Learn the case interview basics, practice with 200+ cases, and benefit from extensive test materials, and interactive self-study tools.
Topic Overview
Topic Overview
Getting Started
Learn how to prepare for your case interview in a structured and efficient way, and maximize your chances of success.
Preparation Plan
Self Study
Practice With Peers
Practice with Coaches
Learn all about the different types of cases in consulting interviews and how to be well-prepared for every challenge.
Market Sizing
Market Entry
Brainteaser
Growth Strategy
M&A Cases
Pricing
Competitive Response
Valuation Cases
Profitability Cases
Structuring
Understand why a clear structure is crucial in case interviews and how it helps you solve complex cases efficiently.
Approaching a Case
How to Build a Good Structure
How to Communicate Your Structure
How to Practice Structure
Math in Case Interviews
Learn about the most common mathematical requirements in case interviews and how to handle them confidently and efficiently.
Why Math Matters
Fast Math
How to Practice Math Skills

Creativity is a crucial skill assessed during case interviews. While traditional case interview preparation often emphasizes analytical and quantitative abilities, creativity is equally important. This skill demonstrates a candidate's ability to think outside the box, develop a wide array of viable ideas, and propose innovative solutions. In this article, we will explore why creativity is vital in case interviews, how interviewers assess it, and strategies to ensure you never run out of creative ideas during your case-solving process.

 

The Importance of Creativity in Case Interviews

Creativity is not just about coming up with any ideas, but about generating a diverse set of sound and practical solutions. During case interviews, candidates are often faced with complex, open-ended questions that require more than just textbook knowledge. These scenarios test your ability to apply common sense, imagination, and innovative thinking to real-world business problems. Demonstrating creativity shows that you can navigate ambiguity and generate strategic insights that could give a company a competitive edge.

💡 Pro Tip: Use our Case Library to familiarize yourself with a variety of business problems and potential solutions. This will help you build a reservoir of ideas to draw from during your interviews.

