excel case study interview

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Beginner level excel interview questions, intermediate level excel interview questions, advanced level excel interview questions, 50 ms excel interview questions to ace your excel interview.

Microsoft Excel is a go-to tool if you’re working with data. Starting from simple calculations to building reports, Excel has it all covered. Knowing Excel has become a necessity in today’s times. Organizations rely on Excel for storing and analyzing their data. This article on MS Excel interview questions and answers will cover the top 50 questions that could be asked in an Excel interview.

So, let’s start with our beginner level Excel interview questions.

Watch the video below on Excel interview questions and answers that covers all the basic, intermediate and advanced interview questions that are frequently asked.

We will start with a set of Excel interview questions aimed at the beginners. 

1. What is a cell address in Excel? 

A cell address is used to identify a particular cell on a worksheet . It is denoted by a combination of the respective column letter and a row number. 

As shown above, the highlighted cell belongs to the column ‘D’ and row 5, so the cell address is read as D5.

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2. What do you mean by Relative cell referencing and Absolute cell referencing in MS Excel?

3. how do you freeze panes in excel.

Freeze panes keep the rows and columns visible while scrolling through a worksheet. To freeze panes, select the View tab and go to Freeze Panes.

If you are looking to freeze the first two columns of a dataset, select the 3rd column, and click ‘Freeze Panes’. A thick grey border indicates this.

4. How can you restrict someone from copying a cell from your worksheet?

1. First, choose the data you want to protect.

2. Hit Ctrl + Shift + F. The Format Cells tab appears. Go to the Protection tab. Check Locked and click OK.

3. Next, go to the Review tab and select Protect Sheet. Enter the password to protect the sheet. 

Let’s now move onto our next question on our list of Excel interview questions. 

5. How is a Formula different from a Function in Excel?

Now, let’s head to our next question in our list of Excel interview questions.

6. Mention the order of operations used in Excel while evaluating formulas.

The order of operations in Excel is referred to as PEDMAS. Shown below is the order of precedence while performing an Excel operation. 

• Parentheses
• Exponentiation
• Division/Multiplication 
• Subtraction

As seen above, first, the data in the parentheses is operated, followed by the exponentiation operation. After that, it can be either the division or multiplication operations. The result is then added and finally subtracted to give the final result.

Let’s look at an example of the PEMDAS precedence in the next question on our Excel interview questions list. 

7. How will you write the formula for the following? - Multiply the value in cell A1 by 10, add the result by 5, and divide it by 2.

To write a formula for the above-stated question, we have to follow the PEDMAS Precedence. The correct answer is ((A1*10)+5)/2.

Answers such as =A1*10+5/2 and =(A1*10)+5/2 are not correct. We must put parentheses brackets after a particular operation. 

The output will look like this:

8. What is the difference between count, counta, and countblank?

The count function is very often used in Excel. Here, let’s look at the difference between count, and it’s variants - counta and countblank. 

It counts the number of cells that contain numeric values only. Cells that have string values, special characters, and blank cells will not be counted. Shown below is an example of the count function.

It counts the number of cells that contain any form of content. Cells that have string values, special characters, and numeric values will be counted. However, a blank cell will not be counted. Shown below is an example of the counta function.

3. COUNTBLANK

As the name suggests, it counts the number of blank cells only. Cells that have content will not be taken into consideration. Shown below is an example of the countblank function.

9. What is the shortcut to add a filter to a table?

The filter mechanism is used when you want to display only specific data from the entire dataset. By doing so, there is no change being made to the data. The shortcut to add a filter to a table is Ctrl+Shift+L.

10. How do you create a hyperlink in Excel?

Hyperlinks are used to navigate between worksheets and files/websites. To create a hyperlink, the shortcut used is Ctrl+K.

The ‘Insert Hyperlink’ box appears. Enter the address and the text to display. Here, we are directed to the Amazon Website.

11. How can we merge multiple cells text strings in a cell?

To merge text strings present in multiple cells into one cell, you can use the CONCATENATE() . Shown below is an example of the concatenate function. 

Another way of combining cell values is by using the “&” operator, as shown below:

Let’s now move onto the next question on our Excel interview questions list.

12. How can you split a column into 2 or more columns?

You can split a column into 2 or more columns by following the below steps:

1. Select the cell that you want to split. Then, navigate to the Data tab, after that, select Text to Columns.

2. Select the delimiter.

3. Choose the column data format and select the destination you want to display the split.

4. The final output will look like below where the text is split into multiple columns.

13. What is the use of VLOOKUP and how do we use it?

The function VLOOKUP in Excel is used to look up information in a table and extract the corresponding data. 

Syntax:  VLOOKUP (value, table, col_index, [range_lookup])

              value - Indicates the data that you are looking for in the first column of                a table.

              table -  Refers to the set of data (table) from which you have to retrieve                the above value.

              col_index - Refers to the column in the table from where you are to                      retrieve the value.

              range_lookup - FALSE = exact match [optional] TRUE = approximate                    match (default). 

Shown below is an example of the VLOOKUP function . We are to find the Product related to the Customer Name – “Richard”.

14. How is VLOOKUP different from the LOOKUP function?

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15. How many report formats are available in Excel?

There are three report formats available in Excel; they are:

• Compact Form
• Outline Form
• Tabular Form

16. How does the IF() function in Excel work?

In Excel, the IF() function performs a logical test. It returns a value if the test evaluates to true and another value if the test result is false. It returns the value depending on whether the condition is valid for the entire selected range. 

Let’s look at the below example:

As seen above, the IF function returns “Record is Valid” if age is greater than 20, and the salary should be greater than $40000. Else, it will return “Record is Invalid”. Here the final answer will be “Record is Valid” as the entire selected range qualifies both the conditions. 

17. How do we use the SUMIF() function in Excel?

The SUMIF() function adds the cell values specified by a given condition or criteria. Given below is an example of the sumif function.

As seen above, the costs corresponding to the years 2010 are added as per the given criteria. 

18. Using the COVID data, find the number of days in which the number of deaths in Italy has been greater than 200.

To perform this operation, we can use the COUNTIFS() function. The dataset we will be using is shown below:

The COUNTIFS() function we use is -  =COUNTIFS(G2:G35777,"Italy",E2:E35777,">200")

19. What is a Pivot Table?

A pivot table is like a summary table of the dataset that enables you to create reports and analyze trends. They are useful when you have long rows or columns that hold values you need to track. 

To create a pivot table, first, go to the Insert tab and select the ‘PivotTable’ option.

Select the table or the range and choose where you want to place the pivot table.

Drag the fields you wish to show in the pivot table. Here we have created a pivot table using the Coronavirus data.

20. Create a drop-down list in Excel.

This can be done by using the ‘Data Validation’ option present in the Data tab.

In the example below, we have created a list based on the city column of the dataset.

21. How do we apply advanced filters in Excel?

To apply advanced filters, use the Advanced Filter option present in the Data tab. Select where you want to filter the table. Choose the ‘list range’ and the ‘criteria range’ that has the conditions based on which you would like to filter the table. 

The below example shows how to apply advanced filters.

22. Using the below-given sales data, highlight those cells where total sales > $5000.

Here, conditional formatting is used to highlight cells based on the criteria.

1. Select ‘Conditional Formatting’ from the home tab and under Highlight Cells Rules, choose ‘Greater Than option’.

2. Provide the condition and choose the color for the cells to be highlighted.

23. Using the given table, explain how the index-match function works in Excel.

Here, we will write an index-match function to find the city to which Andrew belongs to from the below table.

Here is how you can use the Index-Match function to get the result.

24. How do you find duplicate values in a column?

To find duplicate values in a column, you can either use Conditional Formatting or the COUNTIF() function.

1. Conditional Formatting

First, go to the Home tab, then under Conditional Formatting, select ‘Highlight Cells Rules’. Then choose ‘Duplicate Values’.

Below, we have highlighted the cells in the ‘Name’ column that have been repeated.

2. COUNTIF()

You can write a COUNTIF() function to check if the values in a particular column are repeated.

In the below example, we are fetching the duplicate names using the COUNTIF() function.

25. How can you remove duplicate values in a range of cells?

1. To delete duplicate values in a column, select the highlighted cells, and press the delete button. After deleting the values, go to the ‘Conditional Formatting’ option present in the Home tab. Choose ‘Clear Rules’ to remove the rules from the sheet.

2. You can also delete duplicate values by selecting the ‘Remove Duplicates’ option under Data Tools present in the Data tab.

Moving forward, let’s have a look at the intermediate level of Excel interview questions.

26. What are the wildcards available in Excel?

Wildcards only work with text data. Excel has three wildcards.

1. * (Asterisk)

This refers to any number of characters.

The example stated below filters the customers whose name ends with “a”. 

For that, we use “*a”.

2. ? (Question mark)

It represents one single character.

The example below shows how to filter a particular customer name. 

3. ~ (Tilde)

It is used to identify a wildcard character (~, *, ?) in the text.

In the following example, we are filtering How?* using the tilde (~) symbol. 

27. What is Data Validation? Illustrate with an example.

Data Validation restricts the type of values that a user can enter into a particular cell or a range of cells.

In the Data tab, select the ‘Data Validation’ option present under Data Tools. 

Select the kind of data validation you want to apply.

In the following example, we have applied data validation to the ‘Name’ column to accept only text values. If you enter something other than a text, it will throw an error.

28. Given below is a student table. Write a function to add pass/fail to the results column based on the following criteria.

If student marks > 60 and attendance > 75%, then pass else the student fails.

You can use the IF() function and check with an AND condition to fill in the results column.

29. Calculate your age in years from the current date.

Use the YEARFRAC() or DATEDIF() function to return the number of whole days between start_date and end_date 

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30. How are nested IF statements used in Excel?

The function IF() can be nested when we have multiple conditions to meet. The FALSE value in the first IF function is replaced by another IF function to make a further test.

Below, using nested IF statements, we are categorizing results based on the marks.

31. From the below table, find the descriptive statistics of the columns using the Data Analysis ToolPak in Excel.

Add the Analysis ToolPak from Options ----> Add-ins ----> Analysis ToolPak.

Click on the Data Analysis option in the Data tab. Choose Descriptive Statistics.

Below is the summary table for the columns and their respective statistical measures.

32. Using the Coronavirus dataset, create a pivot table to find the total cases in each country belonging to their respective continents.

First, drag the continent and country columns into rows. After that, drag the cases column on to the values section.

33. How do you provide Dynamic Range in ‘Data Source’ of Pivot Tables?

Dynamic Range in the data source of pivot tables is used to make your pivot table dynamic to adjust to new data when refreshed automatically.

Create a Named table to provide a dynamic range. Go to the Insert tab and select Table.

Under Table Design, give a name to the table.

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34. Is it possible to create a Pivot Table using multiple sources of data?

Yes, you can create a pivot table from multiple worksheets. For this, there must be a common row in both the tables. This will act as the Primary key for the first table and Foreign key for the second table. Create a relationship between the tables and then build the pivot table.

35. Create a pivot table to find the top three countries from each continent based on the total cases using COVID data.

• Create a pivot table using the coronavirus dataset by dragging sales into values.
• Place the continent and country columns into rows.
• Filter the table by selecting ‘Top 3’.

Below is the sequence of steps to follow.

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36. How do you create a column in a pivot table?

For this, you have to go to the PivotTable Analyze tab and select ‘Fields, Items & Sets’ option. Under that, you need to click ‘Calculate Field’ to create a new column.

The Insert Calculated Field box appears. Give a name to the column and insert the formula by selecting the existing columns from the pivot table. Click Add ----> OK to create the column.

37. How does a Slicer work in Excel?

To filter data in a Pivot table, we can use slicers. 

• To create a slicer, go to the Insert tab, and select Slicer present under Filter. 
• Then, select the list of fields for which you want to create slicers.

In the below example, we have created two slicers (months, countries, and territory) to filter the pivot table. 

38. Use the coronavirus dataset to find the percentage contribution of each country and continent to the total cases?

• Create the pivot table to show the total cases by country and continent.
• Right-click on the sum of cases column and under Show Value As, select “% of Grand Total.”

39. How do you create a pivot chart in Excel?

• To create a pivot chart, first, we need to create a pivot table.

• Go to the Insert tab next and select the ‘Pivot Chart’ option. Choose a suitable chart to represent your pivot table data.

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40. What are macros in Excel? Create a macro to automate a task.

Macro is a program that resides within the Excel file. The use of it is to automate repetitive tasks that you would like to perform in Excel.

To record a macro, you can either go to the Developer tab and click on Record Macro or access it from the View tab.

Now that we are done with the intermediate level of the Excel interview questions, let’s move on to the advanced level of Excel interview questions. 

41. What is the What-If Analysis in Excel?

The What-If Analysis in Excel is a powerful tool to perform complex mathematical calculations, experiment with data, and try out different scenarios. 

Consider the following example:

If you get $10,000 worth of sales over the next few months, how much profit can you expect?”

Such scenarios can be solved using the What-If Analysis.

Go to the Data tab and click on What-If Analysis present under Forecast.

Scenario Manager is used for a comparison of different scenarios.

The Goal Seek performs reverse calculations.

The Data Table is used for sensitivity analysis.

To learn more about how What-If analysis works, click on this link: “IQ video link”

42. What is the difference between a function and a subroutine in VBA?

43. what is the difference between thisworkbook and activeworkbook in vba, 44. how will you pass arguments to vba function.

Arguments can be passed to a VBA function as a reference or as a value.

Below is an example to illustrate both the usages.

Dim x As Integer

MsgBox Triple(x)

If you run the cells by passing the values as a reference, it will display 40 both the times. When we pass arguments by reference, we are referencing the original value. The original value of x is changed in the function.

When we pass the arguments by value, we are passing a copy to the function. The original value is not changed. Hence, the second MsgBox will display the original value 10.

45. How do you find the last row and column in VBA?

To find the last row, use the below lines code in the VBA module:

Sub FindingLastRow()

Dim lastRow As Long

lastRow = ActiveSheet.Cells.SpecialCells(xlLastCell).Row

MsgBox (lastRow)

To find the last column, use the below lines code in the VBA module:

Sub FindingLastColumn()

lastColumn = ActiveSheet.Cells.SpecialCells(xlLastCell).Column

MsgBox (lastColumn)

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46. How do we check whether a file exists or not in a specified location?

Sub CheckFileExists()

Dim strFileName As String

Dim strFileExists As String

    strFileName = “File location\file_name.xlsx”

    strFileExists = Dir(strFileName)

   If strFileExists = “” Then

        MsgBox “The selected file doesn't exist”

        MsgBox “The selected file exists”

47. Explain how to debug a VBA code?

To debug a VBA code line by line, you can use the F8 key. You can also create a breakpoint to terminate the execution wherever you want.

The execution will start from the beginning of the code, and every time you press F8, it will execute the next line and continue until the end of the code. The yellow arrow and the highlighted line tells you the current point to execution.

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48. Write a VBA function to calculate the area of a rectangle.

Function Area(Length As Double, Optional Width As Variant)

    If IsMissing(Width) Then

        Area = Length * Length

        Area = Length * Width

End Function

49. Write a VBA function to check if a number is a prime number or not.

Sub Prime()

Dim divisors As Integer, number As Long, i As Long

divisors = 0

number = InputBox(“Enter a number”)

For i = 1 To number

If number Mod i = 0 Then

    divisors = divisors + 1

If divisors = 2 Then

    MsgBox number & “ is a prime number”

    MsgBox number & “ is not a prime number”

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50. Write a VBA code to create a bar chart with the given data.

Consider the below data that has two features. You can use the lines of code below to create a bar chart.

Once you have run the above VBA code lines, below is the bar chart you will get.

So, those were the 50 Excel interview questions that can help you crack your Excel interviews and help you in bagging your dream job. 

Now that you know the various Excel interview questions that can be asked in an interview, you can prepare by referring to the given answers for each of these Excel interview questions. Here, we had a look at a plethora of Excel interview questions based on different levels of difficulty. Practicing Excel regularly and going through these Excel interview questions will keep you prepared for any question that is thrown at you.

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We hope this article on Excel interview questions was useful. Do you have any questions related to this article? If so, then please put it in the comments section of the article and our experts will get back to you on that right away. 

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Top MS Excel Interview Questions And Answers

Microsoft Excel , a popular spreadsheet program from Microsoft is extremely important for businesses, analysts, and professionals in many industries. It helps manage, analyze, and show data, making Excel skills very valuable making it favoured by top companies like JPMorgan Chase, KPMG, Deloitte, and PwC for its simplicity and powerful features.

In this article, we will look at the 50+ Excel Questions And Answers perfect for both beginners and experienced professionals. These interview questions are also helpful for individuals who are preparing for roles such as data analysts, business analysts, and accountants. The article on Interview Questions has been updated to cover everything about Excel 365, from the basics to advanced formulas, VBA, macros, and more.

Table of Content

Excel Interview Questions for Freshers

Excel intermediate interview questions, excel interview questions for experienced, 1. what is excel used for.

Excel is a spreadsheet program used for data organization, analysis, and visualization. It provides many features such as:

• Performing Complex Calculations with the help of buil-in functions such as COUNTIF, SUM etc.
• Creating charts
• Creating Graphs for Data Visualisation and more.

2. Explain the difference between a workbook and a worksheet.

• A workbook is a spreadsheet program file that you create in Excel. A workbook contains one or more worksheets.
• A worksheet consists of cells in which you can enter and calculate data. The cells are organized into columns and rows.

3. How do you navigate between worksheets in a workbook?

Use sheet tabs at the bottom of the Excel window.

4. How do you reference a cell in a formula?

Use the cell address in the formula (for example, A1).

5. Explain the difference between relative and absolute cell references?

When a formula is copied, relative references change, while absolute references remain constant.

For example, $A$1 is an absolute cell reference as it will not change if we move from one cell to another. However, relative cell reference is by default used by Excel and the cell reference will change if we move from one cell to another.

6. What is the order of operations in Excel formulas?

The order of operations in Excel formulas is

• Parentheses
• Multiplication and Division (left to right)
• Addition and Subtraction (left to right).

7. How do you create a chart in Excel?

Select data you want to include, go to the “ Insert ” tab, and choose a chart type.

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8. What is conditional formatting, and how do you apply it?

It’s formatting applied based on specified conditions. To apply conditional formatting , select a category, go to “ Home ” > “ Conditional Formatting .”

9. Explain the VLOOKUP function.

VLOOKUP is a function in Excel that searches for a value in the first column of a range and returns a value from the second column in the same row.

10. What is a cell in Excel?

A cell is the intersection of a column and a row, identified by a unique address (for example, A1).

11. How do you freeze panes in Excel?

Go to the “ View ” tab, select “ Freeze Panes ,” and choose an option.

12. What is the CONCATENATE function used for?

The CONCATENATE function combines two or more text strings into one string.

13.How can you remove duplicates in Excel?

Select the range, go to “ Data ” > “ Remove Duplicates .”

14. What is the difference between CONCATENATE and CONCAT functions?

CONCAT is a new function that replaces CONCATENATE, providing additional features.

15. How do you protect a worksheet or workbook with a password?

Right-click on the sheet tab or workbook tab, choose “ Protect Sheet” or “ Protect Workbook ,” and set a password.

16. Explain the PivotTable function.

Some of the functions of PivotTable are:

• Summarizes and analyzes data from a range into a concise, tabular format.
• Aggregates data based on arithmetic operations.
• Allows filtering and sorting of data.
• Enable deep data analysis.

17. What is the purpose of the INDEX-MATCH function?

It is an alternative to VLOOKUP, which is used to look up values in a table.

18. How do you transfer data in Excel?

Copy the data, right-click the destination cell, select “ Transpose ” under “ Paste Special. “

19. Explain the HLOOKUP function.

The HLOOKUP function is used to search for a value in the first row of a range and returns a value in the same column from another row.

20. What is the Paste Special feature used for?

It allows you to choose specific formatting options when you paste data.

21. How do you find and replace data in Excel?

Press Ctrl + H to open the Find and Replace dialog box.

22. What is the IF function, and how is it used?

It performs a logical test and returns one value if true and another if false.

23. How do you create a drop-down list in Excel?

Use the Data Validation feature under the “ Data ” tab.

24. Explain the difference between COUNT, COUNTA, COUNTIF, and COUNTIFS functions.

• COUNT counts the number of cells with numbers.
• COUNTA counts non-empty cells.
• COUNTIF counts cells based on a single criterion.
• COUNTIFS does the same with multiple criteria.

25. How can you round a number to a specified number of decimal places in Excel?

Use the ROUND function, for example, =ROUND(A1,2) rounds the values in A1 to 2 decimal places.

26. What is the purpose of the CONCAT function?

Concatenates a category or multiple ranges.

27. Explain the difference between a relative and an absolute reference in a formula.

28. how do you use the iferror function.

It returns a custom result if a formula generates an error; otherwise, it returns the result of the formula.

29. What is the difference between a line chart and a scatter plot?

• A line chart connects data points with lines
• A scatter plot displays individual data points.

