Get ready and learn how to prepare for a case study interview

Depending on your field and level of expertise, you may encounter a case study interview during your job search process. This type of interview is designed to gauge your skills in dealing with real-world scenarios that the company has faced, and assess how you’d deal with it. 

This type of interview can be very challenging, and requires some advance planning. But with our expert tips and advice, you can learn how to prepare for a case study interview and pass it with confidence.

What is a case study interview?

A case study interview is much like it sounds: you’re presented with a real-world scenario and then asked to analyze it, come up with a hypothetical solution, and provide recommendations. If it sounds like they’re testing you to see whether you can do the job, it’s because they are. 

The interviewer is also assessing your problem-solving abilities and how you work under pressure. Since you’ll probably be asked to explain your response, they’ll be measuring your communication and strategic thinking skills as well.

Case study interviews are more common if you’re interviewing for a role that requires strong analytical and problem-solving skills and experience, especially if it’s a management or consulting position. 

Fields that often use case study interview questions include:

• Finance

• Investment banking

• Technology

• Pharmaceuticals

• Healthcare

• Product management

Types of case study interviews

In general, case study interview questions will fall into one of the following categories:

1. Business case, involving a detailed question about a business scenario.

2. Profitability framework, i.e., “What should XYZ Company do about revenues?”

3. Brainteaser, such as “How many marbles would fit in this office?”

4. Market sizing, in which the candidate calculates the annual sales of a good or service.

5. Market study, to assess how a company should enter a new market and/or grow revenue.

A case study interview may be interviewer-led, in which the interviewer leads the candidate through the scenario with a preset series of questions. Or it may be interviewee-led, where the candidate is given a prompt and expected to walk the interviewer through their analysis, solution, and recommendation. 

There is also a written format, in which candidates are given information to sort through, write their conclusion, and present to the interviewer or a panel.

How to prepare for a case study interview

Depending on the field and company, you may or may not receive case study questions in advance. Don’t worry if not, because the process for learning how to prepare for a case study interview remains the same either way. 

Some of these steps will probably seem familiar, because they're similar to your usual interview preparation, although you may have to go a little more in-depth.

Do deeper research into the company

You’re already going to be researching the company during your usual interview prep, including its mission, values, and company culture. But a case study interview requires a much deeper dive into the clients the company has and the problems it faces. 

However, remember to keep it relevant to the position. For example, if you’re interviewing for a tech role, you don’t need to learn all about the company’s HR department, unless it is actually applicable.

Find out what the format will be

Chances are that you’ll be told what type of format your interview will be: interviewer-led, interviewee-led, or written/presentational. If you’re not told, it’s also okay to ask. Or you can check out the company website; the answers are often there. 

Some companies will also give you some pre-interview advice in advance, which might include the format, some helpful tips, and perhaps even some practice questions. Take advantage of these—it’s invaluable practice!

Become familiar with case study interview questions

You’re undoubtedly familiar with common interview questions, but with case study interview questions, it’s hard to know exactly what you’ll be asked (unless you’re given the questions in advance). 

That said, case study interview questions will usually fall into one or more of these categories:

• Breaking into new markets

• Boosting profits

• Cost cutting

• Mergers and acquisitions

• Pricing strategy

• Product development

• Industry analysis

You can often find sample case studies online, so pinpoint one or two that are relevant to your industry and practice them, ideally with a friend or colleague. You can rehearse how you’ll walk through the scenario, give insight into your thought process, and explain how you arrived at your conclusion.

Learn how to create a case framework

It won’t help to simply ramble through your answer; you need to create a framework on which to build your response. Not only will this show that you know what you’re talking about, it will also demonstrate your ability to break down large amounts of information into manageable and digestible chunks. 

While the framework for your case study answer will vary based on your industry, you’ll want to start by creating some sort of “issue tree,” which breaks down the problem into subgroups or “branches.”

Practice outlining your response

No matter the case study question, you’ll want to take the same approach to your answer in terms of how you explain it to the interviewer. 

Here are some tips on the best way to do that:

1. Ensure that you fully understand the issue being asked. Ask clarifying questions if you need to.

2. Create an outline of the “branches” on the “issue tree” and how you would go about solving each one.

3. Concisely state your findings and/or recommendations based on these solutions.

4. Identify the projected outcome of your recommendations and any next steps that would need to be taken.

Take this approach when working on your practice questions. Remember, it’s not about being “right.” The interviewer wants to understand how you came to your answer. The goal is to be able to clearly explain your understanding of the problem, your thought process in analyzing it, and how you came to your conclusion.

8 Additional tips for a successful case study interview

If you’ve practiced sample questions ahead of time (which is highly recommended), you’ll already have a leg up. 

But here are eight more tips for how to ace a case study interview:

1. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Whether it’s explaining an acronym or defining what they consider a successful increase in profitability, ask for clarification when you need it.

2. Go with the flow. The case study questions may come at any point in the interview. Stay focused on what they’re asking you at the moment (using the STAR method to respond), and deal with the case study question when it comes.

3. Don’t rush. The interviewer likely won’t be sitting there with a stopwatch. Take your time, talk through the problem, and use your skills and experience to solve the issue.

4. If you’re a visual thinker, it’s okay to use a pen and paper to map out your analysis and solutions.

5. Use your past experience to arrive at and explain your response, if relevant to the position you’re interviewing for.

6. Exercise your “math muscles.” Whether it’s a brain teaser question or a question about money, you’re likely going to have to do some math in your head—no calculator allowed. Brush up on your mental math skills and rehearse arriving at a number out loud.

7. Take notes. You won’t remember everything you are asked, so it’s a good idea to take notes so that you have a written record to refer back to.

8. Read industry magazines and journals ahead of time to make sure that you’re aware of current news and trends.

Examples of case study interview questions

While every company and field is different, here are a few sample case study interview questions you might encounter to get you started:

• How much time would it take to move an average size mountain 20 miles using a standard-sized haul truck?

• Your client is a movie theater and the market is so saturated that they make no money on ticket sales, only on candy and snacks. What is the best way to lay out the movie theater to maximize profits, and why?

• The client is Apple Computers in 1986, a few years prior to their invention of the Macintosh computer. They’re asking you to estimate the market demand for personal computers over the next 20 years and prove that there is a profitable market for this product.

• Our client is a shoe company that has seen a large increase in sales after partnering with an internet influencer. Despite this boost in sales volume, the company’s profits are still in the red. How can you get the client into the black?

Need some help preparing for your next interview? Check out career.io’s Interview Prep, with customized interview questions and expert feedback designed to boost your skills and help you ace your next interview.

Key takeaways

1. In a case study interview, you’re presented with a real-world scenario and then asked to analyze it, come up with a hypothetical solution, and provide recommendations based on your experience.

2. The two most common types of case study interviews are interviewer-led, in which the interviewer leads the candidate through the scenario with a preset series of questions, and interviewee-led, where the candidate is given a prompt and expected to walk the interviewer through their analysis, solution, and recommendation.

3. Some tips for how to prepare for a case study interview include researching the company, familiarizing yourself with frameworks, outlining your responses, and practicing example case study interview questions.