Company case by
Bain & Company
Bain Case: BeautyCo – Where Did the Profits Go?
4.6
49.1k times solved
Difficulty: Intermediate
Candidate-led
Market analysis
Profitability analysis
Our client BeautyCo is a large European perfumery company with 500 shops across Europe. However, BeautyCo has been strug(...)
Our client BeautyCo is a large European perfumery company with 500 shops across Europe. However, BeautyCo has been struggling with a decrease in profi(...)
Case by
PrepLounge
New magazine
4.4
18.5k times solved
Difficulty: Intermediate
Candidate-led
Market entry
Market sizing
Your client is the CEO of a publishing company that publishes an educational magazine and a women's magazine.Although bo(...)
Your client is the CEO of a publishing company that publishes an educational magazine and a women's magazine.Although both businesses are profitable,(...)
Case by
PrepLounge
Golf balls
4.1
6.5k times solved
Difficulty: Beginner
Candidate-led
Market sizing
You’re a consultant based in Germany who is currently en route to a client in France who sells golf balls. You’re thinki(...)
You’re a consultant based in Germany who is currently en route to a client in France who sells golf balls. You’re thinking about the client trying to(...)
Expert case by
Pedal Pals' Financial Fitness Challenge: Cost Optimization Consultancy
0.0
300+ times solved
Difficulty: Intermediate
Candidate-led
Profitability analysis
Pedal Pals is an interactive fitness platform with millions of members, offering connected, technology-enabled fitness c(...)
Pedal Pals is an interactive fitness platform with millions of members, offering connected, technology-enabled fitness classes that utilize its propri(...)
Expert case by
MBB Case - Sierra Springs
5.0
2.4k times solved
Difficulty: Intermediate
Interviewer-led
New product
Our client is Sierra Springs, a top 3 spring water producer in the U.S. The company owns the entire bottled-water produc(...)
Our client is Sierra Springs, a top 3 spring water producer in the U.S. The company owns the entire bottled-water production supply chain, including w(...)
Case by
PrepLounge
Baby Clothing Market Entry
4.1
4.5k times solved
Difficulty: Intermediate
Interviewer-led
Market entry
Profitability analysis
Our client is a consumer packaged goods company looking for top-line growth opportunities. They are considering extendin(...)
Our client is a consumer packaged goods company looking for top-line growth opportunities. They are considering extending its pre-existing baby produc(...)
Company case by
Berg Lund & Company
Berg Lund & Company Case: Value Growth Strategy - Northern Retail Bank
4.9
3.7k times solved
Difficulty: Intermediate
Interviewer-led
Operations strategy
Restructuring
Du befindest Dich derzeit in einem strategischen Projekteinsatz bei der Northern Retail Bank (NRB), die vor drei Jahren(...)
Du befindest Dich derzeit in einem strategischen Projekteinsatz bei der Northern Retail Bank (NRB), die vor drei Jahren von einem Finanzinvestor übern(...)
Case by
PrepLounge
Enterprise & Equity Value Interview Questions for Finance
5.0
200+ times solved
Difficulty: Beginner
Interviewer-led
Valuation
This set of questions is designed to help you master the fundamentals of Enterprise Value (EV) and Equity Value. The que(...)
This set of questions is designed to help you master the fundamentals of Enterprise Value (EV) and Equity Value. The questions start with basic concep(...)
Case by
PrepLounge
Electric Mobility
4.2
13.8k times solved
Difficulty: Intermediate
Interviewer-led
Market analysis
Operations strategy
Our client is a start-up company that wants to mass-produce an electric vehicle for the US market.So far it has develope(...)
Our client is a start-up company that wants to mass-produce an electric vehicle for the US market.So far it has developed a prototype all-electric veh(...)
Company case by
Oliver Wyman
Oliver Wyman Case: Full Electrons Ahead
4.4
133.4k times solved
Difficulty: Intermediate
Candidate-led
Growth strategy
Market analysis
Market sizing
Operations strategy
Your client, large automotive OEM WyCar, has developed its first fully electric vehicle (EV) and introduced it as a pilo(...)
Your client, large automotive OEM WyCar, has developed its first fully electric vehicle (EV) and introduced it as a pilot on the Austrian market last(...)
Expert case by
Element Mobile expands into refurbished phones (MBB 2nd round)
4.6
14.3k times solved
Difficulty: Intermediate
Interviewer-led
Competitive response
Growth strategy
Market analysis
Market entry
Market sizing
New product
Pricing
Profitability analysis
Our client, Element Mobile (EM), is the largest German telecommunications provider, with an impressive supply chain comp(...)
Our client, Element Mobile (EM), is the largest German telecommunications provider, with an impressive supply chain comprised of dozens of suppliers,(...)
Expert case by
MBB Final Round Case - Smart Education
4.6
33.5k times solved
Difficulty: Advanced
Interviewer-led
Growth strategy
Market analysis
Market entry
New product
Our client is SmartBridge, a nonprofit educational institution offering face-to-face tutoring services. The client(...)
Our client is SmartBridge, a nonprofit educational institution offering face-to-face tutoring services. The client operates in the US.The mission(...)
Case by
PrepLounge
Working Capital Forecasting at FreshHarvest AG
5.0
200+ times solved
Difficulty: Intermediate
Interviewer-led
Operations strategy
Valuation
You’re advising FreshHarvest AG, a fast-growing food distribution company based in Germany. They operate on tight margin(...)
You’re advising FreshHarvest AG, a fast-growing food distribution company based in Germany. They operate on tight margins, high volumes, and have rece(...)
Case by
PrepLounge
Was machen wir mit der Datenflut?
4.3
3.9k times solved
Difficulty: Intermediate
Interviewer-led
New product
Operations strategy
Profitability analysis
Dein Kunde ist ein großer Automobilkonzern. Dieser erhält eine große Menge an Daten von den verkauften Autos. Er mö(...)
Dein Kunde ist ein großer Automobilkonzern. Dieser erhält eine große Menge an Daten von den verkauften Autos. Er möchte von Dir wissen, welche Mö(...)
Case by
PrepLounge
OnlineGo
4.4
16.6k times solved
Difficulty: Intermediate
Interviewer-led
Market analysis
Market entry
Profitability analysis
The client, OnlineGo, is a European Internet Service Provider (ISP) that is contemplating entering the North American ma(...)
The client, OnlineGo, is a European Internet Service Provider (ISP) that is contemplating entering the North American market. Currently, they hold a d(...)
Expert case by
MBB Second Round - TitanTrail - "Made in the USA" Operations Outsourcing
5.0
700+ times solved
Difficulty: Advanced
Candidate-led
Operations strategy
Profitability analysis
TitanTrail is a backpack maker that prides itself on quality and a “Made in the USA” promise. But the landscape is shift(...)
TitanTrail is a backpack maker that prides itself on quality and a “Made in the USA” promise. But the landscape is shifting. New competitors are enter(...)
Case by
PrepLounge
Nearshoring - Opportunity study and Business case
4.2
2.8k times solved
Difficulty: Intermediate
Candidate-led
Operations strategy
Profitability analysis
Your client is an international Corporate & Investment Bank (CIB). It is France based and has already expanded to Po(...)
Your client is an international Corporate & Investment Bank (CIB). It is France based and has already expanded to Poland (Warsaw), Asia and Americ(...)
Company case by
BearingPoint Germany
BearingPoint Case: Nachhaltigkeit on the Road – Potenziale der Kreislaufwirtschaft für den Automobilhersteller
5.0
8.8k times solved
Difficulty: Intermediate
Interviewer-led
Operations strategy
Profitability analysis
Der Automobilhersteller YourCars denkt zunehmend darüber nach, wie er seine Kosten senken und gleichzeitig seinen ökolog(...)
Der Automobilhersteller YourCars denkt zunehmend darüber nach, wie er seine Kosten senken und gleichzeitig seinen ökologischen Fußabdruck minimieren k(...)
Company case by
Roland Berger
Roland Berger Case: Onlinestar
4.2
106.8k times solved
Difficulty: Intermediate
Candidate-led
Growth strategy
Market analysis
Profitability analysis
Onlinestar, an online retailer of furniture and garden products (core business), has grown significantly in recent years(...)
Onlinestar, an online retailer of furniture and garden products (core business), has grown significantly in recent years as a result of an expansion o(...)