30. How do you use the SUMIF and SUMIFS functions?

SUMIF adds values based on a single criterion. SUMIFS does the same with multiple criteria.

31. What is the purpose of the TRIM function?

Removes extra spaces from text, leaving only single spaces between words.

32. How do you create a named range in Excel?

Select the range, go to the “ Formulas ” tab, and click “ Define Name .”

33. Explain the purpose of the VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) in Excel.

The main purpose of VBA is that it allows automation of tasks and the creation of custom functions using the Visual Basic programming language.

34. How do you password-protect a workbook?

Go to “ File ” > “ Info ” > “ Protect Workbook ” > “ Encrypt with Password .”

35. What is the difference between CONCATENATE and TEXTJOIN functions?

TEXTJOIN is a more versatile function that can join text using a specified delimiter and ignore empty cells.

36. How do you use the COUNTBLANK function?

It counts the number of blank cells in a range.

37. Explain the terms ‘workbook’

A workbook is the complete Excel file containing multiple worksheets.

38. How do you create a macro in Excel?

Go to the “ View ” tab, click “ Macros ,” select “ Record Macro ,” perform actions and stop recording.

39. What is the purpose of the PMT function in Excel?

The PMT function calculates the payment for a loan based on a constant interest rate and periodic payments.

40. How do you create a data table in Excel?

Use the “ What-If Analysis ” tool in the “ Forecast” Groupunder the “ Data ” tab.

41. Explain the significance of the ROUND function in Excel.

The ROUND Function rounds a number to a specified number of digits.

42. What is the purpose of the NETWORKDAYS function?

It calculates the number of whole workdays between two dates, excluding weekends and optionally specified holidays.

43. How can you link data between different worksheets?

Use cell references or create formulas that reference cells in other worksheets.

44. Explain the difference between the terms ‘filter’ and ‘sort’ in Excel.

• Sorting arranges data in a specified order
• Filtering displays only the data that meets specific criteria.

45. How do you use the AVERAGEIF and AVERAGEIFS functions?

• AVERAGEIF calculates the average based on a single condition.
• AVERAGEIFS does the same with multiple criteria.

46. What is the purpose of the SUBTOTAL function?

It calculates a subtotal in a list or database, ignoring other subtotals.

47. How do you convert text to columns in Excel?

Use the “ Text to Columns ” feature under the “ Data ” tab.

48. Explain the importance of the MAX and MIN functions in Excel.

• MAX returns the highest value
• MIN returns the lowest value in a range.

49. How can you create a histogram in Excel?

Use the “ Histogram ” tool in the “ Data Analysis ” toolpack.

50. What is the purpose of the COUNTIF function?

The COUNTIF function counts the number of cells that meet a single condition.

Excel is a helpful tool for managing and analyzing data, whether you are a beginner or an expert. Beginners focus on the basics like cells and formulas, while intermediates can explore advanced functions and charts. Advanced users can also get involved in programming and complex data analysis.

No matter your skill level, being good at Excel is valuable for many jobs. These Excel questions serve as a guide to help you learn and demonstrate your Excel skills in the interview . The more you practice and learn, the better you will become at using Excel for a variety of tasks ranging from simple to complex. So, keep learning and using Excel, and you’ll be an expert in no time!

Excel Interview Questions with Answers – FAQs

What are the five basic excel functions.

The five basic Excel Functions are: The VLookup Function. The Concatenate Function. Text to Columns. Remove Duplicates. Pivot Tables.

What are the 5 Basic Excel Formulas?

The 5 Basic Excel Formulas are: =SUM(C2:C5) =MIN(E2:E5) =MAX(E2:E5) =AVERAGE(C2:C5) =COUNT(E2:E5)

How do I prepare for an Excel Interview?

Prior to the interview, engage in practicing various Excel tasks. Get ready to respond to common interview inquiries. Review and update your resume along with other application documents.

What is Excel basic questions?

Some of the basic Excel questions are: What is Microsoft Excel? What are the basic components of Excel? How do you enter data into Excel? What is a formula in Excel? How can you save an Excel document?

What is formula bar in Excel?

A formula bar is that toolbar in Excel that is situated just beneath the Ribbon and above the Spreadsheet Grid.

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20 Most-Asked Excel Job Interview Questions for Business Analyst

• Updated on October 17, 2023

It can be difficult sometimes to pinpoint the exact tasks of a business analyst . That is because every business analyst has multiple tasks that they need to accomplish at the same time. Therefore, even the title of ‘business analyst’ can be considered a very broad term which can include titles such as data, process, project analyst and manager. This article will explore Excel for business analysts .

The key responsibility of a business analyst can consist of establishing plans and models for the finance departments of companies. It is not only an important task for the department but also this position decides on crucial financial decisions for the company itself. That is why a successful business analyst should focus on learning and improving their financial reporting, forecasting and strategizing.

Some of the duties of business analysts are analyzing the financial opportunities and threats of the company; and giving and sharing business information with and from the shareholders of the company. Establishing comprehensive analyses, identifying and solving financial problems or challenges, and budgeting the internal and external business also comes with the job position of business analyst.

One of the essential skills for a business analyst is the ability to be technically literate. That means that a business analyst should be aware of the various functions of various applications and useful software. One of these programs (and perhaps the most useful and popular of them all) is Microsoft Excel.

Below in the later chapters of this blog post, you can find 20 job interview questions related to Excel for business analysts.

Question 1: What are the common data formats in Microsoft Excel?

If you are applying for a business analyst job position, you are expected to know certain details about Microsoft Excel. The data formats which Excel allows to run in are one of these details. Due to the fact that Microsoft Excel is a business analyst’s one of the most essential tools at the workplace, knowledge about the common data formats would be crucial. This knowledge is not only required at the work but also is needed in your job interview.

A sample answer for this question can be: “The most common data formats used in Microsoft Excel are numbers, percentages, dates and sometimes texts (as in words and strings of texts).”

Question 2: How are these data formats used in Microsoft Excel?

Similar to every job position and every job interview, only knowing the information is just the half of the work. You need to justify your knowledge with your applications, actions and also, practical knowledge. Therefore, only memorizing the data formats would not be helpful, if you have not used them yourself. You need to know what they are and on top of that, you need to know how they are used in the job.

A sample answer for the uses of data formats in Excel can be: “Numbers can be formatted in data cells as decimals or round values. Percentages show a part of a whole and the whole being 100%. The dates can automatically change depending on the region and location Microsoft Excel is connected from. And the text format is used when analyses, reports or other documents are entered into the Excel spreadsheet as data.”

Question 3: What are the cell references?

Cell references (or in fact, references are general) should be one of the most useful tools an analyst can utilize. The different cell references and their uses can sometimes be seen as trivial details; however, they are absolutely not. They are actually incredible time savers, especially for an always busy business analyst.

A sample answer on the definition of cell references: “Cell references are used to refer to data located in the same Excel spreadsheet but to data in a different cell. There are three different cell reference types: Absolute, relative and mixed cell references.”

Question 4: What are the functions of different cell references?

A business analyst should be able to know specifically the difference between the various cell references. This knowledge will not only come in handy at your job interview but also in communicating and collaborating with your coworkers and employees.

A sample answer can be: “The absolute cell reference forces the data to stay in the cell which it was put in. No matter how many formulas are used on the data itself, an absolute cell reference stays with the data. The relative cell reference moves with the cell when the formula on the cell is moved to another one. And the mixed cell reference indicates that the row or the column related to the data cell is changed or moved.”

Question 5: Which key or combination of keys allow you to toggle between the absolute, relative and mixed cell references?

Supervisors, bosses, company owners, employees, your coworkers and even you have something in common: Everybody wants to save time. No one wants to spend unnecessary time on something they can otherwise do it in a much lesser time. Therefore, everyone loves shortcuts. In addition to that if you are applying for a business analyst position, they are going to expect that you know certain Microsoft Excel shortcuts.

A sample answer on the key to press to shift between the cell references can be: “In Windows devices the F4 key lets you to change the cell references. In Mac devices the combination of keys Command + T will allow you this shift.”

It would be useful to note here that if you are an expert on using Microsoft Excel on only one of the devices, do not worry. You do not need to know every shortcut in each of the operating systems. If you efficiently can use one and show that to the employers, they would be satisfied.

Question 6: What is the function of the dollar sign ($) in Microsoft Excel?

In fact, the dollar sign ($) serves many purposes in Excel and none of them is related to the dollar currency at all. The dollar sign has multiple functions including some of the formulas you can type in. It also can denote any of the currencies written in a spreadsheet. However, in terms of cell references the dollar sign has only one purpose.

A sample answer can be: “The dollar sign when written tells Excel whether to change the location of the reference or not, if the formula for it is copied to other cells.”

Question 7: What is the LOOKUP function in Microsoft Excel?

As you are going to see in the later chapters of this blog post, the LOOKUP function is one of the most popular tools in Excel. If you are applying for a business analyst job, it is also one of the functions that you must be familiar with.

A sample answer on the LOOKUP function can be: “The LOOKUP function allows the user to find exact or partial matches in the spreadsheet. The VLOOKUP option lets the user search for data located in the vertical position. The HLOOKUP option functions the same way but in the horizontal plane.”

Question 8: What is the disadvantage of using the VLOOKUP function?

These kinds of questions test you in a way that you are familiar with the advantages and the good functions of Excel as well as the disadvantages. It also offers you a chance to exercise your critical thinking muscle and combine it with your analytical knowledge.

A sample answer can be: “The major disadvantage of the VLOOKUP function is that it can become ineffective very easily. If you shift data from a column to another, it will also change the column numbers that data was located. This forces you to manually enter the same formulas into (now) different data cells.”

Question 9: How do you insert a comment into an Excel spreadsheet?

A sample answer about the way you can insert comments can be: “You can insert comments into your spreadsheet simply by selecting the cell, right clicking and choosing the ‘Insert Comment’ option.”

Question 10: What is the difference between a comment and a note?

A sample answer on the difference between the two terms can be: “While replying to comments is available; replying to notes attached to cells is not. The notes can be looked at as single annotations.”

Question 11: How important is VBA for a business analyst?

It can be important to actually sit down, do some research on the areas that you think you are lacking and practice your knowledge of Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). These actions should be done before the job interview. Otherwise, a topic such as VBA which every business analyst should be familiar with can be your weakness. And it also can become the reason that you are rejected for the job position that you have applied for.

A sample answer can be: “If a business analyst wants to be successful and work in respected companies, she or he needs to learn and get familiar with the required tools. They should always follow the trends and practice with the most modern devices and tools. VBA is perhaps the most important function of Microsoft Excel and it is crucial for a business analyst to easily use this tool.”

Question 12: What is conditional formatting?

No matter which job position you hold at the moment or which position you are looking to apply for, conditional formatting is an essential function of Excel. It is so simple and so useful at the same time that you might have been using even without knowing what it is called!

A sample answer can be: “Conditional formatting allows you to change the visual aspect of cells. For example, you want all the cells which include a value of 3 to be highlighted with a yellow highlighter and made italic. Conditional formatting lets you achieve this action in only seconds.”

Question 13: What are the most important functions of Excel to you as a business analyst?

The functions you will list as an answer to this question will show the interviewer what you do in Microsoft Excel. You might me more ready for the interview, if you have at least 5 functions ready for this question. You do not have to memorize every formula and list the most complicated ones. Ask yourself this question about the function you want to list: What are my most used functions?

A sample answer for the functions that a business analyst most use can be: “I most often use the LOOKUP function; followed by COUNT and COUNTA functions. The IF and MAX and MIN functions are also one of the ones I usually use.”

Recommended Reading: Most Used Excel Functions

Question 14: What does the COUNTA function execute in an Excel spreadsheet?

Now, you have listed your favorite and most used functions. Regardless of the functions you list, the interviewer can ask any function’s purpose or use. That is why it is important for you to generally know the most important functions. You can find the functions and formulas every business analyst needs to know later in the chapters below in this blog post.

A sample answer on the COUNTA function can be: “The COUNTA can scan all the rows and columns that contain data, identify them and ignore the empty cells.”

Question 15: What is the difference between the functions of COUNT and COUNTA?

Once again, if the interviewer is certain that using Microsoft Excel is one of the essential skills you need to have in order to be accepted, you will be asked a lot of ‘function questions.’

A sample answer on the difference can be: “While COUNT function counts the cells that contain numbers as their data source; the COUNTA function returns the number of cells that contain any kind of data in it. These can include numbers, texts, letters, dates, etc.”

Question 16: Can you import data from other software into an Excel spreadsheet?

You, as a business analyst, might be using other programs and software to enter your data. However, if the company wants you to fully transfer into Microsoft Excel, you should be able to do that without any worry and more importantly, without any delay.

A sample answer on data can be: “Importing data from various external data sources into an Excel spreadsheet is available. Just go into the ‘Data tab above in the toolbar. And by clicking the ‘Get External Data’ button, you will be able to import data from other software into Excel.”

Recommended Reading: Google Sheets vs. Microsoft Excel: Which is better?

Question 17: Why do you think the knowledge of Microsoft Excel is important for a business analyst?

A sample answer for the importance of Microsoft Excel for a business analyst can be: “Using Excel and dealing with the company’s data is crucial because it’s the only data the organization has. And it is in the hands of the business analyst to analyze and come up with results and solutions for problems. The business analyst is also the financial consultant as well as an analyst. You can become the person that the CEO listens to in order to ‘make’ or ‘break’ certain deals.”

Question 18: As a business analyst, do you choose to store your sensitive data in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet?

In order to answer these kinds of direct questions, the only thing you need to do is to be honest. That is it. No interviewer wants to see a ‘yes man’ when conducting a job interview. If there are some things you think that are lacking in Microsoft Excel, you should speak and voice your opinion.

A sample answer can be: “Yes, I do store my client’s data in Microsoft Excel. However, if the data I am dealing with is confidential, then I would not be storing that sensitive data in an Excel file.”

Question 19: As a business analyst, how would you operate with sensitive data in Microsoft Excel?

A sample answer for the security of information in an Excel file can be: “Due to the fact that I would be responsible for the transfer, the possible disappearance or the leak of the data, I would store confidential data in a software other than Microsoft Excel.”

Question 20: How can you protect your data in Microsoft Excel?

A sample answer for the security of an Excel spreadsheet can be: “From the Review tab, you can choose to protect your sheet with a password. That way the spreadsheet will be password protected and cannot be opened or copied without the password.”

What Skills Do You Need to Be A Business Analyst?

The required skills for a business analyst consist of both soft and hard skills. That means only graduating from a business school or with a business degree will not automatically turn you into the ‘ideal candidate’ for the job.

A business analyst’s skill set should be analytical and technical as much as it should be social and communicative. You can find required skills for a business analyst in regards to both hard skills and soft skill below:

Social Skills

A business analyst should be able to present their findings to a group setting. The presentations can demonstrate the social skills a business analyst has. You should be effectively communicating with your coworkers, supervisors and clients in order to discuss certain issues. This applies to presentations with your employees to the meetings with the CEO itself.

Critical Thinking Skills

One of the most significant actions that business analysts are responsible for is evaluation. And evaluation and assessment are actions that require critical thinking. As it was mentioned above in the previous chapter, being a ‘yes man’ is not something that will boost your confidence and allow you to do a better job.

That is why critical thinking will help you focus on what you can ask and question. This skill will not only help you improve your work but also develop new skills and improve other abilities.

Problem Solving Skills

No matter what position you work in, no matter which company you work for, if you are unable to solve the problems you face, you will not be successful. Period, it is that simple. Because every imaginable job itself is some way related to solving problems.

That means you have to be good at identifying the problems themselves. Then you have to consider which ones can be or should be solved. And after that you would be able to create a plan in order to solve the problems the organization develops and the challenges you as a business analyst face.

To improve your Excel or PowerBI skills for more understandable dashboards and reporting, the most important three tips from experts are to start small, to learn how to create visuals and also to learn by doing. It’s very important to practice what you learn. 

What Do Business Analysts Use Excel For?

Simple and complicated spreadsheets.

When a business analyst is working for a client and is processing results or when she or he is doing personal side work, they will be using Microsoft Excel. And they are going to create spreadsheets no matter how basic or complicated they are. In order to analyze and report your results, you are going to always need to create spreadsheets and operate in them.

Filtering, Sorting and Processing Large Amounts of Data

Using Microsoft Excel for filtering and sorting data is something every Excel user does. However, not every user might have the amount of data a business analyst handles and deals with. That is why in order to quickly and efficiently sort and filter vast quantities of data business analysts use Microsoft Excel for the job.

Creating Charts and Graphs

Excel’s endlessly customizable charts and graphs can come in handy for a business analyst when she or he is doing a presentation. These visual illustrations of data can make the audience understand and look at the data in a much clearer way.

Which Microsoft Excel Functions and Formulas Do Business Analysts Need to Know?

• Basic Math Operations: There are four basic mathematical operations. They include addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
• LOOKUP Functions ( VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP )
• SUM Function
• COUNT Function
• COUNTA Function
• AVERAGE Function
• MAX and MIN Functions
• IF Function

Here, you can find some of the most essential functions a business analyst should be familiar with. However, there are a lot more to this list. If you are feeling like you should practice more on the functions you know and learn different ones, you should try the Someka Excel Formulas Training Kit .

This Excel template provides you various real life Excel problems and teaches you how to solve them with the necessary functions. There are three levels of function complexity: Beginner, Medium and Advanced Level. The Full Package Training Kit has the total 30 functions and 100 real world questions with it. If you are looking to train and practice on your own, this is the only necessary tool for you!

Other Excel Functions for Business Analysts 

Pivot tables.

Pivot table is perhaps the tool that will save you the most time in Excel. It is capable of summarizing and analyzing data in a matter of seconds. And regardless of the size of the data itself, it will provide you the summary of it. With these features, it can be one of the best ‘friends’ of a business analyst who is using Microsoft Excel.

Charts are the essential way for you to present your data. Everyone can turn in pages upon pages of numbers. And sometimes that kind of presentations are required as well. However, as detailed and customizable as the Charts section in Excel is going to help you create incredible looking many types of charts:

• Column Chart
• Pie Chart (2-D and 3-D)
• Doughnut Chart
• XY (Scatter) Chart
• Bubble Chart
• Stock Chart
• Surface Chart
• Radar Chart
• Combo Chart

Calculated Items

Calculated items work as custom formulas that use the sum of different items.  It calculates the sum of different items and put into a pivot field. It is almost a supportive feature of Pivot Tables. You can use it in calculating delivery and shipment details and also, for the product orders as well.

Conditional Formatting

This feature also goes well when you are presenting your results and the processed data to a group. It helps you differentiate different data cells from each other. You can highlight, emphasize and change the format of the cells to your choosing. As a business analyst, you are going to always deal with numbers. Therefore, presenting them in a much fashionable way will help everyone to easily realize and understand what they are looking at.

Excel Templates for Business Analysts!

Flowcharts can be a handy way to demonstrate your analyses. Someka Automatic Flowchart Maker has incredible customization features. You can change the shapes, colors, categories and decision labels with only the click of a few buttons! You can also use the drag-and-drop tool if you want to stay with the basics.

– This workflow is created by Someka’s Flowchart Maker – 

Also, conducting SWOT analysis for the company you are working for can lead to more profit and less problems. A business analyst’s job is to analyze, and so analyzing the company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and the threats is crucial. And you can conduct this analysis with Someka’s free SWOT Analysis Template !

Another important tool is FMEA Excel Template. This tool is for risk analysis to detect possible failure modes and plan preventive actions.

– This Dashboard is from Someka’s FMEA Excel Template –

Someka’s BCG Matrix Template creates a framework in which you can assess the value of your investments. With the four different sections titled Stars, Question Marks, Cash Cow and Poor Dog; you can analyze the market growth rate and relative market share in the Excel template. As a business analyst, this free template will be one of the tools to achieve that goal.

– This is the Dashboard section of Someka’s BCG Matrix Template – 

With the Competitive Analysis Template , you can evaluate your company’s competitors. Following that, you can even develop new strategies and financial models and manage the competition in the market. The template provides charts for each of your competitors and visual illustrations of market shares. Download this free and professional template for presentations right now and do not ever lose your place in the market!

FINAL WORDS ON EXCEL FOR BUSINESS ANALYSTS

The technical skill of using Microsoft Excel is not the only factor for becoming a successful business analyst. You need to integrate good social and communicative skills, combine them with analytical and managerial skills as well. It is a job with important and life-changing consequences for the company which you are working for. And perhaps using Microsoft Excel is not the only skill for the job, but it is without a doubt one of the most important ones.

Recommended Readings:

Complete List of Things You Can Do With Excel

Career Guide: Business Analyst

How to conduct a gap analysis?

Related Posts

• Case Interview: A comprehensive guide
• Pyramid Principle
• Hypothesis driven structure
• Fit Interview
• Consulting math
• The key to landing your consulting job
• What is a case interview?
• Types of case interview
• How to solve cases with the Problem-Driven Structure?
• What to remember in case interviews
• Case examples or building blocks?
• How do I prepare for case interviews
• Interview day tips
• How we can help

1. The key to landing your consulting job.

Case interviews - where you are asked to solve a business case study under scrutiny - are the core of the selection process right across McKinsey, Bain and BCG (the “MBB” firms). This interview format is also used pretty much universally across other high-end consultancies; including LEK, Kearney, Oliver Wyman and the consulting wings of the “Big Four”.

