Whether or how should I politely ask a postpone for case interview

Hi Jessica - congratulations on getting the interview. I am glad that you are open to asking for more time. Most candidates don't even consider this as an option and go ahead with the dates proposed by the recruiting organization.

Believe it or not most organizations are pretty accommodating of these requests. They prefer interviewing candidates that are well prepared as it is a win-win for both parties involved. Below a draft email that you can use for reference. For English I would strongly recommend joining a communication class or working with a language coach in addition to everything that was mentioned as an answer to your previous question. There are plenty of such classes available online or in-person (you are not the only one in this boat).

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Hi [XYX]

I hope this message finds you well.

I am writing to request the possibility of postponing my upcoming interview dates. I am genuinely excited about this opportunity and want to put my best foot forward. My current workload limits the time I have available for preparation.

Would it be possible to reschedule my interviews for [your target date]? This additional time will allow me to adequately prepare and present myself in the best possible light.

Thank you very much for considering my request. 

Best regards,

Jessica

Hi Jessica,

First of all, congratulations on the invitation!

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

• First of all, you can absolutely ask for a postponement. I would advise you to mention your genuine reason for the request.
• Moreover, I would advise you to offer a few alternative dates for the interview to show your flexibility and commitment.

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

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

Best,

Hagen

Hi Jessica,

Yes, you can ask them. There is no risk!

State that you are currently not fully ready and need a bit more time to prepare. You could also mention other projects that keep you busy so the early interview slot does not align with these responsibilities.

• Suggest a timeframe that works for you to take more control over the scheduling
• Do not postpone it for too long!

Cheers,

Florian

Congrats Jessica on the interview invite. 
It's perfectly reasonable to ask for a postponement if you need more time to prepare. Here’s how you can approach it:

1. Express Enthusiasm: Show your excitement about the opportunity.
2. Provide a Reason: Be honest about why you need the postponement, but keep it brief.
3. Suggest Alternative Dates: Offer a specific time frame when you will be ready.
   
   All the best 
   Regards Ashwin 

Hi Jessica,

a case interview for next week seems a bit tight if the timing caught you off guard and you weren't actively preparing. However, it sounds like you proactively reached out to the firm inquiring about hiring plans for this summer - summer in Germany officially starts today - so that they probably assumed that you were ready to interview.

You can probably push back the interview date by a little bit (1-2 weeks) and you should if you believe that you can use that time to get better prepared. However, you likely won't solve the English issue you are describing in those 2 weeks (in case that is even a real issue and not just a self-perceived one).

Good luck

Discuss it with HR.

It shouldn't be a problem.

In the meantime, I'd recommend you get as much practice as you can with live cases - with peers, consultants and experts.

Still, I've come across other candidates who claimed to have this issue as well, but once we did a case together, it turned out that it was mostly in their head. 

So don't assume you need to speak at native level. And don't let this stand in your way.

Best,
Cristian 

Some coaches here are suggesting a written email… I suggest scheduling a quick call with HR and checking if postponing is a possibility. There are things that you have to do live, you can't do effectively through email and this is one of them.

Hey Jessica,

No worries, this happens all the time. It's totally okay to ask for a bit more prep time. Just be honest and enthusiastic in your response. Something like:

"Thanks for the opportunity! I'm excited about the interview. To ensure I'm fully prepared, would it be possible to schedule it for [specific date, 2 weeks out]? I'm really looking forward to showcasing my skills and learning more about the role."

Keep it brief, show your interest, and propose a specific date. It's better to delay a bit and give your best performance. Good luck!