting job will be like by placing you in a hypothetical business situation. Cases simulate real business problems that consulting firms solve for their clients. Many Deloitte case interviews are based on actual projects that interviewers have worked on.

While consulting projects typically last between 3 to 9 months, case interviews condense solving the business problem into just 30 to 45 minutes.

Deloitte case interviews can cover any industry, including retail, consumer packaged goods, financial services, energy, education, healthcare, government, and technology.

They can also cover a wide range of business situations, including entering a new market, launching a new product, acquiring a company, improving profitability, and growing revenues.

Although Deloitte case interviews cover a wide range of industries and business situations, no technical or specialized knowledge is needed. Unless you are interviewing for a consulting firm that specializes in a particular industry or function, cases are designed to be solved by someone that has general business knowledge.

Nailing your Deloitte case interviews is critical to get a job at Deloitte. There is no way to get a Deloitte job offer without passing your case interviews.

What Does a Deloitte Case Interview Assess?

Deloitte case interviews assess five different qualities or characteristics: logical and structured thinking, analytical problem solving, business acumen, communication skills, and personality and cultural fit.

1. Logical and structured thinking : Consultants need to be organized and methodical in order to work efficiently.

• Can you structure complex problems in a clear, simple way?
• Can you take tremendous amounts of information and data and identify the most important points?
• Can you use logic and reason to make appropriate conclusions?

2. Analytical problem solving : Consultants work with a tremendous amount of data and information in order to develop recommendations to complex problems.

• Can you read and interpret data well?
• Can you perform math computations smoothly and accurately?
• Can you conduct the right analyses to draw the right conclusions?

3. Business acumen : A strong business instinct helps consultants make the right decisions and develop the right recommendations.

• Do you have a basic understanding of fundamental business concepts?
• Do your conclusions and recommendations make sense from a business perspective?

4. Communication skills : Consultants need strong communication skills to collaborate with teammates and clients effectively.

• Can you communicate in a clear, concise way?
• Are you articulate in what you are saying?

5. Personality and cultural fit : Consultants spend a lot of time working closely in small teams. Having a personality and attitude that fits with the team makes the whole team work better together.

• Are you coachable and easy to work with?
• Are you pleasant to be around?

All of these five qualities can be assessed in just a 30 to 60-minute Deloitte case interview. This is what makes case interviews so effective in assessing consulting candidates.

How to Solve Deloitte Case Interviews

Deloitte case interviews are candidate-led. You will be in the driver’s seat of the case interview and will be expected to ask the right questions, probe for data, and propose each next step to solve the case.

In a Deloitte case interview, you are not assessed on whether or not you have the correct answer. Instead, Deloitte uses case interviews to assess six different qualities:

• Problem solving : Can you decompose a problem into smaller, more manageable questions?
• Analytical ability : Can you draw the right insights from data and information?
• Strategic thinking : Do you have a sharp business acumen and practical business judgment?
• Logical thinking : Are you structured, organized, and rational in the way that you think?
• Creativity : Can you generate interesting or unique ideas and solutions?
• Professional demeanor : Are you calm, confident, and articulate?

Our step-by-step guide to case interviews is presented in the video below. We highly recommend watching that video in its entirety. 

On Deloitte's case interview website , they recommend taking five   steps to solve a case interview:

1. Understand the issue and ask clarifying questions

The most important part of the case interview is to make sure you understand the business issue and the objective of the case. The quickest way to fail a case interview is to answer or address the wrong business problem. 

Therefore, if either the business issue or objective of the case is unclear, make sure to ask clarifying questions.

2. Identify the underlying assumptions

Next, you’ll need to decompose the overall business problem into smaller, more manageable issues. Identify what would need to be true in order for you to recommend a particular course of action.

To do this, it will be helpful to put together a framework, which is a tool that helps you organize your ideas and thoughts into different categories. For a complete guide on how to create tailored and unique frameworks for each case, check out our article on case interview frameworks .

3. Summarize specific issues and findings

Afterwards, you’ll begin investigating different issues or areas of your framework. After investigating each one, it is important that you summarize the key takeaways or insights that you uncovered.

Connect these findings back to the overall business problem and explain how your findings impact your potential recommendation.

4. State your recommendations

Once you have gathered enough evidence and support for your recommendation, you will need to present your recommendation in a clear and concise way.

Start by giving a firm recommendation. Then, provide the three major reasons that support your recommendation. This should summarize most of the important findings from the case.

5. Outline next steps and the expected results or impact

After delivering a recommendation, you should propose potential next steps that you would take if you had more time or data. What would you need to know to further strengthen your recommendation or make you more confident in your answer?

You can also talk about the expected results or impact of your recommendation. This may also have implications on potential next steps, such as analyzing the risks or quantifying the financial benefits. 

The Different Types of Deloitte Case Interviews

There are three different types of Deloitte case interviews, one type for each of Deloitte's consulting groups:  

• Strategy & Operations : primarily focused on corporate strategy, supply-chain improvement, business model transformation, and process improvements. The work that this group does is most similar to the work that McKinsey, BCG, and Bain do
• Business Technology : primarily focused on digital strategy, delivery of information technology programs, and building tech-based solutions for clients
• Human Capital : primarily focused on organization transformation, change management, corporate learning and development, and diversity and inclusion

The type of case that you get depends on what group you are interviewing with. 

For example, If you are interviewing with the Strategy & Operations group, you’ll get a strategy or operations case . You may be asked to determine whether to enter a new market, launch a new product, or make an acquisition.

If you are interviewing with the Technology group, you’ll get a technology or IT case. You may be asked to determine whether to roll out a new IT system, how to assess different technologies, or how to best coordinate an IT transformation.

If you are interviewing with the Human Capital group, you may be asked to determine the optimal organization structure, how to better incentivize employees to perform better, or how to save payroll costs.

Examples of Deloitte Case Interviews

Below are practice cases created by Deloitte. We recommend working through these so that you know exactly what to expect in your Deloitte case interview.

For undergraduates:

• Engagement Strategy: Federal Agency V (strategy case)
• Recreation Unlimited (strategy case)
• Strategic Vision: Federal Benefits Provider (strategy case)
• MedX: The Smart Pill Bottle (business technology case)
• Architecture Strategy: Federal Finance Agency (business technology case)

For advanced degree students:

• Finance strategy: Federal Health Agency (strategy case)
• Talent Management: Federal Civil Cargo Protection Bureau (strategy case)

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

  Deloitte Case Interview Tips

Below are eight of Deloitte's case interview tips to help you improve your case interview performance.

Tip #1: Take notes

While the interviewer is providing you with the case background information, take notes on the most important pieces of information. Pay particularly close attention to the context, company, and case objective.

Tip #2: Make sure you understand the case question

Answering or addressing the wrong business problem is the quickest way to fail a case interview. The most important thing is understanding what the business issue is and what overall question you’ll be expected to answer at the end of the case. 

Tip #3: Ask questions

Do not be afraid to ask questions. You will not be penalized for asking questions that are important and relevant to the case. 

Great questions to ask include asking for the definition of an unfamiliar term, asking questions that clarify the objective of the issue, and asking questions to strengthen your understanding of the context or company.

Tip #4: After you develop a framework, develop an initial hypothesis

A hypothesis is an educated guess on the answer based on the data and information that you have so far. It helps guide your analysis and keeps you on the right track.

After developing a framework, try to develop a hypothesis to help you decide what area of your framework you should explore first.

Tip #5: Take time to structure your thoughts

When asked a question in a case interview, don’t always start answering immediately. Instead, take the time to process the question and develop an organized and structured way to answer it. It is acceptable to ask the interview for a brief moment to collect your thoughts.

Your answer will likely be much stronger if you give yourself time to think. 

Tip #6: Present a clear, logical story for your recommendation

Remember that consultants need to convince clients to follow their proposed recommendations. Being articulate and persuasive are necessary skills for management consultants .

When you deliver your recommendation, try to make it a coherent story. This will make your recommendation easier to follow and more compelling.

Tip #7: Walk the interviewer through your thinking and explain assumptions

You do not get any points for the ideas and thinking that you do not communicate. Therefore, you should make every effort to talk through your thoughts out loud.

Walk the interviewer through what you are thinking. Explain why you have made particular decisions. State your assumptions. This makes it easier for the interviewer to provide feedback or hints to help you out.

Tip #8: Engage the interviewer in a business conversation

Remember that a case interview is a collaborative exercise. You should not be dismissing the feedback and suggestions that the interviewer provides you. They may be trying to help steer the case in the right direction or provide you with hints when you get stuck.

Treat the interviewer as your teammate and turn the case interview into a business conversation.

How to Prepare for Deloitte Case Interviews

There are seven steps to preparing for Deloitte case interviews.

1. Understand what a case interview is

The first step in preparing for Deloitte case interviews is to understand exactly what case interviews are.

When you are familiar with what case interviews are, it is important to know what a great Deloitte case interview performance looks like.

Knowing what a great Deloitte case interview performance looks like will facilitate how quickly you learn case interview strategies in the next step.

