4 Ways to Use ChatGPT for Consulting Case Interview Prep

Last Updated May, 2023

You’ve likely heard of artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT, but did you know you can use ChatGPT for consulting case interview prep?

While it can’t replace human mock interviews or case interview coaches, ChatGPT can be a powerful tool to supplement your practice. With its ability to generate practice prompts and provide instant feedback, ChatGPT can help you refine your consulting interview skills. It’ll free up more time to focus on acing the case!

In this article, we’ll explore:

Why using ChatGPT for consulting case interview prep has been gaining attention and whether you should use it
The strengths and limitations of using ChatGPT for case interviews
4 practical ways to use ChatGPT for consulting case interview prep (plus bonus tips for behavioral interviews)
Best practices for using ChatGPT in your interview preparation

Let’s get started!

ChatGPT Can Help You With Consulting Interview Prep

ChatGPT is making waves in all aspects of our lives, from generating recipes to planning vacations to writing emails. How can you use ChatGPT for consulting case interview prep and improve your skills?

ChatGPT is an advanced language model developed by OpenAI that uses deep learning techniques to generate human-like responses. It has gained recognition for its ability to engage in conversational interactions and provide insightful information. ChatGPT isn’t the only tool out there, so these tips also apply to other AI language models.

It’s a great tool to leverage to improve your skills but keep the pros and cons in mind!

Strengths: Enhancing, not Replacing, Your Preparation Process

The best ways to use ChatGPT for consulting interview prep are:

Generating Practice Questions: ChatGPT can generate diverse case interview prompts, allowing you to practice solving real-world problems.
Generating Potential Solutions and Ideas: Ask ChatGPT to brainstorm innovative solutions and explore different approaches to case interviews. You can get inspired by ideas you may not have thought of and apply them to future cases.
Offering Feedback On Your Answer: You can input your case written answer and ask ChatGPT to give feedback and identify areas for improvement.

Limitations: Understanding the Boundaries

While ChatGPT is a useful tool, it has limitations:

No Replacement for Humans: ChatGPT can’t fully replicate the dynamic experience of a live back-and-forth mock interview with a human. It’s crucial to keep traditional mock interviews as a core part of your preparation to benefit from human expertise and nuanced insights.
May Give Incomplete Answers: It’s important to sense-check the output you get from ChatGPT. There may be instances where its responses are inaccurate or incomplete.
Data and Programming Constraints: ChatGPT’s responses are based on its training data, sourced from 2021. This means that it may occasionally provide outdated or less relevant answers. The paid version of ChatGPT may offer more up-to-date information.
Ethics and Responsibility: Ethical considerations are essential when using any AI-powered tool. Be mindful of potential biases in ChatGPT’s algorithms, and remember to think critically rather than blindly relying on all its output. For privacy and security reasons, avoid sharing personal or sensitive information during chat interactions.

4 Ways To Use ChatGPT for Consulting Interview Prep

Let’s dive into practical ways to use ChatGPT for consulting case interview prep. We’ll also include example prompts to help you get started on leveraging ChatGPT.

1. Practice Structuring and Frameworks

ChatGPT can help you improve your structuring skills by practicing different frameworks to solve common business problems. You must start by providing ChatGPT with a case problem or ask it to generate one.

For optimal practice experience, try answering the question yourself before checking ChatGPT’s suggested solutions.

Want some example prompts to ask ChatGPT? Here are a few to get you started:

Could you generate 5 case interview prompts to practice structuring? Could you help me create an issue tree for one of them?
Could you provide me with a case prompt where I can apply the SWOT analysis framework? Please only give me the prompt. I will input my solution for your feedback after.
The retail client is looking at entering the Canadian market. Can you guide me in using the 4Ps Marketing framework to analyze this case related to a new product launch? (Note: more information about the case problem should be given)

2. Strengthening Market Sizing Skills

ChatGPT can help you practice market sizing problems by providing practice questions and guiding you through the calculations.

For example, you can ask ChatGPT, “I want to practice market sizing for a consulting interview. How would you approach this problem: How many smartphones are sold globally each year?”

ChatGPT can help in 2 ways:

Teaching you the steps to solve it: ChatGPT can explain the methodology or key factors you need to consider to do the market sizing problem.

2. Solving the problem: ChatGPT can calculate the number of smartphones sold globally each year. However, you cannot assume their numbers are factual or logical since there are data limitations.

