accenture technology consulting case study interview

Hacking the Case Interview

If you’re interviewing with technology consulting firms, such as Accenture or Cognizant , you will almost definitely be given a few technology case interviews during the interview process. To successfully land a technology consulting job offer, you’ll have to nail each and every case interview.

While technology case interviews may seem intimidating and challenging, they can be consistently solved with the right strategies and practice. In this article, we’ll cover:

• What is a technology case interview?
• The 6 steps to solve any technology case
• Technology case interview frameworks
• 7 technology case interview examples to practice
• Recommended technology case interview resources

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 Technology Consulting Case Interview?

Technology consulting is a specialized type of consulting that focuses on helping companies use technology better to be more productive and profitable. Just as with any consulting firm, technology consulting firms use case interviews to identify candidates that have the potential to become great consultants.

As you would expect, technology consulting case interviews focus on business problems that center around a company’s use of technology. Technology cases place you in a hypothetical business situation in which you will work with the interviewer to develop a recommendation or solution to a technology problem.

Types of business situations that you could expect to see in technology consulting cases include:

• Deciding whether a company should buy or build a particular technology solution
• Deciding which vendor a company should partner with for their technology solution
• Deciding whether a company should develop technology in-house or outsource development elsewhere
• Determining whether outsourcing of technology should be done onshore or offshore

Technology consulting firms use case interviews because they assess a variety of different qualities and traits in just a 20- to 30-minute exercise. There are five major qualities that technology case interviews assess:

Logical, structured thinking : Can you structure complex problems in a clear, simple way? Can you use logic and reason to make appropriate conclusions?

Analytical problem solving : Can you read and interpret data well? Can you conduct the right analyses to draw the right conclusions?

Business acumen : Do you have a basic understanding of fundamental business and technology concepts? Do your recommendations make sense from a feasibility perspective?

Communication skills : Can you communicate in a clear, concise way? Are you articulate in what you are saying?

Personality and cultural fit : Are you coachable and easy to work with? Are you pleasant to be around?

The 6 Steps to Solve Any Technology Case Interview

The approach to solving technology consulting cases is generally the same as traditional case interviews. Generally, you’ll want to follow these six steps.

1. Understand the case

Your technology case interview will begin with the interviewer giving you the case background information. While the interviewer is speaking, make sure that you are taking meticulous notes on the most important pieces of information. Focus on understanding the context of the situation and the objective of the case.

Don’t be afraid to ask clarifying questions if you do not understand something. You may want to summarize the case background information back to the interviewer to confirm your understanding of the case.

The most important part of this step is to verify the objective of the case. Not answering the right business question is the quickest way to fail a case interview.

2. Structure the problem

The next step is to develop a framework to help you solve the case. A framework is a tool that helps you structure and break down complex problems into smaller, more manageable components. Another way to think about frameworks is brainstorming different ideas and organizing them into different categories.

Before you start developing your framework, it is completely acceptable to ask the interviewer for a few minutes so that you can collect your thoughts and think about the problem.

Once you have identified the major issues or areas that you need to explore, walk the interviewer through your framework. They may ask a few questions or provide some feedback.

For a complete guide on how to create tailored and unique frameworks for each case, check out our article on case interview frameworks .

3. Kick off the case

Once you have finished presenting your framework, you’ll start diving into different areas of your framework to begin solving the case. How this process will start depends on whether the case interview is candidate-led or interviewer-led .

If the case interview is a candidate-led case, you’ll be expected to propose what area of your framework to start investigating. So, propose an area and provide a reason for why you want to start with that area. There is generally no right or wrong area of your framework to pick first.

If the case interview is interviewer-led, the interviewer will tell you what area of the framework to start in or directly give you a question to answer.

4. Solve quantitative problems

Technology cases typically have some quantitative aspect to them. For example, you may be asked to calculate a certain profitability or financial metric.

The key to solving quantitative problems is to lay out a structure or approach upfront with the interviewer before doing any math calculations. If you lay out and present your structure to solve the quantitative problem and the interviewer approves of it, the rest of the problem is simple execution of math.

5. Answer qualitative questions

Technology case interviews will also typically have qualitative aspects to them. You may be asked to brainstorm a list of potential ideas. You could also be asked to provide your opinion on a particular business issue or situation.

The key to answering qualitative questions is to structure your answer. When brainstorming a list of ideas, develop a structure to help you neatly categorize all of your ideas. When giving your opinion on a business issue or situation, provide a summary of your stance or position and then enumerate the reasons that support it.

6. Deliver a recommendation

In the last step of the tech case interview, you’ll present your recommendation and provide the major reasons that support it. You do not need to recap everything that you have done in the case, so focus on only summarizing the facts that are most important.

It is also good practice to include potential next steps that you would take if you had more time or data. These can be areas of your framework that you did not have time to explore or lingering questions that you do not have great answers for.

Technology Case Interview Frameworks

While the approach to solving technology case interviews is typically the same as traditional case interviews, there are some frameworks you should be familiar with that are specific to technology issues.

Some of these frameworks are more technical than others.

Generally, if you have a strong IT or technology background and are interviewing for a more senior role, you should expect your technology case interviews to be more technical. However, if you are interviewing for an entry level technology consulting role, you’ll likely not need to know many of these frameworks.

PPT Framework

The PPT framework stands for people, process, and technology. These are the three components that are necessary for organizational transformation and management. To achieve organizational efficiency, a company needs to have all three of these components streamlined.

People : Do employees have the right skills, experience, and attitude for the job? Do they have clear roles and responsibilities? Does the project have buy-in from the right people?

Process : Are the right processes in place? Are these processes run smoothly and efficiently? Are there potential bottlenecks or roadblocks?

Technology : Are the right technologies being used? Are these technologies being used to their maximum potential?

Factors to Evaluate Technology Framework

Often, you’ll need to use a framework to evaluate different pieces of technology or different potential technology vendors to work with. One of the most common ways of doing this is by assessing each option on the basis of the following three factors.