If you want to land a job at any of these firms, you will have to ace multiple case interviews.

It is increasingly likely that you will also have to solve online cases given by chatbots. You might need to pass these either before making it to interview or be asked to sit them alongside first round interviews.

Importantly, case studies aren’t something you can just wing . Firms explicitly expect you to have thoroughly prepared and many of your competitors on interview day will have been prepping for months.

Don’t worry though - MCC is here to help!

This article will take you through a full overview of everything you’ll need to know to do well, linking to more detailed articles and resources at each stage to let you really drill down into the details.

As well as traditional case interviews, we’ll also attend to the new formats in which cases are being delivered and otherwise make sure you’re up to speed with recent trends in this overall part of consulting recruitment.

Before we can figure out how to prepare for a case interview, though, we will first have to properly understand in detail what exactly you are up against. What format does a standard consulting case interview take? What is expected of you? How will you be assessed?

Let's dive right in and find out!

Professional help

Before going further, if this sounds like a lot to get your head around on your own, don't worry - help is available!

Our Case Academy course gives you everything you need to know to crack cases like a pro:

Case Academy Course

To put what you learn into practice (and secure some savings in the process) you can add mock interview coaching sessions with expereinced MBB consultants:

Coaching options

And, if you just want an experienced consultant to take charge of the whole selection process for you, you can check out our comprehensive mentoring programmes:

Explore mentoring

Now, back to the article!

2. What is a case interview?

Before we can hope to tackle a case interview, we have to understand what one is.

In short, a case interview simulates real consulting work by having you solve a business case study in conversation with your interviewer.

This case study will be a business problem where you have to advise a client - that is, an imaginary business or similar organisation in need of guidance.

You must help this client solve a problem and/or make a decision. This requires you to analyse the information you are given about that client organisation and figure out a final recommendation for what they should do next.

Business problems in general obviously vary in difficulty. Some are quite straightforward and can be addressed with fairly standard solutions. However, consulting firms exist precisely to solve the tough issues that businesses have failed to deal with internally - and so consultants will typically work on complex, idiosyncratic problems requiring novel solutions.

Some examples of case study questions might be:

• How much would you pay for a banking licence in Ghana?
• Estimate the potential value of the electric vehicle market in Germany
• How much gas storage capacity should a UK domestic energy supplier build?

Consulting firms need the brightest minds they can find to put to work on these important, difficult projects. You can expect the case studies you have to solve in interview, then, to echo the unique, complicated problems consultancies deal with every day. As we’ll explain here, this means that you need to be ready to think outside the box to figure out genuinely novel solutions.

2.1. Where are case interviews in the consulting selection process?

Not everyone who applies to a consulting firm will have a case interview - far from it!

In fact, case interviews are pretty expensive and inconvenient for firms to host, requiring them to take consultants off active projects and even fly them back to the office from location for in-person interviews (although this happens less frequently now). Ideally, firms want to cut costs and save time by narrowing down the candidate pool as much as possible before any live interviews.

As such, there are some hoops to jump through before you make it to interview rounds.

Firms will typically eliminate as much as 80% of the applicant pool before interviews start . For most firms, 50%+ of applicants might be cut based on resumes, before a similar cut is made on those remaining based on aptitude tests. McKinsey currently gives their Solve assessment to most applicants, but will use their resulting test scores alongside resumes to cut 70%+ of the candidate pool before interviews.

You'll need to be on top of your game to get as far as an interview with a top firm. Getting through the resume screen and any aptitude tests is an achievement in itself! Also we need to note that the general timeline of an application can differ depending on a series of factors, including which position you apply, your background, and the office you are applying to. For example, an undergraduate applying for a Business Analyst position (the entry level job at McKinsey) will most likely be part of a recruitment cycle and as such have pretty fixed dates when they need to sit the pre-screening test, and have the first and second round interviews (see more on those below). Conversely, an experienced hire will most likely have a much greater choice of test and interview dates as well as more time at their disposal to prepare.

For readers not yet embroiled in the selection process themselves, let’s put case interviews in context and take a quick look at each stage in turn. Importantly, note that you might also be asked to solve case studies outside interviews as well…

2.1.1. Application screen

It’s sometimes easy to forget that such a large cut is made at the application stage. At larger firms, this will mean your resume and cover letter is looked at by some combination of AI tools, recruitment staff and junior consulting staff (often someone from your own university).

Only the best applications will be passed to later stages, so make sure to check out our free resume and cover letter guides, and potentially get help with editing , to give yourself the best chance possible.

2.1.2. Aptitude tests and online cases

This part of the selection process has been changing quickly in recent years and is increasingly beginning to blur into the traditionally separate case interview rounds.

In the past, GMAT or PST style tests were the norm. Firms then used increasingly sophisticated and often gamified aptitude tests, like the Pymetrics test currently used by several firms, including BCG and Bain, and the original version of McKinsey’s Solve assessment (then branded as the Problem Solving Game).

Now, though, there is a move towards delivering relatively sophisticated case studies online. For example, McKinsey has replaced half the old Solve assessment with an online case. BCG’s Casey chatbot case now directly replaces a live first round case interview, and in the new era of AI chatbots, we expect these online cases to quickly become more realistic and increasingly start to relieve firms of some of the costs of live interviews.

Our consultants collectively reckon that, over time, 50% of case interviews are likely to be replaced with these kinds of cases . We give some specific advice for online cases in section six. However, the important thing to note is that these are still just simulations of traditional case interviews - you still need to learn how to solve cases in precisely the same way, and your prep will largely remain the same.

2.1.3. Rounds of Interviews

Now, let’s not go overboard with talk of AI. Even in the long term, the client facing nature of consulting means that firms will have live case interviews for as long as they are hiring anyone. And in the immediate term, case interviews are still absolutely the core of consulting selection.

Before landing an offer at McKinsey, Bain, BCG or any similar firm, you won’t just have one case interview, but will have to complete four to six case interviews, usually divided into two rounds, with each interview lasting approximately 50-60 minutes .

Being invited to first round usually means two or three case interviews. As noted above, you might also be asked to complete an online case or similar alongside your first round interviews.

If you ace first round, you will be invited to second round to face the same again, but more gruelling. Only then - after up to six case interviews in total, can you hope to receive an offer.

2.2. Differences between first and second round interviews

Despite interviews in the first and second round following the same format, second/final round interviews will be significantly more intense . The seniority of the interviewer, time pressure (with up to three interviews back-to-back), and the sheer value of the job at stake will likely make a second round consulting case interview one of the most challenging moments of your professional life.

There are three key differences between the two rounds:

• Time Pressure : Final round case interviews test your ability to perform under pressure, with as many as three interviews in a row and often only very small breaks between them.
• Focus : Since second round interviewers tend to be more senior (usually partners with 12+ years experience) and will be more interested in your personality and ability to handle challenges independently. Some partners will drill down into your experiences and achievements to the extreme. They want to understand how you react to challenges and your ability to identify and learn from past mistakes.
• Psychological Pressure: While case interviews in the first round are usually more focused on you simply cracking the case, second round interviewers often employ a "bad cop" strategy to test the way you react to challenges and uncertainty.

2.3. What skills do case interviews assess?

Reliably impressing your interviewers means knowing what they are looking for. This means understanding the skills you are being assessed against in some detail.

Overall, it’s important always to remember that, with case studies, there are no strict right or wrong answers. What really matters is how you think problems through, how confident you are with your conclusions and how quick you are with the back of the envelope arithmetic.

The objective of this kind of interview isn’t to get to one particular solution, but to assess your skillset. This is even true of modern online cases, where sophisticated AI algorithms score how you work as well as the solutions you generate.

If you visit McKinsey , Bain and BCG web pages on case interviews, you will find that the three firms look for very similar traits, and the same will be true of other top consultancies.

Broadly speaking, your interviewer will be evaluating you across five key areas:

2.1.1.One: Probing mind

Showing intellectual curiosity by asking relevant and insightful questions that demonstrate critical thinking and a proactive nature. For instance, if we are told that revenues for a leading supermarket chain have been declining over the last ten years, a successful candidate would ask:

“ We know revenues have declined. This could be due to price or volume. Do we know how they changed over the same period? ”

This is as opposed to a laundry list of questions like:

• Did customers change their preferences?
• Which segment has shown the decline in volume?
• Is there a price war in the industry?

2.1.2. Structure

Structure in this context means structuring a problem. This, in turn, means creating a framework - that is, a series of clear, sequential steps in order to get to a solution.

As with the case interview in general, the focus with case study structures isn’t on reaching a solution, but on how you get there.

This is the trickiest part of the case interview and the single most common reason candidates fail.

We discuss how to properly structure a case in more detail in section three. In terms of what your interviewer is looking for at high level, though, key pieces of your structure should be:

• Proper understanding of the objective of the case - Ask yourself: "What is the single crucial piece of advice that the client absolutely needs?"
• Identification of the drivers - Ask yourself: "What are the key forces that play a role in defining the outcome?"

Our Problem Driven Structure method, discussed in section three, bakes this approach in at a fundamental level. This is as opposed to the framework-based approach you will find in older case-solving

Focus on going through memorised sequences of steps too-often means failing to develop a full understanding of the case and the real key drivers.

At this link, we run through a case to illustrate the difference between a standard framework-based approach and our Problem Driven Structure method.

2.1.3. Problem Solving

You’ll be tested on your ability to identify problems and drivers, isolate causes and effects, demonstrate creativity and prioritise issues. In particular, the interviewer will look for the following skills:

• Prioritisation - Can you distinguish relevant and irrelevant facts?
• Connecting the dots - Can you connect new facts and evidence to the big picture?
• Establishing conclusions - Can you establish correct conclusions without rushing to inferences not supported by evidence?

2.1.4. Numerical Agility

In case interviews, you are expected to be quick and confident with both precise and approximated numbers. This translates to:

• Performing simple calculations quickly - Essential to solve cases quickly and impress clients with quick estimates and preliminary conclusions.
• Analysing data - Extract data from graphs and charts, elaborate and draw insightful conclusions.
• Solving business problems - Translate a real world case to a mathematical problem and solve it.

Our article on consulting math is a great resource here, though the extensive math content in our MCC Academy is the best and most comprehensive material available.

2.1.5. Communication

Real consulting work isn’t just about the raw analysis to come up with a recommendation - this then needs to be sold to the client as the right course of action.

Similarly, in a case interview, you must be able to turn your answer into a compelling recommendation. This is just as essential to impressing your interviewer as your structure and analysis.

Consultants already comment on how difficult it is to find candidates with the right communication skills. Add to this the current direction of travel, where AI will be able to automate more and more of the routine analytic side of consulting, and communication becomes a bigger and bigger part of what consultants are being paid for.

So, how do you make sure that your recommendations are relevant, smart, and engaging? The answer is to master what is known as CEO-level communication .

This art of speaking like a CEO can be quite challenging, as it often involves presenting information in effectively the opposite way to how you might normally.

To get it right, there are three key areas to focus on in your communications:

• Top down : A CEO wants to hear the key message first. They will only ask for more details if they think that will actually be useful. Always consider what is absolutely critical for the CEO to know, and start with that. You can read more in our article on the Pyramid Principle .
• Concise : This is not the time for "boiling the ocean" or listing an endless number possible solutions. CEOs, and thus consultants, want a structured, quick and concise recommendation for their business problem, that they can implement immediately.
• Fact-based : Consultants share CEOs' hatred of opinions based on gut feel rather than facts. They want recommendations based on facts to make sure they are actually in control. Always go on to back up your conclusions with the relevant facts.

Being concise and to the point is key in many areas, networking being one for them. For more detail on all this, check out our full article on delivering recommendations .

Prep the right way

3. types of case interview.

While most case interviews share a similar structure, firms will have some differences in the particular ways they like to do things in terms of both the case study and the fit component.

As we’ll see, these differences aren’t hugely impactful in terms of how you prepare. That said, it's always good to know as much as possible about what you will be going up against.

3.1. Different case objectives

A guiding thread throughout this article and our approach in general will be to treat each case as a self-contained problem and not try to pigeonhole it into a certain category. Having said that, there are of course similarities between cases and we can identify certain parameters and objectives.

Broadly speaking, cases can be divided into issue-based cases and strategic decision cases. In the former you will be asked to solve a certain issue, such as declining profits, or low productivity whereas in the latter you will be ask whether your client should or should not do something, such as enter a specific market or acquire another company. The chart below is a good breakdown of these different objectives:

3.2. How do interviewers craft cases

While interviewers will very likely be given a case bank to choose from by their company, a good number of them will also choose to adapt the cases they would currently be working on to an interview setting. The difference is that the latter cases will be harder to pigeonhole and apply standard frameworks to, so a tailored approach will be paramount.

If you’ve applied for a specific practice or type of consulting - such as operational consulting, for example - it’s very likely that you will receive a case geared towards that particular area alongside a ‘generalist’ consulting case (however, if that’s the case, you will generally be notified). The other main distinction when it comes to case interviews is between interviewer-led and candidate-led.

3.3. Candidate-led cases

Most consulting case interview questions test your ability to crack a broad problem, with a case prompt often going something like:

" How much would you pay to secure the rights to run a restaurant in the British Museum? "

You, as a candidate, are then expected to identify your path to solve the case (that is, provide a structure), leveraging your interviewer to collect the data and test your assumptions.

This is known as a “candidate-led” case interview and is used by Bain, BCG and other firms. From a structuring perspective, it’s easier to lose direction in a candidate-led case as there are no sign-posts along the way. As such, you need to come up with an approach that is both broad enough to cover all of the potential drivers in a case but also tailored enough to the problem you are asked to solve. It’s also up to you to figure out when you need to delve deeper into a certain branch of the case, brainstorm or ask for data. The following case from Bain is an excellent example on how to navigate a candidate-led case.

3.4. Interviewer-led cases

This type of case - employed most famously by McKinsey - is slightly different, with the interviewer controlling the pace and direction of the conversation much more than with other case interviews.

At McKinsey, your interviewer will ask you a set of pre-determined questions, regardless of your initial structure. For each question, you will have to understand the problem, come up with a mini structure, ask for additional data (if necessary) and come to the conclusion that answers the question. This more structured format of case also shows up in online cases by other firms - notably including BCG’s Casey chatbot (with the amusing result that practising McKinsey-style cases can be a great addition when prepping for BCG).

Essentially, these interviewer-led case studies are large cases made up of lots of mini-cases. You still use basically the same method as you would for standard (or candidate-led) cases - the main difference is simply that, instead of using that method to solve one big case, you are solving several mini-cases sequentially. These cases are easier to follow as the interviewer will guide you in the right direction. However, this doesn’t mean you should pay less attention to structure and deliver a generic framework! Also, usually (but not always!) the first question will ask you to map your approach and is the equivalent of the structuring question in candidate-led cases. Sometimes, if you’re missing key elements, the interviewer might prompt you in the right direction - so make sure to take those prompts seriously as they are there to help you get back on track (ask for 30 seconds to think on the prompt and structure your approach). Other times - and this is a less fortunate scenario - the interviewer might say nothing and simply move on to the next question. This is why you should put just as much thought (if not more) into the framework you build for interviewer-led cases , as you may be penalized if you produce something too generic or that doesn’t encompass all the issues of the case.

3.5. Case and fit

The standard case interview can be thought of as splitting into two standalone sub-interviews. Thus “case interviews” can be divided into the case study itself and a “fit interview” section, where culture fit questions are asked.

This can lead to a bit of confusion, as the actual case interview component might take up as little as half of your scheduled “case interview”. You need to make sure you are ready for both aspects.

To illustrate, here is the typical case interview timeline:

• First 15-30 minutes: Fit Interview - with questions assessing your motivation to be a consultant in that specific firm and your traits around leadership and teamwork. Learn more about the fit interview in our in-depth article here .
• Next 30-40 minutes: Case Interview - solving a case study
• Last 5 minutes: Fit Interview again - this time focussing on your questions for your interviewer.

Both the Case and Fit interviews play crucial roles in the finial hiring decision. There is no “average” taken between case and fit interviews: if your performance is not up to scratch in either of the two, you will not be able to move on to the next interview round or get an offer.

NB: No case without fit

Note that, even if you have only been told you are having a case interview or otherwise are just doing a case study, always be prepared to answer fit questions. At most firms, it is standard practice to include some fit questions in all case interviews, even if there are also separate explicit fit interviews, and interviewers will almost invariably include some of these questions around your case. This is perfectly natural - imagine how odd and artificial it would be to show up to an interview, simply do a case and leave again, without talking about anything else with the interviewer before or after.

3.5.1 Differences between firms

For the most part, a case interview is a case interview. However, firms will have some differences in the particular ways they like to do things in terms of both the case study and the fit component.

3.5.2. The McKinsey PEI

McKinsey brands its fit aspect of interviews as the Personal Experience Interview or PEI. Despite the different name, this is really much the same interview you will be going up against in Bain, BCG and any similar firms.

McKinsey does have a reputation for pushing candidates a little harder with fit or PEI questions , focusing on one story per interview and drilling down further into the specific details each time. We discuss this tendency more in our fit interview article . However, no top end firm is going to go easy on you and you should absolutely be ready for the same level of grilling at Bain, BCG and others. Thus any difference isn’t hugely salient in terms of prep.

3.6. What is different in 2023?

For the foreseeable future, you are going to have to go through multiple live case interviews to secure any decent consulting job. These might increasingly happen via Zoom rather than in person, but they should remain largely the same otherwise.

However, things are changing and the rise of AI in recent months seems pretty much guaranteed to accelerate existing trends.

Even before the explosive development of AI chatbots like ChatGPT we have seen in recent months, automation was already starting to change the recruitment process.

As we mentioned, case interviews are expensive and inconvenient for firms to run . Ideally, then, firms will try to reduce the number of interviews required for recruitment as far as possible. For many years, tests of various kinds served to cut down the applicant pool and thus the number of interviews. However, these tests had a limited capacity to assess candidates against the full consulting skillset in the way that case interviews do so well.

More recently, though, the development of online testing has allowed for more and more advanced assessments. Top consulting firms have been leveraging screening tests that better and better capture the same skillset as case interviews. Eventually this is converging on automated case studies. We see this very clearly with the addition of the Redrock case to McKinsey’s Solve assessment.

As these digital cases become closer to the real thing, the line between test and interview blurs. Online cases don’t just reduce the number of candidates to interview, but start directly replacing interviews.

Case in point here is BCG’s Casey chatbot . Previously, BCG had deployed less advanced online cases and similar tests to weed out some candidates before live case interviews began. Now, though, Casey actually replaces one first round case interview.

Casey, at time of writing, is still a relatively “basic” chatbot, basically running through a pre-set script. The Whatsapp-like interface does a lot of work to make it feel like one is chatting to a “real person” - the chatbot itself, though, cannot provide feedback or nudges to candidates as would a human interviewer.

We fully expect that, as soon as BCG and other firms can train a truer AI, these online cases will become more widespread and start replacing more live interviews.

We discuss the likely impacts of advanced AI on consulting recruitment and the industry more broadly in our blog.

Here, though, the real message is that you should expect to run into digital cases as well as traditional case interviews.

Luckily, despite any changes in specific format, you will still need to master the same fundamental skills and prepare in much the same way.

We’ll cover a few ways to help prepare for chatbot cases in section four. Ultimately, though, firms are looking for the same problem solving ability and mindset as a real interviewer. Especially as chatbots get better at mimicking a real interviewer, candidates who are well prepared for case cracking in general should have no problem with AI administered cases.

3.6.1. Automated fit interviews

Analogous to online cases, in recent years there has been a trend towards automated, “one way” fit interviews, with these typically being administered for consultancies by specialist contractors like HireVue or SparkHire.

These are kind of like Zoom interviews, but if the interviewer didn’t show up. Instead you will be given fit questions to answer and must record your answer in your computer webcam. Your response will then go on to be assessed by an algorithm, scoring both what you say and how you say it.

Again, with advances in AI, it is easy to imagine these automated interviews going from fully scripted interactions, where all candidates are asked the same list of questions, to a more interactive experience. Thus, we might soon arrive at a point where you are being grilled on the details of your stories - McKinsey PEI style - but by a bot rather than a human.

We include some tips on this kind of “one way” fit interview in section six here.

4. How to solve cases with the Problem-Driven Structure?

If you look around online for material on how to solve case studies, a lot of what you find will set out framework-based approaches. However, as we have mentioned, these frameworks tend to break down with more complex, unique cases - with these being exactly the kind of tough case studies you can expect to be given in your interviews.

To address this problem, the MyConsultingCoach team has synthesized a new approach to case cracking that replicates how top management consultants approach actual engagements.

MyConsultingCoach’s Problem Driven Structure approach is a universal problem solving method that can be applied to any business problem , irrespective of its nature.

