Case interviews can be really stressful. I still remember my first one. I could barely write down everything the interviewer said. My notes were a mess!

Lots of people struggle with note-taking in case interviews. But good notes are key to doing well. 

With the right notes, you can think clearly and impress interviewers. With bad notes, you’re in trouble.

So, in this guide, I’ll share the systems that helped me go from messy notes to structured notes in interviews. Use these strategies and you’ll look organized and professional, even when dealing with complicated data.

Let’s begin!

Why Note-Taking Matters in Case Interviews

Let me paint a little picture for you:

You’re deep in the heat of a complex case interview. The interviewer is rapidly throwing information your way from all directions. Your mind is racing a mile a minute just trying to take it all in. Without solid notes to anchor you, you’re basically a chicken running around with your head cut off! Not an ideal situation to be in.

Notes are your lifeline in these interviews. They help you:

• Capture and record key data points and figures, so they don’t slip through the cracks.
• Structure and organize all your complex thoughts and analyses in a clear way.
• Keep track of the critical information you’ll need to reference later as you build up your final case solution.

Really, you can think of your notes as providing the overall scaffolding and framework for your entire case analysis and solution. They give you something solid to build upon.

How Note-Taking Impress Interviewers Too

On top of helping you structure your own thinking, good note-taking skills also impress the heck out of your interviewer. Your notes demonstrate that you have:

• Strong analytical abilities, even when dealing with complex, rapidly-moving case data
• Total command of the details, with the ability to efficiently capture the essence of the information provided
• A methodical, structured approach to breaking down problems

In all my years on the other side of the table interviewing candidates, I’ve seen a direct link between strong note-taking skills and overall stellar performance in these case interviews. The top candidates always have clear, organized notes guiding their analysis.

Setting Yourself Up for Note-Taking Success

So, how do you actually set up a rock-solid note-taking system for case interviews? The goal here isn’t perfection – it’s about having a reliable method in place that helps your brain think clearly under pressure when the heat is on.

Optimal Page Setup and Layout

The first rule of thumb: ditch the basic vertical portrait orientation for your page layout. Just trust me on this one.

Instead, position your page horizontally in landscape mode. This gives you way more spacious real estate to sketch things out, especially when you’re mapping out frameworks and issue trees.

It’s a super simple change, but it really opens things up. You’ve got ample room to write, draw, and structure your analysis on the page.

Create Dedicated Columns & Sections

Next step: divide up your landscape page into dedicated sections:

• Norrow column on the left (say ~2 inches wide) to jot down your initial raw notes and key points from the prompt.
• Large main cross-section that will be your central canvas for mapping your framework and developing your full analysis.
• Small section at the bottom to summarize your core insights and conclusions.

This structured layout keeps all the key elements neatly organized in their own areas, making info easy to reference later. No more frantically flipping pages trying to hunt down that one elusive number!

Pro tip: Treat your notes like draft presentation slides. Each page is like a mini potential slide for your final case presentation.

Essential Note Contents

Now that we’ve optimized our page setup, let’s ensure we’re capturing all the right elements in our notes.

Main Question at the Top

Always start by clearly writing out the main case question or objective right at the very top of the page. This anchors you and keeps you laser focused on the big picture throughout the interview.

For example:

How can X Company increase its market share in the widget industry?

Initial Prompt Notes Column

Over in your left column, be sure to quickly jot down essential info from the initial prompt like:

• Client name
• Industry context
• Key metrics or figures
• Current situation summary

Keep this high-level – bullet points rather than long paragraphs.

Space for Framework and Analysis

Now comes the fun part. That nice big blank main section is where you’ll really roll up your sleeves to sketch out your issue trees, frameworks, and detailed analysis.

Be sure to leave plenty of room in this sandbox to flesh things out as the case evolves. You’ll be continually adding to this throughout the interview.

Page Numbers

Always number your pages as you move along. This may seem basic, but it’s a total lifesaver when you need to quickly reference back to an earlier point or data snippet.

Pro tip: Think of your pages as building blocks for your presentation slides. Each page number is like a mini slide number.

Master Structured Note-Taking

Alright, now that we’ve optimized our note-taking environment, let’s get into the actual process of taking killer notes during these high-pressure case interviews. This is where the rubber really meets the road!

Develop a Clear Framework

A solid framework is absolutely essential for structuring your analysis and solution. Think of it like the scaffolding on a building under construction – it’s the backbone that supports the entire structure.

Create an Initial Issue Tree

Start by breaking the problem down into high-level buckets. For example, if the objective is to increase market share, your first-pass issue tree might look something like:

• Increase Market Share
  • Expand Customer Base
  • Increase Sales to Existing Customers
  • Enter New Geographic Markets

Don’t stress about getting it 100% perfect right out of the gates. You can (and should) iterate as you gather new data.