Ability to meet requirements : Does the technology or vendor satisfy all of the requirements?

Cost of project : What is the fully-loaded cost of the project? Do the costs meet the designated budget?

Time to launch : How long will it take to launch and implement the solution? Does this timeline satisfy goals and expectations?

ITIL Framework

ITIL stands for Information Technology Infrastructure Library. It is the first of our more technical frameworks for technology case interviews.

The ITIL framework is one of the most widely used approaches for managing IT services. IT services use the ITIL framework to ensure that their services are delivered in a customer-focused, high-quality, and economical way.

There are five stages in the lifecycle of information technology.

Service Strategy : Decide on a strategy to serve customers by starting with an assessment of customer needs and the market place. Determine which services the IT organization should offer and what capabilities need to be developed.

Service Design : Design new IT services, which includes making changes and improvements to existing services.

Service Transition : Build and deploy IT services. Ensure that changes to services are carried out in a coordinated way.

Service Operation : Ensure that IT services are delivered effectively and efficiently. This includes fulfilling user requests, resolving service failures, fixing problems, and carrying out routine operational tasks.

Continual Service Improvement : Learn from past successes and failures to continually improve the effectiveness and efficiency of IT processes and services.

TOGAF Framework

TOGAF stands for The Open Group Architecture Framework. It provides an approach for designing, planning, implementing, and governing an enterprise information technology architecture.

TOGAF is based on four areas of specialization called architecture domains:

Business architecture : The business strategy, governance, organization, and key business processes of the organization

Data architecture : The structure of an organization’s logical and physical data assets and the associated data management resources

Applications architecture : The blueprint for the individual systems to be deployed, the interactions between application systems, and their relationships to the core business processes of the organization

Technical architecture : The hardware, software, and network infrastructure needed to support the deployment of core and mission-critical applications

CMMI Framework

CMMI stands for Capability Maturity Model Integration and is used to guide process improvement across a project, division, or entire organization. CMMI defines five maturity levels for processes.

Level 1: Initial : Processes are unpredictable, poorly controlled, and reactive.

Level 2: Managed : Processes are characterized for projects and are often reactive.

Level 3: Defined : Processes are characterized for the organization and are proactive.

Level 4: Quantitatively Managed : Processes are measured and controlled.

Level 5: Optimizing : Processes are not only measured and controlled, but also focused on process improvement.

Technology Case Interview Examples

There are much fewer technology practice cases available online compared to traditional case interview cases. However, Deloitte’s case interview website offers two technology consulting cases that you can work through on your own.

• MedX: The Smart Pill Bottle (business technology case)
• Architecture Strategy: Federal Finance Agency (business technology case)

For more practice, check out our article on 23 MBA consulting casebooks with 700+ free practice cases .

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• Resume Review & Editing : Transform your resume into one that will get you multiple consulting interviews

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• 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.
• Case Interview Coaching : Personalized, one-on-one coaching with a former Bain interviewer.
• 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.

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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)

12. EY Parthenon case interview examples

• Candidate-led case example with feedback (by IGotAnOffer)

14. 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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Technical Consulting Case Interviews

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Many companies that recruit here at Bauer, including the IT consulting firms, have a case interview that is a crucial part of the interview process. Learning how to ace a case interview takes time and you should start preparing as soon as possible. The resources below will help you get more familiar with the case interview process and provide practice cases to work through.

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What is a case interview?

According to Accenture, “A case interview is a type of job interview, used most frequently by consulting firms, that allows an applicant to demonstrate his/her ability to solve a given business problem. During a case interview, an interviewer presents a situation or case and then asks the applicant to explore the underlying causes of the problem and suggest recommendations to remedy the problem.”  The interviewer is not necessarily looking for the correct answer, rather they are looking at how you define and analyze the problem and communicate with the interviewer. For positions in IT, the case will usually be related to technology.

Vault Case Interview Guides

Vault is a free resource for Bauer students that can be found on Gateway under the External Links section on the Gateway home page. It provides multiple guides to help you prepare for your case interview and research careers in consulting.

The following guides can be found under the “Vault Guides” tab in the consulting section.

Vault Guide to the Case Interview

This guide is full of information to help you prepare for a case interview. It goes over what to expect, the different types of questions, frameworks, and has more than 50 sample cases.

Vault Case Interview Practice Guide

This guide has 27 case interview questions long with a step-by-step analysis of each case. There are 2 IT specific cases that you will want to check out.

Other guides to check out:

Vault Career Guide to Consulting

Vault Guide to the Top 10 Technology Consulting Firms, 2013 Edition

Accenture has a guide to help guide you through the case interview.  

https://www.accenture.com/t20180913t100614z__w__/us-en/_acnmedia/careers/pdf-14/accenture-fy19-case-workbook-one-accenture-technology.pdf

Deloitte also provides an interactive case prep tool on their website.

http://caseinterviewprep.deloitte.com/

Want to see more cases?

Over 1000 practice cases can be found at https://www.consultingcase101.com/ .

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How to Prepare for Accenture Management Consulting Case Interviews?

Learn how to ace your Accenture management consulting case interviews with our comprehensive guide.

Posted August 17, 2023

Featuring Cate D.

Recruiting for MBA Consulting Internships

Starting monday, july 29.

9:30 PM UTC · 60 minutes

Table of Contents

If you’re looking to land a job as a management consultant at Accenture, one of the most important parts of the interview process is the case interview. These are designed to test your analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills and will give your interviewer an idea of how you approach complex problems. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to prepare for an Accenture management consulting case interview.

Overview of Accenture Management Consulting Case Interviews

The Accenture management consulting case interview will consist of a hypothetical problem or scenario that you’ll need to solve in a limited amount of time. The interviewer will present you with a specific business challenge and ask you to explain the steps you would take to address the issue. Your goal is to demonstrate your ability to think critically and apply your knowledge of business principles to real-world situations.