As opposed to just selecting a generic framework for each case, the Problem Driven Structure approach works by generating a bespoke structure for each individual question and is a simplified version of the roadmap McKinsey consultants use when working on engagements.

The canonical seven steps from McKinsey on real projects are simplified to four for case interview questions, as the analysis required for a six-month engagement is somewhat less than that needed for a 45-minute case study. However, the underlying flow is the same (see the method in action in the video below)

Let's zoom in to see how our method actually works in more detail:

4.1. Identify the problem

Identifying the problem means properly understanding the prompt/question you are given, so you get to the actual point of the case.

This might sound simple, but cases are often very tricky, and many candidates irretrievably mess things up within the first few minutes of starting. Often, they won’t notice this has happened until they are getting to the end of their analysis. Then, they suddenly realise that they have misunderstood the case prompt - and have effectively been answering the wrong question all along!

With no time to go back and start again, there is nothing to do. Even if there were time, making such a silly mistake early on will make a terrible impression on their interviewer, who might well have written them off already. The interview is scuppered and all the candidate’s preparation has been for nothing.

This error is so galling as it is so readily avoidable.

Our method prevents this problem by placing huge emphasis on a full understanding of the case prompt. This lays the foundations for success as, once we have identified the fundamental, underlying problem our client is facing, we focus our whole analysis around finding solutions to this specific issue.

Now, some case interview prompts are easy to digest. For example, “Our client, a supermarket, has seen a decline in profits. How can we bring them up?”. However, many of the prompts given in interviews for top firms are much more difficult and might refer to unfamiliar business areas or industries. For example, “How much would you pay for a banking license in Ghana?” or “What would be your key areas of concern be when setting up an NGO?”

Don’t worry if you have no idea how you might go about tackling some of these prompts!

In our article on identifying the problem and in our full lesson on the subject in our MCC Academy course, we teach a systematic, four step approach to identifying the problem , as well as running through common errors to ensure you start off on the right foot every time!

This is summarised here:

Following this method lets you excel where your competitors mess up and get off to a great start in impressing your interviewer!

4.2. Build your problem driven structure

After you have properly understood the problem, the next step is to successfully crack a case is to draw up a bespoke structure that captures all the unique features of the case.

This is what will guide your analysis through the rest of the case study and is precisely the same method used by real consultants working on real engagements.

Of course, it might be easier here to simply roll out one an old-fashioned framework, and a lot of candidates will do so. This is likely to be faster at this stage and requires a lot less thought than our problem-driven structure approach.

However, whilst our problem driven structure approach requires more work from you, our method has the advantage of actually working in the kind of complex case studies where generic frameworks fail - that is exactly the kind of cases you can expect at an MBB interview .

Since we effectively start from first principles every time, we can tackle any case with the same overarching method. Simple or complex, every case is the same to you and you don’t have to gamble a job on whether a framework will actually work

4.2.1 Issue trees

Issue trees break down the overall problem into a set of smaller problems that you can then solve individually. Representing this on a diagram also makes it easy for both you and your interviewer to keep track of your analysis.

To see how this is done, let’s look at the issue tree below breaking down the revenues of an airline:

These revenues can be segmented as the number of customers multiplied by the average ticket price. The number of customers can be further broken down into a number of flights multiplied by the number of seats, times average occupancy rate. The node corresponding to the average ticket price can then be segmented further.

4.2.2 Hypothesis trees

Hypothesis trees are similar, the only difference being that rather than just trying to break up the issue into smaller issues you are assuming that the problem can be solved and you are formulating solutions.

In the example above, you would assume revenues can be increased by either increasing the average ticket price or the number of customers . You can then hypothesize that you can increase the average occupancy rate in three ways: align the schedule of short and long haul flights, run a promotion to boost occupancy in off-peak times, or offer early bird discounts.

4.2.3 Other structures:structured lists

Structured lists are simply subcategories of a problem into which you can fit similar elements. This McKinsey case answer starts off by identifying several buckets such as retailer response, competitor response, current capabilities and brand image and then proceeds to consider what could fit into these categories.

Buckets can be a good way to start the structure of a complex case but when using them it can be very difficult to be MECE and consistent, so you should always aim to then re-organize them into either an issue or a hypothesis tree.

It is worth noting that the same problem can be structured in multiple valid ways by choosing different means to segment the key issues. Ultimately all these lists are methods to set out a logical hierachy among elements.

4.2.4 Structures in practice

That said, not all valid structures are equally useful in solving the underlying problem. A good structure fulfils several requirements - including MECE-ness , level consistency, materiality, simplicity, and actionability. It’s important to put in the time to master segmentation, so you can choose a scheme isn’t only valid, but actually useful in addressing the problem.

After taking the effort to identify the problem properly, an advantage of our method is that it will help ensure you stay focused on that same fundamental problem throughout. This might not sound like much, but many candidates end up getting lost in their own analysis, veering off on huge tangents and returning with an answer to a question they weren’t asked.

Another frequent issue - particularly with certain frameworks - is that candidates finish their analysis and, even if they have successfully stuck to the initial question, they have not actually reached a definite solution. Instead, they might simply have generated a laundry list of pros and cons, with no clear single recommendation for action.

Clients employ consultants for actionable answers, and this is what is expected in the case interview. The problem driven structure excels in ensuring that everything you do is clearly related back to the key question in a way that will generate a definitive answer. Thus, the problem driven structure builds in the hypothesis driven approach so characteristic of real consulting practice.

You can learn how to set out your own problem driven structures in our article here and in our full lesson in the MCC Academy course.

4.2. Lead the analysis

A problem driven structure might ensure we reach a proper solution eventually, but how do we actually get there?

We call this step " leading the analysis ", and it is the process whereby you systematically navigate through your structure, identifying the key factors driving the issue you are addressing.

Generally, this will mean continuing to grow your tree diagram, further segmenting what you identify as the most salient end nodes and thus drilling down into the most crucial factors causing the client’s central problem.

Once you have gotten right down into the detail of what is actually causing the company’s issues, solutions can then be generated quite straightforwardly.

To see this process in action, we can return to our airline revenue example:

Let’s say we discover the average ticket price to be a key issue in the airline’s problems. Looking closer at the drivers of average ticket price, we find that the problem lies with economy class ticket prices. We can then further segment that price into the base fare and additional items such as food.

Having broken down the issue to such a fine-grained level and considering the 80/20 rule(see below), solutions occur quite naturally. In this case, we can suggest incentivising the crew to increase onboard sales, improving assortment in the plane, or offering discounts for online purchases.

Our article on leading the analysis is a great primer on the subject, with our video lesson in the MCC Academy providing the most comprehensive guide available.

4.4. Provide recommendations

So you have a solution - but you aren’t finished yet!

Now, you need to deliver your solution as a final recommendation.

This should be done as if you are briefing a busy CEO and thus should be a one minute, top-down, concise, structured, clear, and fact-based account of your findings.

The brevity of the final recommendation belies its importance. In real life consulting, the recommendation is what the client has potentially paid millions for - from their point of view, it is the only thing that matters.

In an interview, your performance in this final summing up of your case is going to significantly colour your interviewer’s parting impression of you - and thus your chances of getting hired!

So, how do we do it right?

Barbara Minto's Pyramid Principle elegantly sums up almost everything required for a perfect recommendation. The answer comes first , as this is what is most important. This is then supported by a few key arguments , which are in turn buttressed by supporting facts .

Across the whole recommendation, the goal isn’t to just summarise what you have done. Instead, you are aiming to synthesize your findings to extract the key "so what?" insight that is useful to the client going forward.

All this might seem like common sense, but it is actually the opposite of how we relay results in academia and other fields. There, we typically move from data, through arguments and eventually to conclusions. As such, making good recommendations is a skill that takes practice to master.

We can see the Pyramid Principle illustrated in the diagram below:

To supplement the basic Pyramid Principle scheme, we suggest candidates add a few brief remarks on potential risks and suggested next steps . This helps demonstrate the ability for critical self-reflection and lets your interviewer see you going the extra mile.

The combination of logical rigour and communication skills that is so definitive of consulting is particularly on display in the final recommendation.

Despite it only lasting 60 seconds, you will need to leverage a full set of key consulting skills to deliver a really excellent recommendation and leave your interviewer with a good final impression of your case solving abilities.

Our specific article on final recommendations and the specific video lesson on the same topic within our MCC Academy are great, comprehensive resources. Beyond those, our lesson on consulting thinking and our articles on MECE and the Pyramid Principle are also very useful.

4.5. What if I get stuck?

Naturally with case interviews being difficult problems there may be times where you’re unsure what to do or which direction to take. The most common scenario is that you will get stuck midway through the case and there are essentially two things that you should do:

• 1. Go back to your structure
• 2. Ask the interviewer for clarification

Your structure should always be your best friend - after all, this is why you put so much thought and effort into it: if it’s MECE it will point you in the right direction. This may seem abstract but let’s take the very simple example of a profitability issue: if you’ve started your analysis by segmenting profit into revenue minus costs and you’ve seen that the cost side of the analysis is leading you nowhere, you can be certain that the declining profit is due to a decline in revenue.

Similarly, when you’re stuck on the quantitative section, make sure that your framework for calculations is set up correctly (you can confirm this with the interviewer) and see what it is you’re trying to solve for: for example if you’re trying to find what price the client should sell their new t-shirt in order to break even on their investment, you should realize that what you’re trying to find is the break even point, so you can start by calculating either the costs or the revenues. You have all the data for the costs side and you know they’re trying to sell 10.000 pairs so you can simply set up the equation with x being the price.

As we’ve emphasised on several occasions, your consulting interview will be a dialogue. As such, if you don’t know what to do next or don’t understand something, make sure to ask the interviewer (and as a general rule always follow their prompts as they are trying to help, not trick you). This is especially true for the quantitative questions, where you should really understand what data you’re looking at before you jump into any calculations. Ideally you should ask your questions before you take time to formulate your approach but don’t be afraid to ask for further clarification if you really can’t make sense of what’s going on. It’s always good to walk your interviewer through your approach before you start doing the calculations and it’s no mistake to make sure that you both have the same understanding of the data. For example when confronted with the chart below, you might ask what GW (in this case gigawatt) means from the get-go and ask to confirm the different metrics (i.e. whether 1 GW = 1000 megawatts). You will never be penalised for asking a question like that.

5. What to remember in case interviews

If you’re new to case cracking you might feel a bit hopeless when you see a difficult case question, not having any idea where to start.

In fact though, cracking cases is much like playing chess. The rules you need to know to get started are actually pretty simple. What will make you really proficient is time and practice.

In this section, we’ll run through a high level overview of everything you need to know, linking to more detailed resources at every step.

5.1. An overall clear structure

You will probably hear this more than you care for but it is the most important thing to keep in mind as you start solving cases, as not only it is a key evaluation criterion but the greatest tool you will have at your disposal. The ability to build a clear structure in all aspects of the case will be the difference between breezing through a complicated case and struggling at its every step. Let’s look a bit closer at the key areas where you should be structured!

5.1.1 Structured notes

Every case interview starts with a prompt, usually verbal, and as such you will have to take some notes. And here is where your foray into structure begins, as the notes you take should be clear, concise and structured in a way that will allow you to repeat the case back to the interviewer without writing down any unnecessary information.

This may sound very basic but you should absolutely not be dismissive about it: taking clear and organized notes will allow you to navigate a case just like you would a powerpoint! While you should obviously adopt a system that you are comfortable with, what we found helps is to have separate sections for:

• The case brief
• Follow-up questions and answers
• Numerical data
• Case structure (the most crucial part when solving the case)
• Any scrap work during the case (usually calculations)

When solving the case - or, as we call it here, in the Lead the analysis step, it is highly recommended to keep on feeding and integrating your structure, so that you never get lost. Maintaining a clear high level view is one of the most critical skills in consulting: by constantly keeping track of where you are following your structure, you’ll never lose your focus on the end goal.

In the case of an interviewer-led case, you can also have separate sheets for each question (e.g. Question 1. What factors can we look at that drive profitability?). If you develop a system like this you’ll know exactly where to look for each point of data rather than rummage around in untidy notes. There are a couple more sections that you may have, depending on preference - we’ll get to these in the next sections.

5.1.2 Structured communication

There will be three main types of communication in cases:

• 1. Asking and answering questions
• 2. Walking the interviewer through your structure (either the case or calculation framework - we’ll get to that in a bit!)
• 3. Delivering your recommendation

Asking and answering questions will be the most common of these and the key thing to do before you speak is ask for some time to collect your thoughts and get organised. What you want to avoid is a ‘laundry list’ of questions or anything that sounds too much like a stream of consciousness.

Different systems work for different candidates but a sure-fire way of being organised is numbering your questions and answers. So rather than saying something like ‘I would like to ask about the business model, operational capacity and customer personas’ it’s much better to break it down and say something along the lines of ‘I’ve got three key questions. Firstly I would like to inquire into the business model of our client. Secondly I would like to ask about their operational capacity. Thirdly I would like to know more about the different customer personas they are serving’.

A similar principle should be applied when walking the interview through your structure, and this is especially true of online interviews (more and more frequent now) when the interviewer can’t see your notes. Even if you have your branches or buckets clearly defined, you should still use a numbering system to make it obvious to the interviewer. So, for example, when asked to identify whether a company should make an acquisition, you might say ‘I would like to examine the following key areas. Firstly the financial aspects of this issue, secondly the synergies and thirdly the client’s expertise’

The recommendation should be delivered top-down (see section 4.4 for specifics) and should employ the same numbering principle. To do so in a speedy manner, you should circle or mark the key facts that you encounter throughout the case so you can easily pull them out at the end.

5.1.3 Structured framework

It’s very important that you have a systematic approach - or framework - for every case. Let’s get one thing straight: there is a difference between having a problem-solving framework for your case and trying to force a case into a predetermined framework. Doing the former is an absolute must , whilst doing the latter will most likely have you unceremoniously dismissed.

We have seen there are several ways of building a framework, from identifying several categories of issues (or ‘buckets’) to building an issue or hypothesis tree (which is the most efficient type of framework). For the purpose of organization, we recommend having a separate sheet for the framework of the case, or, if it’s too much to manage, you can have it on the same sheet as the initial case prompt. That way you’ll have all the details as well as your proposed solution in one place.

5.1.4 Structured calculations

Whether it’s interviewer or candidate-led, at some point in the case you will get a bunch of numerical data and you will have to perform some calculations (for the specifics of the math you’ll need on consulting interviews, have a look at our Consulting Math Guide ). Here’s where we urge you to take your time and not dive straight into calculating! And here’s why: while your numerical agility is sure to impress interviewers, what they’re actually looking for is your logic and the calculations you need to perform in order to solve the problem . So it’s ok if you make a small mistake, as long as you’re solving for the right thing.

As such, make it easy for them - and yourself. Before you start, write down in steps the calculations you need to perform. Here’s an example: let’s say you need to find out by how much profits will change if variable costs are reduced by 10%. Your approach should look something like:

• 1. Calculate current profits: Profits = Revenues - (Variable costs + Fixed costs)
• 2. Calculate the reduction in variable costs: Variable costs x 0.9
• 3. Calculate new profits: New profits = Revenues - (New variable costs + Fixed costs)

Of course, there may be more efficient ways to do that calculation, but what’s important - much like in the framework section - is to show your interviewer that you have a plan, in the form of a structured approach. You can write your plan on the sheet containing the data, then perform the calculations on a scrap sheet and fill in the results afterward.

5.2. Common business knowledge and formulas

Although some consulting firms claim they don’t evaluate candidates based on their business knowledge, familiarity with basic business concepts and formulae is very useful in terms of understanding the case studies you are given in the first instance and drawing inspiration for structuring and brainstorming.

If you are coming from a business undergrad, an MBA or are an experienced hire, you might well have this covered already. For those coming from a different background, it may be useful to cover some.

Luckily, you don’t need a degree-level understanding of business to crack interview cases , and a lot of the information you will pick up by osmosis as you read through articles like this and go through cases.

However, some things you will just need to sit down and learn. We cover everything you need to know in some detail in our Case Academy Course course. However, some examples here of things you need to learn are:

• Basic accounting (particularly how to understand all the elements of a balance sheet)
• Basic economics
• Basic marketing
• Basic strategy

Below we include a few elementary concepts and formulae so you can hit the ground running in solving cases. We should note that you should not memorise these and indeed a good portion of them can be worked out logically, but you should have at least some idea of what to expect as this will make you faster and will free up much of your mental computing power. In what follows we’ll tackle concepts that you will encounter in the private business sector as well as some situations that come up in cases that feature clients from the NGO or governmental sector.

5.2.1 Business sector concepts

These concepts are the bread and butter of almost any business case so you need to make sure you have them down. Naturally, there will be specificities and differences between cases but for the most part here is a breakdown of each of them.

5.2.1.1. Revenue

The revenue is the money that the company brings in and is usually equal to the number of products they sell multiplied to the price per item and can be expressed with the following equation:

Revenue = Volume x Price

Companies may have various sources of revenue or indeed multiple types of products, all priced differently which is something you will need to account for. Let’s consider some situations. A clothing company such as Nike will derive most of their revenue from the number of products they sell times the average price per item. Conversely, for a retail bank revenue is measured as the volume of loans multiplied by the interest rate at which the loans are given out. As we’ll see below, we might consider primary revenues and ancillary revenues: in the case of a football club, we might calculate primary revenues by multiplying the number of tickets sold by the average ticket price, and ancillary revenues those coming from sales of merchandise (similarly, let’s say average t-shirt price times the number of t-shirts sold), tv rights and sponsorships.

These are but a few examples and another reminder that you should always aim to ask questions and understand the precise revenue structure of the companies you encounter in cases.

5.2.1.2. Costs

The costs are the expenses that a company incurs during its operations. Generally, they can be broken down into fixed and variable costs :

Costs = Fixed Costs + Variable Costs

As their name implies, fixed costs do not change based on the number of units produced or sold. For example, if you produce shoes and are renting the space for your factory, you will have to pay the rent regardless of whether you produce one pair or 100. On the other hand, variable costs depend on the level of activity, so in our shoe factory example they would be equivalent to the materials used to produce each pair of shoes and would increase the more we produce.

These concepts are of course guidelines used in order to simplify the analysis in cases, and you should be aware that in reality often the situation can be more complicated. Costs can also be quasi-fixed, in that they increase marginally with volume. Take the example of a restaurant which has a regular staff, incurring a fixed cost but during very busy hours or periods they also employ some part-time workers. This cost is not exactly variable (as it doesn’t increase with the quantity of food produced) but also not entirely fixed, as the number of extra hands will depend on how busy the restaurant is. Fixed costs can also be non-linear in nature. Let’s consider the rent in the same restaurant: we would normally pay a fixed amount every month, but if the restaurant becomes very popular we might need to rent out some extra space so the cost will increase.

5.2.1.3. Profit and profit margin

The profit is the amount of money a company is left with after it has paid all of its expenses and can be expressed as follows:

Profit = Revenue - Costs

It’s very likely that you will encounter a profitability issue in one of your cases, namely you will be asked to increase a company’s profit. There are two main ways of doing this: increasing revenues and reducing costs , so these will be the two main areas you will have to investigate. This may seem simple but what you will really need to understand in a case are the key drivers of a business (and this should be done through clarifying questions to the interviewer - just as a real consultant would question their client).

For example, if your client is an airline you can assume that the main source of revenue is sales of tickets, but you should inquire how many types of ticket the specific airline sells. You may naturally consider economy and business class tickets, but you may find out that there is a more premium option - such as first class - and several in-between options. Similarly to our football club example, there may be ancillary revenues from selling of food and beverage as well as advertising certain products or services on flights.

You may also come across the profit margin in cases. This is simply the percentage of profit compared to the revenue and can be expressed as follows:

Profit margin = Profit/Revenue x 100

5.2.1.4. Break-even point

An ancillary concept to profit, the break-even point is the moment where revenues equal costs making the profit zero and can be expressed as the following equation:

Revenues = Costs (Fixed costs + Variable costs)

This formula will be useful when you are asked questions such as ‘What is the minimum price I should sell product X?’ or ‘What quantity do I need to sell in order to recoup my investment?’. Let’s say an owner of a sandwich store asks us to figure out how many salami and cheese salami sandwiches she needs to sell in order to break even. She’s spending $4 on salami and $2 for cheese and lettuce per sandwich, and believes she can sell the sandwiches at around $7. The cost of utilities and personnel is around $5000 per month. We could lay this all out in the break-even equation:

7 x Q ( quantity ) = (4+2) x Q + 5000 ( variable + fixed costs )

In a different scenario, we may be asked to calculate the break-even price . Let’s consider our sandwich example and say our owner knows she has enough ingredients for about 5000 sandwiches per month but is not sure how much to sell them for. In that case, if we know our break-even equation, we can simply make the following changes:

P ( price ) x 5000 = (4+2) x 5000 + 5000

By solving the equation we get to the price of $7 per sandwich.