While creating your own framework is crucial, familiarizing yourself with some common case interview frameworks can provide a solid foundation for your analysis.

Incorporate Hypotheses

For each branch of your tree, take a stab at potential hypotheses for root causes or solutions. These are your educated guesses guiding your exploration.

For example:

Expand Customer Base

Hypothesis: Our marketing is not effectively reaching our target demographic

Let your initial hypotheses direct your analysis and keep you focused.

Organize Information Effectively

As the interview progresses, you’ll get bombarded with tons of data. The key is capturing it in your notes in a way that makes key nuggets easy to reference later.

Highlight Key Points

Use simple symbols or colors to highlight the real gems in your notes. For example:

• * for key data points
• O for major insights

Such as:

* Company revenue has grown from $50M to $100M in 2 years

O Main competitor’s market share has decreased by 5% over the past year

This makes it super easy to spot the good stuff at a glance when reviewing your notes.

Leverage Symbols and Abbreviations

Come up with shorthand symbols and abbreviations to speed up your raw note capture. Some examples:

• ↑ for increase / ↓ for decrease
• → to indicate relationship or impact
• ~= for approximately

No need to go overboard here – even a few key symbols can make a huge efficiency difference.

Manage Multiple Pages Smoothly

Sometimes a single page just won’t cut it to capture all your analysis. Here’s how to smoothly navigate across multiple notes pages without losing your way.

When and How to Use Extra Pages

Good times to start a new page include when you need space for:

• Extended detailed calculations
• Deeper analysis on one branch of your issue tree
• Brainstorming potential solutions

When you introduce new pages, always clearly label and cross-reference them in your original notes. For example:

• See pg 2 for detailed market growth calculations

Link Related Information Across Pages

Create clear relationship trails between pages using numbered or circled callouts. For example:

Pg 1: More detailed analysis on this point 1

Pg 3: 1 Here is the additional market segment analysis

This provides connective tissue between your pages when it’s review time.

Advanced Note-Taking Techniques

Now that we’ve got the fundamentals down pat, let’s look at some more advanced techniques that can really help your note-taking shine.

Capture and Prioritize Key Information

In these interviews, information gets thrown at you rapid-fire. The key is quickly capturing what’s critical without getting dragged down by less-relevant details.

Identify Critical vs. Secondary Info

Not all information is made equal. Train your brain to instantly filter the truly critical few data points from the nice-to-know fluff.

Critical data may include:

• Key revenue or growth figures
• Market size/share
• Competitor performance metrics

Secondary information is still useful context but less directly relevant to solving the case.

I like to use a simple visual system:

• Underline critical hard facts
• Parentheses for secondary contextual information

For example:

• Revenue grew from $50M → $100M in 2 years

• Market size: $500M (relatively flat growth)

This quickly draws your eye to the key numbers that matter most.

Rapid Note-Taking Techniques

When the interviewer is machine-gunning data your way:

• Lean heavily on abbreviations, symbols, and shorthand
• Capture critical keywords and figures – not full sentences
• Use arrows liberally to indicate relationships between data points

The goal is efficiently capturing the essence. Your notes aren’t meant for publication – they’re for your eyes only!

Additional Tip: Familiarize yourself with these common calculations often encountered in case interviews to speed up your analysis and note-taking:

Incorporating Visuals

They say a picture is worth a thousand words – that’s definitely true in case interviews. Visuals can help you process and recall key information much more effectively.

Diagrams, Charts and Maps

Embrace simple diagrams and charts to help crystallize key data relationships, including:

• Basic bar or line charts to visualize growth figures
• Mind maps to highlight connections between data points
• Flow charts to map business processes or decision trees

A quick chart can sometimes do more heavy lifting than a dozen bullet points full of percentages.

Color Coding for Enhanced Clarity

Color is a super helpful tool for organizing and distinguishing buckets of information, like:

• Different branches of your issue tree framework
• Financial figures vs. operational metrics
• Underlying facts vs. your own assumptions

No need to go all Jackson Pollock though – just 2 or 3 colors max gets the job done.

Leverage Your Notes During the Case

Amazing notes aren’t worth much if you can’t actually leverage them effectively. Here are some tips for making the most of all your hard note-taking work.

Refer Back to Key Information

Your notes become your personal database or cheat sheet. Here’s how to access mission-critical info at the drop of a hat.

Techniques to Find Info Fast

Remember all those highlighting tricks, symbols, and page numbers? This is where they really pay dividends.