It is important to note that the Accenture management consulting case interview is not just about finding the right answer, but also about showcasing your problem-solving process and communication skills. The interviewer will be evaluating your ability to structure your thoughts, ask relevant questions, and present your ideas in a clear and concise manner. Therefore, it is recommended to practice with sample case studies and to prepare for potential follow-up questions that may arise during the interview.

Understanding the Interview Process

Before you start, it’s important to understand the timeline of the interview process and what to expect on the day of the interview. You’ll typically meet with multiple interviewers, each of whom will assess a different aspect of your skills and knowledge. There may be several rounds of interviews, including phone screenings, in-person interviews, and panel interviews.

It’s also important to research the company and the position you’re interviewing for. This will help you understand the company culture, values, and goals, and allow you to tailor your responses to the interviewer’s questions. Additionally, you should prepare questions to ask the interviewer about the company and the position, as this shows your interest and engagement in the opportunity.

During the interview, it’s important to make a good first impression by dressing professionally, arriving on time, and being polite and respectful to everyone you meet. You should also be prepared to discuss your qualifications and experience in detail, and provide specific examples of how you’ve demonstrated your skills in previous roles. Finally, don’t forget to follow up with a thank-you note or email after the interview to express your appreciation for the opportunity and reiterate your interest in the position.

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Types of Case Interviews and How to Approach Them

There are several types of case interviews that you might encounter during the interview process. These include strategy cases, profitability cases, market entry cases, and others. It’s important to understand the differences between each type and to prepare accordingly. One way to prepare is by practicing with sample case interviews, which you can find online or through case interview preparation services.

Strategy cases typically involve analyzing a company’s overall business strategy and making recommendations for improvement. These cases often require a deep understanding of the industry and market trends. Profitability cases, on the other hand, focus on identifying ways to increase a company’s profits. This may involve analyzing cost structures, pricing strategies, and revenue streams.

Market entry cases are common for companies looking to expand into new markets. These cases require an understanding of the target market, competition, and potential barriers to entry. Other types of cases may include mergers and acquisitions, operational efficiency, and product development.

Regardless of the type of case, it’s important to approach each one with a structured and analytical mindset. This involves breaking down the problem into smaller components, gathering relevant data, and developing a clear and concise recommendation. It’s also important to communicate effectively with the interviewer, asking clarifying questions and presenting your findings in a logical and organized manner.

By understanding the different types of case interviews and how to approach them, you can increase your chances of success in the interview process and demonstrate your ability to think critically and strategically.

Preparing for the Interview: Tips and Strategies

Now that you know what to expect, it’s time to start preparing. Here are some tips and strategies to help you get ready for your Accenture management consulting case interview:

• Brush up on your accounting, statistics, and financial analysis skills
• Practice your mental math skills
• Read case study books and articles to get an idea of how to approach case interviews
• Research Accenture and the consulting industry as a whole to understand the company’s culture and values
• Practice active listening and communication skills
• Develop a framework for approaching case interviews to help you stay organized
• Know how to answer "Why Accenture?"

Additionally, it’s important to dress appropriately for the interview. Accenture is a professional consulting firm, so you should dress in business attire. This means wearing a suit or dress pants and a blazer, and avoiding anything too flashy or casual. Remember, first impressions are important, and dressing professionally can help you make a good one.

Developing Your Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills

The key to acing the Accenture management consulting case interview is being able to think critically and analyze complex data. Here are some strategies for developing your analytical and problem-solving skills:

• Practice breaking down complex problems into smaller, more manageable parts
• Learn how to prioritize and allocate resources effectively
• Practice brainstorming and generating creative solutions to problems
• Practice structuring your thoughts and ideas to make them easier to communicate

Another strategy for developing your analytical and problem-solving skills is to seek out opportunities to work on real-world problems. This could involve volunteering for a non-profit organization, participating in case competitions, or taking on challenging projects at work or in school.

Additionally, it can be helpful to seek out feedback from others on your problem-solving approach. This could involve working with a mentor or coach, or simply asking for feedback from colleagues or classmates. By incorporating feedback into your approach, you can continue to refine your skills and become a more effective problem solver.

Practicing with Mock Case Interviews

One of the best ways to prepare for your Accenture management consulting case interview is by practicing with mock case interviews. You can find sample cases online or through case interview preparation services. The more practice you get, the more comfortable and confident you’ll be on the day of the interview.

Mock case interviews can also help you identify areas where you need to improve. By practicing with different cases, you can identify patterns in your thinking and approach, and work on addressing any weaknesses. Additionally, practicing with others can help you learn from their approaches and strategies, and incorporate them into your own.

It’s important to remember that mock case interviews are not just about getting the right answer. They are also about demonstrating your problem-solving skills, communication abilities, and ability to work under pressure. Make sure to practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely, and to stay calm and focused throughout the interview.

Handling Behavioral Questions During the Interview

In addition to the case interview, you may also encounter behavioral or situational questions during the interview process. These are designed to assess your personal qualities, such as teamwork, leadership, and communication skills. Be prepared to answer questions that ask you to describe a time when you demonstrated these qualities in the past.

When answering behavioral questions, it's important to provide specific examples and details. Use the STAR method to structure your answers: describe the Situation, Task, Action, and Result. This will help you provide a clear and concise response that showcases your skills and experience.

It's also important to be honest and authentic in your responses. Don't try to give the answer you think the interviewer wants to hear. Instead, focus on providing a genuine example that demonstrates your strengths and abilities. This will help you build a strong rapport with the interviewer and increase your chances of landing the job.

Common Mistakes to Avoid During the Interview

There are a few common mistakes that candidates make during the Accenture management consulting case interview. Be sure to avoid these by:

• Avoiding jumping to conclusions before you fully understand the problem
• Not making assumptions without first confirming them with the interviewer
• Not being afraid to ask for clarification if you don’t fully understand the question
• Communicating your thought process clearly and concisely
• Avoiding giving generic or surface-level answers

Another common mistake to avoid during the Accenture management consulting case interview is not taking the time to organize your thoughts before answering the question. It's important to take a few moments to gather your ideas and structure your response in a logical and coherent manner.

