Preparing for Case interview non-MBB

Question

Hi everyone,

I have a second-round virtual case interview coming up with PA Consulting for a Digital Strategy Associate role, and I wanted to check if my preparation approach is on track.

In the past, I’ve been preparing for interviews using traditional MBB case prep resources and I plan on doing the same type of cases found for MBB for practice. Given that this is PA Consulting and the role does an element of digital strategy, I’m wondering:

Can I approach this case interview the same way I would for MBB
Are there specific areas I should tweak or emphasize more? For example, should I incorporate any digital transformation frameworks, implementation thinking, or specific industry trends?
Does anyone know if PA Consulting’s case format is closer to McKinsey’s interviewer-led style or if it allows for more candidate-driven problem-solving?

All I know so far is that it will be a one-hour virtual case study, but I’d love any insights from those who have interviewed with PA Consulting before or are more familiar with their case style.

Thank you!

Answer 1

Hello there,

Yes, you can approach your PA Consulting case interview similarly to MBB preparation. However, given the Digital Strategy Associate role, it's beneficial to emphasise:

Digital Transformation Frameworks: It would be useful to familiarise yourself with general digital strategy and transformation concepts (e.g., cloud adoption, data-driven decision-making, technology implementation).
Industry Trends: Stay updated on emerging trends in digital transformation, such as AI adoption, automation, and cybersecurity challenges, as these may be relevant in your case discussion.
Implementation Thinking: PA Consulting is known for its technical and implementation-focused work, so be ready to think beyond strategy and discuss how digital initiatives are executed, adopted, and scaled within an organisation.

Regarding case format, prep for McKinsey-style (interviewer-led) or candidate-led interviews is quite similar. McKinsey just tests specific, targeted skills in a structured way, while a candidate-led format assesses the entire skillset at once. Regardless of format, the goal of the employer is the same—to evaluate whether you are a good fit for the role. So, in the end, every case interview will test problem-solving, structuring, and communication—just in different ways.

In summary, continue your traditional case prep, but integrate digital strategy knowledge, implementation thinking, and adaptability to different case formats.

Best wishes,
Johannes

Answer 2

I don't have personal experience with PA Consulting, but the responses I’ve seen from ChatGPT (using deep search) and Perplexity seem reasonable based on general knowledge. While I can't personally validate them, I’d recommend trying those resources if you find them helpful!

As a case coach, I can tell you that most case interviews assess similar core skills: problem-solving, analytical thinking, numerical proficiency, communication, business acumen, and tolerance for ambiguity. Many of the coachees I’ve worked with eventually found that case interview practice gave them valuable skills that were transferable to roles like product management or strategy, which require similar abilities.

I’d suggest continuing to prepare for generic case interviews, focusing on the foundational skills, but also researching the specific frameworks or analysis methods that PA Consulting might prefer (such as SWOT analysis or digital transformation frameworks) and incorporating those into your prep.

Best of luck with your interview!

Han

Answer 3

Check glassdoor to see if you find any details on the interview formal / questions.

My advice would be to be as well prepared for a more technical / scenario based interview (i.e. "what would you do in this situation")

Answer 4

Hi there,

I have friends at PA consulting, so happy to help!

Your approach using MBB case prep resources is definitely a strong foundation, but PA Consulting’s case interviews can have some nuances worth considering.
    1.    Case Format: PA Consulting tends to lean towards a more candidate-led case format, similar to BCG/Bain rather than McKinsey’s strict interviewer-led approach. That means structuring your approach well and proactively driving the discussion will be key.
    2.    Digital Strategy Focus: Given the role’s emphasis on digital strategy, you may want to incorporate elements like:
    •    Digital transformation frameworks (e.g., key enablers like technology, people, and process)
    •    Trends in digital strategy (e.g., cloud adoption, AI, automation, data-driven decision-making)
    •    Implementation considerations (e.g., change management, scalability, integration challenges)
    3.    Industry-Specific Insights: If you know the industries PA Consulting focuses on for digital strategy, brushing up on relevant case examples or recent projects in those areas could be helpful.
    4.    Numerical & Conceptual Thinking: PA’s cases often involve both qualitative problem-solving and quantitative reasoning, so practicing mental math and structured communication will be useful.

Since your interview is virtual, also ensure you’re comfortable structuring and communicating your thoughts clearly without relying on physical whiteboarding.

Feel free to reach out if you need guidance with any aspect - happy to help!

Best,

Evelina

Answer 5

For PA Consulting's Digital Strategy case interview, your MBB prep provides a good foundation, but with a few adjustments:

While the core approach remains similar (structure, hypothesis-driven thinking, quantitative analysis), PA cases tend to be more practically oriented than pure strategy. Their Digital Strategy interviews typically include:

More implementation considerations - they're interested in execution feasibility
Technology elements integrated into business problems
A somewhat more flexible approach than McKinsey's structured format

PA Consulting uses a mixed format - usually starting interviewer-led but allowing you more freedom as you progress through the case.

