FTI Consulting Case Interview 2027: First Round Format
The FTI Consulting case interview in the first round for the 2027 intake is typically a 30-45 minute business problem you solve live with an interviewer: they present a scenario, you structure an approach, work through the analysis, and deliver a recommendation. The FTI Consulting case interview tests structured thinking under pressure — not whether you know the "right" answer, because there isn't one. Fail this round and you never see the superday. That is the entire stakes of the first round.
The FTI Consulting Case Interview First Round Format
A standard FTI first-round case opens with a short prompt: a company facing declining profits, a market entry decision, or a restructuring question, often tailored to the segment you applied for. You get a few minutes to structure your approach, then you walk the interviewer through your framework, ask for data, do the math, and synthesize a recommendation. Interviewers probe your thinking throughout — "why did you prioritize that?", "what would change your answer?" — so memorized frameworks collapse under questioning while genuine structured thinking holds up.
What FTI Interviewers Score in the Case Interview
Four things, in order: structure (did you break the problem down logically before diving in?), analysis (did you ask for the right data and do clean math?), business judgment (did your recommendation make commercial sense?), and communication (could you explain your thinking clearly?). Most candidates over-invest in frameworks and under-invest in the math and the synthesis. A simple structure executed with sharp analysis beats an elaborate framework that goes nowhere.
Segment matters: Economic Consulting cases lean quantitative, with data tables and estimation. Corporate Finance cases may include valuation or deal logic. Know your segment's flavor and practice accordingly.
How to Prepare for the FTI Consulting Case Interview 2027
Do live practice cases — at least 10-15 before the first round — with a partner who pushes back on your thinking. Solo framework memorization is not preparation; the interview is interactive and your framework will be stress-tested. Practice mental math daily: percentages, ratios, and market sizing, because slow math kills your momentum mid-case. And always end with a crisp recommendation: what should the client do, why, and what are the risks. Candidates who analyze well but cannot synthesize leave the interviewer unconvinced.
The first-round case is a gate, not a showcase. Roughly speaking, it exists to cut the field before the superday — so the bar is "can this person think like a consultant," not "is this person perfect." But gates still close. Every year, strong candidates fail first-round cases because they practiced frameworks instead of practicing thinking out loud under pressure. FTI's 2027 intake interviews run during the 2026 application season (check exact timelines on FTI's official careers page). Book your practice cases now, not the week before.
FAQ
How long is the FTI Consulting first-round case interview? Typically 30-45 minutes: prompt, structuring, analysis with the interviewer, and recommendation.
Are FTI case interviews different by segment? Yes. Economic Consulting cases skew quantitative; Corporate Finance cases may involve valuation logic; other segments use general business problems.
Do I need to memorize case frameworks for FTI? No. Interviewers probe your reasoning, so a memorized framework you cannot defend fails. Learn to structure from first principles instead. Preparing for FTI Consulting's Case Interview - First Round? Our 2027 FTI Consulting Pre-recorded Video Interview & Online Assessment Tutorials has the exact questions and answers — $79 one-time, instant download.