Before continuing onto the next step, you should be familiar with:

• The overall objective of a case interview
• The structure and flow of a case interview
• The types of questions you could get asked
• What a great case interview performance looks like

2. Learn the right strategies

Now that you have sufficient background knowledge, the next step in preparing for Deloitte case interviews is to learn the right strategies to build good case interview habits.

It is much more effective to learn the right case strategies the first time than to learn poor strategies and try to correct them later.

The quickest, most efficient way to learn these strategies is to go through our Comprehensive Case Interview Course .

If you prefer reading case interview prep books instead, the three I recommend are:

• The Ultimate Case Interview Workbook
• Case Interview Secrets

Hacking the Case Interview provides strategies on exactly what to do and what to say in every step of the case interview. It is a concise and straight to the point guide. I recommend this book as the first book to read for beginners.

Case Interview Secrets teaches core concepts such as the issue tree , drill-down analysis, and a hypothesis driven approach. It illustrates these concepts through stories and anecdotes. If you have read Hacking the Case Interview, I recommend also reading this book to get perspectives from a second author. Check out our full review of Case Interview Secrets .

Case in Point provides a ton of specific and complex frameworks. However, you likely won’t be using many of these in an actual case interview because many of them are overly complex and specific. If you have time, it may be useful to skim through this book. Check out our full review of Case in Point .

At the bare minimum, read either the first or second book. If you have the time, read the first two books so that you can get strategies from two different authors.

Make sure to spend sufficient time learning the right strategies before starting to practice cases. It is ineffective to practice cases if you have no idea what strategies to practice and refine.

Before moving onto the next step, you should at least have strategies for the following parts of a case interview:

• Developing unique and tailored frameworks
• Solving quantitative problems
• Answering qualitative questions
• Delivering a recommendation

3. Practice 3-5 cases by yourself

Once you have learned the right strategies, the next step in Deloitte case interview prep is to practice.

When practicing case interviews, it is usually better to practice with a case interview partner than to practice by yourself . Casing with a partner better simulates the real case interview experience.

However, when you are just starting to practice, I recommend doing the first 3 – 5 cases by yourself.

There are three reasons for this:

• You can get the hang of the case interview structure and format much more quickly working by yourself rather than having to wait to schedule a time with a partner
• There are many aspects of case interviews that you can practice without a partner, such as structuring a framework and solving quantitative problems. You can get much more practice working through these parts by yourself
• You may have difficulty finding a case interview partner if you are a complete beginner. Without having done any cases, you likely won’t know how to properly give a case or provide good feedback

4. Practice 5-10 cases with a partner

The next step in preparing for Deloitte case interviews is to case with a partner.

Casing with a 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.

When practicing cases with a partner, ensure you are spending enough time after cases to deliver feedback.

For a case that takes around 30 – 40 minutes, spend at least 15 – 20 minutes for feedback. Much of your learning and improvement will come from these feedback sessions.

Do not move onto the next step until you have done at least 5 – 10 cases and are beginning to feel comfortable with case interviews.

5. Practice with a former or current consultant

At this point, I highly recommend asking former or current consultants to give you a practice case. This will significantly help you prepare for case interviews.

Doing a mock case with a former or current consultant is highly advantageous because they know exactly how to run cases and give feedback. You’ll receive incredibly helpful feedback that your previous case partners likely missed.

If you feel that you are plateauing with your case partner, that is a sign you should do a mock case interview with a former or current consultant.

You can find former or current consultants among:

• People you met during the consulting recruiting process
• Your broader LinkedIn network

I would not ask a consultant that is involved with the consulting recruiting process for a case too prematurely. Although these practice cases are not evaluative, some firms will actually make note of how well you perform during the practice case.

At this point, you will have accumulated a long list of improvement areas from all of the different people you have cased with.

6. Work on your improvement areas

In this step of preparing for Deloitte case interviews, you will work on strengthening and fine-tuning your improvement areas. Examples of common improvement areas include:

• Creating a more complete and mutually exclusive framework
• Performing math calculations quicker or more smoothly
• Providing more structure to your qualitative answers
• Leading the case more proactively
• Delivering a more succinct recommendation

Try to focus on improving one thing at a time. This is much more effective than trying to improve everything at once.

For some areas, such as math, it will be better to work independently. For other areas, such as learning to proactively lead the case, it will be better to work with a case partner.

If you are looking for more cases, look at the resources listed in step four. If you are looking for specific drills or practice problems for a particular part of a case interview, check out The Ultimate Case Interview Workbook .

Do not move onto the next step until you have finished working on all of your improvement areas.

7. Stay sharp

If you have progressed this far, congratulations! You have almost finished preparing for Deloitte case interviews.

Once you feel that you have no more improvement areas to work on, the key is to not burn yourself out by doing too many unnecessary cases.

While each case that you do makes you slightly better, there is a point when doing too many cases can create case fatigue right before your interview. Case fatigue can negatively impact your interview performance.

On the other hand, you also don’t want to go weeks without having done a case. You may end up forgetting strategies or become rusty and slow.

Once you have achieved case mastery, I recommend doing no more than 2 cases per week in the weeks leading up to your interview. This ensures that you remain sharp for case interviews, but don’t have case fatigue.

How to Solve the Deloitte Group Case Interview

Deloitte is one of the few consulting firms that uses group case interviews in their final round of interviews. They conduct group case interviews because Deloitte’s work culture has a huge emphasis on teamwork and culture fit.

Here’s what to expect:

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

Group case interviews can be challenging to prepare for because it is difficult to replicate the exact conditions to practice them. However, if you prepare for case interviews well, you will be in a great position to succeed in group case interviews.

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

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

Follow these five tips to shine during your Deloitte group case interview.

Tip #1: Treat your group members as teammates, not competition

The group case interview is not an exercise in which you are competing with others. Interviewers are trying to assess whether you would be a great teammate. Multiple people or even all people in your group can receive job offers.

Therefore, focus on adding value to the group rather than making yourself look better than your teammates.

Tip #2: Don’t speak too much, but don’t speak too little

If you speak too much, this may be seen as being too aggressive or controlling. If you speak too little, you may come off as shy or timid.

If you were to rank all of the members in your group by how much each person spoke, you would want to be roughly in the middle. This would be the perfect balance of speaking and listening.

Tip #3: Don’t interrupt or talk over your group members

Interrupting others when they are speaking is rude and disrespectful. You do not want to be inconsiderate or a jerk. Be nice and respectful to your group members.

Tip #4: Involve other people

If you observe that someone has not spoken much, ask them for their thoughts or opinions. If you notice that someone has been cut off when they were speaking, ask them to finish their thoughts after the person interrupting them has finished what they have to say.

These are easy ways to show interviewers that you are a considerate and helpful teammate.

Tip #5: Speak only if you are adding value to the group

Just because you are speaking a lot during the group case interview does not mean that you are doing well. Interviewers are not assessing you purely on the quantity of what you say. They care more about the quality.

Great teammates know when to speak and when to listen. Therefore, you should speak only if you are adding some kind of value to the group. Interviewers can tell when people are speaking for the sake of getting air time.

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

Deloitte Behavioral and Fit Interview Questions

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

1.  Why Deloitte?

How to answer: Provide your three biggest reasons why you’re interested in working at Deloitte. You could mention that you loved the people that you have met from Deloitte so far. You can talk about Deloitte’s massive global presence, their expertise in nearly any industry or function, or their professional development opportunities.

2. Why consulting?

How to answer: Again, provide three reasons for why you’re interested in consulting. You could mention the fast career progression opportunities, the learning opportunities to develop soft and hard skills, or the level of impact that you can make right away in consulting.

3. Walk me through your resume.

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

4. What accomplishment are you most proud of? 

How to answer: Choose your most impressive, unique, or memorable accomplishment. Structure your answer by providing information on the situation, the task, the actions you took, and the results of your work. Explain why the accomplishment is so meaningful to you and what qualities that reveals about you as a person.

5. Tell me about something that is not on your resume.

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

6. Tell me about a time when you had to lead a team.

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

7. Describe a time when you faced conflict or disagreement.

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

8. Give an example of a time when you successfully persuaded someone.

How to answer: Choose a time when you were able to change someone’s mind who originally disagreed with you. Focus on emphasizing the steps that you took to persuade that person and what impact this had on the organization. Interviewers want to know that you are a great communicator and have strong people skills.

9. Tell me about a time when you failed.

How to answer: Choose a time when you failed to meet a deadline or did not meet expectations. You do not want to pick a failure that is too big or embarrassing. Focus on emphasizing what you learned from the experience and how you used that experience to deliver even better results in the next opportunity that you got. Interviewers want to see that you strive to learn from your past failures and are always working to get better.

10. Are there any questions that you have for me?

How to answer: This is a fantastic opportunity to get to know the interviewer on a more personal level. Ask them questions about their experience in consulting. Ask what their favorite case was or what they are looking to do next in their career. The more you can get the interviewer talking about themself, the more likely they will be to have a positive impression of you. People love talking about themselves, so make sure to listen attentively and ask follow-up questions.

