Unstructured Case Interviews – How to Prepare for Untraditional Cases

Unstructured and non-traditional cases are becoming more common in case interviews, especially at top firms like MBB. Traditional business problems with standard solutions are being replaced by creative challenges that require fresh approaches.

Why is this happening? 🔎

• For one, traditional case prep is now widely available, allowing candidates to learn set solutions. This often leads to a focus on following a learned process rather than showcasing natural skills. Non-traditional cases help consulting firms keep things unpredictable and better assess candidates' true abilities.
• These cases also push candidates to think creatively while maintaining structure, helping to identify those who can succeed not just in interviews, but in the consulting role itself.
• Finally, non-traditional cases give firms a chance to evaluate candidates from diverse backgrounds, not just engineers or finance experts, focusing on the qualities that make a great consultant.

As these types of cases become more common, it’s crucial to adapt your preparation. In this article, we’ll break down what these cases involve, how to tackle them, and key strategies to excel.

Why is it so Important to Know Unstructured Cases?

Unstructured and non-traditional cases are popping up more and more in case interviews, especially at top-tier firms like MBB. The old-school business problems with set solutions are being mixed with fresh, unconventional cases that demand a bit of creative thinking and a non-traditional approach to solve.

So, why this shift? Here are a few reasons people believe it’s happening:

1. Traditional case prep is everywhere. With so much preparation material out there, candidates are able to prepare in-depth for the classic case formats. This means a lot of candidates end up focusing more on following a set process rather than relying on their own natural skills. By throwing in some non-traditional cases, consulting firms can keep things unpredictable and really test candidates’ true abilities.
2. They challenge your creativity and structure. Non-traditional cases push you to think outside the box, but still in a structured way. If you can nail these, you’re showing you have the kind of creativity and problem-solving skills that are important not only for interviews but for the actual job. It’s a better way to see if you’ve got what it takes.
3. They help firms see beyond the traditional backgrounds. Let’s be real: you don’t have to be an engineer or finance whiz to be a great consultant. These cases allow firms to look at a wider range of skills, focusing on qualities that make a strong consultant, no matter your background. It’s about thinking in unique ways, not just doing what’s been taught.

As unstructured and non-traditional cases become more common, it’s important for you to adapt and prepare for this new format if you want to maximize your chances of success. In this article, we’ll dive into what these cases actually look like, share tips for how to tackle them, and go over some key practices you can use to step up your prep.

And if you’re ready to take your skills to the next level, I’m offering personalized coaching to help you master these tricky cases that often come up in consulting interviews.

What Are Unstructured and Non-Traditional Case Interviews?

Unstructured case interviews differ from traditional ones by presenting open-ended, ambiguous, or unconventional problems. The goal is to evaluate creativity, adaptability, and problem-solving in uncertain situations. These cases often take familiar elements from traditional cases and present them in new ways. Here’s what makes them non-traditional:

The Situation

In traditional cases, the situation is familiar – a known business or market, so you can make assumptions. But in non-traditional cases, you might face unfamiliar situations that require you to build an understanding before moving to your solution. Examples include:

• A company offers burial and cremation services… in outer space.
• A mining company discovers a dinosaur in its mine.
• A Middle Eastern country develops an underwater city for tourism.

The Problem

The next common non-traditional aspect is the problem itself. Instead of a typical business issue like declining profits or entering a new market, these cases often present something way more unique or unconventional. You’ll need to think outside the box to find a creative solution. Here are some examples:

• Designing a customer experience for teleportation.
• Developing a marketing strategy for a mind-reading product.
• A country’s athletes are winning fewer medals.
• Underwater tourism in the Middle East needs to attract tourists while ensuring safety.

The Analysis

In traditional cases, the analysis follows a clear, logical route. But in unstructured or non-traditional cases, there’s no set framework. You’ll need to think on your feet and create your own approach to the problem. No fixed recipes here! Even if the situation and problem are traditional, the analysis might still be untraditional. Here are a couple of examples:

• A restaurant faces declining sales, but nothing has changed. You could analyze the customer’s journey to uncover hidden issues.
• A shipping company is losing tender bids, but nothing’s changed. You might analyze the tender document itself to find the problem.
• For the underwater tourism case, you could step into the role of an expert or tourist to spot crucial insights.

