CASE INTERVIEW
CHEAT SHEET
If you don' t remember all the key points from our case interview series or if you missed a few workshops in the past quarter, don't worry! Read our 2022 CCTMC Caseguide and take a look at our one-page case interview cheat sheet to learn how to prepare for a case interview:
​
Interview Process
Personal Experience (15-20 mins) - examples of past experiences (entrepreneurial drive, inclusive leadership, personal impact)
Structured Case (25 mins) - solve problem similar to consulting cases (problem-solving skills, common sense, comfort with numbers)
​
Case Interview Format
1. Case Prompt given.
2. Recap & ask clarifying questions
3. Take the 60-90s to create a structured approach to resolve the case.
4. Synthesize findings & make recommendations
​
Popular Case Themes
Profitability: analyze potential sources of profit declines and identify ways to improve profitability
Market Entry: analyze the client’s opportunity to expand and quantify the viable market for any new products
Growth: identify opportunities for client to optimally grow revenues or increase market share
Acquisition & Merger: Determine whether the client should purchase another business or sell an existing part of company
Industry Assessment: Assess the health and attractiveness of particular industry to advise a client’s decision
​
Profitability Equations
Gross Profit=Revenue-Cost of Good Sold
Gross Profit Margin = (Revenue-Cost of Good Sold)/Revenue
NPV=Σ(CFn)/(1+i)n
Payback Period=Initial Investment Made/Net Annual Cash Inflow
Break Even Point = Fixed Costs/(Total Sales Revenue-Cost to Make Product)
ROI= Net Profit/Cost of Investment x 100
​
Business Terms
Revenue: $ generated from normal business operations
Profit: financial gain
Profit margin: amount by which revenue from sales exceeds costs
Fixed cost: business costs (i.e. rent) that are constant whatever the quantity of goods or services produced
Variable cost: cost that varies with level of output
Upfront cost: an initial sum of money owed in a purchase or business venture
Recurring cost: cost that occurs repeatedly during life of an asset
Net present value (NPV): difference between present value of cash inflows and present value of cash outflows over a period of time
Cash Flow: net amount of cash and cash equivalents being transferred in and out of a company
Discounted Rate: the interest rate used in discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis to determine the present value of future cash flows
Discounted Cash Flow (DCF): valuation method used to estimate the value of an investment based on its expected future cash flows
Break even point: the time point at which total revenues equal total expenses
Payback period: amount of time it takes to recover the cost of an investment of how long it takes for an investor to hit breakeven
Return of investment (ROI): metric used to understand profitability of an investment
​
Structuring in Case Interview & Frameworks
AIM test
A= Answer-focused = every driver should answer a specific question that is necessary to solve the case
I=Insightful = share specific insights and/or hypotheses as you get deeper into the structure
M=Mutually Exclusive and Collectively Exhaustive (MECE) = driver should have limited overlap and should not be more than 3-4 main drivers