Additionally, it's important to remember that the interviewer is not just evaluating your problem-solving skills, but also your ability to work well with others. Avoid being overly aggressive or dismissive of the interviewer's input, and instead, demonstrate your ability to collaborate and consider different perspectives.

Final Tips and Advice for Acing Your Accenture Management Consulting Case Interview

Here are a few final tips and pieces of advice to help you succeed:

• Stay calm and composed throughout the interview
• Be respectful and engaging with your interviewer
• Remember that the interview is a two-way street – both you and the interviewer should be assessing whether or not you’re a good fit for the company
• Be confident in your abilities and in your approach to problem-solving
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions or to seek feedback after the interview

By preparing effectively and following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to acing your Accenture management consulting case interview. Remember to stay focused, stay calm, and be confident in your abilities, and you’ll be sure to impress your interviewer.

Additionally, it’s important to research the company and the industry beforehand. This will not only show your interest and dedication to the job, but it will also help you understand the types of problems and challenges the company may face. This knowledge can be invaluable during the case interview, as it can help you come up with more relevant and insightful solutions.

For expert tips on how to prepare for interviews at other top-tier consulting firms, check out these resources:

• How to prepare for Boston Consulting Group management consulting case interviews?
• How to prepare for Deloitte management consulting case interviews?
• How to prepare for PwC management consulting case interviews?
• How to prepare for EY management consulting case interviews?

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“Why Accenture?” How to Answer This Common Interview Question

• Last Updated June, 2023

Rachael Troughton

Former Accenture Consultant

If you apply for a management consulting position with Accenture, you’re sure to be asked the “Why Accenture?” question somewhere along the way.

Accenture wants to be sure you have a strong reason for wanting to work for the firm. Having a good answer to this question shows:

• You’ve researched the firm and thought about what the job entails, and
• You’re likely to accept an offer if you receive one.

But what is a good answer to “Why Accenture?”

In this article, we’ll tell you!

We’ll discuss:

• Accenture’s history and corporate culture,
• The type of people who succeed at Accenture,
• How Accenture differs from the MBB firms,
• How to answer the “Why Accenture?” question, and
• Thoughts from an ex-Accenture consultant on the “Why Accenture?” question.

Let’s get started!

Accenture’s History and Corporate Culture

Arthur Andersen LLP was one of the “Big Five” accounting firms providing auditing, tax, and consulting services. In 2000, its consulting practice separated from the accounting practice and became fully independent from Andersen Worldwide.  

It rebranded and launched as Accenture on January 1st, 2001. 

Accenture has a strong history in technology implementation and partnerships, only moving relatively recently to launch Accenture Strategy (2014) and Accenture Consulting (2015).  

With over half a million employees across 51 countries, its corporate culture is built around six core values: 

• Client Value Creation
• One Global Network
• Respect for the Individual
• Best People 
• Stewardship

Not surprisingly, like all the major consulting firms, Accenture talks about wanting to attract the best people to deliver value for their clients. However, the emphasis on stewardship, integrity, and corporate responsibility is a real differentiator.  

Accenture takes these responsibilities seriously. Some work Accenture has done include:

• Partnering with an NGO to leverage mobile phone technology to train community health workers in Africa , 
• Hosting the summer immersion programs for the non-profit ‘Girls Who Code’ to advance girls in STEM subjects , 
• Holding international ‘LGBT Leaders Learning’ sessions in partnership with NGOs as part of a suite of key community engagement activities, and
• Helping working parents during the COVID-19 pandemic by tripling its dependent-care hours and offering caregivers reimbursement for in-home care.

In 2008, it was included in the Ethisphere Institute’s “World’s Most Ethical Companies” list and joined the United Nations Global Compact, the world’s largest voluntary corporate citizenship initiative. In 2019, Accenture ranked no. 1 in Barron’s “Most Sustainable International Companies.”

Nail the case & fit interview with strategies from former MBB Interviewers that have helped 89.6% of our clients pass the case interview.

Accenture’s People

Accenture’s “One Global Network” and emphasis on cultural diversity as an enabler of high organizational performance means you get to interact with people from many different backgrounds and countries. This can help broaden your perspective and contribute to your skills as a consultant.  

This diversity is seen across all levels. Accenture has a female CEO and is committed to a 50:50 male to female ratio by 2025. If having successful female role-models is important to you, this might be worth considering.

Entrance to MBB firms is exceedingly competitive given their status as prestigious tier-1 consultancy firms. Ambitious new hires will thrive in the “best-of-the-best” environment, but others may find it daunting.  Accenture’s strong belief in its “culture of cultures” that creates and celebrates diversity may feel more inclusive, offering a sense of belonging to those who don’t feel the culture of the MBB firms is right for them.

Because of its commitment to creating value for the client, there is no easy ride at Accenture.  Analysts are interacting with clients and expected to contribute from day one.  You’ll need to thrive in a dynamic environment and be confident articulating your own opinion. 

Accenture is also a very social firm with many networking opportunities.  New analysts are actively encouraged to attend events as this builds the skills required to work effectively with clients.

These events included Friday night dinners or drinks with office colleagues, wine tasting, and even playing polo! Playing polo was a great team-building event. It provided the opportunity to see colleagues who had little experience riding horses try to hit a small ball while riding (amusing). It also taught us resilience as we attempted to learn this difficult skill in a social setting.

How Accenture Differs from the MBB Firms

The key difference between Accenture and the MBB firms is in the type of work they traditionally do for clients.  As Arthur Andersen, Accenture used to be part of the ‘Big 5’ consultancy firms offering a range of professional services including management consultancy.  However, when it became independent, Accenture focused its expertise on technology implementation.

