Interviewer- vs. Candidate-Led Cases

Every case interview has a certain structure. An important factor on how your case interview is going to proceed is if the interview is interviewer-led or candidate-led.

We’d like to explain the two interview formats – candidate-led cases and interviewer-led cases – highlight their differences, and provide you with tips on how to excel in each of them.

Interviewer-Led Cases

Interviewer-led cases are most frequently used at McKinsey. As the title suggests, the interviewer guides you through the interview and leads the general process. This gives him or her a more direct opportunity to test specific skills that are expected and assess areas of weakness.

The following are a few indicators that hint towards interviewer-led cases:

• A very specific case question is posed.
• Either a lot of data will be given to you along with an initial breakdown of sub-problems or a broad problem may be given to you, and you would need to structure the problem by being as specific as possible.
• After structuring, the interviewer will ask you a set of pre-determined questions irrespective of what your structure is (this could be an abrupt move, so do not get nervous when this happens!)
• The interviewer might induce sudden interruptions and turnarounds that do nit result from your analysis.
• You will be asked "What else" and “Please explain more in detail” types of questions.

What's Important in Interviewer-Led Cases?

Despite the name of this case class, you need to remain in the driver's seat and be the active leader of the overall case interview. Especially in interviewer-led cases, the largest fallacy is to become passive, unstructured, and driven by the interviewer. To lead the case, you need to be particularly structured. Be prepared for interruptions, and anticipate that they might disprove hypotheses or force you to develop a completely new framework.

The following tips might be helpful:

• Keep the big picture in mind: Consider other problems or solutions if the interviewer suggests a hypothesis. These might be important later.
• Apply the MECE Principle: Structure your answers to be Mutually Exclusive and Collectively Exhaustive. This approach helps you be thorough and organized, avoiding random or unstructured ideas.
• Watch for curveball questions and stress tests: Be prepared for unexpected changes or time constraints. Stay calm and adapt as needed.

👉 Would you like to try one of our interviewer-led cases right away? Here are two examples.

Candidate-Led Cases

In candidate-led cases, the interviewer expects the candidate to ‘lead’ her or him through the case. As the candidate, it is your responsibility to lead the case by asking relevant questions and also to develop and test your hypotheses. Candidate-led cases are the most common types of cases. You’ll encounter them at the majority of the big consulting firms such as BCG, Bain, and Roland Berger.

The following are a few indicators that hint towards candidate-led cases:

• A very broad description of a situation
• A very general question or no question at all
• Complete freedom in terms of the approach and the structure
• Data and information is mostly provided at your request

What's Important in Candidate-Led Cases?

As opposed to interviewer-led cases, it is harder for the interviewer to test specific abilities as the candidate defines what is investigated or talked about. On the other hand, you as the candidate need to be strong in defining and testing hypotheses. You need a clear roadmap in mind that allows you to ask targeted questions as opposed to randomly ‘bombarding’ your interviewer with random questions hoping for a lucky punch.

Be thorough and exceptionally structured. Here are some aspects to consider in a candidate-led case format:

• Form and share a hypothesis: Based on your questions, develop a hypothesis and test it with further questions. Communicate your hypothesis to the interviewer.
• Investigate thoroughly: Dive deep into your hypothesis to explore potential solutions. The interviewer may give subtle hints rather than direct guidance, so ask specific questions.
• Be exceptionally structured: In a candidate-led case, keep track of your data and focus on synthesis. Be prepared to adjust your argument as new information emerges. Good organization and thorough notes are crucial.
• Prepare for detail questions: Be ready to address important details that may not have been covered due to your chosen approach.
• Refine and test your hypothesis: Once you identify the key factor, revise your hypothesis and test it accordingly.

👉 We've got candidate-led cases for you as well! Check out these two cases!

Key Takeaways

Case interviews can follow two distinct formats: interviewer-led and candidate-led. In interviewer-led cases, most commonly used by McKinsey, the interviewer maintains firm control by guiding the process, asking pre-determined questions, and providing large amounts of data or interruptions. The candidate must remain proactive, structured, and prepared for curveball questions. To excel, apply the MECE principle, keep the big picture in mind, and adapt quickly to unexpected challenges. Even though the interviewer sets the pace, it’s critical to remain in the driver's seat and demonstrate clear, logical thinking while responding to prompts and stress tests.

In candidate-led cases, the responsibility shifts to you as the candidate to lead the case from start to finish. You must structure the problem, ask relevant questions, and develop and test hypotheses. Unlike interviewer-led formats, information is typically provided upon request, requiring a clear and methodical roadmap. Success in candidate-led cases depends on forming strong hypotheses, investigating thoroughly, and maintaining exceptional organization. Communicate your thought process clearly, stay focused on synthesis, and be flexible in refining your approach based on new data or feedback.

👉 Are you looking for more cases to practice with? Discover our case library!