The Solution

In traditional cases, the solution tends to be pretty straightforward. If profits are down, it’s likely due to a specific cost or revenue issue. If a company wants to enter a new market, the answer is either yes or no. The solutions in traditional cases are often conventional and based on known patterns.

But in non-traditional cases, the solution isn’t always obvious or conventional. It often takes a deeper understanding of the situation and the problem to come up with something unique. Check out these examples that show how non-traditional cases lead to creative solutions:

• A tech company has high turnover, and the solution is to redesign the office space to reduce distractions.
• A rural grocery store’s sales are declining because its hours don’t fit the local workers’ schedules. Adjusting the hours could boost sales.
• For underwater tourism, offering all-inclusive packages could simplify the experience and make it more attractive to tourists.

Key Interview Tips

When you face unstructured and non-traditional cases, keep these tips in mind to excel during the interview:

1. Embrace the case: The first step is to accept that the case is unconventional. This helps you stay calm and adapt your thinking. Don’t rely on rigid frameworks – instead, stay flexible. If you stick only to the “traditional” way of thinking, you may find yourself frustrated and confused.
2. Ask a lot of questions: Don’t be afraid to ask basic or even seemingly trivial questions. Since these cases don’t come with a baseline of common knowledge, your questions will help you fill in the gaps and ensure you’re working with accurate information. It’s always better to ask than to assume something wrong.
3. Stay grounded and use first-principle thinking: Instead of trying to force-fit a complex framework, break the problem down to its simplest elements. Think of basic principles, almost like "dumb" solutions that may reveal answers missed by more complicated approaches. Like in an episode of Dr. House, sometimes stepping back and looking at things simply can uncover the solution.
4. Put yourself into the problem: Imagine you’re someone in the case—whether that’s the customer, the product, or the staff. This helps you understand the problem from different perspectives. For a revenue issue, try being the customer. For an operational problem, be the product or the staff. This can help uncover valuable insights.
5. Don’t worry about the solution: Treat the case like an opportunity to explore, not just an exam to pass. Allow yourself to follow the natural flow of the case and look at it from different angles. This curiosity will often lead to creative ideas and better solutions.
6. Maintain your structure: Even if the case feels chaotic, keeping your approach organized and your thoughts clear is crucial. This will help you stay on track and ensure the interviewer can follow your reasoning. A well-structured analysis, even in a non-traditional case, will impress and guide you to the right solution.

Key Preparation Tips

To succeed in both traditional and unorthodox case interviews, keep these preparation tips in mind:

1. Work on core casing skills: Don’t just memorize frameworks—understand the logic behind them. Know how frameworks are built, how to explain them clearly, and how they help solve real problems. For example, knowing the profitability framework is pointless if you can’t use it effectively.
2. Build your own frameworks: With enough experience, you’ll start developing your own flexible frameworks. Revisit past cases with fresh eyes and think about alternative approaches. This will help you create more versatile structures that work even in unstructured or unexpected scenarios.
3. Practice with intention: Practice is essential, but peer practice often revolves around standard cases. To build experience with unorthodox cases, try modifying standard ones by adding unexpected twists. Play the role of the interviewer and observe how others respond—this will sharpen your awareness and help you identify best practices.
4. Know your pitfalls: Unorthodox cases often reveal weak spots—like losing structure or skipping clarifying questions. Identify your personal gaps (e.g. flexible thinking, creativity, brainstorming) and work on them. A good coach can help uncover and target these areas so you can build a more well-rounded skillset.

Conclusion

In conclusion, successfully navigating unorthodox case interviews requires a combination of adaptability, curiosity, and strong analytical skills. By focusing on core casing skills, developing personalized frameworks, practicing with adapted cases, and addressing individual weaknesses, you can improve your performance in these challenging scenarios. Embracing unorthodox cases and maintaining a structured approach can help you demonstrate your ability to think creatively, adapt to unexpected situations, and excel non-traditional cases.