This differs from the MBB firms which are known mostly for their strategy consulting work (though, in reality, their work is a broad mix of strategy, marketing and branding, organization, operations, and technology projects.) 

In strategy consulting, it could take years before you see the impact of a study. The benefits can also be hard to break out from other changes in the client organization and its market. 

For instance, if an MBB firm’s M&A study recommends acquiring another company, the timeframe for buying the company, merging the two organizations, and the results hitting the bottom line can take years. Or, if there’s a bidding war for the company and the client can’t make the acquisition, the initiative could die.

With a technology implementation project, the impact in terms of improved process, quality, and/or cost is easier to assess. If you’re the type of person who likes to see a tangible outcome for the effort you’ve put in, Accenture might be the firm for you. 

You’ll also get significant exposure to and develop real expertise in managing change. Accenture consultants grapple with stakeholder resistance and problematic integration challenges! 

For example, you might encounter client frustration with system incompatibility or with changes to current organizational processes. No one likes change. But managing change is critical to ensuring that the result of a project is improved business processes, not a PowerPoint presentation that sits on a self, unimplemented.

Accenture does do strategy projects as well, particularly in the U.K. market where they have a strong reputation. And, having created dedicated Strategy and Consulting arms, this area is likely to continue to grow.

How to Answer the “Why Accenture?” Question

The “Why Accenture?” question is asked to help the recruiting team determine your ‘fit’ to the firm.  In crafting an answer to the “Why Accenture?” question there are three key elements to articulate:

1. Know what Accenture is and what it isn’t.  Accenture’s value-proposition has traditionally been different from the strategy focus of the MBB firms.  Therefore you need to articulate why technology implementation is a better fit for you.  If you do want to be a strategy consultant (in the Accenture Consulting or Accenture Strategy arm) then you need to answer why Accenture and not another firm.

2. Share what elements of Accenture’s culture or ways of working appeal to you and why .  Are you on a Diversity committee and attracted to the fact that in 2018 Thomson Reuters Diversity & Inclusion Index rated Accenture no.1? Say so. Do you value being part of a team and socializing as well as working with your colleagues? Say so. Recruiters want to understand what it is about Accenture specifically that attracts you and why.  Make it personal.

3.  Understand how your strengths match Accenture’s project work . Recruiting teams look for applicants who are self-aware enough to understand their strengths and weaknesses.  Knowing what the job entails and how your strengths fit to deliver value is a good indicator that you will have both the aptitude and motivation for the role.

Thoughts from an Ex-Accenture Consultant on the “Why Accenture?” Question

“I joined Accenture in 2002 having completed an internship with KMPG the previous year.  Accenture felt more innovative and less formal than other firms. I felt that the result we achieved for the client was infinitely more important than the approach we took. 

The process of implementation can be challenging and involves significant stakeholder management. I found it satisfying to utilize my strong relationship-building skills to help land the change with senior stakeholders. 

It was also important to me to feel confident that senior leaders valued diversity of thinking as well as the cultural diversity Accenture prided itself on. I wanted to feel confident I could share my ideas from a place of authenticity rather than in any particular mold of a ‘management consultant.’

I remember, during orientation, we were challenged to discover the middle name of one of the executive leadership team.  While others began scouring the internet, I simply emailed the person in question to ask.  

She responded immediately and said that in all the years of doing that challenge no one had thought to email her directly.  I think the course leaders were slightly horrified but having evidence that a senior leader welcomed innovative thinking proved to me that I had joined the right firm.”

————-

In this article, we’ve covered:

• The type of people it attracts,

Still have questions?

If you have more questions about the “Why Accenture?” question, leave them in the comments below. One of My Consulting Offer’s recruiters will answer them.

Other people researching “Why work at Accenture?” found the following pages helpful:  

• Case Study Prep , 
• How to Ace the Accenture Case Interview: A Comprehensive Guide,
• Consulting Behavioral Interviews , and
• Our page with links to tons of resources on applying to consulting firms .

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Thanks for turning to My Consulting Offer for advice on answering the question “Why work at Accenture?”  My Consulting Offer has helped almost 89.6% of the people we’ve worked with to get a job in management consulting. We want you to be successful in your consulting interviews too. For example, here is how Hannah was able to get her offer from Accenture.

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Developing one of the energy industry’s first connected worker solutions

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Tomorrow’s demands, forecasted today

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Our stories and case studies reveal the human ingenuity behind everything from emerging technologies to global marketplaces. Discover how Accenture’s people are making a world of difference for clients and communities.                                                                                         

35 Case Interviews Examples from MBB / Big Four Firms

Studying case interview examples is one of the first steps in preparing for the  management consulting  recruitment process. If you don’t want to spend hours searching the web, this article presents a comprehensive and convenient list for you – with 35 example cases, 16 case books, along with a case video accompanied by detailed feedback on tips and techniques.

A clear understanding of “what is a case interview” is essential for effective use of these examples. I suggest reading our  Case Interview 101  guide, if you haven’t done so.

McKinsey case interview examples

Mckinsey practice cases.

• Diconsa Case
• Electro-Light Case
• GlobaPharm Case
• National Education Case

What should I know about McKinsey Case interviews?

At McKinsey, case interviews often follow the interviewer-led format , where the interviewer asks you multiple questions for you to answer with short pitches.

How do you nail these cases? Since the questions can be grouped into predictable types, an efficient approach is to master each question type. However, do that after you’ve mastered the case interview fundamentals!

For a detailed guide on interviewer-led cases, check out our article on McKinsey Case Interview .

BCG & Bain case interview examples

Bcg practice cases.

• BCG – Written Case – Chateau Boomerang

Bain practice cases

• Bain – Coffee Shop Co.
• Bain – Fashion Co.
• Bain – Mock Interview – Associate Consultant
• Bain – Mock Interview – Consultant

What should I know about BCG & Bain case interviews?

