Case study including a PowerPoint presentation, followed by a pitch

Hi Louis,

For this kind of case, the setup is of course different from a typical consulting interview case. Some elements remain the same, while others are very specific to the PowerPoint presentation format.

1) What remains the same
You will still need to demonstrate the core consulting skills:

• Structuring a problem
• Working in a hypothesis-driven way
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Solid math skills
• Strong communication skills

2) What is specific to this format
Here, you are not just thinking through the problem in a conversation with the interviewer, but presenting your solution in PowerPoint. The most important thing is to communicate in a top-down way:

• Start with your recommendation
• Break it down into 3–4 supporting arguments
• Back up each argument with data points or insights from the case materials

3) Suggested storyline

• (Optional) A short introduction & recap of the problem
• Recommendation page: your conclusion upfront, with 3 key supporting pillars
• Supporting slides: one slide per pillar, each backed by data/analysis
• Next steps page: closing with pragmatic actions to move forward

This way, your presentation mirrors the flow of a live case interview, but translated into slides. Of course, this can vary depending on the content of the case and potentially on the interviewers' instructions.

4) Additional skills to train

• Building clean PowerPoint pages under time pressure
• Writing action-oriented titles that clearly highlight insights
• Ensuring your storyline flows logically from start to finish

Please feel free to reach out to me via DM to discuss how we can work together to prepare. All the best!

Cheers,
Kevin

Hi Louis,

For this type of case, the key is that you’ll need to both solve the case and communicate it in a structured, visual way in PowerPoint. The 45 minutes are usually split like this: ~25–30 minutes to structure, analyze, and decide on your recommendation, and ~15–20 minutes to translate your thinking into 3–4 clean slides.

A few points to prepare:

1. Frameworks still help – You can use the same MECE (mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive) logic as in “normal” cases. Start with a clear structure (e.g., market/competitors/financials/risks, or whichever is most relevant) to guide your analysis. What’s different is that you won’t “think out loud” with the interviewer – you’ll be doing most of it solo, so your structure must be sharp from the start
2. Slide-building – Practice making concise slides fast. Typical structure:
   • Slide 1: Executive summary / recommendation
   • Slide 2: Supporting analysis (market/financials/customer insights)
   • Slide 3: Risks / alternatives / implementation
   • Optional: One deep dive slide (e.g., numbers or benchmark
3. The pitch – In the 15 minutes, don’t read your slides. Instead, walk through them as if you’re advising a client: lead with the recommendation, then explain the evidence, then close with implications.
4. Preparation tips
   • Practice timed 45-min solo cases from online sources or books.
   • Take 1–2 example cases and actually make slides in PowerPoint under time pressure.
   • Get comfortable with very simple charts (bar, waterfall, table) and clean titles that state the “so what.”

Use a normal case framework, but tailor it to be output-driven. Your end goal isn’t just the right answer – it’s a recommendation packaged into a professional mini-deck and delivered clearly.

Happy to help you prep – feel free to reach out.

Best,

Evelina

Yes — you should still use a case framework, but adapt it to the deliverable. In this setup the interviewer is testing two things:

1. Your problem-solving (can you structure and prioritize quickly)
2. Your communication (can you synthesize into clear slides and present like a consultant)

Here’s how to prepare:

During the 45 minutes

• Structure first (5–7 mins): Write down a MECE framework like in a “normal” case. Prioritize 2–3 key areas — you won’t have time to boil the ocean.
• Crunch numbers (10–15 mins): Do the essential math, but keep it clean. Show directionality rather than over-engineering.
• Slide draft (20–25 mins): Translate your structure → findings → recommendation into 2–3 slides. Use a simple pyramid:
   
  • Slide 1: Key recommendation (headline takeaway).
  • Slide 2: Supporting analysis (charts, numbers, drivers).
  • Slide 3 (optional): Risks / next steps.
• 
   
• Polish (3–5 mins): Check consistency, make sure each slide “speaks for itself.”

During the 15-minute pitch

• Open with your recommendation up front (like an executive summary).
• Walk through slides logically (don’t read word-for-word).
• Close with risks + next steps (shows maturity).