For your specific prep:

Review digital transformation frameworks alongside traditional business frameworks
Be prepared to discuss relevant technologies and their business applications
Consider change management aspects within digital transformations

Their hour-long format typically involves 45 minutes on the case and 15 minutes for questions, so pace yourself accordingly.

Answer 6

Hello there!

I’m wondering:

Can I approach this case interview the same way I would for MBB

Yes, the logic here is that you must be able to structure a problem in a MECE way and tackle math in a efficient and insightful manner. No need to reinvent the wheel :-)

Are there specific areas I should tweak or emphasize more? For example, should I incorporate any digital transformation frameworks, implementation thinking, or specific industry trends?

You don’t need to, but reading about transformation real business cases (such as those in PA site as well as in MBB / the Economist) will defined help you get business sense that can be useful for structuring, brainstorming and having a more interesting conversation with your interviewer.

Does anyone know if PA Consulting’s case format is closer to McKinsey’s interviewer-led style or if it allows for more candidate-driven problem-solving?

Don’t worry about it, tackle every case as if it was interviewee led, meaning you will always end each session by proactively saying what you would do next. Thats how real engagements work and it conveys business sense.

Happy to support you in your preparation, feel free to DM if an alignment call of 20 min would be helpful to determine the best approach for your upcoming interview!

Best,

Mari

Answer 7

Hi there,

1. Yes - same skills, same evaluation, same format.

2. I would first learn an approach to problem-solving, analytics, and communication, then worry about specific case types. This is the only way to be well-prepared regardless of what case context or industry you are facing in a case. Of course, it does not hurt if you glance over some relevant industry trends once the approach is solid.

3. Usually candidate-led.

All the best,

Florian

Answer 8

Hey there ?,

You’re definitely on the right track by preparing with MBB-level case prep, but for PA Consulting—especially in a Digital Strategy Associate role—there are a few smart tweaks you can make to feel even more prepared:

✅ Can You Use MBB Prep?

Absolutely! The core skills—structuring, problem-solving, business intuition—are just as relevant. So keep practicing MBB-style cases, but don’t stop there.

? What to Adjust for PA Consulting

Since the role focuses on digital strategy, it’s a good idea to:
– Incorporate digital transformation frameworks (e.g., customer journey digitization, legacy tech modernization, tech enablement vs. disruption, agile ops)
– Be ready to speak to implementation considerations (not just what to do, but how to do it, especially from a tech and change management angle)
– Be aware of industry-specific digital trends—especially in sectors like public sector, healthcare, or manufacturing, where PA is very active

Also, cases may be slightly more practical and operational compared to MBB.

? Case Format at PA Consulting

– It’s usually candidate-led, but may involve some structured, interviewer-led components, especially if it’s data-heavy or tech-focused
– Expect to be given a real-world scenario, often with a slide or data pack, and then asked to structure your thinking, prioritize, and propose next steps
– There may be questions around feasibility, risk, implementation challenges—so keep your thinking both strategic and actionable

✨ Final Tips

– Practice cases that include tech-driven growth, digital transformation, or agile strategy
– Prepare a few examples from your own background where you worked on digital/tech-related projects—these can come in handy during fit questions or when grounding your recommendation
– Keep your communication clear, structured, and business-savvy—but don’t shy away from tech terminology if you’re comfortable with it

Let me know if you’d like to do a mock or review a case together—I’d be happy to support you on this! ?

Best, Alessa ?

Answer 9

Hey! I actually interviewed with a few non-MBB firms (including PA), and I prepped mostly with MBB-style cases too — so you're not off track at all. The fundamentals still apply: clear structure, sharp math, and solid business sense.

That said, for PA and especially a Digital Strategy role, I’d definitely sprinkle in some digital-specific angles. Think: customer journey digitization, automation, tech stack upgrades, data/AI implementation, etc. You don’t need to go full IT consultant, but showing you're aware of digital levers adds a lot of credibility.

Also, from my experience, PA's interviews tend to be a bit more conversational and less rigid than McKinsey's. It’s not 100% candidate-led, but they give you space to drive the case and ask smart questions. So yeah — prepare like you would for MBB, but be ready to show a bit more practical thinking and real-world implementation stuff too.

I went through the High Bridge bootcamp, and that helped a ton with adapting to different styles. They didn’t just teach “MBB-only” stuff — we practiced flexing the same skills across different interview formats, which made me feel way more confident walking into second rounds like this.

You’re on the right path — just layer in that digital lens and maybe read up on a couple recent digital strategy trends or client stories from PA’s website to name-drop during the convo. Good luck!