Unlike McKinsey, BCG and Bain case interviews typically follow the candidate-led format – which is the opposite of interviewer-led, with the candidate driving the case progress by actively breaking down problems in their own way.

The key to acing candidate-led cases is to master the case interview fundamental concepts as well as the frameworks.

Some BCG and Bain offices also utilize written case interviews – you have to go through a pile of data slides, select the most relevant ones to answer a set of interviewer questions, then deliver those answers in a presentation.

For a detailed guide on candidate-led cases, check out our article on BCG & Bain Case Interview .

Deloitte case interview examples

Deloitte practice cases.

Undergrad Cases

• Human Capital – Technology Institute
• Human Capital – Agency V
• Strategy – Federal Benefits Provider
• Strategy – Extreme Athletes
• Technology – Green Apron
• Technology – Big Bucks Bank
• Technology – Top Engine
• Technology – Finance Agency

Advanced Cases

• Human Capital – Civil Cargo Bureau
• Human Capital – Capital Airlines
• Strategy – Club Co
• Strategy – Health Agency
• Technology – Waste Management
• Technology – Bank of Zurich
• Technology – Galaxy Fitness

What should I know about Deloitte case interviews?

Case interviews at Deloitte also lean towards the candidate-led format like BCG and Bain.

The Deloitte consultant recruitment process also features group case interviews , which not only test analytical skills but also place a great deal on interpersonal handling.

Accenture case interview examples

Accenture divides its cases into three types with very cool-sounding names.

Sorted in descending order of popularity, they are:

These are similar to candidate-led cases at Bain and BCG. albeit shorter – the key is to develop a suitable framework and ask the right questions to extract data from the interviewer.

These are similar to the market-sizing and guesstimate questions asked in interviewer-led cases – demonstrate your calculations in structured, clear-cut, logical steps and you’ll nail the case.

These cases have you sort through a deluge of data to draw solutions; however, this type of case is rare.

Capital One case interview examples

Capital One is the odd one on this list – it is a bank-holding company. Nonetheless, this being one of the biggest banks in America, it’s interesting to see how its cases differ from the consulting ones.

Having gone through Capital One’s guide to its cases, I can’t help but notice the less-MECE structure of the sample answers. Additionally, there seems to be a greater focus on the numbers.

Nonetheless, having a solid knowledge of the basics of case interviews will not hurt you – if anything, your presentation will be much more in-depth, comprehensive, and understandable!

See Capital One Business Analyst Case Interview for an example case and answers.

Other firms case interview examples

Besides the leading ones, we have some examples from other major consulting firms as well.

• Oliver Wyman – Wumbleworld
• Oliver Wyman – Aqualine
• LEK – Cinema
• LEK – Market Sizing
• Kearney – Promotional Planning
• OC&C – Imported Spirits
• OC&C – Leisure Clubs

Consulting clubs case books

In addition to official cases, here are a few case books you can use as learning materials.

Do keep in mind: don’t base your study on frameworks and individual case types, but master the fundamentals so you can tackle any kind of case.

• Wharton Consulting Club Case Book
• Tuck Consulting Club Case Book
• MIT Sloan Consulting Club Case Book
• LBS Consulting Club Case Book
• Kellogg Consulting Club Case Book
• INSEAD Consulting Club Case Book
• Harvard Consulting Club Case Book
• ESADE Consulting Club Case Book
• Darden Consulting Club Case Book
• Berkeley Consulting Club Case Book
• Notre-Dame Consulting Club Case Book
• Illinois Consulting Club Case Book
• Columbia Consulting Club Case Book
• Duke Consulting Club Case Book
• Ross Consulting Club Case Book
• Kearney Case Book

Case interview example – Case video

The limitation of most official case interview examples is that they are either too short and vague, or in text format, or both.

To solve that problem for you, we’ve extracted a 30-minute-long, feedback-rich case sample from our Case Interview End-to-End Secrets Program .

This is a candidate-led, profitability case on an internet music broadcasting company called Pandora.

In 30 minutes, this candidate demonstrates the exact kind of shortcoming that most candidates suffer during real case interviews – they come in with sharp business senses, then hurt their own chances with inadequate techniques.

Here are seven notable areas where the candidate (and you) can improve:

Thanking Throughout the case, as especially in the opening, he should have shown more appreciation for the time the interviewer spent with him.

Structured opening The candidate’s opening of the case feels unstructured. He could have improved it by not mixing the playback and clarification parts. You can learn to nail the case in a 3-minute start through this video on How to Open Any Case Perfectly .

Explicitness A lot of the candidate’s thought process remains in his head; in a case interview, it’s better to be as explicit as possible – draw your issue tree out and point to it as you speak; state your hypothesis when you move into a branch; when you receive data, acknowledge it out loud.

Avoiding silence The silence in his case performance is too long, including his timeout and various gaps in his speech; either ask for timeout (and keep it as short as possible) or think out loud to fill those gaps.

Proactivity The candidate relies too much on the interviewer (e.g: asking for data when it can easily be calculated); you don’t want to appear lazy before your interviewer, so avoid this.

Avoiding repeating mistakes Making one mistake twice is a big no-no in consulting interviews; one key part of the consulting skill set is the ability to learn, and repeating your mistakes (especially if the interviewer has pointed it out) makes you look like someone who doesn’t learn.

Note-taking Given the mistakes this candidate makes, he’s probably not taking his notes well. I can show you how to get it right if you watch this video on Case Interview Note-Taking .

Nonetheless, there are three good points you can learn from the candidate:

The candidate sums up what he’s covered and announces his upcoming approach at the start and at key points in the case – this is a very good habit that gives you a sense of direction and shows that you’re an organized person.

The candidate performs a “reality check” on whether his actions match the issue tree; in a case interview it’s easy to lose track of what you’re doing, so remember to do this every once in a while.

The candidate prompts the interviewer to give out more data than he asked for; if anything, this actually matches a habit of real consultants, and if you’re lucky, your interviewer may actually give out important pieces you haven’t thought of.