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

Recommended Deloitte Case Interview Resources

To prepare for Deloitte case interviews, 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 in more detail.

Deloitte 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.

Deloitte 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 Deloitte 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 Deloitte case interview.

We’ve had students pass their Deloitte 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.

Deloitte 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 Deloitte Case Interview Resources

To prepare for Deloitte case interviews as well as case interviews from other consulting firms, we recommend the following resources:

• 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

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Practice a case

Case interviews represent real client engagements giving you insight into our approach and the work we do. It also gives you an opportunity to demonstrate clear thinking, practical judgment, and a professional demeanor, while helping us assess your thought process, creativity, and comfort with ambiguity.

How to use this tool:.

You will be presented with an example of a real-life business situation, along with a series of questions.

Answer each question to the best of your ability, then check your work.

At any time, you can access the business situation in the upper right corner.

Please note: This is not an assessment and we do not track your responses or results. You can practice as often as you'd like.

Completion time: 15/20 min

Practice a case interview

Please note that cases may differ in format and level of detail depending on the duration of the interview, but remember in the actual interview, we will be looking at your ability to think through a problem versus any specific technical skill or subject matter knowledge.

Tell us a little about yourself.

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Case interview tips

Cases can help us assess a candidate across multiple dimensions, and your answers should project clear thinking, practical judgment, and a professional demeanor. Apply this five-step approach while working through the case interview:

For more guidance on what we look for:

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Deloitte Case Interview: 6 Tips to Help You Ace Your Case

• Last Updated January, 2022

What Does it Looks like?

6 Tips on Acing the Deloitte Case Interview

What to Expect?

Deloitte Group Case Interviews

Sample Deloitte Case Interviews

Deloitte Behavioral Interview

The Deloitte Case Interview: What to Expect

Deloitte Group Case Interview

Have an interview with Deloitte Consulting coming up? If so, you’ll want to know what to expect and how to prepare.

We’ve got you covered, including our 6 tips on how to ace your Deloitte case interview!

In this article, we’ll discuss:

• What the Deloitte Consulting case interview process looks like,
• The Deloitte case interview: what to expect,
• Sample Deloitte case interviews,
• Our 6 tips on acing the Deloitte case interview,
• The Deloitte group case interview, and
• The Deloitte behavioral interview question.

Let’s get started!

What the Deloitte Consulting Interview Process Looks Like

Initial application.

The Deloitte Consulting interview process has 4 steps:

• Application
• Online assessment
• First round interviews
• Final round interviews

If you’re a student, make sure you know if you need to apply directly to Deloitte Consulting or through your career center.

As part of your application, you’ll need to submit your resume and, for campus hires, your academic transcript. Research which office you want to apply for as you’ll need to state that at this stage.

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

Deloitte Online Assessment

The second stage of the Deloitte Consulting recruitment process is an online assessment. This assessment tests numerical reasoning and your situational judgment.

Information from recent candidates suggests there are 35 questions split over 5 distinct sections. We’ve got all you need to know about this part of the process in our article, Deloitte Online Assessment: What It Is & How To Pass .

Deloitte Consulting First Round Interviews

If you’re selected for a Deloitte interview you’ll be contacted via your campus career center or direct by the Deloitte recruiting team.

For campus hires, first-round interviews often take place on campus and include one or 2 interviews. These interviews include both case and behavioral interview questions. We’ve heard the cases include market-sizing as well as the non-profit sector.

The same types of interviews are used for non-campus hires.

Deloitte Consulting Final Round Interviews

Final round interviews may take place virtually, on campus, or in a Deloitte office. While the exact format depends on the position you’re applying to, expect both behavioral and case interviews at this stage. Candidates may also have a group case interview.

Deloitte will let you know the outcome of your application within a week of the final round interview.

Case interviews can feel daunting for many candidates. In this section, we’ll cover what type of cases Deloitte uses and how to approach them so you can feel confident in tackling them.

What Exactly Is a Case Interview?

A case interview is an interview conducted within a business context.

The interviewer will present information about a company and a business problem it faces. These 2 elements together are known as a case.

Case interviews can either be candidate-led or interviewer-led depending on who is expected to steer the order in which different aspects of the case are analyzed.

Deloitte case interviews are predominantly candidate-led which means they’ll be looking to you to take control of solving the case — breaking down the problem, choosing a suitable business framework, and asking for appropriate data to fill in the gaps.

What Type Of Cases Does Deloitte Consulting Use?

The branch of Deloitte Consulting you are applying for can influence the business context you receive in the case. There are 3 parts to Deloitte Consulting:

• Strategy and Operations (S&O) focuses on corporate issues such as organizational strategy, supply-chain improvement, operating model transformation, and business process improvements.
• Technology Consulting focuses on technology issues such as digital strategy, IT program delivery, infrastructure and software solutions, and cybersecurity.
• Human Capital focuses on people issues such as organizational transformation, cultural change, knowledge management, and talent acquisition and development.

So, if you were applying for a Human Capital role you might get an organizational transformation case or, if you were applying to S&O you might get an organizational strategy case

Whichever branch you’re applying to, there are going to be certain skills Deloitte Consulting is looking to test through the case interview process.

What Skills Is Deloitte Consulting Looking to Assess?

Deloitte uses case interviews as a way to assess skills it values in its consultants.

• Structured problem solving
• Analytic skills
• A balance of creativity and practicality

Structured Problem Solving

The ability to carefully think through a problem in a structured and logical way, is a key skillset for consultants. You’ll need to be able to break down a business problem to identify and analyze root causes and potential solutions.

Case interviews test this skill by providing lots of data for you to manage within an unfamiliar business context. Your ability to sort through information to pull out what’s most relevant to the issue will be assessed.

Analytic Skills

Deloitte Consulting will assess your numerical ability during the case interview. Make sure you brush up on your math skills in advance of the interview. Our article on Case Math tells you what to expect.

A Balance of Creativity and Practicality

Case interviews give Deloitte recruiters a chance to see how creative you are when searching for an answer to a thorny problem. Clients hire consultants to solve complex, multi-factor problems, not for mundane issues they can solve themselves.

However, innovative thinking needs to be balanced with good business sense. Suggesting solutions that aren’t viable or attractive to the client shows you lack practical business judgment.

Whatever your recommendation, make sure you highlight the risks associated with it and how those could be managed.

Case interviews can feel challenging — very like tackling a real-life client problem! They’re the perfect environment for interviewers to see how comfortable you are with ambiguity and how resilient you are when things get tough.

Whether that’s grappling with a tricky calculation, or struggling to see how the pieces fit together, make sure you don’t give up. Take a breath and give yourself a moment to clear your head. Then jump back in and keep going.

How Do I Tackle a Deloitte Consulting Case Interview?

There are 4 key stages to tackling any case interview:

• Opening . Make sure you fully understand the client’s problem. Repeat back to the interviewer your understanding of the issue so they have a chance to guide you if you’ve misunderstood. Ask any clarification questions you need.
• Structure . Brainstorm all the issues or factors related to the client’s problem that need to be considered. Be explicit about any underlying assumptions you are making to check their accuracy with your interviewer. Organize your thoughts into a logical sequence to make sure you tackle all of them in your analysis.
• Analysis . Gather and review all the data available to you. Data can be communicated directly by your interviewer or come in the form of exhibit. Complete any calculations required. Identify the most important issues and use this to formulate a recommendation.
• Conclusion . Present your findings to the interviewer and give your final recommendation. State any risks associated with the recommendation and how you’d mitigate them. Outline the next steps and the expected result of taking them.

For more information on using these 4 steps to tackle case interviews see Our Ultimate Guide to Case Interview Prep .

Once you’ve got the 4 stages nailed, it’s time to practice! Doing the thinking is only half the battle in a case interview, you’ve also got to effectively communicate your thoughts.

Practicing with friends, people in your network who are also going through the process, or with former consultants who can coach you through it, is critical to your confidence and success.

Links to Sample Deloitte Case Interviews

You can find links to several Deloitte case interviews in our Case Interview Examples article, as well as dozens of cases from other major consulting firms. The Footloose example has a lot of data exhibits so it’s a good one for practicing how to effectively manage information.

In addition, Deloitte has a very helpful tool on their site that helps you practice case interviews. Each of these cases is 15–20 minutes long and presents you with a real-life business problem and a number of questions.

You can prepare your answers to these cases then compare your thoughts to the Deloitte model answers provided.

Our 6 Tips on Acing the Deloitte Case Interview

Tip 1: keep organized notes.

Deloitte case interviews can last up to an hour and have a lot of information to review. Make sure you take organized notes throughout so you don’t forget anything important or miss something in your analysis.

Neat and logical notes also show you can manage large amounts of data effectively.

Tip 2: Ask Questions to Fill In the Gaps

It’s important to fully understand the problem you’re trying to solve. Don’t be afraid to ask clarification questions or for more data to fill in any gaps in your analysis. Asking questions gives the interviewer insight into how you’re approaching the problem.