5.2.1.5. Market share and market size

We can also consider the market closely with profit, as in fact the company’s performance in the market is what drives profits. The market size is the total number of potential customers for a certain business or product, whereas the market share is the percentage of that market that your business controls (or could control, depending on the case).

There is a good chance you will have to estimate the market size in one of your case interviews and we get into more details on how to do that below. You may be asked to estimate this in either number of potential customers or total value . The latter simply refers to the number of customers multiplied by the average value of the product or service.

To calculate the market share you will have to divide the company’s share by the total market size and multiply by 100:

Note, though, that learning the very basics of business is the beginning rather than the end of your journey. Once you are able to “speak business” at a rudimentary level, you should try to “become fluent” and immerse yourself in reading/viewing/listening to as wide a variety of business material as possible, getting a feel for all kinds of companies and industries - and especially the kinds of problems that can come up in each context and how they are solved. The material put out by the consulting firms themselves is a great place to start, but you should also follow the business news and find out about different companies and sectors as much as possible between now and interviews. Remember, if you’re going to be a consultant, this should be fun rather than a chore!

5.3 Public sector and NGO concepts

As we mentioned, there will be some cases (see section 6.6 for a more detailed example) where the key performance indicators (or KPIs in short) will not be connected to profit. The most common ones will involve the government of a country or an NGO, but they can be way more diverse and require more thought and application of first principles. We have laid out a couple of the key concepts or KPIs that come up below

5.3.1 Quantifiability

In many such scenarios you will be asked to make an important strategic decision of some kind or to optimise a process. Of course these are not restricted to non-private sector cases but this is where they really come into their own as there can be great variation in the type of decision and the types of field.

While there may be no familiar business concepts to anchor yourself onto, a concept that is essential is quantifiability . This means, however qualitative the decision might seem, consultants rely on data so you should always aim to have aspects of a decision that can be quantified, even if the data doesn’t present itself in a straightforward manner.

Let’s take a practical example. Your younger sibling asks you to help them decide which university they should choose if they want to study engineering. One way to structure your approach would be to segment the problem into factors affecting your sibling’s experience at university and experience post-university. Within the ‘at uni’ category you might think about the following:

• Financials : How much are tuition costs and accommodation costs?
• Quality of teaching and research : How are possible universities ranked in the QS guide based on teaching and research?
• Quality of resources : How well stocked is their library, are the labs well equipped etc.?
• Subject ranking : How is engineering at different unis ranked?
• Life on campus and the city : What are the living costs in the city where the university is based? What are the extracurricular opportunities and would your sibling like to live in that specific city based on them?

Within the ‘out of uni’ category you might think about:

• Exit options : What are the fields in which your sibling could be employed and how long does it take the average student of that university to find a job?
• Alumni network : What percentage of alumni are employed by major companies?
• Signal : What percentage of applicants from the university get an interview in major engineering companies and related technical fields?

You will perhaps notice that all the buckets discussed pose quantifiable questions meant to provide us with data necessary to make a decision. It’s no point to ask ‘Which university has the nicest teaching staff?’ as that can be a very subjective metric.

5.3.1 Impact

Another key concept to consider when dealing with sectors other than the private one is how impactful a decision or a line of inquiry is on the overarching issue , or whether all our branches in our issue tree have a similar impact. This can often come in the form of impact on lives, such as in McKinsey’s conservation case discussed below, namely how many species can we save with our choice of habitat.

5.4 Common consulting concepts

Consultants use basic business concepts on an every day basis, as they help them articulate their frameworks to problems. However, they also use some consulting specific tools to quality check their analysis and perform in the most efficient way possible. These principles can be applied to all aspects of a consultant’s work, but for brevity we can say they mostly impact a consultant’s systematic approach and communication - two very important things that are also tested in case interviews. Therefore, it’s imperative that you not only get to know them, but learn how and when to use them as they are at the very core of good casing. They are MECE-ness, the Pareto Principle and the Pyramid principle and are explained briefly below - you should, however, go on to study them in-depth in their respective articles.

Perhaps the central pillar of all consulting work and an invaluable tool to solve cases, MECE stands for Mutually Exclusive and Collectively Exhaustive . It can refer to any and every aspect in a case but is most often used when talking about structure. We have a detailed article explaining the concept here , but the short version is that MECE-ness ensures that there is no overlap between elements of a structure (i.e. the Mutually Exclusive component) and that it covers all the drivers or areas of a problem (Collectively Exhaustive). It is a concept that can be applied to any segmentation when dividing a set into subsets that include it wholly but do not overlap.

Let’s take a simple example and then a case framework example. In simple terms, when we are asked to break down the set ‘cars’ into subsets, dividing cars into ‘red cars’ and ‘sports cars’ is neither mutually exclusive (as there are indeed red sports cars) nor exhaustive of the whole set (i.e. there are also yellow non-sports cars that are not covered by this segmentation). A MECE way to segment would be ‘cars produced before 2000’ and ‘cars produced after 2000’ as this segmentation allows for no overlap and covers all the cars in existence.

Dividing cars can be simple, but how can we ensure MECEness in a case-interview a.k.a. a business situation. While the same principles apply, a good tip to ensure that your structure is MECE is to think about all the stakeholders - i.e. those whom a specific venture involves.

Let’s consider that our client is a soda manufacturer who wants to move from a business-to-business strategy, i.e. selling to large chains of stores and supermarkets, to a business-to-consumer strategy where it sells directly to consumers. In doing so they would like to retrain part of their account managers as direct salespeople and need to know what factors to consider.

A stakeholder-driven approach would be to consider the workforce and customers and move further down the issue tree, thinking about individual issues that might affect them. In the case of the workforce, we might consider how the shift would affect their workload and whether it takes their skillset into account. As for the customers, we might wonder whether existing customers would be satisfied with this move: will the remaining B2B account managers be able to provide for the needs of all their clients and will the fact that the company is selling directly to consumers now not cannibalise their businesses? We see how by taking a stakeholder-centred approach we can ensure that every single perspective and potential issue arising from it is fully covered.

5.4.2 The Pareto Principle

Also known as the 80/20 rule, this principle is important when gauging the impact of a decision or a factor in your analysis. It simply states that in business (but not only) 80% of outcomes come from 20% of causes. What this means is you can make a few significant changes that will impact most of your business organisation, sales model, cost structure etc.

Let’s have a look at 3 quick examples to illustrate this:

• 80% of all accidents are caused by 20% of drivers
• 20% of a company’s products account for 80% of the sales
• 80% of all results in a company are driven by 20% of its employees

The 80/20 rule will be a very good guide line in real engagements as well as case interviews, as it will essentially point to the easiest and most straightforward way of doing things. Let’s say one of the questions in a case is asking you to come up with an approach to understand the appeal of a new beard trimmer. Obviously you can’t interview the whole male population so you might think about setting up a webpage and asking people to comment their thoughts. But what you would get would be a laundry list of difficult to sift through data.

Using an 80/20 approach you would segment the population based on critical factors (age groups, grooming habits etc.) and then approach a significant sample size of each (e.g. 20), analysing the data and reaching a conclusion.

5.4.3 The Pyramid Principle

This principle refers to organising your communication in a top-down , efficient manner. While this is generally applicable, the pyramid principle will most often be employed when delivering the final recommendation to your client. This means - as is implicit in the name - that you would organise your recommendation (and communication in general) as a pyramid, stating the conclusion or most important element at the top then go down the pyramid listing 3 supporting arguments and then further (ideally also 3) supporting arguments for those supporting arguments.

Let’s look at this in practice: your client is a German air-conditioning unit manufacturer who was looking to expand into the French market. However, after your analysis you’ve determined that the market share they were looking to capture would not be feasible. A final recommendation using the Pyramid Principle would sound something like this: ‘I recommend that we do not enter the German market for the following three reasons. Firstly, the market is too small for our ambitions of $50 million. Secondly the market is heavily concentrated, being controlled by three major players and our 5 year goal would amount to controlling 25% of the market, a share larger than that of any of the players. Thirdly, the alternative of going into the corporate market would not be feasible, as it has high barriers to entry.Then, if needed, we could delve deeper into each of our categories

6. Case examples or building blocks?

As we mentioned before, in your preparation you will undoubtedly find preparation resources that claim that there are several standard types of cases and that there is a general framework that can be applied to each type of case. While there are indeed cases that are straightforward at least in appearance and seemingly invite the application of such frameworks, the reality is never that simple and cases often involve multiple or more complicated components that cannot be fitted into a simple framework.

At MCC we don’t want you to get into the habit of trying to identify which case type you’re dealing with and pull out a framework, but we do recognize that there are recurring elements in frameworks that are useful - such as the profitability of a venture (with its revenues and costs), the valuation of a business, estimating and segmenting a market and pricing a product.

We call these building blocks because they can be used to build case frameworks but are not a framework in and of themselves, and they can be shuffled around and rearranged in any way necessary to be tailored to our case. Hence, our approach is not to make you think in terms of case types but work from first principles and use these building blocks to build your own framework. Let’s take two case prompts to illustrate our point.

The first is from the Bain website, where the candidate is asked whether they think it’s a good idea for their friend to open a coffee shop in Cambridge UK (see the case here ). The answer framework provided here is a very straightforward profitability analysis framework, examining the potential revenues and potential costs of the venture:

While this is a good point to start (especially taken together with the clarifying questions), we will notice that this approach will need more tailoring to the case - for example the quantity of coffee will be determined by the market for coffee drinkers in Cambridge, which we have to determine based on preference. We are in England so a lot of people will be drinking tea but we are in a university town so perhaps more people than average are drinking coffee as it provides a better boost when studying. All these are some much needed case-tailored hypotheses that we can make based on the initial approach.

Just by looking at this case we might be tempted to say that we can just take a profitability case and apply it without any issues. However, this generic framework is just a starting point and in reality we would need to tailor it much further in the way we had started to do in order to get to a satisfactory answer. For example, the framework itself doesn’t cover aspects such as the customer’s expertise: does the friend have any knowledge of the coffee business, such as where to source coffee and how to prepare it? Also, we could argue there may be some legal factors to consider here, such as any approvals that they might need from the city council to run a coffee shop on site, or some specific trade licences that are not really covered in the basic profitability framework.

Let’s take a different case , however, from the McKinsey website. In this scenario, the candidate is being asked to identify some factors in order to choose where to focus the client’s conservation efforts. Immediately we can realise that this case doesn’t lend itself to any pre-packaged framework and we will need to come up with something from scratch - and take a look at McKinsey’s answer of the areas to focus on:

We notice immediately that this framework is 100% tailored to the case - of course there are elements which we encounter in other cases, such as costs and risks but again these are applied in an organic way. It’s pretty clear that while no standard framework would work in this case, the aforementioned concepts - costs and risks - and the way to approach them (a.k.a building blocks ) are fundamentally similar throughout cases (with the obvious specificities of each case).

In what follows, we’ll give a brief description of each building block starting from the Bain example discussed previously, in order to give you a general idea of what they are and their adaptability, but you should make sure to follow the link to the in-depth articles to learn all their ins and outs.

6.1 Estimates and segmentation

This building block will come into play mostly when you’re thinking about the market for a certain product (but make sure to read the full article for more details). Let’s take our Bain Cambridge coffee example. As we mentioned under the quantity bucket we need to understand what the market size for coffee in Cambridge would be - so we can make an estimation based on segmentation .

The key to a good estimation is the ability to logically break down the problem into more manageable pieces. This will generally mean segmenting a wider population to find a particular target group. We can start off with the population of Cambridge - which we estimate at 100.000. In reality the population is closer to 150.000 but that doesn’t matter - the estimation has to be reasonable and not accurate , so unless the interviewer gives you a reason to reconsider you can follow your instinct. We can divide that into people who do and don’t drink coffee. Given our arguments before, we can conclude that 80% of those, so 80.000 drink coffee. Then we can further segment into those who drink regularly - let’s say every day - and those who drink occasionally - let’s say once a week. Based on the assumptions before about the student population needing coffee to function, and with Cambridge having a high student population, we can assume that 80% of those drinking coffee are regular drinkers, so that would be 64.000 regular drinkers and 16.000 occasional drinkers. We can then decide whom we want to target what our strategy needs to be:

This type of estimation and segmentation can be applied to any case specifics - hence why it is a building block.

6.2 Profitability

We had several looks at this building block so far (see an in-depth look here ) as it will show up in most scenarios, since profit is a key element in any company’s strategy. As we have seen, the starting point to this analysis is to consider both the costs and revenues of a company, and try to determine whether revenues need to be improved or whether costs need to be lowered. In the coffee example, the revenues are dictated by the average price per coffe x the number of coffees sold , whereas costs can be split into fixed and variable .

Some examples of fixed costs would be the rent for the stores and the cost of the personnel and utilities, while the most obvious variable costs would be the coffee beans used and the takeaway containers (when needed). We may further split revenues in this case into Main revenues - i.e. the sales of coffee - and Ancillary revenues , which can be divided into Sales of food products (sales of pastries, sandwiches etc., each with the same price x quantity schema) and Revenues from events - i.e renting out the coffee shop to events and catering for the events themselves. Bear in mind that revenues will be heavily influenced by the penetration rate , i.e. the share of the market which we can capture.

6.3 Pricing

Helping a company determine how much they should charge for their goods or services is another theme that comes up frequently in cases. While it may seem less complicated than the other building blocks, we assure you it’s not - you will have to understand and consider several factors, such as the costs a company is incurring, their general strategic positioning, availability, market trends as well as the customers’ willingness to pay (or WTP in short) - so make sure to check out our in-depth guide here .

In our example, we may determine that the cost per cup (coffee beans, staff, rent) is £1. We want to be student friendly so we should consider how much students would want to pay for a coffee as well as how much are competitors are charging. Based on those factors, it would be reasonable to charge on average £2 per cup of coffee. It’s true that our competitors are charging £3 but they are targeting mostly the adult market, whose willingness to pay is higher, so their pricing model takes that into account as well as the lower volume of customers in that demographic.

6.4. Valuation

A variant of the pricing building block, a valuation problem generally asks the candidate to determine how much a client should pay for a specific company (the target of an acquisition) as well as what other factors to consider. The two most important factors (but not the only ones - for a comprehensive review see our Valuation article ) to consider are the net present value (in consulting interviews usually in perpetuity) and the synergies .

In short, the net present value of a company is how much profit it currently brings in, divided by how much that cash flow will depreciate in the future and can be represented with the equation below:

The synergies refer to what could be achieved should the companies operate as one, and can be divided into cost and revenue synergies .

Let’s expand our coffee example a bit to understand these. Imagine that our friend manages to open a chain of coffee shops in Cambridge and in the future considers acquiring a chain of take-out restaurants. The most straightforward example of revenue synergies would be cross-selling, in this case selling coffee in the restaurants as well as in the dedicated stores, and thus getting an immediate boost in market share by using the existing customers of the restaurant chain. A cost synergy would be merging the delivery services of the two businesses to deliver both food and coffee, thus avoiding redundancies and reducing costs associated with twice the number of drivers and vehicles.

6.5. Competitive interaction

This component of cases deals with situations where the market in which a company is operating changes and the company must decide what to do. These changes often have to do with a new player entering the market (again for more details make sure to dive into the Competitive Interaction article ).

Let’s assume that our Cambridge coffee shop has now become a chain and has flagged up to other competitors that Cambridge is a blooming market for coffee. As such, Starbucks has decided to open a few stores in Cambridge themselves, to test this market. The question which might be posed to a candidate is what should our coffee chain do. One way (and a MECE one) to approach the problem is to decide between doing something and doing nothing . We might consider merging with another coffee chain and pooling our resources or playing to our strengths and repositioning ourselves as ‘your student-friendly, shop around the corner’. Just as easily we may just wait the situation out and see whether indeed Starbucks is cutting into our market share - after all, the advantages of our product and services might speak for themselves and Starbucks might end up tanking. Both of these are viable options if argued right and depending on the further specifics of the case.

6.6. Special cases

Most cases deal with private sectors, where the overarching objective entails profit in some form. However, as hinted before, there are cases which deal with other sectors where there are other KPIs in place . The former will usually contain one or several of these building blocks whereas the latter will very likely have neither. This latter category is arguably the one that will stretch your analytical and organisational skills to the limit, since there will be very little familiarity that you can fall back on (McKinsey famously employs such cases in their interview process).

So how do we tackle the structure for such cases? The short answer would be starting from first principles and using the problem driven structure outlined above, but let’s look at a quick example in the form of a McKinsey case :

The first question addressed to the candidate is the following:

This is in fact asking us to build a structure for the case. So what should we have in mind here? Most importantly, we should start with a structure that is MECE and we should remember to do that by considering all the stakeholders . They are on the one hand the government and affiliated institutions and on the other the population. We might then consider which issues might arise for each shareholder and what the benefits for them would be, as well as the risks. This approach is illustrated in the answer McKinsey provides as well:

More than anything, this type of case shows us how important it is to practise and build different types of structures, and think about MECE ways of segmenting the problem.

7. How Do I prepare for case interviews

In consulting fashion, the overall preparation can be structured into theoretical preparation and practical preparation , with each category then being subdivided into individual prep and prep with a partner .

As a general rule, the level and intensity of the preparation will differ based on your background - naturally if you have a business background (and have been part of a consulting club or something similar) your preparation will be less intensive than if you’re starting from scratch. The way we suggest you go about it is to start with theoretical preparation , which means learning about case interviews, business and basic consulting concepts (you can do this using free resources - such as the ones we provide - or if you want a more through preparation you can consider joining our Case Academy as well).

You can then move on to the practical preparation which should start with doing solo cases and focusing on areas of improvement, and then move on to preparation with a partner , which should be another candidate or - ideally - an ex-consultant.

Let’s go into more details with respect to each type of preparation.

7.1. Solo practice

The two most important areas of focus in sole preparation are:

• Mental math

As we mentioned briefly, the best use of your time is to focus on solving cases. You can start with cases listed on MBB sites since they are clearly stated and have worked solutions as well (e.g. Bain is a good place to start) and then move to more complex cases (our Case Library also offers a range of cases of different complexities). To build your confidence, start out on easier case questions, work through with the solutions, and don't worry about time. As you get better, you can move on to more difficult cases and try to get through them more quickly. You should practice around eight case studies on your own to build your confidence.

Another important area of practice is your mental mathematics as this skill will considerably increase your confidence and is neglected by many applicants - much to their immediate regret in the case interview. Find our mental math tool here or in our course, and practice at least ten minutes per day, from day one until the day before the interview.

7.2. Preparation with a partner

There are aspects of an interview - such as asking clarifying questions - which you cannot do alone and this is why, after you feel comfortable, you should move on to practice with another person. There are two options here:

• Practicing with a peer
• Practicing with an ex-consultant

In theory they can be complementary - especially if you’re peer is also preparing for consulting interviews - and each have advantages and disadvantages. A peer is likely to practice with you for free for longer, however you may end up reinforcing some bad habits or unable to get actionable feedback. A consultant will be able to provide you the latter but having their help for the same number of hours as a peer will come at a higher cost. Let’s look at each option in more detail.

7.2.1. Peer preparation

Once you have worked through eight cases solo, you should be ready to simulate the interview more closely and start working with another person.

Here, many candidates turn to peer practice - that is, doing mock case interviews with friends, classmates or others also applying to consulting. If you’re in university, and especially in business school, there will very likely be a consulting club for you to join and do lots of case practice with. If you don’t have anyone to practice, though, or if you just want to get a bit more volume in with others, our free meeting board lets you find fellow applicants from around the world with whom to practice. We recommend practicing around 10 to 15 ‘live’ cases to really get to a point where you feel comfortable.

7.2.2. Preparation with a consultant

You can do a lot practising by yourself and with peers. However, nothing will bring up your skills so quickly and profoundly as working with a real consultant.

Perhaps think about it like boxing. You can practice drills and work on punch bags all you want, but at some point you need to get into the ring and do some actual sparring if you ever want to be ready to fight.

Practicing with an ex consultant is essentialy a simulation of an interview. Of course, it isn’t possible to secure the time of experienced top-tier consultants for free. However, when considering whether you should invest to boost your chances of success, it is worth considering the difference in your salary over even just a few years between getting into a top-tier firm versus a second-tier one. In the light of thousands in increased annual earnings (easily accumulating into millions over multiple years), it becomes clear that getting expert interview help really is one of the best investments you can make in your own future.

Should you decide to make this step, MyConsultingCoach can help, offering bespoke mentoring programmes , where you are paired with a 5+ year experienced, ex-MBB mentor of your choosing, who will then oversee your whole case interview preparation from start to finish - giving you your best possible chance of landing a job!

7.3. Practice for online interviews

Standard preparation for interview case studies will carry directly over to online cases.

However, if you want to do some more specific prep, you can work through cases solo to a timer and using a calculator and/or Excel (online cases generally allow calculators and second computers to help you, whilst these are banned in live case interviews).

Older PST-style questions also make great prep, but a particularly good simulation is the self-assessment tests included in our Case Academy course . These multiple choice business questions conducted with a strict time limit are great preparation for the current crop of online cases.