How to prepare

• Practice short written cases (IGotAnOffer, CaseCoach, PrepLounge drills).
• Rehearse making mini-slides (PowerPoint or even paper sketches).
• Time yourself: 30–40 mins to solve, 10–15 mins to turn into slides.
• Focus on clarity and story, not fancy design — simple boxes, titles, and charts win. 
  
  Think of it as a normal case, but with the added step of packaging your insights like a consultant.

Hi Louis, this is a great question. A written case with a presentation is quite different from the classic interviewer-led 20–30 minute case. The good news is that the underlying skills are the same, you just need to adjust how you apply them.

1. Manage your time wisely
You have 45 minutes, which is tight. A good split could look like this:

• 5 minutes to read and clarify the prompt
• 15 minutes to build your structure and crunch the numbers
• 20 minutes to prepare your slides (focus on 3–4 maximum, clear and simple)
• 5 minutes to rehearse your pitch and polish transitions

2. Use a framework but adapt it to the specific problem you are trying to solve
Yes, you should use a framework just like in a “normal” case, but you need to apply it faster and more independently.

• Start with a broad profitability/market/operations structure depending on the case type
• Quickly decide which branches are most relevant based on the data provided
• Ignore irrelevant branches — depth matters more than breadth in a 45-minute prep

3. Build a consulting-style deck
Your PowerPoint is not judged on design flair, but on clarity and logic.

• Title of each slide should state the conclusion (“Market is attractive due to X and Y”)
• Body of the slide should show supporting evidence (charts, numbers, bullet points)
• End with one final slide that is a clear recommendation plus next steps

4. Deliver the pitch 
In the 15-minute pitch, your structure should mirror a mini-client presentation:

• One-minute executive summary (your recommendation right away)
• 2–3 supporting arguments (one slide each)
• Close with risks or next steps to show balanced thinking

5. Practice the format, not just the content
This is where many candidates fall short. Practicing only live dialogue cases won’t fully prepare you. Try at least two timed written cases where you force yourself to produce slides and pitch them — even to a friend or mirror.

With this approach, you will stand out not just for solving the case, but for thinking and communicating like a consultant who can handle client-facing deliverables.

If you’d like, I can run a mock session with you where we simulate exactly this format: 45 minutes to work through the case, build a mini-deck, and then practice the 15-minute pitch together. This gives you targeted feedback on both content and presentation style. 

Best of luck, 

Margot

Hey Louis :)

For these types of “case + presentation” interviews, the underlying logic is the same as a normal case, but you need to show structure in a slide deck rather than just talking it through. Yes, you should still start with a framework: clarify the problem, build a MECE structure, and prioritize. The difference is that you’ll spend the 45 minutes working alone with data and slides, and then the 15 minutes pitching your recommendation.

To prepare, practice:

• Reading exhibits quickly and distilling 2–3 key insights per chart
• Turning those insights into simple, clear slides (one key message per slide, supported by data)
• Structuring your 15-min pitch like a mini-client presentation: intro (objective), body (2–3 arguments), close (clear recommendation + next steps)

It’s less about designing “pretty” slides and more about showing you can communicate in a consulting style under time pressure. Practicing with sample case prompts and timing yourself to build slides will help a lot.

best,
Alessa :)

Louis, 

what you're describing is a written case. This is rather a popular format with some firms. 

Typically with my candidates I send them an example before the session, they prepare the answer, and then during the session we do a mock of the actual interview-presentation they would have (including feedback at the end). 

This is also the model I'd recommend you to practice. Find written cases, simulate the timeline, and then do a mock presentation. This will teach you a few important things, especially about time management, that will come in handy for the interview.

If you have any follow-up questions, don't hesitate to write directly. 

Best,
Cristian

Hi there, 

This is the typical "written case" format. Suggest you practice story-lining for the 4-5 pages short deck (which should follow a good logic / structure). Also do be mindful of the time management - it is very easy to get lost in the weeds of the all the info provided and forget about the time. 

DM if you'd like to discuss more details. 

Best,

Emily