Tip 3: Take Time to Organize Your Thoughts

Make sure you take your time during the interview to compose yourself and structure your thoughts. It’s tempting to launch into responding straight away but give yourself space to think through your answer first to make sure you don’t miss something or forget an important point.

Tip 4: Utilize a Framework and Develop a Hypothesis

Using a business framework or an issue tree helps you drill down into the heart of the problem. This means you’re more likely to develop a hypothesis that solves the key issue the client is facing.

Keep referring back to your issue tree and hypothesis during your Deloitte interview to make sure your analysis is logical and hasn’t gone down a rabbit hole!

Tip 5: Structure Your Recommendation

Present your analysis in a clear and structured way. Start with the main takeaway — your recommendation. Then walk your Deloitte interviewer through your analysis in a logical way, highlighting the most important points and explaining how they led you to draw the conclusion you have.

Share any assumptions you’ve made to reach your recommendation and also any associated risks. This shows you’ve thought more broadly about the problem in the context of the business as a whole.

Tip 6: Don’t Forget to Breathe!

While case interviews can feel daunting, try not to panic. Viewing the case as a business conversation that showcases your ability to think through a problem, rather than as something that must be solved, can ease the pressure.

As part of the final round assessment, Deloitte Consulting uses group case interviews.

As many of the top consulting firms don’t use group case interviews, candidates can be unsure of what to expect. But, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!

What Happens In the Deloitte Group Case Interview

In Deloitte group case interviews you’ll be organized into a group with 3-6 other candidates. The group will be presented with information about a case that they’ll need to work together to solve.

• For the first 10 minutes, you’ll work alone, or in a pair, to review the information and prepare your thoughts.
• The group will then discuss the problem for 20 minutes, sharing analysis, and preparing a recommendation for the client. During this discussion, interviewers will observe the group to see how you interact with each other.
• For the final 20 minutes, interviewers will ask questions of the group.

Our Top Tips for the Deloitte Group Interview

Group case interviews are your opportunity to stand out against other candidates. Interviewers will be observing the group dynamics and looking for great communication skills, strong analysis, and leadership.

Here are our top tips:

• Add value with your contribution . Everyone knows interviewers are looking for participation but it’s not enough just to speak up during the group case interview — what you say matters. Your contribution should add fresh insights to what’s already been said. This shows good listening and analysis skills.
• Showcase your leadership ability . Leadership isn’t just about speaking first or dominating the conversation. Facilitate the conversation and bring other team members into the discussion if they haven’t had a chance to speak. This shows you value the contribution of others, which links to one of Deloitte’s core values: foster inclusion . Do be proactive about proposing points for discussion, managing time, and bringing the group back on track if you lose focus.
• Recognize others as teammates . While demonstrating leadership is important, it’s equally important to remember you’re trying to deliver value to the client. Make contributions that bring the group closer to a recommendation — don’t sidetrack the discussion just to stand out. Acknowledge the great ideas of others — which shows confidence — and then add to them.
• Summarize the discussion . At the end of the group discussion, summarize the main points of the conversation and state the group’s recommendation. You can also do this throughout the interview, any time when a lot of points have been discussed and a quick recap would be helpful.

This is important as it shows good communication skills and the ability to synthesize large amounts of data. It also makes sure that everyone’s on the same page and clear about the next steps, which is critical when dealing with real-life clients.

For more information on how to ace the group case interview, check out our article .

Deloitte Consulting Behavioral Interview Question

The Deloitte behavioral interview has 2 types of questions: fit questions and personal experience questions.

Fit questions help interviewers judge whether you’d fit into the Deloitte culture. Personal experience questions help them judge whether your skills and personal qualities match those they’re looking for in a consultant.

Top 3 Fit Questions and How To Ace Them

1. Why Do You Want To Work For Deloitte Consulting?

This is the top fit question and for good reason. Deloitte Consulting cares about recruiting people who really want to work there and value its specific culture and approach. 

Consulting firms invest heavily in developing their new recruits and they need you to stay long enough to make that investment worth it. So they’re expecting you to join the firm with eyes wide open.

Tackle this question by having a few good reasons why Deloitte is the company for you. The best answers are personal to you. 

Maybe you’ve been inspired by someone you’ve met from the firm. Or there’s something about Deloitte core values that really matters to you. That’s what recruiters want to hear about.

Deloitte Consulting’s core values are:

• Lead the way
• Serve with integrity
• Take care of each other
• Foster inclusion
• Collaborate for measurable impact

2. Why Consulting?

Consulting can be intense, so consulting firms are genuinely concerned that you understand what’s required of you and have the potential to meet the challenge. This question is your chance to explain why consulting is the career for you.

Whether that’s because you get to work with senior management early in your career or you’re excited about the opportunity to make a difference, make sure you’re clear on your motivation.

3. Tell Me Something About You That’s Not On Your Resume.

It’s easy to curate a polished, professional profile on paper. But interviewers are interested in who you are outside of work too.

This question provides an opportunity for you to talk about something you’re passionate about, and show a more human side. Bear in mind the Deloitte Consulting core values when you’re considering how you’d tackle this question.

For example, maybe you organize a community garden to provide food to local families. Or you spend time as a reading volunteer at your local care home.

Contributions you make as a volunteer can demonstrate your leadership capability as well as other ways you create a positive impact in your daily life.

Personal Experience Questions And How to Approach Them

A typical personal experience question starts with “Tell me about a time when…”

They help the interviewer see how your experience has helped you build the skills that make you suitable for consulting.

Examples include:

• Tell me about a time you disagreed with someone and how you worked through the problem.
• Tell me about a time when you led a team to solve a problem.
• Give me an example of when you had to deal with adversity. How did you resolve it?
• Tell me about a time when you changed someone’s mind on an important topic.
• How did you go about deciding on your class project recommendation?

The best approach to tackling a personal experience question is to tell stories. Stories are engaging and stick in the interviewer’s mind even after a long day.

However, like everything else in the case interview, your answer should be well-thought-through and structured. Don’t just launch into your story without thinking.

We recommend using the A STAR(E) framework to make sure your story is impactful and covers all the main points.

Using the A STAR(E) Framework

The A STAR(E) framework covers the following points:

• Answer . Start with a clear, short answer to the question.
• Situation . Give your story some context. Who were the people involved in the story? When and where did it take place?
• Tension . What was the problem you faced? The conflict or challenge?
• Action . What action did you take to resolve the issue?
• Result . What happened as a result of your action?
• Effect . What did you learn?

The (E) is in parentheses because this won’t be relevant to every story.

Remember the behavioral interview is also an important opportunity to learn more about Deloitte so you can feel confident you’re making the right choice.

In fact, that’s one of 6 key things Deloitte Consulting encourages candidates to bear in mind when tackling the behavioral interview:

• Share personal experiences to illustrate your critical skills and achievements.
• Describe experiences and career/life periods reflected in your resume.
• Focus on the positives of all your past experiences and remain optimistic.
• Use this discussion to learn more about Deloitte Consulting.
• Relax, be yourself, and help us get to know you.
• Use your time wisely; it’s your time, make sure you get your points across.

Learn more about the A STAR(E) framework or about tackling the Fit/Behavioral Interview in our article on Consulting Behavioral Interviews.

In this article, we’ve covered:

• The stages of the Deloitte Consulting interview process,
• What to expect from the Deloitte Consulting case interview,
• Some examples of Deloitte case interviews,
• Our top 6 tips for tackling the Deloitte case interview,
• How to ace the Deloitte group case interview, and
• How to answer Deloitte behavioral interview questions.

Still have questions?

If you have more questions about Deloitte case interview prep, leave them in the comments below. One of My Consulting Offer’s case coaches will answer them.

Other people prepping for the Deloitte case interview found the following pages helpful:

• Our Ultimate Guide to Case Interview Prep
• The Big 4: How Do They Fit Into the Consulting Industry
• Group Case Interview
• Behavioral Interviews
• Deloitte Government & Public Services Case Interview

Help with Consulting Interview Prep

Thanks for turning to My Consulting Offer for advice on Deloitte case interview prep. My Consulting Offer has helped almost 85% of the people we’ve worked with to get a job in management consulting. We want you to be successful in your consulting interviews too. For example, here is how Lindsay was able to get her offer from Deloitte.

2 thoughts on “Deloitte Case Interview: 6 Tips to Help You Ace Your Case”

I was interviewed a week ago for ET&P team lead. It was the campus placement and there was two rounds held on same day first was on case studies and second was PI so want know when they will contact us for the results.

Hi, Aanchal,

Congratulations on making it so far through the Deloitte recruiting process!

To the best way to get clarity on the timing of decisions for a specific position would be to reach out to your recruiter. But our experience is that consulting firms generally get back quickly after on-campus interviews.

