Schedule mock interviews on the Meeting Board, join the latest community discussions in our Consulting Q&A and find like-minded Interview Partners to connect and practice with!

Chris

on Apr 14, 2018

Global

Case examples based on interviewer's focus area

Hi!

Quite unexpectedly I got a final round interview with a global firm (not MBB) and I'm pushing myself as hard as I can to prepare.

I'm trying to guess what are the possible cases I could receive based on my interviewer's profile which is pretty concentrated and interesting. What cases would you look at in the first place?

# Interviewer A

- strategic sourcing

- procurement

- cost benchmarking

- cost optimization & transformation

- due diligence

- market analysis for PE, consumer, retail, financial services

I know it's kind of difficult to predict but do you know some good procurement/cost-centric cases?

Thanks!

Christian

3.4k

Be the first to answer!

Nobody has responded to this question yet.

Top answer

Francesco

Coach

on Apr 15, 2018

#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success: ➡ interviewoffers.com | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi Chris,

I would suggest the following approach:

Download 4-5 MBA consulting handbooks. You should find many of them online for free.
Filter by procurement/costs. Sometimes you may also find a division by firm.
Read the cases trying to structure your own approach first, or ask a friend to help you as the interviewer for the case.

As Vlad mentioned, there is no guarantee you will necessarily receive a case based on procurement/costs, I would suggest thus to prepare on the other common type of cases as well (revenues increase, new product, market entry, market sizing, etc).

Best,

Francesco

Henry

on Apr 15, 2018

Congrats, sounds like ATK, if I'm right, they do have some official cases online a few years ago, you can google it.

Vlad

Coach

on Apr 15, 2018

McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

There is not much value in that guessing:

The correlation of cases with the interviewer's profile is not that high
Your interviewer's background is quite diverse
Consultants do so many projects in various industries and functions that the number of outcomes (cases) becomes even bigger

I would recommend concentrating on the case prep and finding the partners who can give you a great feedback.

Best!

Deleted user

on Apr 15, 2018

For final rounds usually correlation is actually pretty high with specialization if interviewer. However trying to guess and prepare for specific topics feels to much of a gamble to me, especially if the profile they provided you with is outdated (I know interviewing partners that didn’t update their profiles for 5-7 years!). My suggestion is to I’ve some emphasis to those topics, but not focus exclusively.

Funny, when I read that list of topics I also thought about ATK or Alix.

Hope it helps,

andrea

Top Answer by

Francesco

Coach

#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success: ➡ interviewoffers.com | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Approaching a Case

Case interviews can be overwhelming, but they are one of the most important parts in the hiring process. These interviews allow companies to assess your problem-solving skills, your ability to structure complex problems, and how well you communicate your solutions.A case interview isn't just about finding the "right" answer – it's about how you think. The best way to approach any case is to stay organized, break the problem into manageable parts, and explain your thinking clearly. In this guide, we'll walk you through the key steps to excel in a case interview, avoiding common mistakes, and standing out against the competition. Why Case Studies Matter in InterviewsCase studies are used in interviews because they simulate real business challenges, testing your ability to solve difficult problems under pressure. More than your technical skills, interviewers are looking for:Problem-solving abilities: Can you break down a complicated issue into smaller, more manageable parts?Prioritization and management: Can you identify the most important elements of a case and address them first?Communication: Are you able to clearly and logically explain your thinking process?Your performance in a case interview shows how you think on your feet and whether you'd be able to handle the challenges that arise in the job. A structured approach to the problem is key, and this is where your preparation can really pay off.

View article

McKinsey Interview 2025 – Get Useful Advice from an Ex Consultant

Prepare for the McKinsey case interview with typical interview questions & practice cases!

View article