How is Creativity Assessed in Case Interviews?

Interviewers typically assess creativity through open-ended questions that lack exhibits or starting information. These questions challenge candidates to think on their feet and come up with multiple solutions independently. For example, you might be asked how to increase a company's market share without being given specific data points or frameworks. The expectation is to generate a variety of ideas, usually aiming for at least five distinct concepts. This not only showcases your creativity, but also your ability to think deeply and broadly about a problem.

💡 Pro Tip: Check out our Brain Teaser Collection to sharpen your creative thinking skills and prepare for unexpected questions.

Demonstrating Creativity in Case Interviews Effectively

While creativity is important, maintaining structure in your answers is equally crucial. Here are some strategies to effectively showcase your creativity during a case interview:

  • Organize by themes: Instead of listing random ideas as they come to mind, group your thoughts into high-level themes. This approach demonstrates structured thinking and helps you cover different aspects of the problem comprehensively. For instance, if asked to improve customer satisfaction, you might categorize your ideas into themes like product quality, customer service, and marketing strategies.

💡 Pro Tip: Use our Structuring Drills to practice breaking down complex problems into manageable themes. This will help you organize your ideas logically during interviews.

  • Sense-check ideas: Ensure that your ideas are practical and can be implemented in the given context. It’s important to show that your creative solutions are not just imaginative, but also feasible. Discuss the potential impact and challenges of each idea briefly to indicate your practical understanding.
  • Differentiate between quick wins and long-term solutions: Highlighting a mix of immediate actions and strategic, long-term initiatives shows that you can think short-term and long-term. Quick wins might include small adjustments that can be implemented quickly with minimal resources, while long-term ideas might involve significant investments or strategic changes.
  • Summarize and wrap up: After brainstorming, summarize your ideas along the key themes and indicate how they inform your overall answer to the case. This step not only reinforces your structured approach but also helps the interviewer follow your thought process and the rationale behind your recommendations.

 

Avoiding Creative Blocks in Case Interviews

Running out of ideas can be a challenge during a case interview. Here are some tips to keep the creative juices flowing:

Mind map on how to be creative in Case Interviews with four tips: using frameworks as starting points, being inspired by business news, practicing regularly with cases, and avoiding stress while collecting ideas.

  • Preparation: Familiarize yourself with common business problems and innovative solutions. Reading case studies and business news can provide a wealth of ideas and inspiration.
  • Practice: Regularly practice with case scenarios to build your creative muscle. The more you practice, the easier it becomes to generate ideas on the spot.

👉 Participate in Mock Interviews on PrepLounge to simulate real interview conditions and receive feedback on your creative thinking.

  • Use frameworks: While creativity goes beyond traditional frameworks, they can serve as useful starting points to ensure you cover all bases. Customize and expand upon these frameworks with your unique insights.
  • Stay calm and positive: Stress can stifle creativity. Stay calm, take a deep breath, and approach each question with a positive mindset.

💡 Pro Tip: Use our Stress Question Tool to improve your ability to stay creative and focused under pressure.

Key Takeaways

Creativity is a vital component of case interview success, reflecting your ability to generate diverse, practical, and innovative solutions. By organizing your thoughts into high-level themes, ensuring the feasibility of your ideas, balancing quick wins with long-term strategies, and summarizing your key points, you can effectively showcase your creativity. Preparing thoroughly, practicing regularly, and maintaining a positive attitude will help you keep your ideas flowing. Embrace the creative challenges of case interviews, and you’ll be well on your way to impressing your interviewers and securing that coveted consulting role.

Let's Move On With the Next Articles:

Business Sense
Consulting Skills
Business sense refers to the ability to quickly grasp economic dynamics and make decisions that are both strategically and commercially sound. In(...)
Business sense refers to the ability to quickly grasp economic dynamics and make decisions that are both strategically and commercially sound. In consulting, it’s no(...)
To the article
Presentation and Communication
Consulting Skills
The majority and the most obvious part of preparation is, of course, the substantive preparation for your case interview. However, you also need(...)
The majority and the most obvious part of preparation is, of course, the substantive preparation for your case interview. However, you also need to present what you(...)
To the article
General Knowledge
Consulting Skills
In case interviews, having solid general knowledge can make a big difference, especially in market sizing questions. Knowing basic facts about re(...)
In case interviews, having solid general knowledge can make a big difference, especially in market sizing questions. Knowing basic facts about regions, population si(...)
To the article