Case prep for tech
Tech cases are not consulting cases. There is no rigid framework. Hiring managers want to see how you think, structure ambiguity, and tie back to users and the business.
Don't lead with Porter's Five Forces or 4 Ps. Lead with the customer and the product. Then layer structure as you go.
Common case archetypes
Product sense
Pick a user → identify their pain → brainstorm solutions → prioritize → define success. Common for PM interviews.
Go-to-market
Segment → position → pricing & packaging → launch motion → success metrics. Common for PMM and BD.
Strategic / market entry
Market size → competition → company fit → go/no-go recommendation. Common for BizOps and Corp Strategy.
Metrics deep dive
DAU dropped 20% — diagnose. Segment the metric, isolate the cause, propose tests. Common for PM and analytics roles.
5 universal tips
Think out loud. Interviewers care more about your reasoning than your final answer.
Clarify before you dive in. 'Just to confirm — by users you mean…?' is a strength, not weakness.
Structure beats speed. Take 30 seconds of silence to write your approach down.
Tie back to the customer and the business. Always.
End with a recommendation and what you'd want to learn next.
Build a casing squad
Practice with peers is the single highest-leverage thing you can do. Reps beat frameworks.
Form casing squads with 4–6 peers
Small enough to schedule, big enough that someone's always available for a mock.
Join PM accountability / study groups
HTC organizes these each fall. Commit to the cadence instead of relying on solo willpower.
Aim for 2–3 cases per week
Minimum. Scale up the closer you get to interviews. Practice different case types, not just your favorite.
Show up to casing workshops
Supercase Days, HTC workshops, CMG sessions. Each one is a free rep with real interviewers watching.
Use winter break wisely. Big-tech interviews start the week after break. If you've applied, keep casing with your group (or solo) through the holidays.
Don't be nervous. Create safe spaces to try weird ideas out loud, since PM interviews reward creative thinking, not polish. No one expects you to be great from rep 1.
It's a marathon, not a sprint. Highs and lows are inevitable. Help peers when you can; check in on yourself and take space when you need it.
Sample timeline
A rough cadence most tech PM recruiting cycles follow. Individual company timelines shift year-to-year, so use this as a scaffold, not a deadline.
- Create tech resume
- Draft cover letter template
- Select target roles
- Form case practice team and find peers
- Create your recruiting database or tracker
- Finalize resume
- Apply to big tech
- Master beginner cases
- Meet with peer advisors and CMG
- Join accountability groups
- Master medium cases
- Mock interview with peers, peer advisors, and CMG
- Apply to midsize and small tech opportunities
- Apply to just-in-time opportunities
- Apply to just-in-time opportunities
HTC casing materials
HTC maintains a library of practice cases, mock interview partners, and role-specific prep guides, shared in the club Drive folder.
Already a member? Ask in #club-htc for the folder.