Hiatt Career Center

The Power of the Recommendation in Case Interviews

Three people look at a laptop.Don’t underestimate the recommendation! When applying for a management or consulting role, you’ll likely be invited to a case interview, where you are presented with a business scenario to analyze. Then it’s up to you to propose a solution — and make a powerful impression!

The recommendation you make is the culmination of your analysis and demonstrates your ability to synthesize information, think critically, and deliver actionable insights. While some might say interviewers make up their minds early, the truth is that the recommendation often seals the decision.

Your recommendation must be definitive, data-backed, and actionable to stand out. Here’s how to nail it:

  1. Confidence: State your recommendation upfront—no backstory needed. Be clear and decisive.
  2. Why?: Share the reasoning behind your decision, supported by data from your analysis.
  3. Address Risks: Break risks into short-term and long-term, and quantify their impact (e.g., significant, moderate, low). This shows you’re thinking “big picture.”
  4. Next Steps: Provide actionable short-term and long-term steps. This is your chance to be creative and showcase strategic thinking.


Learn More about Preparing for Case Interviews and Hiatt's Business, Consulting & Finance Career Hub. Meet with Hiatt Career Center’s Graduate Assistant Business Coach or another member of our Career Team for support with case interviews. 

Article adapted from CaseQuestions.com.