solving a case w/o an interview partner

Preparing for a case interview can feel overwhelming, but having a structured plan will help you stay focused and make steady progress. A well-organized approach ensures you build a strong foundation, practice effectively, and refine your skills before the big day.In this guide, we will walk you through the key components of an effective practice plan, including self-study, peer practice, and working with a coach. Let’s go! How Much Time Should You Spend Preparing for the Case Interview?To get the most out of your preparation, it's important to start early. Ideally, you should begin at least 6-8 weeks before your first interview to give yourself enough time to cover all key areas. The amount of time you’ll need also depends on your background. If you're completely new to case interviews, dedicating 10-12 hours per week to a mix of theory and practice will help you develop a solid understanding. If you already have some experience, 6-8 hours per week should be enough to sharpen your skills and refine your approach. Key Components of an Effective Preparation PlanSuccessfully preparing for a case interview requires a structured approach that builds both the necessary skills and the right mindset.  Let’s break down the essential steps of a strong preparation strategy:  1. Build a Foundation with Self-Study.When starting your practice, it’s important to build a solid foundation first. The good news: You’ve come to the right place as our Case Interview Basics offer the ideal starting point. If you work through the content thoroughly, you’ll have built the most important foundation – giving you the key knowledge to confidently move forward with the rest of your interview preparation.When getting started with case interview prep, it's important to focus on the core areas that truly matter. Our Case Interview Basics are designed to walk you through all the essential background knowledge and concepts step by step. From our perspective, you should cover the following areas:Understand the purpose behind case interviews.Before diving into techniques, it helps to know why case interviews are used in the first place. Consulting firms want to see how you approach unfamiliar problems – and whether you think and communicate like a consultant. In the General Info chapter, you'll learn how case interviews simulate real-life consulting challenges and why they're such a central part of the recruiting process.Know what skills firms are really testing.It's not just about getting the right answer – firms look for how you think, how you structure your thoughts, and how clearly you communicate under pressure. In the Consulting Skills section, you'll find a breakdown of note-taking, interpreting charts and data, case leadership, stating your recommendation, and presenting your ideas clearly. You’ll also explore key topics like creativity and essential business facts to help you stand out in your interviews.Master case types, structures, and frameworks.Case structuring is one of the most critical – and most challenging – skills to develop. That’s why a big part of your prep should be focused here. In the chapters about the Case Interview Structure and Frameworks, we introduce different case types (like profitability, market entry, or M&A) and show you how to break them down using logical, custom-built structures – rather than relying on a generic, one-size-fits-all approach. This section will give you practical tools for building strong case approaches from scratch.Bonus: Improve your mental math.Strong math skills are essential in many cases – especially market sizing or profitability questions. But it’s not just about speed – it's about calculating confidently while explaining your logic out loud. Our chapter Math in Case Interviews helps you sharpen your math-skills and boost both speed and accuracy in high-pressure settings. You can also check out our Mental Math Tool to improve your skills.  

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 have learned in a way that gives your interviewer an impression of your personality and character. This means that you must appear confident and communicate clearly and precisely. The best preparation is useless if you come across as closed-off and insecure. As a consultant, you must always appear trustworthy and confident when interacting with clients to be taken seriously and to enable you and your team to work in a solution-oriented manner. This is already tested in the case interview – albeit indirectly ;) Your Body Language in the Case Interview Can Be DecisiveBody language will be a great help throughout your career to communicate clearly and build relationships. Therefore, it's time to start dealing with this topic now.A confident demeanor is advantageous in almost any profession, if not crucial. This includes a firm handshake, upright posture, and eye contact. Self-confidence signals to the interviewer that you are capable of making clear and well-thought-out decisions even under pressure.Your body language should convey openness and engagement. Avoid sitting with crossed arms and nervous gestures like drumming your fingers or playing with a pen. An open and engaged posture supports your verbal communication and shows that you are attentive and interested.💡 Prep Tip: Sit up straight and rest your elbows on the table in front of you. This creates a connection that gives you a sense of security and prevents you from making nervous movements. Clear and Precise Communication is KeyStanding out among other top talents can be challenging. The way you communicate can be a tool to achieve this. The best part is that you don't have to be "better" than the others – you will be memorable because the conversation with you was pleasant, for various reasons:Structured Problem Solving: Start by breaking down the problem and articulating your thoughts clearly and systematically. Use frameworks like the MECE principle (Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive) to present your analysis logically and comprehensibly. Divide complex problems into manageable parts and explain your approach step by step. The trick is: think aloud.Active Listening: Show that you are actively listening to the interviewer and considering hints and questions. Ask follow-up questions if necessary to ensure you fully understand the problem. This demonstrates that you can work precisely and attentively, focusing on essential details.Clear Communication: Avoid jargon and complex expressions unless you are 100% confident in them. Your solutions should be clearly and understandably formulated. This is particularly important as consultants often have to communicate with clients from various fields. Respond to Your Interviewer with Interactive CommunicationView the interview as a dialogue, not a monologue. Interact with the interviewers by articulating your thought processes aloud and including everyone in your considerations. This can be done by asking questions like "Would it be helpful if I elaborate on this aspect?" or "What additional information might we need?"Additionally, be ready to reconsider your approaches and assumptions when new information is provided by the interviewer. This flexibility shows your ability to think dynamically and quickly adapt to changing situations.At the end of the interview, you should clearly summarize your findings and recommendations. Concisely wrap up the main points of your analysis and present your final recommendation. This shows that you can consolidate your thoughts and get to the point.Always remember: your recommendations should be realistic and feasible. Convince your interviewer that your solution is not only theoretically sound but also practically applicable. A well-founded argumentation and consideration of potential challenges are crucial here.A successful case interview in consulting requires more than just analytical skills. A convincing demeanor and clear, structured communication are equally important. Through careful preparation, confident appearance, and interactive communication, you can leave a positive impression and significantly improve your chances of a successful career in consulting.