7.4. Fit interviews

As we’ve noted, even something billed as a case interview is very likely to contain a fit interview as a subset.

We have an article on fit interviews and also include a full set of lessons on how to answer fit questions properly as a subset of our comprehensive Case Academy course .

Here though, the important thing to convey is that you take preparing for fit questions every bit as seriously as you do case prep.

Since they sound the same as you might encounter when interviewing for other industries, the temptation is to regard these as “just normal interview questions”.

However, consulting firms take your answers to these questions a good deal more seriously than elsewhere.

This isn’t just for fluffy “corporate culture” reasons. The long hours and close teamwork, as well as the client-facing nature of management consulting, mean that your personality and ability to get on with others is going to be a big part of making you a tolerable and effective co-worker.

If you know you’ll have to spend 14+ hour working days with someone you hire and that your annual bonus depends on them not alienating clients, you better believe you’ll pay attention to their character in interview.

There are also hard-nosed financial reasons for the likes of McKinsey, Bain and BCG to drill down so hard on your answers.

In particular, top consultancies have huge issues with staff retention. The average management consultant only stays with these firms for around two years before they have moved on to a new industry.

In some cases, consultants bail out because they can’t keep up with the arduous consulting lifestyle of long hours and endless travel. In many instances, though, departing consultants are lured away by exit opportunities - such as the well trodden paths towards internal strategy roles, private equity or becoming a start-up founder.

Indeed, many individuals will intentionally use a two year stint in consulting as something like an MBA they are getting paid for - giving them accelerated exposure to the business world and letting them pivot into something new.

Consulting firms want to get a decent return on investment for training new recruits. Thus, they want hires who not only intend to stick with consulting longer-term, but also have a temperament that makes this feasible and an overall career trajectory where it just makes sense for them to stay put.

This should hammer home the point that, if you want to get an offer, you need to be fully prepared to answer fit questions - and to do so excellently - any time you have a case interview.

8. Interview day - what to expect, with tips

Of course, all this theory is well and good, but a lot of readers might be concerned about what exactly to expect in real life . It’s perfectly reasonable to want to get as clear a picture as possible here - we all want to know what we are going up against when we face a new challenge!

Indeed, it is important to think about your interview in more holistic terms, rather than just focusing on small aspects of analysis. Getting everything exactly correct is less important than the overall approach you take to reasoning and how you communicate - and candidates often lose sight of this fact.

In this section, then, we’ll run through the case interview experience from start to finish, directing you to resources with more details where appropriate. As a supplement to this, the following video from Bain is excellent. It portrays an abridged version of a case interview, but is very useful as a guide to what to expect - not just from Bain, but from McKinsey, BCG and any other high-level consulting firm.

8.1. Getting started

Though you might be shown through to the office by a staff member, usually your interviewer will come and collect you from a waiting area. Either way, when you first encounter them, you should greet your interviewer with a warm smile and a handshake (unless they do not offer their hand). Be confident without verging into arrogance. You will be asked to take a seat in the interviewer’s office, where the interview can then begin.

8.1.1. First impressions

In reality, your assessment begins before you even sit down at your interviewer’s desk. Whether at a conscious level or not, the impression you make within the first few seconds of meeting your interviewer is likely to significantly inform the final hiring decision (again, whether consciously or not).

Your presentation and how you hold yourself and behave are all important . If this seems strange, consider that, if hired, you will be personally responsible for many clients’ impressions of the firm. These things are part of the job! Much of material on the fit interview is useful here, whilst we also cover first impressions and presentation generally in our article on what to wear to interview .

As we have noted above, your interview might start with a fit segment - that is, with the interviewer asking questions about your experiences, your soft skills, and motivation to want to join consulting generally and that firm in particular. In short, the kinds of things a case study can’t tell them about you. We have a fit interview article and course to get you up to speed here.

8.1.2. Down to business

Following an initial conversation, your interviewer will introduce your case study , providing a prompt for the question you have to answer. You will have a pen and paper in front of you and should (neatly) note down the salient pieces of information (keep this up throughout the interview).

It is crucial here that you don’t delve into analysis or calculations straight away . Case prompts can be tricky and easy to misunderstand, especially when you are under pressure. Rather, ask any questions you need to fully understand the case question and then validate that understanding with the interviewer before you kick off any analysis. Better to eliminate mistakes now than experience that sinking feeling of realising you have gotten the whole thing wrong halfway through your case!

This process is covered in our article on identifying the problem and in greater detail in our Case Academy lesson on that subject.

8.1.3. Analysis

Once you understand the problem, you should take a few seconds to set your thoughts in order and draw up an initial structure for how you want to proceed. You might benefit from utilising one or more of our building blocks here to make a strong start. Present this to your interviewer and get their approval before you get into the nuts and bolts of analysis.

We cover the mechanics of how to structure your problem and lead the analysis in our articles here and here and more thoroughly in the MCC Case Academy . What it is important to convey here, though, is that your case interview is supposed to be a conversation rather than a written exam . Your interviewer takes a role closer to a co-worker than an invigilator and you should be conversing with them throughout.

Indeed, how you communicate with your interviewer and explain your rationale is a crucial element of how you will be assessed. Case questions in general, are not posed to see if you can produce the correct answer, but rather to see how you think . Your interviewer wants to see you approach the case in a structured, rational fashion. The only way they are going to know your thought processes, though, is if you tell them!

To demonstrate this point, here is another excellent video from Bain, where candidates are compared.

Note that multiple different answers to each question are considered acceptable and that Bain is primarily concerned with the thought processes of the candidate’s exhibit .

Another reason why communication is absolutely essential to case interview success is the simple reason that you will not have all the facts you need to complete your analysis at the outset. Rather, you will usually have to ask the interviewer for additional data throughout the case to allow you to proceed .

NB: Don't be let down by your math!

Your ability to quickly and accurately interpret these charts and other figures under pressure is one of the skills that is being assessed. You will also need to make any calculations with the same speed and accuracy (without a calculator!). As such, be sure that you are up to speed on your consulting math .

8.1.4. Recommendation

Finally, you will be asked to present a recommendation. This should be delivered in a brief, top-down "elevator pitch" format , as if you are speaking to a time-pressured CEO. Again here, how you communicate will be just as important as the details of what you say, and you should aim to speak clearly and with confidence.

For more detail on how to give the perfect recommendation, take a look at our articles on the Pyramid Principle and providing recommendations , as well the relevant lesson within MCC Academy .

8.1.5. Wrapping up

After your case is complete, there might be a few more fit questions - including a chance for you to ask some questions of the interviewer . This is your opportunity to make a good parting impression.

We deal with the details in our fit interview resources. However, it is always worth bearing in mind just how many candidates your interviewers are going to see giving similar answers to the same questions in the same office. A pretty obvious pre-requisite to being considered for a job is that your interviewer remembers you in the first place. Whilst you shouldn't do something stupid just to be noticed, asking interesting parting questions is a good way to be remembered.

Now, with the interview wrapped up, it’s time to shake hands, thank the interviewer for their time and leave the room .

You might have other interviews or tests that day or you might be heading home. Either way, if know that you did all you could to prepare, you can leave content in the knowledge that you have the best possible chance of receiving an email with a job offer. This is our mission at MCC - to provide all the resources you need to realise your full potential and land your dream consulting job!

8.2. Remote and one-way interview tips

Zoom case interviews and “one-way” automated fit interviews are becoming more common as selection processes are increasingly remote, with these new formats being accompanied by their own unique challenges.

Obviously you won’t have to worry about lobbies and shaking hands for a video interview. However, a lot remains the same. You still need to do the same prep in terms of getting good at case cracking and expressing your fit answers. The specific considerations around remote interviews are, in effect, around making sure you come across as effectively as you would in person.

8.2.1. Connection

It sounds trivial, but a successful video interview of any kind presupposes a functioning computer with a stable and sufficient internet connection.

Absolutely don’t forget to have your laptop plugged in, as your battery will definitely let you down mid-interview. Similarly, make sure any housemates or family know not to use the microwave, vacuum cleaner or anything else that makes wifi cut out (or makes a lot of noise, obviously)

If you have to connect on a platform you don’t use much (for example, if it’s on Teams and you’re used to Zoom), make sure you have the up to date version of the app in advance, rather than having to wait for an obligatory download and end up late to join. Whilst you’re at it, make sure you’re familiar with the controls etc. At the risk of being made fun of, don’t be afraid to have a practice call with a friend.

8.2.2. Dress

You might get guidance on a slightly more relaxed dress code for a Zoom interview. However, if in doubt, dress as you would for the real thing (see our article here ).

Either way, always remember that presentation is part of what you are being assessed on - the firm needs to know you can be presentable for clients. Taking this stuff seriously also shows respect for your interviewer and their time in interviewing you.

8.2.3. Lighting

An aspect of presentation that you have to devote some thought to for a Zoom interview is your lighting.

Hopefully, you long ago nailed a lighting set-up during the Covid lockdowns. However, make sure to check your lighting in advance with your webcam - bearing in mind what time if day your interview actually is. If your interview is late afternoon, don’t just check in the morning. Make sure you aren’t going to be blinded from light coming in a window behind your screen, or that you end up with the weird shadow stripes from blinds all over your face.

Natural light is always best, but if there won’t be much of that during your interview, you’ll likely want to experiment with moving some lamps around.

8.2.4. Clarity

The actual stories you tell in an automated “one-way” fit interview will be the same as for a live equivalent. If anything, things should be easier, as you can rattle off a practised monologue without an interviewer interrupting you to ask for clarifications.

You can probably also assume that the algorithm assessing your performance is sufficiently capable that it will be observing you at much the same level as a human interviewer. However, it is probably still worth speaking as clearly as possible with these kinds of interviews and paying extra attention to your lighting to ensure that your face is clearly visible.

No doubt the AIs scoring these interviews are improving all the time, but you still want to make their job as easy as possible. Just think about the same things as you would with a live Zoom interview, but more so.

9. How we can help

There are lots of great free resources on this site to get you started with preparation, from all our articles on case solving and consulting skills to our free case library and peer practice meeting board .

To step your preparation up a notch, though, our Case Academy course will give you everything you need to know to solve the most complex of cases - whether those are in live interviews, with chatbots, written tests or any other format.

Whatever kind of case you end up facing, nothing will bring up your skillset faster than the kind of acute, actionable feedback you can get from a mock case interview a real, MBB consultant. Whilst it's possible to get by without this kind of coaching, it does tend to be the biggest single difference maker for successful candidates.

You can find out more on our coaching page:

Explore Coaching

Of course, for those looking for a truly comprehensive programme, with a 5+ year experienced MBB consultant overseeing their entire prep personally, from networking and applications right through to your offer, we have our mentoring programmes.

You can read more here:

Comprehensive Mentoring

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How to Perform Case Study Using Excel Data Analysis

In the latest Excel 365, performing any case study for business or research, it’s quite easier and smarter. It includes more exclusive features which give our required case studies a better way. I hope, you will learn the easiest way to perform a case study using Excel data analysis with some clear illustrations.

What Is Data Analysis in Excel?

The Analyze Data tool in Excel 365 is a powerful tool to manage our data by writing our queries directly in a search box. So we’ll be able to ask anything about our data without using any complex commands or formulas. Along with that,  we can get very enriched and vivid visual illustrations or patterns of our data. In the earlier versions of Excel, the tool is named Data Analysis .

How Data Analysis Helps in Excel

• It can search according to the queries through our natural language.
• Provides high-level graphical illustrations and patterns.
• Easy to get the Pivot Tables and Pivot Charts.
• Faster steps save time.
• The interest of Fields can be changed easily.

How to Use Excel Data Analysis for Case Study

Now let’s see how to apply the Analyze Data tool to perform a data analysis case study. But first, get introduced to our dataset that represents some categories’ yearly sales and profits of a company.

Read More:   How to Install Data Analysis in Excel

With Default Analyze Data Option

First, we’ll see the default analyses that Excel makes automatically. Excel shows the most commonly used analyzes by default.

• Click any data from the dataset.
• Next, click as follows: Home > Analyze Data .

Soon after, you will get an Analyze Data field on the right side of your Excel window. Where you will see different kinds of cases like- Pivot Tables and Pivot Charts .

• Look, there is a sample Pivot Table of Sales and Profit by Category. Click on Insert Pivot Table .

Now see, the Pivot Table is inserted in a new sheet.

• Click on Insert Pivot Chart from the Sales by Category section then you will get the Pivot Chart in a new sheet.

Here’s the chart.

• Scroll down more and Excel will show you more possible Pivot Tables and Charts .

Feel free to use them if you prefer.

Read More: How to Analyze Data in Excel Using Pivot Tables 

Analyze by Inserting Queries

Here, we’ll learn how to analyze data by inserting queries in the ‘ Ask a question about your data ’ box.

• When you will click on the question box, it will show some default questions. Click one of them and it will show the answer according to the question. See, I clicked Total ‘Sales’ of ‘Accessories’ over ‘Year’ .

It’s the answer from Excel.

• Or you can write your question. I asked- Profit chart according to Year .
• After that, hit the ENTER button .

• Now you see, it’s showing the chart of profit by year. Click on Insert PivotChart .

Soon after, a new sheet will open up with the PivotChart .

• Also, there is a Setting icon in the Discover insights part, click it and a dialog box will open up to select the customized fields of interest.

• Mark your desired fields from here. I marked Category and Profit.
• Finally, just click Update .

Now it is showing the answers only about Category and Profit.

Things to Remember

• The Analyze Data tool is only available in the latest Excel 365. But in the earlier versions, it is named Data Analysis ToolPak and available as Add-ins by default.

Download Practice Workbook

You can download the free Excel workbook from here and practice on your own.

I hope the procedures described above will be good enough to perform a case study using Excel Data Analysis. Feel free to ask any question in the comment section and please give me feedback.

Related Articles

• How to Use Data Analysis Toolpak in Excel 
• How to Enter Data for Analysis in Excel 
• How to Make Histogram Using Analysis ToolPak 
• [Fixed!] Data Analysis Not Showing in Excel

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Human Resources | What is

Free Excel Test for Interviewing Candidates

Updated March 15, 2024

Updated Mar 15, 2024

Published March 15, 2024

Published Mar 15, 2024

REVIEWED BY: Heather Landau

WRITTEN BY: Robie Ann Ferrer

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This article is part of a larger series on Hiring .

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• 1 Free Excel Test Directions
• 2 How to Facilitate an Excel Test
• 3 Excel Skills to Test
• 4 Alternative Options to Our Free Excel Test
• 6 Bottom Line

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When hiring for certain positions, you must ensure job applicants are well-versed in the qualifications for the role. For bookkeepers, accountants, and any finance position, among others, Excel skills are vital.

If you need a quick way to test applicants, use our free Excel test for interview candidates that mimics data that might be included in a sports club’s client database. Having your applicants use and manipulate that data allows you to evaluate their ability to use formulas, VLookup, IF statements, and more in 30 minutes or less.

We also have an Excel test results file you can download for free. Armed with the results, you can weed out unqualified job applicants, so you only hire candidates who meet your required qualifications.

Excel Test Results

Free Excel Test Directions

Note that our Excel exam for interview candidates contains data for a fictional facility—the Patagonia Exploration Club International (PECI). When your test subject downloads the provided Excel test, they will see club information in multiple tabs—”Context & Tasks,” “Clubdata,” and “Fitness Table.”

Tab 1: Context & Tasks

The “Context & Tasks” tab includes the various Excel functions that will be tested and the instructions for performing those tasks using data provided across all three tabs. The information in the left columns (specifically columns C to M) shows the skills and familiarity required to complete the tasks in each stage.

The test consists of the following stages:

• Stage 1: Standardizing the Dataset – This stage tests the individual’s ability to process data between different types of variables.
• Stage 2: Conversions – This stage tests the individual’s ability to convert formulas (i.e., centimeters to inches) and use the VLOOKUP (vertical lookup) function to populate them.
• Stage 3: Pivot Table 1 – This stage tests the individual’s ability to create a pivot table.
• Stage 4: Pivot Table 2 – This stage tests the individual’s ability to take an existing pivot table and change its values, creating new value tabs.
• Stage 5: Sorting and Pivotchart – This stage tests the individual’s ability to sort data within a pivot table or pivotchart.
• Stage 6: Print Setup and Output – This stage tests the individual’s ability to create a header using Page Setup, as well as print the document to a PDF file.

Tab 2: Clubdata

The “Clubdata” tab lists the demographic information of all club members of our fictional club, such as name, birth date, sex, height, and weight, among other data. This data is used in the “Context & Tasks” tab to complete the Excel skills test for interview applicants.

Tab 3: Fitness Table

The “Fitness Table” shows the PECI-SCORE, PECI-LEVEL and PECI-CODE. In “Stage 2: Conversions” of this free Excel test, applicants will use data collected to calculate the PECI-SCORE, and use VLOOKUP to populate the PECI-CODE from the tab FITNESS TABLE tab into their answers.

Excel Test Results: Grading

Aside from the test file itself, we have an Excel Test Results file. This contains the test answers, so do not send this file to your job applicants. It is for grading purposes only and should be used as a guide to examine how well the individual performed on their assessment. Pay attention to individual questions and not just the final score, as some applicants may score lower overall but have more proficiency in the area you need.

It also has the same tabs as the Excel Test file, but with additional sheets that show what the completed data should look like. For a peek at those tabs, check out the below images and what each results sheet illustrates about your candidate’s Excel capabilities.

The completed CLUBDATA tab shows how effectively your candidate can input, format, filter, and sort data, as well as use formulas, to standardize client names, email addresses, and other data.

The completed PIVOT tab shows the candidate’s ability to create and manage a pivot table using provided data and manipulate the data within the pivot table to deliver the desired results.

The completed RECORDCOUNT tab demonstrates the candidate’s ability to use the created pivot table to count values and grand totals using tabs.

The completed ALLFEMALE tab shows the candidate’s ability to sort, extract, and format data in the spreadsheet such as name, year, and birthdate.

The completed ALLFEMALESPORTS tab shows the candidates ability to use LEGENDS, VALUES, and AXIS tools to extract data and create an aesthetically pleasing chart.

How to Facilitate an Excel Test

The right time to give your Excel test for job interview can vary based on the position you’re hiring for and how many applicants you get. The most logical time to have job applicants complete an Excel test is during the applicant screening part of the interview process. You have the candidate’s commitment at this point, as they have learned they are in the running for the job and have been selected for an interview.

The test can be administered by email or in person, depending on your preference.

If you choose to email the test to your candidates, make sure you only email the test sheet and not the answer sheet . The biggest benefit to emailing the Excel test to the applicant is that you can gauge their interest level in the position without too much investment. If they don’t respond to your email request, they probably aren’t that interested or qualified for the role.

The downside to emailing the test to the applicant is that they could use outside sources to complete the test. When you’re giving a candidate an Excel test, you really want to know what they know—not what they can look up.

You may choose to give job applicants an Excel test in person. This allows you to see the applicant work through the test, giving you a better idea of how long it takes them to complete. This method immediately lets you learn what the applicant knows about the program. The biggest downside here is that this takes time to schedule and requires a proctor to sit in with the candidate. When done later in the hiring process, however, it can help you separate the outstanding applicants from the average.

Excel Skills to Test

Depending on the position you need to fill, the job applicant’s qualifications and Excel skillset required might vary. Hiring for a front-office position or receptionist role that needs to know how to create simple spreadsheets and use a SUM formula is an entirely different Excel skill set than looking for a bookkeeper or finance administrator to recruit.

Certain Excel skills will be necessary for your specific open role. For example, a bookkeeper must know how to input accounts receivable and payable data to create an accurate budgetary picture. A finance manager may need to know how to create charts to show a visual representation of where this month’s revenue is coming from.

Here are some common Excel skills to test interview candidates for:

• Data and cell formatting
• Data sorting or manipulation
• Database set up
• Using formula
• Pivot tables
• Creating charts
• Conditional formatting

It is recommended that you test for the basics, regardless of the level of position for which you’re hiring. Applicants must prove they have the foundational elements of Excel. Without that, they may not be able to complete the more challenging tasks required for the position.

Alternative Options to Our Free Excel Test

While our free basic Excel test for interview candidates can help you evaluate applicant knowledge and proficiency in using this program, there are other options you can try. Indeed offers a free Excel skills test that can be added as part of your applicant screening. Additionally, you can purchase Excel tests from outside sources, where they will be administered and graded for you, or even create your own test unique to your business.

Indeed Excel Test

Indeed provides free applicant screening tools for many skills, including Excel. In addition to the option to ask applicants about their Excel skills, you can have Indeed test each candidate on their level of proficiency.

Further, if you set up the Excel test during the application process, Indeed will automatically reject any applicant who fails the Excel test. However, the downside to using Indeed’s Excel test is that you will not have the ability to customize the test in any way or evaluate an applicant’s test performance in person.