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3 Top Strategies to Master the Case Interview in Under a Week

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The Deloitte Case Interview: Your Key to Success in Consulting

• The Interview Structure at Deloitte
• Prepare Yourself Sufficiently
• Take a Structured Approach
• Analytical Excellence is Key
• Communication: The Bridge to Success
• Embracing the Unexpected
• Continuous Learning and Feedback
• The Case Interview at Deloitte: Final Insights
• Further Reading
• Case Interviews at Deloitte

Deloitte, is one of the " Big Four " consulting firms worldwide and has a rigorous interview process. The case interview is not just a test, but a reflection of the real challenges consultants face here every day.

In order to fulfill your consulting dream job at Deloitte, it is important that you are well prepared for the case interview there and know the most important information about the interview structure . Here you will find seven important points to keep in mind during your preparation as well as further literature from Deloitte.

Deloitte's interview process is not just about assessing your analytical skills , but also about understanding your personality , teamwork skills, and adaptability. The combination of behavioral questions , case presentations, and group discussions provides a holistic view of a candidate's fit with the Deloitte culture . Depending on the country you are applying to, the Deloitte interview may vary. In most cases, the interview process consists of two rounds.

The first round of interviews is divided into two parts and includes the Behavioral Interview, which lasts approximately 30 - 45 minutes and concludes with an initial Case Interview, which will also last approximately 30 - 45 minutes.

The second and final round consists of three components:

• Behavioral interview (30 - 45 min)
• Case interview (30 - 45 min)
• Group interview (approx. 1 hour)

Tip: Learn about Deloitte's core values and mission . Aligning your answers with the company's ethics can make a significant difference.

The depth and breadth of your preparation can set you apart. Deloitte's cases are based on real-world scenarios , making it essential for candidates to be well-versed in global events, market trends, and industry-specific challenges .

Tip: Also, take advantage of case interview preparation groups or seek out case partners who have been through Deloitte's interview process before so you can get a feel for the relevant issues that are being actively addressed at Deloitte right now.

A structured approach is like a map during your case interview . It not only guides your thought process, but also ensures that you cover all the essential aspects of the case problem.

Tip: Use frameworks , but don't be limited by them. Adapt your approach to the nuances of the case presented and don't assume that your chosen framework will do the work for you.

In a data-driven world, the ability to dissect information, identify underlying patterns, and develop strategic solutions is invaluable. Deloitte's case interviews are designed to assess these very skills, often under time pressure .

Tip: Practice regularly with different case scenarios to sharpen your analytical thinking and data interpretation skills .

In consulting, the solution is only as good as its presentation. Deloitte emphasizes clear, concise, and effective communication , ensuring that clients not only understand the recommendations, but are convinced of their value.

Tip: Practice with colleagues or mentors and get feedback on your communication style. Focus on clarity, brevity and impact . This will help you especially in the group interview!

The real consulting world is often unpredictable. Deloitte's case interviews reflect this unpredictability and challenge candidates to think spontaneously and adapt to evolving scenarios.

Tip: Stay calm, confident and flexible. Use new information to refine your analysis and recommendations.

The consulting landscape is constantly evolving. Deloitte values individuals who are not only skilled, but also committed to continuous growth and learning. Post-interview feedback is a goldmine of insight and highlights strengths and opportunities for improvement.

Tip: Be open with feedback. Every piece of advice is a step toward your consulting ambitions.

The Deloitte case interview is not just an obstacle; it's an opportunity. With the right attitude, thorough preparation, and a dash of confidence, you can turn this challenge into a milestone for a successful consulting career. Remember that behind every case is a story waiting to be revealed - make it memorable.

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• Deloitte Case Interview Prep
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How to Prepare for Deloitte Management Consulting Case Interviews?

Looking to ace your Deloitte management consulting case interview? Our comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know to prepare for this challenging process, including tips on case study analysis, problem-solving techniques, and effective communication strategies.

Posted August 17, 2023

Featuring Alex S.

De-Mystifying the McKinsey Interview

Wednesday, may 15.

10:00 PM UTC · 45 minutes

Table of Contents

Deloitte is one of the world's leading management consulting firms, known for its excellence in advising global businesses and organizations. If you're aspiring to become a Deloitte consultant, you'll need to prepare thoroughly to ace your interview, which will include management consulting case questions.In this article, we'll take a deep dive into the Deloitte management consulting case interview, including the structure, essential tips for acing it, what to expect, how to research and prepare, key skills you'll need to excel, best practices for answering questions, sample questions and scenarios, common mistakes to avoid, tips on staying calm and confident, how to follow up after your interview, insights from former Deloitte consultants, and resources and tools to help you prepare.

Understanding the Deloitte management consulting case interview structure

The Deloitte case interview usually lasts for about an hour and has two parts. The first part typically includes questions about your resume, your background, your interests, and your experiences. The second part of the interview includes case questions, which are designed to test your problem-solving skills, analytical abilities, and communication skills.The case typically presents a business problem that requires a solution, and you'll be expected to come up with a strategic plan to solve it. The interviewer will assess your ability to gather and analyze information, develop a hypothesis, identify critical issues, and communicate your ideas effectively. You may need to use math, charts, and visuals to support your analysis and recommendations.

In addition to the case questions, Deloitte may also include behavioral questions in the interview. These questions are designed to assess your personality, work style, and ability to work in a team. You may be asked to describe a time when you faced a difficult situation at work and how you handled it, or to give an example of a time when you had to work with a difficult team member.It's important to prepare for the Deloitte case interview by practicing with sample cases and behavioral questions. You should also research the company and its culture, as well as the industry and market trends. This will help you to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the business world, and to show that you are a good fit for Deloitte's consulting team.

Essential tips for acing your Deloitte case interview

To ace your Deloitte case interview, follow these essential tips:

• Practice, practice, practice: Practice with as many case questions as possible, read case studies, and engage in mock interviews with friends, family, or advisors.
• Be clear and concise: Use clear and concise language, avoid jargon, and explain your ideas in a structured and logical way.
• Be creative: Think outside the box and develop innovative solutions that differentiate you from others.
• Be curious: Ask insightful and relevant questions to clarify the problem, gather more information, and show your interest.
• Be confident: Believe in your abilities, speak clearly and confidently, and maintain eye contact.

Aside from the above tips, it is also important to research and understand the company's values, culture, and recent projects. This will help you tailor your solutions to fit the company's goals and objectives.

Furthermore, it is crucial to listen carefully to the interviewer's feedback and adjust your approach accordingly. This shows that you are receptive to feedback and can adapt to different situations.

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What to expect during a Deloitte management consulting case interview

During your Deloitte case interview, you can expect to encounter scenarios such as:

• A company facing declining revenue or declining market share, and you're asked to identify the root cause and recommend ways to improve the situation.
• A new market opportunity emerging and you're asked to develop a market entry strategy.
• An operational challenge arising, such as a supply chain disruption or a product quality issue, and you're asked to diagnose the problem and propose solutions.
• A merger or acquisition taking place, and you're asked to assess its financial and strategic implications, and suggest recommendations.

Additionally, during the Deloitte case interview, you may also be asked to analyze a company's financial statements and identify areas for improvement or growth. You may also be presented with a hypothetical scenario where a client is considering a major business decision, and you're asked to provide a recommendation based on the available information.

How to research and prepare for a Deloitte case interview

To prepare for your Deloitte case interview, you need to:

• Research the company: Understand Deloitte's business model, its services, its clients, its culture, and its values.
• Research the industry: Research and analyze the industry trends, the competitive landscape, the opportunities, and the challenges.
• Build your knowledge: Read business books, attend business conferences, and engage in case discussions with professionals to build your business acumen.
• Practice with case questions: Solve practice cases, read case studies, and engage in mock interviews with experts.

Additionally, it is important to understand the different types of case interviews that Deloitte may conduct. These can include market sizing cases, profitability cases, and business strategy cases. It is important to practice and prepare for each type of case to ensure you are fully prepared for any scenario. It may also be helpful to seek guidance from current or former Deloitte employees to gain insight into their interview experiences and tips for success.

Key skills required to excel in a Deloitte management consulting case interview

To excel in your Deloitte case interview, you'll need to demonstrate the following key skills:

• Problem-solving: Demonstrate your ability to solve complex business problems using data, logic, and creative thinking.
• Analytical skills: Demonstrate your ability to analyze data, identify insights, and develop hypotheses.
• Communication skills: Demonstrate your ability to communicate your ideas in a clear, concise, and structured way, using visuals and math where appropriate.
• Leadership skills: Demonstrate your ability to lead and inspire others, to work in a team, and to influence stakeholders.

Additionally, it is important to showcase your adaptability and flexibility in the face of changing circumstances. Deloitte is known for its fast-paced and dynamic work environment, and being able to adjust to new situations quickly is a valuable skill.

Another key skill to demonstrate is your attention to detail. In consulting, even the smallest mistake can have significant consequences, so it is important to show that you have a meticulous approach to your work and can catch errors before they become bigger problems.

