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Preparing for a case study interview

Case study interviews are designed to assess your ability to work in a professional management consulting environment. Preparing for your case study interview is essential to effectively demonstrate how you work to identify key challenges impacting a client's organisation and how you develop effective solutions that successfully achieve client goals.

The following insights are intended to provide valuable guidance to help you prepare before your scheduled interview. 

In most cases, you will be asked to complete a case study based on a real or theoretical business scenario and resolve it verbally, in writing, or in both formats. 

It is recommended that you take the time in advance to understand this style of case study interview, the time management needed, and the range of issues you may be asked to address. This will ensure you feel comfortable and confident.  

You've already made a good start by reading our website. So while you’re here, familiarise yourself with our services, stories of impact, and our purpose and values. This will help you demonstrate your knowledge of Deloitte when you’re considering your responses.

“It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.”

During your case study interview,  your interviewer will be seeking to understand the process you use to arrive at your answer. It's about your structured approach and how you reached your conclusions, rather than the solution itself.  


Top tip
(for Analyst/Consultant job levels): Ensure you can apply your commercial awareness with a basic understanding of key business concepts, such as revenue, profit, market share, customers, competitors, and stakeholders. 

Top tip (for Senior Analyst/Consultant levels and above): Suggest data you need to prove/disprove any hypothesis you develop to support your recommendations. 

In some circumstances, you may have the opportunity to ask clarifying questions during your case study interview. This can help prevent you from making assumptions and provide you with critical information you may need to structure the problem and form a framework for your solution. 

Top tip: Ask broad, open-ended questions.

Verbal case study interviews are intended to be conversational. You are encouraged to interact with your interviewer, or your interview panel, as you would with your client.  

Top tip: Use positive body language and explain your reasoning clearly and concisely. 

Be prepared to respond to further requests from  your interviewer or interview panel. Positive energy, initiative, and enthusiasm are all great indicators that you will thrive in a professional services career, so you are encouraged to be yourself and enjoy it. 
 
Good luck!