When you need to locate a specific detail, quickly:

• Scan for your highlights or symbols first
• Leverage page numbers and linkages
• Look for key terms in your side column

Practice accessing data points this way until it’s second nature. Speedy information retrieval impresses interviewers.

Use Notes to Support Your Recommendations

Your notes aren’t just for you – use them to support your case solutions:

• Back up your points with hard data from your notes
• Demonstrate the clear logical buildup of your analysis
• Prove the depth and rigor of your approach

Don’t be shy about directly pointing to your notes. It makes you look totally buttoned up and data-driven.

Adapt Notes as the Case Progresses

These case interviews are super dynamic. Your notes need to fluidly evolve right along with your understanding of the case.

Update Frameworks and Hypotheses

Don’t be afraid to adjust your initial frameworks or hypotheses on the fly as you dig deeper. Cross off outdated information, but leave it slightly visible so you can see how your thinking developed.

Incorporate New Insights

Leave some blank space in your notes template to quickly capture new insights as they arise. Look for opportunities to link these new revelations back to earlier data points using arrows, dotted lines, or other symbols that indicate relationships.

Avoid Common Note-Taking Pitfalls

Even seasoned pros can occasionally fall into these note-taking traps. Here’s how to avoid some frequent pitfalls:

Overwriting vs. Underwriting

Finding the right balance is key. Too much raw detail bogs you down. Too little, and you miss key pieces of the puzzle.

The Goldilocks zone: capture the essence of the data – not every single word. Ask yourself: “Is this directly relevant to solving the case?” If not, leave it out.

Losing Sight of the End Goal

It’s easy to get sucked down rabbit holes and lose perspective on the big-picture case goal. That’s why we emphasized putting the main objective right at the top in huge letters!

Keep glancing back at it to realign yourself. If you find yourself going down an irrelevant tangent, pause and refocus yourself.

Failing to Organize

Messy, disorganized notes are the devil. They waste your time, provide zero structure, and lead to missed connections between key data points.

Stick to your framework, use your highlighters, and keep things tidy – the discipline leads to dividends.

Practice to Improve Note-Taking Skills

As with anything, killer note-taking improves dramatically with dedicated practice. Here are some great ways to hone your skills:

Simulate Case Interviews

Have a friend lob case questions at you and practice taking structured notes in real-time. Even better – record yourself, then review your notes afterward for areas to improve.

Pay attention to how effectively you:

• Caption key data on the fly
• Organize critical information
• Identify any gaps in your notes

Get Peer Feedback

Share your practice interview notes with colleagues or fellow candidates. Ask for their feedback on:

• How clear and well-structured they are
• Whether your logic flow makes sense
• If key insights jump off the page

Take their constructive critiques to heart!

Refine Your Personal System

As you gain experience, certain note-taking styles or frameworks may feel more natural to you. Customize your personal system over time so it’s tailored to your personal preferences.

Pro Tips to Take Notes to the Next Level

After years in consulting, I’ve picked up a few high-leverage tips that can instantly boost your note-taking skills.

Balance Note-Taking with Active Listening

You need to rapidly jot down details without losing the plot overall.

My trick – use the “CRISP” method:

• Capture key data
• Reflect on what you just heard
• Inquire to clarify anything you’re unsure of
• Summarize the main points to show understanding
• Proceed with your analysis

This keeps you engaged while efficiently capturing notes.

Develop Personalized Shorthand

We covered shorthand symbols earlier, but take it a step further with your own personal dialect. Some ideas:

• Initials or acronyms for common terms
• Create symbolic icons for key concepts
• Use math and Greek symbols creatively

Consistency is key once you develop your dialect. It’ll become second nature with practice.

Stay Cool Under Pressure

Even with great systems, interviews can induce stress. Some tips:

• Take a deep breath before you start writing
• Review the main objective if you feel overwhelmed
• Ask for a moment to collect your thoughts

Staying calm and focused impresses interviewers way more than frazzled chaos. You’ve got this!

The Final Word

Well there you have it – everything you need to transform your case interview note-taking skills. This is so much more than just blindly jotting down info. With the right system, your notes become the scaffolding supporting your entire analysis.

Key takeaways:

• Optimize formatting for maximum clarity
• Use structures like issue trees to build your framework
• Organize info logically for easy access
• Practice actively referencing your notes to back up your points

And don’t forget the CRISP method: Capture, Reflect, Inquire, Summarize, Proceed. Your secret weapon for engaged, effective note-taking.

With these strategies, you’ll walk into your next case interview fully equipped to take clear, organized notes at the drop of a hat. Your consulting future is looking bright!

Now get out there and start practicing your note-taking skills. You got this!