If you're preparing for consulting interviews, you've likely heard it before: "It all comes down to the case." And while that's true, what most candidates miss is that it's not about solving the case — it's about showing how you think.

Consulting case interviews are designed to mimic the day-to-day work of a strategy consultant: breaking down problems, structuring uncertainty, doing fast but reliable math, and communicating clearly. But here’s the secret: you don’t need to memorize 50 frameworks or be a math wizard to succeed. What you need is a structured, thoughtful, and coachable approach. Let’s unpack how to build exactly that.

The Mindset Shift: It's Not a Test, It's a Dialogue

Most candidates walk into their case interview thinking it’s a test they need to pass. That mindset creates pressure, silence, and rigid thinking.

Top performers see the case for what it is: a collaborative conversation with a smart colleague. Your interviewer isn’t waiting for a perfect answer – they’re looking to see how you break down a messy, unfamiliar problem, how you ask questions, and how you adapt.

Here’s how to embody the right mindset:

• Think aloud. Your interviewer can't read your mind. Verbalize your logic and hypotheses.
• Pause, but don’t freeze. It’s fine to take 5-10 seconds to think before speaking. Just narrate your process.
• Own the whiteboard. Use your paper like a consultant uses a flipchart: clear, organized, and visual.

"Your interviewer isn't testing your knowledge. They're testing if they would put you in front of a client."

Structuring Like a Consultant: Issue Trees and MECE

Case problems can feel random: one day it's a declining market share, the next a go-to-market strategy in biotech. How do top candidates find clarity?

They structure.

Issue trees are your best friend. These are logical breakdowns of the big question into mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive (MECE) categories.

From there, you dive deeper. What's driving volume down? Are consumers switching to competitors? Is there a new regulation impacting sales?

Tips to sharpen your structure:

• Always clarify the objective first. Are we maximizing profits? Market share? ROI?
• Sketch your tree in silence, then talk your interviewer through it.
• Ask for feedback – it shows coachability and collaboration.

The Quant Game: Doing Smart, Simple Math

Consulting math isn’t hard. It’s fast.

You’ll be asked to estimate market sizes, calculate breakevens, interpret profitability tables. Here’s how to shine:

• Estimate with logic: If asked the market size for sneakers in France, break it down: population → % who wear sneakers → average pairs bought/year → average price.
• Stay organized: Label your variables, write equations before solving, and double-check units.
• Sanity check: Always end with, "Does this number make sense?"

Chart interpretation is just as important:

• Start by describing what the chart shows (title, axes).
• Then describe the insight: "Revenue is growing, but margin is declining – suggesting rising costs."
• Never jump straight to conclusions without walking through the data.

Pro tip: Consultants love when you say, "Let me walk you through how I got this."

Practice That Sticks: Drills, Partners, Feedback Loops

Prep is where most candidates waste time. They do 40+ cases without improving. Why? Because they don’t review what went wrong.

Here’s how to practice like a future consultant:

1. Practice structuring with frameworks (15-30 mins)

• Create 5 structures for past case prompts.
• Practice math drills (e.g., mental multiplication, breakeven problems).
• Interpret a new chart or graph daily.

2. Peer cases (3-5 per week)

• Practice with someone who gives real feedback, not just "good job."
• Record your sessions to catch bad habits.

3. Expert coaching (1-2 before interviews)

• Get calibrated on what 'great' looks like.
• Refine storytelling, structure, presence.

4. Daily debriefing
   After each case, ask yourself:

• What went well?
• Where did I feel lost or freeze?
• What pattern do I need to fix?

"You don’t need 50 cases. You need to extract 50 learnings."

Cracking the case interview isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being structured, collaborative, and coachable.

So don’t memorize frameworks. Learn to think in frameworks.
Don’t aim to solve the case. Aim to think with your interviewer.
Don’t copy top candidates. Become one.

Looking to supercharge your case prep?
Book our course, download our free case prep calendar, or sign up for our next live mock case interview. Let’s get you ready for MBB.