These are only part of the “ninja tips” taught In our Case Interview E2E Secrets Program – besides the math and business intuition for long-term development, a key feature is the instant-result tips and techniques for case interviews.

Once you’ve mastered them, you can nail any case they throw at you!

For more “quality” practice, let’s have a mock case interview with former consultants from McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Oliver Wyman, Strategy& and many other consulting firms. They will help you identify your problem areas and give you actionable feedback, making your preparation much easier and faster.

Hi! This is Kim and welcome to another performance in the Tips & Techniques part of our amazing End-to-end program. You are about to hear a really interesting performance.

There is a common Myth that Profitability cases are easier. Well, for beginners, that’s may make sense, but I would argue that Profitability cases can be really tricky and candidates without good foundation will make about the same level of mistakes regardless of type of cases given.

The profitability case we are about to watch will show that. It’s a very unconventional

Profitability. It started out like a typical one but getting more and more tricky toward the end.

The candidate is fairly good in term of business intuition, but the Tips & Techniques aspect needs a lot of fine tune! Now let’s go ahead and get started! 

It’s actually a little better to playback the case information and ask clarifications. The candidate does not distinguish between the two and do both at a same time. Also, the candidate was asking these clarifications in an unorganized and unstructured fashion. This is not something terrible, but could have been better, especially when this is the very first part of the case, where the crucial first impression is being formed.

My pitch would sound like this:

“That’s a very interesting problem and I am happy to get the chance to solve it. First of all let me tell you my understanding of the case context and key objectives. Then I would like to ask a few clarifying questions regarding a few terminology and concepts. Both of these are to make sure that I will be solving the right problem.

So here is my understanding of the case: The client is ABC. Here are some DEF facts about the situation we just talked about. And the key case question is XYZ.

Does that correctly and adequately summarize the case?”

Once the interviewer confirms, I would move to the clarification part as follows: “Now I would like to ask a few clarification questions. There are three of them: No 1, … No 2, … and No 3, …”

You may see above pitch as obvious but that’s a perfect example of how you should open any cases. Every details matters. We will point out those details in just a second. But before we do that, it’s actually very helpful if you can go back, listen carefully to the above pitch, and try to point out the great components yourselves. Only after that, go back to this point and learn it all together.

Alright, let’s break down the perfect opening.

First of all, you hear me say: “That’s a very interesting problem and I am happy to get a chance to solve it”. This seems trivial but very beneficial in multiple ways:

1. I bought myself a couple of seconds to calm down and get focused. 2. By nature, we as human unconsciously like those who give us compliments. Nothing better than opening the case with a modest compliment to the interviewer.

And (c) I showed my great attitude towards the case, which the interviewer would assume is the same for real future consulting business problems.

You should do that in your interviews too. Say it and accompany it with the best smile you can give. It shows that you are not afraid of any problems. In fact, you love them and you are always ready for them.

Secondly, I did what I refer to as the “map habit”, which is to always say what you are about to do and then do it. Just like somebody in the car showing the drivers the route before cruising on the road. The driver would love it. This is where I said: “Let me tell you my understanding of the case context and key objectives. Then ABC…”.

Third, right at the beginning of the case, I try to be crystal clear and easy to follow. I don’t let the interviewer confused between playing the case vs. asking clarification questions. I distinguish between the two really carefully. This habit probably doesn’t change the outcome of how the case goes that much, but it certainly significantly changes the impression the interviewer has of me.

Fourth, in playing back the case, each person would have a different way to re-phrase. But there are three buckets to always include:

1. Who is the client 2. The facts regarding the client and the situation and (c) The key question and the objective of the case.

Fifth, after playing the case context and objectives, I pause for a second and ALIGN with the interviewer: “Does it correctly and adequately summarize the case?”. This is a habit that every consulting manager loves for young consultants to do. Nobody wants first-year folks to spend weeks of passion and hard-work building an excel model that the team can’t use. This habit is extensively taught at McKinsey, Bain and BCG, so therefore interviewers would love somebody that exhibits this habit often in case interview.

Lastly, when asking clarification questions, you hear me number them very carefully to create the strong impression that I am very organized and structured. I said I have three clarifying questions. Then I number them as I go through each. No.1, No.2, and No.3.

Sometimes, during interviews it’s hard to know exactly how many items you are going to get. One way is to take timeout often to carefully plan your pitch. If this is not possible in certain situations, you may skip telling how many items you have; but you should definitely still number your question: No.1, No.2; and so on. 

Just a moment ago, the candidate actually exhibited a good habit. After going through his clarification questions, the candidate ended by asking the “is there anything else” question. In this case, I actually give out an important piece of data.

Though this is not very common as not every interviewer is that generous in giving out data. But this is a habit management consultants have to have every day when talking to experts, clients, or key stakeholders. The key is to get the most data and insights out of every interview and this is the type of open-ended question every consultant asks several times a day.

To show of this habit in a case interview is very good!

There are three things I would like you to pay attention to:

First, it took the candidate up to 72 seconds to “gather his thoughts”. This is a little too long in a case interview. I intentionally leave the 72 seconds of silence in the recording so you get an idea of how long that is in real situations. But it’s worth-noting here is not only that. While in some very complicated and weird cases, it’s ok to take that long to really think and gather ideas. In this case, the approach as proposed by the candidate is very simple. For this very approach, I think no more than 15 to 20 seconds should be used.

No.2, with that said, I have told I really like the fact that this candidate exhibits the “map” habit. Before going straight to the approach he draws the overall approach first.

No.3. You also see here that the candidate tried to align the approach with me by asking my thoughts on it. As I just said on the previous comment, this is a great habit to have. Not only does it help reduce chance of going into the wrong direction in case interviews, but it also creates a good impression. Consulting interviewers love people doing it often!