Best practices for answering Deloitte case interview questions

To answer your Deloitte case interview questions, follow these best practices:

• Clarify the problem: Understand the problem statement, ask relevant questions to clarify any ambiguities, and define the scope of your analysis.
• Develop a structure: Develop a logical and structured approach to analyze the problem, outlining your analysis into an issue tree.
• Collect data: Gather relevant data, be it quantitative or qualitative, to support your analysis and hypothesis.
• Analyze data: Analyze the collected data, identify trends and patterns, and use any data points that support your hypothesis in your analysis.
• Develop a hypothesis: Develop a hypothesis that is rooted in data-driven analysis and is tailored to address the problem you clarified earlier.
• Draw conclusions: Use your analysis to draw insightful conclusions that are relevant to the problem statement.
• Recommend solutions: Develop actionable and creative recommendations that address the root cause of the problem and are aligned with the constraints of the case.

Sample questions and scenarios you might encounter during a Deloitte case interview

Here are some examples of questions you might encounter during your Deloitte case interview:

• Why Deloitte?
• How would you advise a Fortune 500 company on its marketing strategy for a new product launch?
• If you were the CEO of a retail pharmacy chain, what would you do to improve the profitability of your operations?
• How would you structure a feasibility study to determine whether a leading e-commerce company should enter the luxury fashion market?
• If a manufacturing company is experiencing declining sales, what are the key questions you would ask to identify the root cause?

Common mistakes to avoid during a Deloitte management consulting case interview

To avoid common mistakes during your Deloitte case interview, avoid:

• Jumping to conclusions without analyzing the data thoroughly.
• Being too rigid in your analysis and not adjusting your approach when needed.
• Not clearly articulating your thought process or hypothesis.
• Being overly confident or aggressive in your communication style.
• Not asking relevant questions to clarify the problem or gather more information.
• Being too focused on finding the "right" answer instead of demonstrating your problem-solving skills and reasoning.

Tips on how to stay calm and confident during your Deloitte case interview

To stay calm and confident during your Deloitte case interview, you can:

• Practice deep breathing or visualization exercises to reduce anxiety and stress.
• Remind yourself that you've prepared extensively and are ready for this challenge.
• Use positive affirmations to boost your confidence, such as "I am a creative problem-solver" or "I can communicate my ideas effectively."
• Focus on the process, not the outcome, and enjoy the challenge of solving a complex problem.
• Use humor or storytelling to break the tension, engage the interviewer and demonstrate your personality.

How to follow up after your Deloitte management consulting case interview

To follow up after your Deloitte case interview, you should:

• Send a thank-you note to the interviewer, expressing gratitude for the opportunity and reiterating your interest in the position.
• Reaffirm your strengths and skills in the thank-you note, highlighting any relevant experiences that you didn't mention in the interview.
• Ask for feedback on your interview performance, and use that feedback to improve your future performance.
• Keep in touch with the interviewer or the Deloitte recruiter, and demonstrate your ongoing interest in the firm and its culture.

Insights from former Deloitte consultants on how they prepared for their interviews

Here are some insights from former Deloitte consultants on how they prepared for their interviews:

• Spend time researching the latest trends in the industry, and get comfortable with market analyses and other types of data.
• Practice interviewing with other consultants or former interviewees, and ask for constructive feedback about your approach and delivery.
• Brush up on your technical skills in math and statistics, as you may be required to apply them in your analysis.
• Use frameworks to organize your problem-solving approach and make it easy for the interviewer to follow your logic.
• Stay relaxed and confident, and don't be afraid to admit when you don't know something.

Resources and tools to help you prepare for your Deloitte management consulting case interview

To help you prepare for your Deloitte management consulting case interview, here are some useful resources and tools:

How to Answer the "Why Deloitte?" Interview Question

• The Deloitte Case Interview Prep Guide
• The Deloitte Consulting Online Practice Tool
• The Vault Guide to Deloitte Consulting
• The McKinsey Case Interview Prep Guide (McKinsey is a competitor to Deloitte in the consulting industry)
• The Case Interview University (an online platform that offers coaching and practice questions for case interviews)
• The Case in Point book by Marc Cosentino (a classic in the industry that offers a comprehensive guide to case interviews)

With these tips, strategies, and resources, you can confidently prepare for your Deloitte management consulting case interview and maximize your chances of success. Good luck!

For expert tips on how to prepare for interviews at other top-tier consulting firms, check out these resources:

• How to prepare for Accenture management consulting case interviews
• How to prepare for PwC management consulting case interviews?
• How to prepare for EY management consulting case interviews?
• How to prepare for Boston Consulting Group management consulting case interviews?

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• The 1%: Conquer Your Consulting Case Interview
• Consulting Career Secrets
• Cover Letter & Resume
• McKinsey Solve Game (Imbellus)
• BCG Online Case (+ Pymetrics, Spark Hire)
• Bain Aptitude Tests (SOVA, Pymetrics, HireVue)
• Kearney Recruitment Test
• All-in-One Case Interview Preparation
• Industry Cheat Sheets
• Structuring & Brainstorming
• Data & Chart Interpretation
• Case Math Mastery
• McKinsey Interview Academy
• Brainteasers

Case Interview Examples (2024): A Collection from McKinsey and Others

Last Updated on January 11, 2024

Whenever you prepare for case interviews, you have to practice as realistically as possible and mimic the real case study interview at McKinsey , BCG , Bain , and others. One way to do this and make your preparation more effective is to practice real cases provided by the firms you apply to.

It will help you to understand what the differences are across firms, how they structure and approach their cases, what dimensions are important to them, and what solutions they consider to be strong.

Below is a steadily expanding selection of real case interview examples provided by different management consulting firms.

Before wasting your money on case interview collection books that use generic cases, use original cases first. Additionally, use professional case coaches, who interviewed for the top firms , to mimic the real interview experience and get real, actionable feedback to improve.

Please be aware that cases are just one part of a typical consulting interview. It is equally important to prepare for behavioral and fit interview questions .

McKinsey Case Interview Examples

• Loravia – Transforming a national education system
• SuperSoda – Electro-light product launch
• GlobaPharm – Pharma R&D
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – Diconsa financial services offering
• Beautify – Customer approach
• Shops – DEI strategy
• Talbot Trucks – Electric truck development
• Conservation Forever – Nature conservation

We have written a detailed article on the McKinsey application process, the McKinsey interview timeline, the typical McKinsey case interview, and the McKinsey Personal Experience interview here . You can expect similar cases regardless of your position (e.g. in a McKinsey phone case interview or interviewing for a McKinsey internship as well as a full-time BA, Associate, or Engagement Manager role).

Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Case interview Examples

• Consumer Goods – Climate strategy
• Banking – Client satisfaction
• Consumer Goods – IT strategy
• Chateau Boomerang – Written case

Bain and Company case interview examples

• NextGen Tech
• FashionCo .

Ace the case interview with our dedicated preparation packages.

Deloitte Case Interview Examples

• Federal Agency – Engagement strategy
• Federal Benefits Provider – Strategic vision
• Apparel – Declining market share
• Federal Finance Agency – Architecture strategy
• MedX – Smart pill bottle
• Federal Healthy Agency – Finance strategy
• LeadAuto – Market expansion
• Federal Bureau – Talent management

Strategy& Case Interview Examples

• Strategy& tips and examples  (case examples included )

Accenture Case Interview Examples

• Accenture interview tips and examples (case examples included )

Kearney Case Interview Examples

• Promotional planning

Roland Berger Case Interview Examples

• Transit-oriented development Part 1
• Transit-oriented development Part 2
• 3D printed hip implants Part 1
• 3D printed hip implants Part 2

Oliver Wyman Case Interview Examples

• Wumbleworld – theme park
• Aqualine – boats

LEK Case Interview Examples

• Video case interview example (currently unavailable)
• Market sizing video example
• Brainteaser (scroll to the bottom of the page)

Simon Kucher Case Interview Examples

• Smart phone pricing

OC&C Case Interview Examples

• Imported whiskey in an emerging market – business strategy
• Leisure clubs – data interpretation

Capital One Case Interview Examples

• How to crack case interviews with Capital One (includes case examples)

Bridgespan Case Interview Examples

• Robinson Philanthropy – Strategy
• Reach for the Stars – Student success
• Home Nurses for New Families – Expansion strategy
• Venture Philanthropy – Charity

Consulting Clubs Case Interview Books

Contact us at [email protected] for a collection of consulting club case interview books (from Harvard, ESADE, LBS, Columbia, etc.).

How We Help You Ace Your Case Interviews

We have specialized in placing people from all walks of life with different backgrounds into top consulting firms both as generalist hires as well as specialized hires and experts. As former McKinsey consultants and interview experts, we help you by

• tailoring your resume and cover letter to meet consulting firms’ highest standards
• showing you how to pass the different online assessments and tests for McKinsey , BCG , and Bain
• showing you how to ace McKinsey interviews and the PEI with our video academy
• coaching you in our 1-on-1 sessions to become an excellent case solver and impress with your fit answers (90% success rate after 5 sessions)
• preparing your math to be bulletproof for every case interview
• helping you structure creative and complex case interviews
• teaching you how to interpret charts and exhibits like a consultant
• providing you with cheat sheets and overviews for 27 industries .

Reach out to us if you have any questions! We are happy to help and offer a tailored program to help you break into consulting.