You can add up two skills tests to your Indeed job posts. (Source: Indeed)

Purchase an Excel Test

There are companies that will allow you to purchase an Excel test, along with an answer page. You can either purchase a specific test you download and send to applicants, or you can purchase access to a link that you can email to applicants. Of these options, sending a link is the most efficient for you since you simply get the results back and do not have to grade the test yourself.

Some are integrated into more comprehensive HR software and others are standalone tests. However, depending on your business needs and how frequently you plan to hire, purchasing Excel tests can get expensive. Several options include:

• TestGorilla : Free for five tests; Starts at $499 monthly for more than 400 tests
• TestDome : Starts at $150 for one pack good for four months & 10 candidates
• EmployTest : Starts at $199 for five tests

Create Your Own Excel Test

If you are creating your own Excel test, be sure to ask practical questions that are related to the job duties of the position. Your questions should require applicants to create spreadsheets and test their ability to organize, track, and manipulate numerical data.

Review our guide to pre-employment assessment solutions for other tools to help you evaluate your candidates’ qualifications and work experience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Excel Tests

Can you assess excel skills in an interview.

Yes, you can do this by asking questions about the candidate’s knowledge of Excel formulas, features, and functions. However, we recommend adding a hands-on Excel test for interview candidates to your pre-employment assessment processes. This will help you gauge whether the applicants’ knowledge is only theoretical or if they can also solve actual Excel problems.

What topics are included in Excel tests for interviews?

An Excel skills test can cover basic to intermediate topics, depending on the position. Let’s say, you’re looking for an administrative assistant, you can include test activities about sorting data, adjusting cell formats, and using basic formulas like SUM. However, if you’re hiring a financial analyst, you need to add advanced Excel topics, such as pivot tables and data validation commands.

Bottom Line

When Excel skills are important to the position, you should verify a job applicant’s aptitude. The best way to do that is through a practical exam. Download our free Excel Test template to test the Excel skills of your applicants. Grading the test can take time, but it ensures that you know exactly what Excel skills each applicant has so you can make the right hiring decision.

About the Author

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Robie Ann Ferrer

Robie Ann Ferrer is an HR expert writer at Fit Small Business, focusing on small business HR and payroll software content. She has over eight years of content writing experience, handling different topics. Robie also worked as an HR specialist for 10 years where she managed various facets of HR—from payroll and benefits to employee services and HR systems.

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Table of Contents

Data Analysis Using Excel Case Study

Data analysis is an essential skill in today’s business world. As organizations deal with increasing amounts of data, it becomes crucial for professionals to make sense of this information and derive useful insights. Excel is a powerful and versatile tool that can assist in analyzing and presenting data effectively, particularly through the use of case studies.

A case study is a detailed examination of a specific situation or problem in order to better understand the complexities involved. By using Excel for data analysis, individuals can explore and analyze the data related to the case study in a comprehensive and structured manner. Excel offers various tools and functionalities, such as PivotTables, slicers, and data visualization features, which allow users to assess patterns, trends, and relationships within the data.

Applying these techniques for data analysis in Excel case studies enables professionals to make well-informed business decisions and communicate their findings effectively. By leveraging the capabilities of Excel in conjunction with case studies, individuals can unlock valuable insights that drive organizational success and contribute to an enhanced understanding of the overall data landscape.

Excel Basics for Data Analysis

Dataset preparation.

When working with Excel, the first step in data analysis is dataset preparation . This process involves setting up the data in a structured format, with clearly defined headers and cells. To start, you must import or enter your data into an Excel spreadsheet, ensuring that each record is represented by a row and each variable by a column. Headers should be placed in the top row and provide descriptive labels for each column. Proper organization of your dataset helps to ensure accurate analysis and interpretation .

For example, suppose you have a dataset that contains the following information:

In this dataset, the headers are “Year,” “Category,” “Sales,” and “Profit.” Each row represents a record, and the cells contain the corresponding data.

Data Cleaning

The next step in data analysis using Excel is data cleaning . Data cleaning is the process of identifying and correcting errors, inconsistencies, and inaccuracies in your dataset. Common data cleaning tasks include:

• Removing duplicate records,
• Filling in missing values,
• Correcting data entry errors,
• Standardizing and formatting variable names and values.

To perform data cleaning in Excel, you can use various functions and tools:

• Remove duplicates: To remove duplicate records, select your dataset and navigate to the Data tab. Click the “Remove Duplicates” button and select the columns to be used for identifying duplicate rows.
• Fill in missing values: Use Excel functions such as VLOOKUP , HLOOKUP , and INDEX-MATCH to fill in missing values based on other data in your dataset. You can also use the IFERROR function to handle errors when looking up values.
• Correct data entry errors: Use Excel’s “Find and Replace” tool (Ctrl + F) to search for and correct errors in your dataset. You may need to perform this multiple times for different errors.
• Standardize and format variable names and values: Use Excel functions such as UPPER , LOWER , PROPER , and TRIM to standardize text data. Format numerical values using the Number Format options in the Home tab.

By ensuring your dataset is clean and well-organized, you can confidently move forward with more advanced data analysis tasks in Excel.

Powerful Excel Functions

Excel is a versatile tool when it comes to data analysis. There are many powerful functions that can help you perform complex calculations and analysis easily. In this section, we will explore some of the top functions in three categories: Text Functions, Date Functions, and Lookup Functions.

Text Functions

Text Functions are crucial when working with large sets of data containing text. These functions help in cleaning, extracting, and modifying text data. Some key text functions include:

• LEFT : Extracts a specified number of characters from the beginning of a text string.
• RIGHT : Extracts a specified number of characters from the end of a text string.
• MID : Extracts a specified number of characters from a text string, starting at a specified position.
• TRIM : Removes extra spaces from text, leaving a single space between words and no space at the beginning or end of the text.
• CONCATENATE : Joins multiple text strings into one single string.
• FIND : Locates the position of a specific character or text string within another text string.

Date Functions

Date Functions are essential for dealing with dates and times in data analysis. These functions help in calculating the difference between dates, extracting parts of a date, and performing various date-related calculations. Some notable date functions include:

• TODAY : Returns the current date.
• NOW : Returns the current date and time.
• DATEDIF : Calculates the difference between two dates in days, months, or years.
• DATE : Creates a date by combining individual day, month, and year values.
• WEEKDAY : Returns the day of the week corresponding to a specific date, as an integer between 1 (Sunday) and 7 (Saturday).
• EOMONTH : Returns the last day of the month for a given date.

Lookup Functions

Lookup Functions are powerful tools used to search and retrieve data from a specific range or table in Excel. These functions can save time and effort when working with large datasets. Some essential lookup functions include:

• VLOOKUP : Searches for a specific value in the first column of a range and returns a corresponding value from a specified column.
• HLOOKUP : Searches for a specific value in the first row of a range and returns a corresponding value from a specified row.
• INDEX : Returns a value from a specific cell within a range, using row and column numbers.
• MATCH : Searches for a specific value in a range and returns its relative position within that range.
• XLOOKUP : Performs a lookup by searching for a specific value in a range or table and returning a corresponding value from another column or row (available only in Excel 365 and Excel 2019).

These powerful Excel functions can help make the process of data analysis more efficient and accurate. In combination with appropriate formatting, tables, and other visual aids, these functions can greatly enhance your ability to process and understand large datasets.

Related Article: Excel Functions for Data Analysts.

Data Exploration and Visualization

In the process of data analysis using Excel, data exploration and visualization play essential roles in revealing patterns, trends, and relationships within the data. This section will cover two primary techniques for data visualization in Excel: Charts and Trends, and Pivot Tables and Pivot Charts.

Charts and Trends

Charts in Excel are a highly effective method of uncovering patterns and relationships within the dataset. There are various types of charts available in Excel that cater to different use cases, such as bar charts, line charts, and scatter plots. These chart types can be customized to suit the needs of the analysis and to emphasize specific trends or patterns.

Trends in the data can be identified with the help of charts, and Excel offers trend lines functionalities to visualize these trends more clearly. By applying a trend line, one can easily identify the overall direction (positive or negative) of the dataset and make predictions based on this information. Additionally, Excel offers built-in formatting options that can help emphasize certain data points or highlight particular trends for easier interpretation.

Pivot Tables and Pivot Charts

Pivot Tables are another powerful data analysis feature in Excel. They allow the user to summarize, reorganize, and filter data by dragging and dropping columns into different areas. This enables the user to analyze data across multiple dimensions, revealing hidden insights and patterns.

To complement Pivot Tables, Excel also offers Pivot Charts, which allow users to create dynamic visualizations derived from the Pivot Table data. Pivot Charts offer the same chart types as regular Excel charts but with the added capability to update the chart when the Pivot Table data is altered. This makes Pivot Charts ideal for creating interactive and easily updatable visualizations.

Overall, incorporating these techniques into the data analysis process can enhance understanding and unveil valuable insights from the dataset. When using Excel for data analysis, data exploration and visualization with Charts and Trends, as well as Pivot Tables and Pivot Charts, can provide a comprehensive and insightful overview of the data in question.

Case Study: Covid-19 Data Analysis

Data collection and cleaning.

The Covid-19 pandemic has generated vast amounts of data, requiring researchers and analysts to collect, clean, and organize data sets to gain valuable insights. Several sources, such as the World Health Organization and Johns Hopkins University , provide updated information on confirmed cases, recoveries, and deaths.

Data collection starts with gathering raw data from various sources. These data sets may have inconsistencies, missing values, or discrepancies, which need to be addressed to ensure accurate analysis. Data cleaning is a critical step in this process, involving tasks such as removing duplicates, filling in missing values, and correcting errors.

Exploratory Data Analysis

Once the data is clean and organized, exploratory data analysis (EDA) can be conducted using tools like Excel. EDA helps analysts understand the data, identify patterns, and generate hypotheses for further investigation.

Some useful techniques in conducting EDA in Excel include:

• Pivot Tables : These allow users to summarize and reorganize data quickly, providing aggregated views of the data.
• Charts and Graphs : Visual representations of data, such as bar charts or line graphs, can display trends, correlations, or patterns more clearly than raw numbers.
• Descriptive Statistics : Excel’s built-in functions allow easy calculation of measures such as mean, median, and standard deviation, providing a preliminary statistical analysis of the data.

In the context of Covid-19 data, EDA can help reveal important information about the pandemic’s progression. For example, analysts can:

• Compare infection rates across countries or regions
• Monitor changes in case numbers over time
• Evaluate the effectiveness of public health interventions and policies

The insights gained from exploratory data analysis can guide further research, inform decision-making, and contribute to a better understanding of the pandemic’s impact on public health.

Case Study: Stock Market Data Analysis

Data collection and preparation.

The first step in the stock market data analysis case study is collecting and preparing the data. This process involves gathering historical stock prices, trading volumes, and other relevant financial metrics from reliable sources. The data can be cleaned and organized in Excel, removing any errors or inconsistencies. It’s essential to verify the collected data’s accuracy to ensure the analysis’s validity.

After preparing the financial data, the next step is to compute essential measures and ratios. These may include:

• Price-to-Earnings (P/E) Ratio
• Dividends Yield
• Total Return
• Moving Averages

Calculating these ratios and measures provides a general overview of a company’s performance in the stock market, which can be further analyzed with Excel tools.

Profit and Loss Analysis

In this stage of the case study, profit and loss analysis is conducted to assess the stock’s performance. Using Excel PivotTables, we can summarize the data to identify trends or patterns in the stock market. For instance, we can analyze the historical profits and losses of multiple stocks during a specific state or market condition.

Analyzing profit and loss data can also be done with natural language capabilities in Excel. This feature allows us to ask questions about the dataset, and Excel will produce relevant results. For example, we could pose a question like “Which stocks had the highest profit margins in the last quarter?” or “What is the average loss for the technology sector?”

After exploring the profits and losses of the stocks, we can gain insights into which stocks or sectors are more profitable or risky. This information can help potential investors make informed decisions about their investment strategies. Additionally, the insights from the case study can serve as a reference point for future stock market analyses.

Remember, this case study only serves as an example of how to conduct stock market data analysis using Excel. By adapting and expanding on these techniques, one can harness the power of Excel to explore various aspects of financial markets and derive valuable insights.

Case Study: San Diego Burrito Ratings

Data gathering and cleaning.

The main objective of this case study is to evaluate and analyze the various factors that contribute to the ratings of San Diego burritos. The data used in this analysis is collected from different sources, which include customer reviews and ratings from Yelp, along with other relevant information about burrito sales and geographical distribution. The raw data is then compiled and cleaned to ensure that it is consistent and free from any discrepancies or errors. This process involves standardizing the fields and records, as well as filtering out any irrelevant information. The cleaned data is then organized into a structured format, which is suitable for further analysis using Excel PivotTables and Charts.

Use of Pivot Tables and Charts

After cleaning and organizing the data, Excel PivotTables are utilized to analyze the regional distribution of San Diego burrito ratings. By categorizing the data based on regions, such as East and West, it becomes convenient to identify the ratings and sales trends across these regions. The organized data is then sorted based on the ratings and popularity of burrito establishments within specific densely populated areas.

Using Pivot Charts, a graphical representation of the data is created to provide a clear and comprehensive visual of the ratings distribution in different regions of San Diego. It becomes easier to discern patterns and trends, allowing for the development of informed conclusions on the factors influencing the popularity and success of burrito establishments.

Throughout the analysis, various parameters are investigated, which include the relationship between ratings and sales, the potential impact of particular fields on popularity, and the apparent differences between densely populated regions in terms of burrito preferences. By utilizing PivotTables and Charts confidently, it is possible to draw insights and conclusions that can help optimize marketing strategies, guide customer preferences, and influence the overall success of burrito establishments across San Diego.

Case Study: Shark Attack Records Analysis

Data collection and pre-processing.

In this case study, the primary focus is on the analysis of shark attack records recorded between 1900 and 2016, consisting of just under 5,300 records or observations. To begin the analysis, the data needs to be collected from a reliable source and pre-processed to ensure its accuracy and relevance.

Data pre-processing is an essential step to prepare the dataset for analysis. It involves checking for missing values, outliers, and inconsistencies in the data. Additionally, it may also require converting the data into a suitable format, such as categorizing dates or splitting location information into separate columns (latitude and longitude).

Identifying Trends and Patterns

Once the dataset has been pre-processed, it’s time to dive into the analysis using Microsoft Excel. Excel offers a fast and central way to analyze data and search for trends and patterns within shark attack records. One powerful tool for this purpose is Excel’s PivotTables, which allows users to easily aggregate and summarize data.

Some possible trends and patterns that can be identified through the analysis of shark attack records include:

• Temporal Trends: Analyzing the frequency of shark attacks over time to identify any patterns in the occurrence of attacks, such as seasonality or specific years with higher attack rates.
• Geographical Patterns: Identifying areas with a higher concentration of shark attacks, which can provide insights into hotspots and potentially dangerous locations.
• Victim Demographics: Examining the demographics of shark attack victims, such as age, gender, and activity type, to determine if certain groups are more prone to attacks.
• Species Involved: Investigating the types of shark species responsible for attacks and their relative frequency in the dataset.

By utilizing Excel’s data analysis tools and PivotTables, researchers can confidently and clearly identify trends and patterns in the shark attack records, providing valuable insights into shark behavior and risk factors associated with shark attacks. This analysis can be helpful in understanding and managing the risks associated with shark encounters for both public safety and conservation efforts.

Related Article: How to Solve Data Analysis Real World Problems.

Additional Resources and Exercises

Kaggle and data analysis courses.

Kaggle is a popular platform that offers data science competitions, datasets, and courses to help you improve your data analysis skills in Excel. The courses are designed for various skill levels, and they cover essential concepts like PivotTables and data visualization. The comprehensive exercises and practical case studies provide a real-world context for mastering data analysis techniques.

The course reviews on Kaggle are usually quite positive, with many users appreciating the knowledgeable instructors and engaging content. If you’re looking to become a data analyst or enhance your existing skills, exploring the data analysis courses on Kaggle is a great starting point.

Power Query in Excel

Power Query is a powerful data analysis tool in Excel that enables you to import, transform, and combine data from various sources. This feature is particularly useful when working with large datasets or preparing data for analysis. There are numerous resources available to learn how to use Power Query effectively.

To practice using Power Query, consider working on exercises that focus on data cleansing, data transformation, and data integration. As you progress, you will gain a deeper understanding of the various Power Query functionalities and become more confident in your data analysis abilities.

In conclusion, engaging with additional resources like Kaggle courses and Power Query exercises will help you hone your Excel data analysis skills and enable you to tackle complex case studies with ease.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can excel be used for effective case study analysis.

Excel is a versatile tool that can be utilized for effective case study analysis. By organizing and transforming data into easily digestible formats, users can better identify trends, patterns, and insights within their data sets. Excel also offers various functions and tools, such as pivot tables, data tables, and data visualization, which enable users to analyze case study data more efficiently and uncover valuable information.

Which Excel functions are most useful for data analysis in case studies?

There are numerous Excel functions that can be highly useful for data analysis in case studies. These include:

• VLOOKUP, which allows users to search for specific information in large data sets
• INDEX-MATCH, a more advanced alternative to VLOOKUP that’s capable of handling more complex data structures
• IF, which helps in making conditional statements and decisions in data analysis
• AVERAGE, MAX, MIN, and COUNT for basic data aggregation
• SUMIFS and COUNTIFS, which allow users to perform conditional aggregation based on predefined criteria

What are some examples of data analysis projects using Excel?

Many different projects can benefit from data analysis using Excel, such as financial analysis, market research, sales performance tracking, and customer behavior analysis. Businesses across industries are known to use Excel for evaluating their case studies and forming data-driven decisions based on their insights.

How can Excel pivot tables aid in analyzing case study data?

Pivot tables in Excel are powerful, enabling users to summarize and analyze large data sets quickly and efficiently. They allow users to group and filter data based on different dimensions, making it much easier to identify trends, patterns, and relationships within the data. Additionally, pivot tables provide user-friendly drag-and-drop functionalities, allowing for easy customization and requiring minimal Excel proficiency.

In which industries is Excel data analysis most commonly applied in case studies?

Excel data analysis is widely used across various industries for case studies, including:

• Finance and banking, for analyzing investment portfolios, risk management, and financial performance
• Healthcare, for patient data analysis and identifying patterns in disease occurrence
• Marketing and sales, to analyze customer data and product performance
• Retail, for inventory management and sales forecasting
• Manufacturing, to evaluate the efficiency and improve production processes

What steps should be followed for a successful data analysis process in Excel?

A successful data analysis process in Excel typically involves the following steps:

• Data collection: Gather relevant data from various sources and consolidate it in Excel.
• Data cleaning and preprocessing: Remove any errors, duplicate records, or missing values in the data, and reformat it as necessary.
• Data exploration: Familiarize with the data, identify patterns, and spot trends through descriptive analysis and visualization techniques.
• Data analysis: Use relevant functions, formulas, and tools such as pivot tables to analyze the data and extract valuable insights.
• Data visualization: Create charts, graphs, or dashboard reports to effectively visualize the findings for improved understanding and decision-making.

What you should know:

• Our Mission is to Help you to Become a Professional Data Analyst.
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Data Science Interview Case Studies: How to Prepare and Excel

In the realm of Data Science Interviews , case studies play a crucial role in assessing a candidate's problem-solving skills and analytical mindset . To stand out and excel in these scenarios, thorough preparation is key. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to prepare and shine in data science interview case studies.

Understanding the Basics

Before delving into case studies, it's essential to have a solid grasp of fundamental data science concepts. Review key topics such as statistical analysis, machine learning algorithms, data manipulation, and data visualization. This foundational knowledge will form the basis of your approach to solving case study problems.

Deconstructing the Case Study

When presented with a case study during the interview, take a structured approach to deconstructing the problem. Begin by defining the business problem or question at hand. Break down the problem into manageable components and identify the key variables involved. This analytical framework will guide your problem-solving process.

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Utilizing Data Science Techniques

Apply your data science skills to analyze the provided data and derive meaningful insights. Utilize statistical methods, predictive modeling, and data visualization techniques to explore patterns and trends within the dataset. Clearly communicate your methodology and reasoning to demonstrate your analytical capabilities.

Problem-Solving Strategy

Develop a systematic problem-solving strategy to tackle case study challenges effectively. Start by outlining your approach and assumptions before proceeding to data analysis and interpretation. Implement a logical and structured process to arrive at well-supported conclusions.

Practice Makes Perfect

Engage in regular practice sessions with mock case studies to hone your problem-solving skills. Participate in data science forums and communities to discuss case studies with peers and gain diverse perspectives. The more you practice, the more confident and proficient you will become in tackling complex data science challenges.

Communicating Your Findings

Effectively communicating your findings and insights is crucial in a data science interview case study. Present your analysis in a clear and concise manner, highlighting key takeaways and recommendations. Demonstrate your storytelling ability by structuring your presentation in a logical and engaging manner.

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Exceling in data science interview case studies requires a combination of technical proficiency, analytical thinking, and effective communication . By mastering the art of case study preparation and problem-solving, you can showcase your data science skills and secure coveted job opportunities in the field.

