Top Mistakes to Avoid in Your Case Interview Preparation: A Guide to Smarter Success
Case interviews are a major part of the consulting job application process. Whether you’re aiming for McKinsey, BCG, Bain, or a top boutique firm, your performance in the case interview can make or break your chances. Many candidates work hard but still fail because they make common but avoidable mistakes. Let’s dive into the top errors candidates make during case interview preparation—and more importantly, how you can avoid them. 1. Starting Without a Plan Mistake: Jumping into practice cases randomly. Why it’s a problem: Without structure, you can’t measure improvement or identify weak areas. Fix it: Create a study plan. Block out weekly goals. Spend time on frameworks, mental math, and industry knowledge. Balance solo prep and mock interviews. 2. Memorizing Frameworks Instead of Understanding Them Mistake: Learning frameworks word-for-word. Why it’s a problem: Recruiters want flexible thinkers, not robots. A rigid framework won’t help in unusual cases. Fix it: Understand the why be...