What to Do Before a Case Interview (Last 24 Hours Guide for Consulting Interview Prep)
- Nine to Grow
- Nov 21
- 4 min read
Table of content
You’ve done the prep. You’ve practiced frameworks, solved mock cases, and maybe even coached with a friend or mentor. But what about the final hours leading up to your interview? What should you focus on the day before—or even just two hours before—your business case interview?
In this final stretch, your goal is not to cram more content but to stay sharp, calm, and structured — exactly what strong candidates do in consulting interview prep. If you want a structured plan for earlier preparation, you can also check our 2-Week Consulting Interview Prep Guide.
Here is a simple checklist of what to do in the final stretch to feel sharp, confident, and focused.
1. Skim Your Framework Cheat Sheet
By now, you probably have a set of go-to frameworks that work well for most cases: profitability, market entry, 3C1P (customer, competitor, company, product), and maybe even some custom ones you’ve developed. The night before—or even better, two hours before—skim through a one-pager with your favorite frameworks. This quick refresh keeps your brain in “case interview prep” mode without overloading yourself. This isn’t the time to learn new ones. It’s about jogging your memory and getting your brain into case-solving mode.
If you don’t have a cheat sheet, make one. It can be super simple:
Headings for each framework
A few bullet points or example questions under each
Optional: a few example mini-cases or context notes that show when to use which one
If you want help structuring your frameworks, see our articles on how to structure a business case and the 3C-1P method.
2. Review Your Common Mistakes
This tip is personal—and powerful. Think back to your mock interviews or self-practice sessions. What do you tend to forget or do wrong under pressure?
Some examples might include:
Forgetting to segment (e.g., breaking down revenue by customer type or geography)
Giving a long laundry list instead of a clear structure
Jumping into calculations without clarifying the objective
Not summarizing the case before moving on
Speaking in bullet points instead of walking the interviewer through your logic
Write these down. Make a short list (even 3–5 bullet points) and review them before the interview like a reminder note. It’s like writing a short note to your future self: “Hey, remember to slow down, segment, and structure.” This reflection practice is one of the most underrated steps in consulting interview preparation — because it targets your specific weakness patterns.
This isn’t about being negative. It’s about reinforcing good habits at the exact moment you’re most likely to forget them.
3. Mentally Rehearse the First 2 Minutes
The first impression in a case interview often sets the tone. Those first two minutes matter more in MBB case interviews than most candidates realize. Take five minutes to rehearse the first two minutes of a case:
How you ask clarifying questions
How you structure your approach out loud
How you set up your framework
This isn’t about scripting it—it’s about priming your brain. You’ll walk into the interview already in flow, instead of warming up in real time.
You can even go through one or two mock prompts very briefly and just practice your opening aloud. Think of it like stretching before a run.
4. Shift Your Mindset: Trust the Process
Right before the interview, it’s easy to get caught in a loop of second-guessing: Did I practice enough? Should I have done more market sizing cases? What if I get something I’ve never seen before?
This is the moment to shift your mindset.
Remind yourself that you’ve done your best to prepare. That’s all you can control. Case interviews aren’t just about being perfectly prepared—they also involve timing, the specific case you get, and sometimes even the mood or style of the interviewer. There is a bit of luck involved.
If you get a case that throws you off, it doesn’t mean you’re not capable. If you get excited or nervous, that’s human. None of it means you’ve failed. You might even surprise yourself by navigating a tough case well—because you stayed calm and trusted your thinking.
In the final hours, it’s not about cramming more. It’s about calming your mind and putting yourself in a state where you can think clearly. Let go of the pressure to be perfect. Think of the interview as a chance to have a smart conversation—not a test of your worth.
In the final hours, focus on clarity and confidence — two qualities that matter more than memorizing one more framework in your consulting interview prep.
It’s okay if it doesn’t go perfectly. You are more than this one moment.
FAQ: What to Do Before a Case Interview
1. What should I review right before a consulting case interview? Focus on your framework cheat sheet, your common mistakes list, and a quick mental rehearsal of how you’ll open the case. Avoid learning anything new.
2. How do I calm my nerves before a case interview? Shift from “I must be perfect” to “I know how to think.” Take a walk, breathe, and trust your preparation. Calm thinking beats cramming every time.
3. Should I practice another case on the day of the interview? If you feel warmed up, do a very light practice: one short prompt or a 2-minute structure rehearsal. Don’t start a full case — you want clarity, not overload.