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Florian spent 5 years with McKinsey as a senior consultant. He is an experienced consulting interviewer and problem-solving coach, having interviewed 100s of candidates in real and mock interviews. He started StrategyCase.com to make top-tier consulting firms more accessible for top talent, using tailored and up-to-date know-how about their recruiting. He ranks as the most successful consulting case and fit interview coach, generating more than 500 offers with MBB, tier-2 firms, Big 4 consulting divisions, in-house consultancies, and boutique firms through direct coaching of his clients over the last 3.5 years. His books “The 1%: Conquer Your Consulting Case Interview” and “Consulting Career Secrets” are available via Amazon.

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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

Written Case Interview Guide: Format, Criteria & Examples

Written case interview, though less popular than regular oral  case interview , is a powerful recruitment tool since they simulate the actual consultant's daily work. BCG, Bain, PwC, and Deloitte are some well-known consulting firms using this interview format.

We will go through a complete guide for you to pass the written case interview: the format, how to prepare, and how to deliver your written case presentation.

Table of Contents

What is a written case interview?

Written case interview is a type of case interview often used in management consulting. The candidates need to prepare to deliver a full pitch, solving a business case like an actual consultant. 

Although each firm has its own interview formats, a written case interview typically consists of four phases: receiving the case’s document, making slides based on calculation and analysis, delivering a presentation and Q&A with the interviewers. 

The most distinctive feature of a written case interview is that the candidates have time to prepare for their presentation (from 2 days in advance to 1 hours before the interview) since a written case interview involves piles of information that take a vast amount of time to analyze.

Notably, the candidates must prepare slides to present their findings and recommendations for the case. This makes written case interviews closely simulate the real work of a consultant before and during a meeting with a client.

When to take a written case interview?

Written case interviews often take place after the candidates have passed the CV screening and online tests round in management consulting recruitment. 

Written case interviews are less prevalent than the standard case interview, yet many consulting firms, including BCG, PwC, Deloitte, etc., still utilize written case interviews.

What is assessed in a written case interview?

Like all case interviews, the written case interview aims to assess how the candidate demonstrates the traits expected from a successful management consultant, including leadership, achieving mentality, and problem-solving skills.

Leadership : the ability to influence other people to work in collaboration. The nature of consultant work is to collaborate in a team and manage a vast network (of industry experts, supporting teams, and clients). Therefore, leadership is one of the essential qualities in management consulting.

Achieve mentality : management consultants never have a work-life balance because the challenges are immense and hard with pressing deadlines. You must do your best to show your ability to deliver the best work under pressure .

Problem-solving skills : consultants must be the best at breaking down business issues into smaller parts to find the root cause. And everything must be data-driven . The whole consulting profession is built on analytical problem-solving ability.

In addition, two particular skills that written case interviews will assess are

In-depth analytic skills : consultants must process an enormous amount of data daily. Therefore, candidates must possess the ability to analyze the information and gain in-depth insights as fast as possible .

Consultant-style pitching presentation : one of the crucial parts of a consultant's daily life is presenting their ideas to their clients. This is the whole point of working as a consultant - you must deliver your solutions to your client in a structured, data-driven manner .

Process of a written case interview

In the written case interview, there are generally four stages that a candidate must go through, including:

Stage 1 : Receive the case

Stage 2 : Prepare slides: hypothesis, insights, evidence and solutions

Stage 3 : Deliver the presentation

Stage 4 : Q&A with the interviewer

Stage 1: Receive the case

In this stage, the candidates will receive the case and related materials containing all the data. The materials could be printed Powerpoint slides or printed A4 pages. The length of the materials often ranges from 20-40 pages .

Note: Depending on the firms, the case and materials would be given to the candidates on the day of the interview (BGC, Bain) or before the interview day (PwC)

Stage 2: Prepare slides( hypothesis, insights, evidence, and solutions)

The candidates will review all the given materials and select, analyze, and interpret data into insights to back up their hypotheses and recommendations. In this stage, we need to craft presentation slides with the summary, findings, charts, and recommendations   (it could be handwritten or PowerPoint, depending on the firm) 

Stage 3: Deliver the presentation

After their preparation stage, candidates will present their findings and recommendations before the interviews. Their presentation should include a case summary, hypothesis, backing-up charts/graphs/insights, and recommendations.

Stage 4: Q&A with the interviewer

The session often lasts about 15-30 minutes , depending on the firms and the interviewers. Usually, the interviewer will ask the candidates questions regarding their findings and challenge their analysis to ensure they fully prepare and understand their findings. 

During consulting interviews, interviewers may rigorously question your assumptions or conclusions. This does not necessarily indicate an incorrect answer. 

Rather, it is an evaluation of your ability to defend and substantiate your recommendations under pressure.

Written case interview example

BCG, Bain, and Deloitte provide written case interview examples on their official site so that the candidates can have an overview of the written case interview example.

BCG Written Case Example - Chateau Boomerang Case

Deloitte Written Case Example - Footloose Case

Bain Written Case Example - Coffee Shop Co. Case

Bain Written Case Example - FashionCo. Case

However, the resources for written case interviews are limited, so there are alternatives. Since the written case interviews shared similar fundamentals with regular case interviews, you can look at the example of a case interview.

Which firms use written case interviews?

Although becoming less prevalent in consultant recruitment, some firms still employ written case interviews as a part of their recruitment process. Typical firms for using this type of interview are BCG, Bain, PwC, Deloitte

Bain's written case interview

Bain is a prominent consulting firm known for its practice of employing written case interviews as part of its candidate evaluation process. These written cases are frequently included in the final rounds of their interviews. 

However, not all candidates applying to Bain undergo written case interviews. This particular interview format is more common in Bain's European and Asian offices, as well as in its Greater China offices , and is less commonly used in North America.

There are some notices about the Bain case interview process you should keep in mind:

• Question format: candidates will receive  20 - 30 printed slides that provide a business's situation.
• Response format: Bain will provide 4 - 6 slides that have pre-filled information, some of which may have blank charts or just titles. Candidates need to complete it by doing analysis and calculations.
• Preparation: candidates have 55 - 60 minutes to review the slides,calculate data and script your recommendations into handwritten slides. Candidates will not be allowed to use the calculator.
• Presentation: candidates will have 30 - 40 minutes to present their work and answer all of the interviewer's follow-up questions.

Read more: Bain Case Interview

BCG written case interview

BCG is another renowned consulting firm that employs written case interviews in select offices, although it's not a universal practice across all locations. 

This format is used in certain U.S. offices, as well as in countries like Russia, Sweden, the Netherlands, and South Africa . While the prevalence of written case interviews has decreased, it's still a format you might encounter when interviewing with BCG.

The BCG written case interview have some specific differences compare with Bain:

• Question format: candidates will receive  40 - 50 printed documents that provide a business's situation and 3–4 main questions they want you to address
• Response format: BCG will provide blank slides. Candidates need to decide how many slides to make and how to design and organize them properly with their answer
• Preparation: candidates have 120 minutes to review the slides,calculate data and script your recommendations into handwritten slides. Candidates will be allowed to use the calculator.
• Presentation: candidates will have 40 - 50 minutes to present their work and answer all of the interviewer's follow-up questions.

Read more: BCG Case Interview

PwC written case interview

Among the Big Four consulting firms, PwC stands out for incorporating written case interviews in specific office locations. 

Notably, PwC's Strategy& division employs written case interviews during the final round of their assessment process. It's worth noting that PwC's approach to written case interviews differs from other firms in this regard.

Here are some notes on the format of the PwC written case interview:

• Question format: candidates will receive a stack of documents 48 hours before the interview/presentation that provide a business's situation .
• Response format: candidates need to make their own PowerPoint slides with their recommendations and backup evidence
• Preparation: candidates have 2 days to review, analyze and prepare for the slides at home
• Presentation: candidates will have 20 - 30 minutes to present their work and 15-30 minutes Q&A conversation with the interviewers.

Deloitte written case interview

Deloitte (or Monitor Deloitte) is reported to have written case interviews. However, whether they still have written case interviews in their recruitment process is inconclusive. The Deloitte written case interview format is quite similar to that of Bain.

• Question format: candidates will receive 15 - 30 printed printed slides that provide a business's situation.
• Response format: Deloitte will provide blank slides. Candidates need to decide how many slides to make and how to design and organize them properly with their answer
• Preparation: candidates have 50 - 60 minutes to review the slides,calculate data and script your recommendations into handwritten slides.
• Presentation: candidates will have a total 40 minutes to present their work and answer all of the interviewer's follow-up questions.

To ensure your offer for Deloitte, you should prepare for regular and written case interviews. Find out more about the Deloitte case interview here .

How to prepare for a written case interview

You need good preparation strategies to ace your written case interview and land your consultant offer. There are 6 tips for you to better prepare for your written case interview, including:

Enhance fast reading skills

Practice consulting math.

