How can I prepare for an internal/strategy consulting interview position with Capital One, in 72 hours?

Question

I have a very short amount of time to learn case interviewing, since I have never been through one before and this opportunity came out of the left field. What should my guide plan be for the next 72 hours, to adequately prepare for this?

The interview for this position seems to be very similar/almost the same as regular management consulting interviews.

Answer 1

Hi! If you can dedicate yourself to case prep for these 3 days, I would recommend the following:

1) 1 hour: Understand the flow of a case - what aspects can be tested, how an interview is generally organised, what kinds of questions can be asked, and where you can showcase your personality and business acumen

2) 1-3 hours: Review and thoroughly understand common case areas such as profitability, market entry, investment, acquisition, etc. Having a foundational structure for each of these areas can be extremely helpful to then tailor based on the specific question asked

3) 2-4 hours: Understand how quant is tested in cases. This is quite unique, in terms of the question asked and how it is expected to be communicated

4) 10-15 hours: Perform as many live cases as possible with different people. Practicing in a real-life environment is the best way to prepare and get comfortable with different interviewer styles

5) 2-3 hours: Keep a log of feedback received during mock cases and review each feedback throughly

Remember to take time to relax! Too much information in a short time can be overwhelming. You’ve got this!

Answer 2

Totally doable in 72 hours. Focus on two tracks: case and behavioral + “why.”

For case prep, spend just 2-3 hours getting familiar with the format (Victor Cheng, CaseCoach, YouTube), then get into live practice fast — this is a skill you build by doing. Aim for 3–5 coached or partner-led cases. Focus on structuring quickly, thinking out loud, handling math/chart interpretation, and giving a clear recommendation.

For the behavioral side, prep 2 solid stories (leadership, conflict, challenge) and practice your “why Capital One / why strategy” answer. Keep it concise and business-minded. Say everything out loud — clarity and control matter more than polish.

Stay sharp and prioritize reps over theory. Even though it's a bit tight, you’ve got enough time to get ready.

All the best!

Answer 3

Hi Grace,

First of all, congratulations on the invitation from Capital One!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:

While three days are indeed quite short, I still think it is doable. However, I believe that you need to work intensely with an experienced coach like me to achieve the required progress in this short amount of time in order to stand a realistic chance of success. Please feel free to reach out as soon as you have made up your mind.

You can find more on this topic here: How to succeed in the final interview round.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming Capital One interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Answer 4

Hi there,

72 hours is short, but enough to cover the basics if you stay focused. If asking to delay the interview by another week is not possible (which I highly recommend, and HR is very likely to accomodate), I’d suggest:

Learn the fundamentals of structuring problems (MECE thinking, profitability, market entry, etc.).
Do a few live practice cases (given the short time, I suggest working with actual coaches on here) to get used to talking through your thought process and getting tips on which areas you need to focus on improving
Brush up on math drills and business intuition (quick mental math, interpreting charts, thinking about drivers).
Spend time on fit/behavioral questions since they’re just as important and often overlooked.

Best of luck!

Answer 5

Hi Grace,

congrats on gettign this far!

72 hours is not a lot but doable in if you focus on the right things.

Day 1: Learn how a case works. Watch a few videos, and review the main case types (profitability, market entry, investment)

Day 2: Do 2-4 live cases with partners or ideally coaches. Don’t chase perfection but focus on structuring clearly, doing math under pressure, and communicating your logic out loud

Day 3: Review what you learned, fix weak spots, and prep your fit questions. Aim for 2 strong stories (leadership + challenge) and a short, confident “Why Capital One / Why strategy” answer

You don’t need to know every framework. Rather just show clear thinking.

You can do it!