While ChatGPT’s analysis provides valuable insights, it’s important to sense-check the output. In this case, ChatGPT overlooked the replacement cycle for smartphones. People tend to replace their smartphones about once every 3 years. Therefore, to estimate annual smartphone sales, you should divide the number of smartphone users by 3.

To enhance your analysis, you can explore alternative ways to segment the market for a more robust estimate. You can ask ChatGPT to give segmentation suggestions.

Remember, ChatGPT is a tool and not a single source of truth. It’s always a good practice to cross-reference information, validate data, and exercise critical thinking when using any artificial intelligence tool.

3. Generating Questions and Brainstorming Sessions

In consulting interviews, showcasing your brainstorming skills is crucial. Once you’ve demonstrated your quantitative problem-solving abilities, interviewers often ask you to generate ideas. Stand out by applying a structured and hypothesis-driven approach to your list.

ChatGPT can be a valuable practice tool for honing this skill. You can leverage its capabilities to generate potential solutions for specific business challenges, such as:

What are some potential solutions for improving customer retention in the hospitality industry?
What innovative strategies can a retail company implement to increase foot traffic and drive in-store sales?
How can a technology startup differentiate itself in a highly competitive market and attract a larger customer base?

To make the brainstorming session more specific, you can give directional prompts, such as:

Give me 10 ideas for improving customer retention in the hospitality industry.
Focus on revenue-side ideas and ignore cost implications for a retail company looking to boost in-store sales.

If you want to explore different perspectives or get more ideas, ask ChatGPT to provide additional suggestions. It’s a great way to expand your creativity and learn.

4. Exploring Industry Themes

Use ChatGPT to delve into various industries and gain valuable insights into common challenges. This will expand your knowledge and prepare you for the industry-related themes that often appear in case interviews.

However, keep in mind that ChatGPT may not have access to real-time information. Therefore, it’s highly recommended to complement your research with reliable, up-to-date sources to stay informed about the latest trends and developments in the industry.

Here are a few prompts to try:

What are the emerging trends in retail and e-commerce?
Can you provide an overview of the challenges faced by renewable energy companies?
How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the airline industry?

Bonus: Practice for Behavioral Interviews

Ask ChatGPT for a list of behavioral questions, share your answers, and receive feedback on clarity, coherence, and impact. You can also request sample answers for inspiration.

When asking ChatGPT for feedback, remind ChatGPT that you want to adhere to the A STAR(E) structure. To learn more about this method of storytelling, check out our article on The Consulting Fit Interview: What to Say, What Not to Say.

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Best Practices to Maximize Benefits of Using ChatGPT for Consulting Interview Prep

1. Be Specific with Your Prompts and Questions

More detailed questions will get you more helpful responses from ChatGPT. For example, instead of asking broadly, “How do I prepare for a consulting case interview?” you can ask, “What are some effective strategies for structuring a strong answer to a profitability case interview question?”

2. Personalize Your Interaction

To receive tailored advice, provide ChatGPT with relevant background information.

For example, if you’re practicing answering the question “Why Bain?” enter your relevant resume bullets and specific reasons for choosing Bain. Then, ask ChatGPT to provide feedback for improvement or to help you improve your answer’s structure.

3. Exercise Critical Thinking

Refrain from blindly trusting every response! ChatGPT can provide you with a lot of information, but it’s up to you to interpret and apply it in a way that’s relevant to your specific situation.

4. Combine ChatGPT with Other Consulting Interview Prep Tools

Use ChatGPT as a practice tool, but also engage in mock interviews with your peers. Practicing with a real person allows for dynamic interaction, nuanced feedback, and the opportunity to simulate real interview scenarios.

Don’t forget that casebooks are still valuable and time-tested resources for consulting interview preparation. They offer a wealth of case examples and interview tips!

5. Avoid Overdependence on ChatGPT

Practice solving case questions independently before going to ChatGPT.

In consulting interviews, you won’t have ChatGPT or external tools, like a calculator. When you are on the job, you’ll need to interact with clients in real-time and can’t use ChatGPT.

– – – – –

In this article, we’ve covered:

Why it’s becoming more popular to use ChatGPT for consulting case interview prep
The advantages and limitations of using Chat GPT for consulting interview prep
4 use cases to leverage ChatGPT for consulting case interview prep
Best practices to ensure you have a good experience integrating ChatGPT into your interview preparation

Still have questions?

If you have more questions about using ChatGPT for consulting case interviews, leave them in the comments below. One of My Consulting Offer’s case coaches will answer them.

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