Our interviews include discussion of business cases, often ones which the interviewer has worked on during his or her McKinsey career.

During the case study we assess your ability across a number of dimensions in an unprepared situation – structured problem solving, logical reasoning, creativity, quantitative skills, and business acumen. We are also looking for intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm for typical consulting issues. You should be comfortable continually learning from the emerging facts and be receptive to new information. Additionally, you should be able to refer back to previously discussed aspects of the case rather than answering questions in isolation.

Remember, we are testing your ability to think through a problem rather than trying to see if you know the right answer or not.  In many cases, there is no "right" or "wrong" answer to the problem.  When presented with a business case, don't be scared by its unfamiliar nature and don't think there is a set formula.

Interactive On-Line Case
To gain an impression of the kind of business problems you can expect to discuss in an interview, try our on-line interactive case.

Business Case Tips
You stand a better chance of performing well if you follow the following steps:

1. Confirm your understanding: listen carefully and request any additional information you may need; ask for clarification on points that you feel are unclear. (Usually the interviewer will give hints or ask more detailed questions to guide you through the case). Clearly state the problem as you understand it. Sometimes figuring out what the problem is and stating it clearly can be the most important part of a successful study.
2. Structure the problem: take time to break the problem down into a logical structure – there may be several issues to be tackled, rather than one. Do this before you dive into the analysis. Write an outline to structure your thinking. Take notes, since they will help you refer back to your analysis.
3. Analyze the problem and summarize the findings for each avenue you explore: as you follow each line of thought, summarize key findings, and then move on to the next issue you want to analyze. Do not focus too much on your own area of expertise rather than the important issue. Also if you find an avenue to be a dead end do not be afraid to state it and pull back.
4. Request additional information and test your ideas: as you build an understanding of the problem you may need more information. Keep coming back to check that you are addressing the question you were asked and that you are reaching sensible conclusions. We sometimes call this a "sanity check" – i.e. does the approach make sense?
5. Recommend a position and defend it in a brief presentation: as you go through the analysis, write down any major conclusions that you have made. Summarize your thoughts and if appropriate, develop a recommendation and put your recommendations in a larger context.