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Hacking the Case Interview

Consulting group case interviews are given to candidates to assess teamwork in addition to communication skills, quantitative skills, and business acumen. They are used by consulting firms such as Bain, Deloitte, PwC , and EY-Parthenon .

Have an upcoming consulting group case interview? We have you covered. In this article, we'll go through in detail:

• What is a consulting group case interview?
• Different formats of consulting group case interviews
• Why are consulting group case interviews used?
• What do consulting group case interviews assess?
• How to solve consulting group case interviews
• How to stand out in consulting group case interviews
• Consulting group case interview tips

If you’re looking for a step-by-step shortcut to learn case interviews quickly, enroll in our case interview course . These insider strategies from a former Bain interviewer helped 30,000+ land consulting offers while saving hundreds of hours of prep time.

What is a Consulting Group Case Interview?

Consulting group case interviews are a special variant of the traditional case interview. Before preparing for group case interviews, you should first become familiar with how to solve a traditional case interview .

Like a case interview, you’ll still be placed in a hypothetical business situation and asked to develop a recommendation or answer to a business problem. However, for consulting group case interviews, you’ll be put in a group of 3 to 6 people with other candidates that are also interviewing for the same consulting job.

The group will be given materials which contain the case background, objective, and other information needed to solve the case. You’ll initially have some time to read the information independently, but will spend most of the time discussing the case and working together as a group.

During these discussions, the interviewer will be observing and taking notes on each candidate.

For some group case interviews, you will also create a group presentation. As a group, you’ll present your recommendation to the interviewer who will ask follow-up questions on the work and findings.

Consulting group case interviews are much less commonly used than traditional case interviews, but they are as equally as important. They are typically given in second or final round interviews .

For firms and offices that use group case interviews, you will not receive a consulting job offer unless you can pass them.

Different Formats of Consulting Group Case Interviews

There are two different formats of consulting group case interviews:  

Discussion only group case interviews

Presentation group case interviews.

A discussion only group case interview has the following structure:

This format of group case interview has no presentation component. The group will be given materials with the case background information and objective.

You’ll have some time to read the information independently, but then the interviewer will bring the group together and ask the group to discuss different questions related to solving the case.

The interviewer will be heavily involved in the discussion by asking questions for the group to answer and steering the direction of the discussion.

The discussion only group case interview is focused on assessing the answers that candidates contribute to the group and how well candidates communicate with each other.

A presentation group case interview has the following structure:

The group will be given materials that not only contain the case background and objective, but contain other information needed to solve the case. There is typically more material given in this format because you will be given more time to prepare and discuss.

The group will be given about an hour to discuss the case and create a group presentation. During this time, the interviewer will be listening in on the conversations that the group will have, but they will not interfere or answer any questions.

It is up to the group how they want to allocate their time, what topics they want to discuss, and how they want to handle creating and giving the group presentation.

Once time is up, the group will present their work and findings to the interviewer, who will ask follow-up questions.

The presentation group case interview is focused on assessing how well each candidate contributes to the group, how well candidates work with each other, and the quality of the final presentation.

Why are Consulting Group Case Interviews Used?

Consulting group case interviews are used because they are another way for consulting firms to predict which candidates would make the best consultants.

Group case interviews simulate the consulting job by placing you in a hypothetical business situation. You will need to work as a team to analyze and discuss information and then give a presentation on your recommendation. This is what consultants do every day .

These types of case interviews are used in addition to traditional case interviews because they assess a set of skills that traditional case interviews cannot assess.

Group case interviews focus on teamwork and collaboration. By putting candidates into groups, interviewers can assess how candidates work with other people and how open candidates are to other people’s ideas.

They can see how effectively candidates communicate and persuade teammates and how candidates can balance listening and leading.

What do Consulting Group Case Interviews Assess?

There are four major qualities that group case interviews assess.

Logical, structured thinking : Consultants need to be organized and methodical to work efficiently.

• Can you structure complex problems in a clear, simple way?
• Can you use logic and reason to make appropriate conclusions?

Interpersonal skills : Relationships are important in consulting. You’ll be working with teammates and clients every day, so fostering strong relationships is imperative.

• Are you easy to work with?
• Can you handle conflict or disagreement with teammates?

Teamwork skills : Consultants work closely in small teams. To be successful, consultants need to know how to work effectively in groups.

• Can you make meaningful contributions while working in a group?
• Do you bring out the best ideas and qualities in other people?

Presentation skills : Consultants need strong communication skills to present their work in a clear, concise, and persuasive way.

• Can you communicate in a clear and concise way?
• Are you articulate and persuasive in what you are saying?

How to Solve Consulting Group Case Interviews

Solving consulting group case interviews follows the same steps as solving traditional case interviews. There are four main steps:

• Understand the problem
• Create a framework
• Answer quantitative and qualitative questions
• Develop a recommendation

1. Understand the problem

The first step to solving a consulting group case interview is to fully understand the problem or objective. What is the overall business question that the group is trying to answer?

Answering or solving the wrong business problem is the quickest way to fail a group case interview.

2. Create a framework

Next, as a group, you’ll want to create some kind of framework to help you solve the case. A framework is a tool that helps you structure and break down complex problems into simpler, smaller components.

For group case interviews, your framework will help guide the group discussion. The framework collects and organizes all of the topics that the group needs to discuss and all of the questions the group needs to answer.

3. Discuss and answer quantitative and qualitative questions

Once your group has aligned on a framework to use, you can move onto the discussion. During the discussion, you will answer many of the questions that were raised in the framework that was created.

Some of these questions will be qualitative, requiring only business knowledge and judgment to answer. Other questions may be more quantitative, requiring some calculations or estimations from the case information provided.

It is up to the group what order they want to answer and discuss the questions. It is also up to the group whether they want to tackle these questions as an entire group or if they want to split up into smaller groups.

Discussion will continue until the group has reached an answer or conclusion that is accepted by everyone.

4. Develop a recommendation

Once you have finished discussing and answering all of the important questions, you will need to align on an overall recommendation.

To do this, review all of the answers and conclusions that the group has drawn. Identify which recommendation they collectively support.

If the group case interview has a presentation component, you will also need to decide how to split up the presentation across the different members of the group.

How to Stand Out in Consulting Group Case Interviews

The best way to stand out and distinguish yourself in a group case interview is to focus on adding as much value as you can to the group.

There are six different ways you can add value to the group.

Lead or facilitate the discussion

If the interviewer is not leading the discussion and just observing the group, one way to add value is to lead or facilitate the discussion.

You can propose what topics to discuss, the order they should be discussed in, and how much time should be allocated to each topic. When the group gets off track or goes on a tangent, you can bring the group’s focus back together.

Leading or facilitating the discussion establishes you as a group leader, which will leave a positive impression on the interviewer. However, because this role has so much responsibility and visibility, many people will try to take on this role.

Therefore, a group may have multiple leaders or facilitators. When trying to lead the group, make sure you remain respectful and do not interrupt other people when they are speaking.

Expand upon other people’s ideas

Another way to add value is to expand upon other people’s ideas. If a group member suggests a great idea or raises a good point, you can build upon it.

Wait until the group member has finished speaking and then jump in and compliment that person’s idea. Add more details or give more examples to make the idea more concrete.

Synthesize information

Another easy way to add value to the group is to synthesize information that other people have said. A synthesis is simply a reconciliation of different viewpoints and ideas together. This requires minimal effort, but adds tremendous value to the group.

What is the best way to synthesize information?

First, concisely summarize the major ideas that group members have made. Then, state what you like about each idea. Finally, propose an idea that consolidates the best points of each idea.

Synthesizing information does not require much thinking because you are simply repurposing the ideas of other people. This makes it an easy way to contribute to the group.

Keep track of time

Time goes by very quickly in a consulting group case interview. Therefore, a simple way to add value is to be a time keeper and make sure that the team is on track.

In the beginning of the discussion, you can propose a schedule or plan to make the most of the limited time that the group has. You can then volunteer to keep track of the time so that the group can finish discussing and deciding on everything that it needs to.

Play devil’s advocate

Another way to add value to the group is by playing devil’s advocate. You can help the team develop strong points and ideas by testing the team’s thinking and considering potential risks or downsides.

When the team has decided on an idea, bring up potential risks or downsides that the team should consider. This helps the team develop a more fully thought out answer or recommendation.

Be careful when playing devil’s advocate. You do not want to be attacking ideas or bringing them down. Instead, you want to be offering constructive feedback to test the idea and make it stronger.

The final way to add value to the group is to take notes for the team. By taking notes and keeping track of what other people are saying, you’ll be able to recall what has been discussed if any group members have questions.

This way of adding value to the group is not as recommended as the other strategies to add value.

Taking notes deprives you of opportunities to speak. Therefore, it is better to focus on understanding what other people are saying to identify opportunities to speak up rather than to focus on taking the best notes.

Consulting Group Case Interview Tips

Below are the seven biggest group case interview tips. Follow these tips to give yourself an edge over other candidates.

1. Treat your group members as teammates, not competition

While you may feel like you are competing against members of your group for a job offer, this is not the case. Multiple people or even all people in your group can receive job offers.

Rather than treating your group members like competition and trying to make yourself look better than them, treat your group members as teammates. You should think about the group case interview as your team versus the case, not you versus your teammates.

If you work well as a group and deliver an outstanding discussion or presentation, that increases the likelihood that members of the group will receive offers. If the group spends all of their time attacking each other’s comments and fighting for speaking time, the group will likely deliver a poor discussion or presentation, which makes everyone in the group look bad.

The key is to focus on delivering an outstanding result and not to focus on competing with other teammates.

2. Don’t speak too much and don’t speak too little

How much should you speak in a group case interview?

The problem with speaking too little during a group case interview is that you won’t have many opportunities to demonstrate your interpersonal, teamwork, and presentation skills. Interviewers may also think that you are shy and afraid of speaking in a group, qualities that are not ideal for a consultant.

The problem with speaking too much during a group case interview is that you may be seen as too aggressive and controlling. Speaking too much reflects poorly on you because you are taking away opportunities from other teammates to speak and contribute. You may come off as rude and disruptive if you interrupt people and talk over them.

If you were to rank order all of the members in your group by how much each person spoke, you would want to fall right in the middle. That is the perfect balance of speaking and listening.

3. Speak only if you are adding value to the group

Just because you speak a lot during a group case interview does not mean that you are doing well. The quality of what you are saying is much more important than the quantity.

If you are speaking a lot, but not adding that much value to the group, you will be seen as a poor teammate. A great teammate knows when to speak and when to listen.

Therefore, you should only speak if you are adding value to the group. Do not speak just to reach your participation quota.

4. Don’t interrupt or talk over people

The most common way to fail a group case interview is to come off as a jerk. Consultants work closely in small teams and no one wants to work with someone that is a jerk.

How do you avoid this?

First, don’t interrupt or talk over people. If someone is speaking, allow them to finish what they are saying before jumping in with your own thoughts. Second, don’t attack other people’s ideas. You may bring up your concerns and disagreements, but you should never blatantly tell someone that their idea is bad.

As long as you are a nice and respectful teammate, you will be miles ahead of anyone that is overly aggressive, pushy, or rude.

5. Involve other people

An easy way to demonstrate that you are a great teammate is to involve other people.

If you notice that someone has not spoken in a long time, ask them what their thoughts are on the discussion. If you notice that someone was cut off when speaking, ask them to finish their thoughts after the person interrupting them finishes what they are saying.

All of these actions require minimal effort, but add tremendous value to the group while making you look like a great teammate.

6. Don’t spend too much time reading independently

In the beginning of the group case interview, your group will be given materials on the case background, objective, and other information needed to solve the case. Your group members will likely spend the beginning of the group case interview reading the materials by themselves.

Do not spend too much time reading the material independently.

The purpose of the group case interview is to have discussions and work together as a group. The more time your group spends reading the material independently, the less time the group has to demonstrate interpersonal and teamwork skills.

7. You don’t need to have your idea or recommendation chosen

Remember that multiple or even all people in your group can receive job offers. Therefore, you do not need to have your own ideas or recommendations chosen in order to receive an offer.

Fighting or pushing too hard for your own ideas and recommendations may actually harm you. It may suggest that you are not open to other people’s ideas and not willing to support your teammates.

Learn Case Interviews 10x Faster

Here are the resources we recommend to learn the most robust, effective case interview strategies in the least time-consuming way:

• Comprehensive Case Interview Course (our #1 recommendation): The only resource you need. Whether you have no business background, rusty math skills, or are short on time, this step-by-step course will transform you into a top 1% caser that lands multiple consulting offers.
• Hacking the Case Interview Book   (available on Amazon): Perfect for beginners that are short on time. Transform yourself from a stressed-out case interview newbie to a confident intermediate in under a week. Some readers finish this book in a day and can already tackle tough cases.
• The Ultimate Case Interview Workbook (available on Amazon): Perfect for intermediates struggling with frameworks, case math, or generating business insights. No need to find a case partner – these drills, practice problems, and full-length cases can all be done by yourself.
• Case Interview Coaching : Personalized, one-on-one coaching with former consulting interviewers
• Behavioral & Fit Interview Course : Be prepared for 98% of behavioral and fit questions in just a few hours. We'll teach you exactly how to draft answers that will impress your interviewer
• Resume Review & Editing : Transform your resume into one that will get you multiple interviews

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47 case interview examples (from McKinsey, BCG, Bain, etc.)

One of the best ways to prepare for   case interviews  at firms like McKinsey, BCG, or Bain, is by studying case interview examples. 

There are a lot of free sample cases out there, but it's really hard to know where to start. So in this article, we have listed all the best free case examples available, in one place.

The below list of resources includes interactive case interview samples provided by consulting firms, video case interview demonstrations, case books, and materials developed by the team here at IGotAnOffer. Let's continue to the list.

• McKinsey examples
• BCG examples
• Bain examples
• Deloitte examples
• Other firms' examples
• Case books from consulting clubs
• Case interview preparation

Click here to practise 1-on-1 with MBB ex-interviewers

1. mckinsey case interview examples.

• Beautify case interview (McKinsey website)
• Diconsa case interview (McKinsey website)
• Electro-light case interview (McKinsey website)
• GlobaPharm case interview (McKinsey website)
• National Education case interview (McKinsey website)
• Talbot Trucks case interview (McKinsey website)
• Shops Corporation case interview (McKinsey website)
• Conservation Forever case interview (McKinsey website)
• McKinsey case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)
• McKinsey live case interview extract (by IGotAnOffer) - See below

2. BCG case interview examples

• Foods Inc and GenCo case samples  (BCG website)
• Chateau Boomerang written case interview  (BCG website)
• BCG case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)
• Written cases guide (by IGotAnOffer)
• BCG live case interview with notes (by IGotAnOffer)
• BCG mock case interview with ex-BCG associate director - Public sector case (by IGotAnOffer)
• BCG mock case interview: Revenue problem case (by IGotAnOffer) - See below

3. Bain case interview examples

• CoffeeCo practice case (Bain website)
• FashionCo practice case (Bain website)
• Associate Consultant mock interview video (Bain website)
• Consultant mock interview video (Bain website)
• Written case interview tips (Bain website)
• Bain case interview guide   (by IGotAnOffer)
• Digital transformation case with ex-Bain consultant
• Bain case mock interview with ex-Bain manager (below)

4. Deloitte case interview examples

• Engagement Strategy practice case (Deloitte website)
• Recreation Unlimited practice case (Deloitte website)
• Strategic Vision practice case (Deloitte website)
• Retail Strategy practice case  (Deloitte website)
• Finance Strategy practice case  (Deloitte website)
• Talent Management practice case (Deloitte website)
• Enterprise Resource Management practice case (Deloitte website)
• Footloose written case  (by Deloitte)
• Deloitte case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

5. Accenture case interview examples

• Case interview workbook (by Accenture)
• Accenture case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

6. OC&C case interview examples

• Leisure Club case example (by OC&C)
• Imported Spirits case example (by OC&C)

7. Oliver Wyman case interview examples

• Wumbleworld case sample (Oliver Wyman website)
• Aqualine case sample (Oliver Wyman website)
• Oliver Wyman case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

8. A.T. Kearney case interview examples

• Promotion planning case question (A.T. Kearney website)
• Consulting case book and examples (by A.T. Kearney)
• AT Kearney case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

9. Strategy& / PWC case interview examples

• Presentation overview with sample questions (by Strategy& / PWC)
• Strategy& / PWC case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

10. L.E.K. Consulting case interview examples

• Case interview example video walkthrough   (L.E.K. website)
• Market sizing case example video walkthrough  (L.E.K. website)

11. Roland Berger case interview examples

• Transit oriented development case webinar part 1  (Roland Berger website)
• Transit oriented development case webinar part 2   (Roland Berger website)
• 3D printed hip implants case webinar part 1   (Roland Berger website)
• 3D printed hip implants case webinar part 2   (Roland Berger website)
• Roland Berger case interview guide   (by IGotAnOffer)

12. Capital One case interview examples

• Case interview example video walkthrough  (Capital One website)
• Capital One case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

13. Consulting clubs case interview examples

• Berkeley case book (2006)
• Columbia case book (2006)
• Darden case book (2012)
• Darden case book (2018)
• Duke case book (2010)
• Duke case book (2014)
• ESADE case book (2011)
• Goizueta case book (2006)
• Illinois case book (2015)
• LBS case book (2006)
• MIT case book (2001)
• Notre Dame case book (2017)
• Ross case book (2010)
• Wharton case book (2010)

Practice with experts

Using case interview examples is a key part of your interview preparation, but it isn’t enough.

At some point you’ll want to practise with friends or family who can give some useful feedback. However, if you really want the best possible preparation for your case interview, you'll also want to work with ex-consultants who have experience running interviews at McKinsey, Bain, BCG, etc.

If you know anyone who fits that description, fantastic! But for most of us, it's tough to find the right connections to make this happen. And it might also be difficult to practice multiple hours with that person unless you know them really well.

Here's the good news. We've already made the connections for you. We’ve created a coaching service where you can do mock case interviews 1-on-1 with ex-interviewers from MBB firms . Start scheduling sessions today!

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Case Interview: Complete Prep Guide

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Welcome to our preparation tips for case interviews!  Whether you are just curious about case interviews or are planning to apply for consulting internships or full-time jobs, these tips and resources will help you feel more prepared and confident.

A case interview is a role playing exercise in which an employer assesses how logically and persuasively you can present a case. Rather than seeing if you get the “correct” answer, the objective is to evaluate your thought process. ( Adapted with permission from Case In Point: Complete Case Interview Preparation by Marc Cosentino). 

Case interviews are very commonly used in the interview process for consulting firms and companies in similar industries. In the case interview, you will typically be given a business problem and then asked to solve it in a structured way. Learning this structure takes preparation and practice. You can learn more and practice using the resources listed below.  

Why are Case Interviews Used?

Case interviews allow employers to test and evaluate the following skills:

• Analytical skills and logical ability to solve problems
• Structure and thought process
• Ability to ask for relevant data/information
• Tolerance for ambiguity and data overload
• Poise and communication skills under pressure and in front of a client

How can I prepare for Case Interviews?

1.) Read Management Consulted’s “Case Interview: Complete Prep Guide (2024)”

Management Consulted is a FREE resource for Tufts students : case and consulting resources such as 500 sample cases, Case Interview Bootcamp,  Market Sizing Drills, Math Drills, case videos, consulting firm directory, and more

2.) Review additional resources:

• Case in Point – This book, by Marc Cosentino, is a comprehensive guide that walks you through the case interview process from beginning to end. This guide has helped many students over the years and can serve as an excellent foundation for how to approach business problems
• Casequestions.com – The companion website to Marc Cosentino’s book listed above offers preparation for case interviews, along with links to top 50 consulting firms
• Management Consulting Case Interviews: Cracking The Case – tips for case interviews from the other side of the table, from Argopoint, a Boston management consulting firm specializing in legal department consulting for Fortune 500 companies
• Preplounge.com – Free case preparation access for to up to 6 practice interviews with peers, selected cases, and video case solutions
• RocketBlocks – Features consulting preparation such as drills and coaching
• Practice sample online cases on consulting firm websites such as McKinsey , BCG , Bain , Deloitte and more!  

3.) Schedule a mock case interview appointment with  Karen Dankers or Kathy Spillane , our advisors for the Finance, Consulting, Entrepreneurship, and Business Career Community.

4.) PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE cases out loud on your own (yes, that can feel odd) or preferably, with another person. See #2 and #3 above for resources and ideas to find partners to practice live cases

5.) Enjoy and have fun solving business problems!

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GBCS: Just Launched - CASECOACH

Dear Graduate Business Students,   

We are excited to announce that CSULB students now have access to CaseCoach, the world's leading case interview preparation platform!  

CaseCoach is designed by former McKinsey interviewers and headhunters to help you excel in case study interviews used by top consulting firms and other employers.   

This platform is an invaluable resource to prepare you for consulting interviews and beyond. To access CaseCoach, simply log in to SSO > CareerLink > Resources > CaseCoach and start your journey to consulting success!  

Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your interview skills and boost your career prospects. Take advantage of CaseCoach today!