Craft your data-analyzing skills

Learn the fundamentals of case interview

Learn to make consulting-style slides

Conduct mock case interview

Your reading speed could save a lot of time in the data-analyzing stage. This is extremely necessary in a written case interview since you have too much information but not much time

As an actual consultant, it is important to scan through the materials quickly to locate and filter the most important information to put into use while being loaded with piles to piles of data.

However, it takes practice to read faster and know what information to note down. We recommend two tips for practicing fast reading.

1. Apply two speed reading techniques: Trackers and Pacers (use an object to guide your eyes in a steady pace and straight movement) and Perceptual Expansion (focus on capturing the full line of sentences rather than word-by-word).

2. Practice with a mock case  to increase your ability to choose what information in the materials you need to notice to support your hypothesis. This helps you improve reading speed and locate the specifically required data faster

Candidates' mental math skills are tested thoroughly and rigorously during interviews because a consultant works with numbers and statistics like an everyday thing. 

Although you are allowed to use a calculator, pulling out a calculator every time you need to perform any math is extremely time-consuming, and it certainly doesn't help your professional image during negotiations.

Some first find consulting math difficult, but you may ease into the process while still getting the most out of your practice by using some approaches, like:

Train your brain : Do your daily calculations mentally unless an EXACT response is necessary.

Begin with little steps at first : A piece of scratch paper and a 5% margin of calculation error are helpful; once you are confident, throw away the paper and reduce the margin.

Create a routine : Set aside time each day for math practice ; it can be challenging at first, but once you get beyond the inertia, you'll see the progress.

Read more: Consulting Math Prep Guide 

Craft your data-analyzing skill

Data analyzing skill is the foundation of the hypothesis-driven approach in consulting. You process the data to find the root cause, develop a hypothesis and back up your recommendation. 

To enhance these skills, one needs to master three data-analyzing processes: Analyze, Contextualize and Interpret.

Analyze : Quickly read and calculate the data presented in the chart/table/graph. Keep in mind the case question to know which data to locate and do the math. For instance, you have to find the data to answer the question, “What is the overall market size?”

Contextualize : Put your understanding into the case's overall context and the current discussion's specific context. A contextualized question could be, “Is the market big enough, given our client’s existing operations?”

Interpret : Present your business insights, and continue the case in the right direction by asking relevant questions. An example of an interpretation is, “The new market seems to be twice as large as our existing market, with the fragmented competition. I would like to test the hypothesis that this is a suitable market to penetrate”.

To enhance your data analyzing skills for your written case interview, you should practice data interpretation skills (reading charts, tables, graphs…) . You can practice more your data interpretation with our Numerical Reasoning Package .

All the fundamental knowledge of regular case interviews is still applied to the written case interview. 

This means you must learn all the basic concepts of the case interview, such as issue tree, MECE, structured communication, and hypothesis-driven top-down analysis.

MConsultingPrep offers the Case Interview End-to-End program - which covers all the fundamental concepts, framework, tips, and techniques for your strong foundation to crack the case interview. Check it out now!

Learn to make the perfect consultant-style slides

As an actual consultant, the final product of your work is the presentation slides with all your root-cause findings and recommendations for the case. 

In some firms such as MBB, you won't be the one who needs to “decorate” the slides - however, your job is to organize the layout of graphs, tables, findings, and recommendations in “consulting style” so that the slide-makers can create the final product for your client pitching.

We have a whole article on how to craft and present MBB-consulting-style slides . Check it out to learn the step-by-step guide.

After you have understood the fundamentals of a case interview, doing a mock interview is a great approach to get a sense of what to expect in the actual case interview. 

Find a former consultant to assist you with your practice; they've gone through countless case interviews, both actual and simulated, and they understand what's expected of a candidate - therefore, they can give you detailed feedback on what you need to improve.

MConsultingPrep now offers a coaching platform for you to connect and practice mock case interviews with ex-MBB-consultant coaches. You will have the chance to get personalized feedback on your strengths and weaknesses and direct guidance to maximize your performance in the written case interview. Book a coach with us now !

Tips for pitching a perfect written case interview

Under the time pressure, there are a lot of things that can go wrong with your presentation. You need an effective strategy to maximize your performance during the pitch of the written case interview. 

Tip 1: Have a timing plan for the presentation

During the written case interview, you will not have much time but many tasks to do, thus, you should set a specific time limit for each task to guarantee an effective time management.

When that time limit is about to pass, stop what you're doing (for example, skimming data) and move on to the next (structuring the problem).

With such time pressure, errors are inevitable. Therefore, though a real-time box for each activity would add up to the preparation time for the case, you should allow some time for contingency.

Tip 2: Focus on the question you need to answer

During consulting written case interviews, time is limited, making it impossible to present all your analyses and hypotheses. Thus, you should prioritize addressing the most crucial questions , as they significantly influence your recommendation. 

It's crucial to have a clear understanding of the question before delving into the slides since the way you structure your thoughts on each slide affects your final answer.

Ensure that each slide's title should be meaningful and contributes to the logical flow of your entire pitch. 

Summarizing your recommendation at the end is essential, your response should weave a cohesive narrative, presenting a unified story rather than isolated answers.

Tip 3: Take note of key information

When you have so much information but time is limited, filtering out the important information you need is a must. Hence, looking for the highlights in the data, and then dig into the proof.  

Starting with a clear objective can help you filter out extraneous information and zero in on the data that matters, such as that which provides answers to the case or backs up your results.

Tip 4: Present the solution first

Real consultants do it in their job; their presentations and pitches begin with the conclusions and chart titles with the most critical insights. The clients care little about the procedures; what matters is the outcome.

You are a potential consultant; therefore, maintain the same manner throughout case interviews, particularly written case interviews. Here is the 5-step procedure for you to apply in the written case presentation, including:

Recap the case question.

State your suggestion.

Provide justification for your proposal.

List any risks associated with your proposal.

Retain the customer by recommending the following actions.

Tip 5: Reinforce conclusions with back-up data

When you come to a conclusion during a case interview, it's important to back it up with qualitative and quantitative reasoning. 

One mistake some candidates make is they overlook the potential insights that raw data can provide. It is both possible and crucial to substantiate your conclusions using the given data. 

In consequence, incorporating numerical data whenever feasible strengthens and avoids making statements lacking support from clearly defined facts or assumptions. 

Scoring in the McKinsey PSG/Digital Assessment

The scoring mechanism in the McKinsey Digital Assessment

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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

Some firms will ask you to do case interview with a group of other candidates. It is not a zero-sum game, everyone can win if you all perform well

Talking like a consultant is effective in impress interviewer during the case interview. Many applicants make the mistake of using cliched terms on the internet

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Case Interview: Complete Prep Guide

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Welcome to our preparation tips for case interviews!  Whether you are just curious about case interviews or are planning to apply for consulting internships or full-time jobs, these tips and resources will help you feel more prepared and confident.

A case interview is a role playing exercise in which an employer assesses how logically and persuasively you can present a case. Rather than seeing if you get the “correct” answer, the objective is to evaluate your thought process. ( Adapted with permission from Case In Point: Complete Case Interview Preparation by Marc Cosentino). 

Case interviews are very commonly used in the interview process for consulting firms and companies in similar industries. In the case interview, you will typically be given a business problem and then asked to solve it in a structured way. Learning this structure takes preparation and practice. You can learn more and practice using the resources listed below.  

Why are Case Interviews Used?

Case interviews allow employers to test and evaluate the following skills:

• Analytical skills and logical ability to solve problems
• Structure and thought process
• Ability to ask for relevant data/information
• Tolerance for ambiguity and data overload
• Poise and communication skills under pressure and in front of a client

How can I prepare for Case Interviews?

1.) Read Management Consulted’s “Case Interview: Complete Prep Guide (2024)”

Management Consulted is a FREE resource for Tufts students : case and consulting resources such as 500 sample cases, Case Interview Bootcamp,  Market Sizing Drills, Math Drills, case videos, consulting firm directory, and more

2.) Review additional resources:

• Case in Point – This book, by Marc Cosentino, is a comprehensive guide that walks you through the case interview process from beginning to end. This guide has helped many students over the years and can serve as an excellent foundation for how to approach business problems
• Casequestions.com – The companion website to Marc Cosentino’s book listed above offers preparation for case interviews, along with links to top 50 consulting firms
• Management Consulting Case Interviews: Cracking The Case – tips for case interviews from the other side of the table, from Argopoint, a Boston management consulting firm specializing in legal department consulting for Fortune 500 companies
• Preplounge.com – Free case preparation access for to up to 6 practice interviews with peers, selected cases, and video case solutions
• RocketBlocks – Features consulting preparation such as drills and coaching
• Practice sample online cases on consulting firm websites such as McKinsey , BCG , Bain , Deloitte and more!  

3.) Schedule a mock case interview appointment with  Karen Dankers or Kathy Spillane , our advisors for the Finance, Consulting, Entrepreneurship, and Business Career Community.

4.) PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE cases out loud on your own (yes, that can feel odd) or preferably, with another person. See #2 and #3 above for resources and ideas to find partners to practice live cases

5.) Enjoy and have fun solving business problems!