Here we see a not-really-bad response that for sure could be much better. The candidate was going into the first branch of the analysis which is Revenue. I would fix this in 3 aspects:

First, even though we just talked about the overall approach, it’s still better to briefly set up the issue tree first then clearly note that you are going into one branch.

Second, this is not a must, but I always try to make my hypothesis as explicitly clear as possible. Here the candidate just implicitly made a hypothesis that the problem is on the revenue side. The best way to show our hypothesis-driven mindset is to explicitly say it.

Third, you hear this a ton of times in our End-to-End program but I am going to repeat it again and again. It is better to show the habit of aligning here too. Don’t just go into revenue, before doing that, give the interviewer a chance to agree or to actually guide you to Cost.

So, summarizing the above insights, my pitch would sound something like this:

“So as we just discussed, a profit problem is either caused by revenue or by cost. Unless you would like to go into cost first, let’s hypothesize that the problem is on revenue side. I would like to look deeper into Revenue. Do we have any data on the revenue?”

And while saying this, you should literally draw an issue tree and point to each as you speak.

There is an interesting case interview tip I want to point out here. Notice how the candidate responds after receiving two data points from me. He went straight into the next question without at least acknowledging the data received and also without briefly analyzing it.

I am glad that the candidate makes this mistakes… well, not glad for him but for the greater audience of this program. I would like to introduce to you the perfect habit of what you should react and do every time you have any piece of data during case interviews. So three things you need to do:

Step 1: Say … that’s an interesting piece of data. This helps the interviewer acknowledge that you have received and understand the data. This also buys you a little time. And furthermore, it’s always a good thing to give out modest compliments to the interviewer.

Step 2: Describe the data, how it looks, is there any special noteworthy trend? In this case, we should point out that revenue actually grew by more than 50%.

Also notice here that I immediately quantified the difference in specific quantitative measurement (in this case, percentage). Saying revenue went up is good, but it’s great to be able to say revenue went up by more than 50%.

Step 3: Link the trend identified back to the original case question and the hypothesis you have. Does it prove, disprove, or open up new investigation to really test the hypothesis? In this case, this data piece actually opened up new investigating areas to test the hypothesis that the bottleneck is within revenue.

My sample pitch for this step 3 would sound like this: “It’s interesting that revenue went up quite a bit. However, to be able to fully reject our hypothesis on the revenue, I would like to compare our revenue to that of the competitors as well.”

Then only at this point, after going through 3 steps above, I ask for the competitors’ revenue like the candidate did.

Notice here that I ended up asking the same question the candidate did. This shows that the candidate does have a good intuition and thought process. It’s just that he did all of these implicitly on his head.

In consulting case interview, it’s always good to do everything as explicitly as possible. Not only is it easier to follow but it helps show your great thought process.

… the rest of the transcript is available in our End To End Case Interview

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Accenture strategy final round case interview.

I have my Accenture final round case interview day next week and have been preparing a broad range of cases and setting up frameworks (MBB Style Case interviews). Since I am applying at Accenture strategy I heard there will be a potentia Interview but I can‘t find any resources to really prepare for it. Is anybody familiar with the process and could share some insights?

Much appreciated,

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I helped someone interview and ultimately join the Accenture Strategy team. Last I recall it also involved a combination of case and fit questions, very similar to MBB.  I would prepare as you would for any other consultancy.  I wish you the best of luck!

I am myself in the recruiting process for two positions at Accenture Strategy (DACH Region). I was told by HR that each team is very flexible in the way that they organize their interviews. For one position, I was told that there are 3-4 interviews with 2-3 case studies in total. For the other position, there are only 2 interviews with no full case study, but rather a few technical questions during the interview. So my best advice to you is to reach out the the HR person in charge and ask them directly.

Thanks a lot for the helpful insights, I was informed that there will be two case interviews, and they informed me that I will get further details one day before the interview. Are you maybe interested in exchanging a bit more on case preparations?

By the sound of it, you've focused mostly on the case part of the interview for now. I'd reach out to the recruiter if I were you to understand whether the next round will also contain a personal fit part. Then I suggest you test out your answers to potential personal fit questions with other candidates and then do a session with an expert to polish your answers. 

First of all, I am very concerned . If you have not heard of a case before (and don't even know what to ask) then you are nowhere close to being ready! You need to get a coach . You also should try to delay this final round. It's very hard to go from 0 to ready in casing in just 1 week!

Now, in terms of general advice for 2nd round:

#1 Fix your weaknesses

#2 Be prepared for anything (build your fleibility/adaptability)

Some reading for the case: https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/how-to-shift-your-mindset-to-ace-the-case

Some reading for fit: https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/tell-me-about-yourself-interview-question

Fit/Behavioral

You should be more prepared for a pretty in-depth fit interview. I highly recommend you expect "loose" or "random" questions and practice this scenario with a coach. They are less likely to just ask you 20 "tell me about a time" questions. They may have a bit more of a chat, ask you to brainstorm, ask things like "How would you setup x type of project", etc. etc. You need to prepare to be flexible here!

Broader topics/case variability

In terms of being MECE, try out a wide range of "unique" questions to test your MECE structure!

For example, if you were a farmer and had to pick between buying a cow, chicken, or pig, how would you think about which to buy?

Or, if you were a thief, which store between a, b, c would you rob?

Practice breaking these down into MECE structures so that the concept really hits home.

I don't actually understand the question. Are you asking whether you should expect a difference between 1st and 2nd round? In general, the answer is no - in theory... 

Because it's with more senior people (APs, Partners, or even Senior Partners), they often take liberty to divert from the script. To the average candidate, this may feel a bit erratic.

Bottom line, expect same as 1st round but be prepared for anything!

Hope this helps a bit. Best of luck!

Hi Moritz, Thanks for the answer, Accenture strategy has a type of case interview called Potentia Interview, which is somewhat different from the traditional case interview. Unfortunately, I am unable to find Potentia practise cases. Best, Jacob

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Can any Accenture people here provide any insight in the case interviews? I have one next week.

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