The GBCC Concise Guide to Case Interviewing

What are case interviews all about? Case interviews are a companys way of assessing your problem-solving skills in a real-world atmosphere. The most successful case interviews are intelligent discussions of a business problem, with a series of thoughtful questions and responses. Interviewees apply analytical frameworks appropriately and provide specific recommendations. Note: case interviews are not just for consultants anymore! Marketing and finance interviewers use them too. Case interviews can take several forms. Common formats are 10-minute mini-case questions or 30-45 minute discussions. Occasionally interviewers give written case questions. Youll have an hour or two to read and take notes, then youll present the case as you would in class.

Types of case interviews Type Business Group Business Case Guesstimate Brainteaser

Most common

Description Presented with business scenario and asked to make recommendations Put in group with other candidates and asked to make recommendations on business scenario Estimate the size of something business-related Logic puzzle or riddle

Example Should company X enter new market Y? Should company A acquire company B?

How many LCD projectors are sold annually in the U.S.? You have 3 green socks and 9 black socks. How many different combinations of pairs do you have?

Interviewers will often present you with an actual scenario from their business to work on. Here are some real-world examples: Can you recommend a strategic direction for our traffic controls division? Our client, a for-profit hospital, showed a record loss last year. What do you recommend? Your manager has asked you to do a conjoint analysis, but you think a segmentation analysis is a better idea. How do you resolve your difference of opinion? What would you do if you didnt have sufficient financial resources for a critical project?
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Case Interviewing

The GBCC Concise Guide to Case Interviewing

What do interviewers want? Because case interviews test your ability to think analytically under pressure, interviewers will look for: A logical, structured approach to the problem Questions that reveal your thinking process A clear recommendation and consideration of alternatives Comfort with ambiguity Creativity Poise under pressure General business acumen (i.e., familiarity with economic trends, industry dynamics, market interest rates, etc.) How should I approach a case? Clarify. Listen closely to the problem, ask questions to make sure you understand, paraphrase to confirm the problem statement. Confirm the time you have available. Structure. Describe your overall approach, break the problem into discrete pieces, use frameworks selectively. An issue tree is a good general structure to use. Analyze. Walk the interviewer through your thinking, prioritize issues, ask relevant questions, state findings for each analysis. Conclude. Synthesize findings, build your argument, discuss tradeoffs, develop overall recommendations, link your conclusion back to the problem statement.

Do.
Listen carefully. Repeat the question back to the interviewer to ensure you understand. Take notes. Organize your answer with an appropriate model or framework. Manage your time. Think before you speak. Feel free to think creatively. Apply the 80/20 rule. Conclude with a clear, actionable recommendation. Explain why you prefer one course of action over other alternatives. Think out loud. The interviewer wants to know your thought process. Show your enthusiasm! And most important of all. PRACTICE. Preparation shows! Case Interviewing Page 2

Dont.
Try to force-fit a framework to the problem. Say, Ill be using the 4 Ps to analyze this case. Frameworks are tools to help you organize your thinking, not solutions. Ask a long series of questions without explaining why youre asking. Solve the case too quickly without explaining your approach. Hide from the numbers. Say, This sounds like a marketing case. Assume you know the answer and ignore signals/hints from the interviewer. Get stuck in a mass of details and forget what question youre trying to answer. Panic. Take a deep breath, collect your thoughts, and get back on track.

The GBCC Concise Guide to Case Interviewing

Recruiter Feedback Heres what recruiters have to say about effective case interviewing: Its really important to listen to the setup of the question and hints the interviewer gives you. We want to know that students wont panic when a client asks something they dont know. When you use a model, understand why youre using it and explore it fully. Its always fine for students to write notes and take a couple minutes to organize their thoughts. Dont be afraid if the interviewer disagrees with you on part of your answer. Sometimes its a test to see how you respond to being challenged. Where can I get help to practice? There are hundreds of case interview resources available. These are some good ones to start with. Available at the GBCC: Case Interview Binder includes practice and sample cases, McKinsey and A.T. Kearney overviews, the Vault Guide, and other additional resources. The binder is kept in the GBCC; ask for it at the front desk. Case Interview Toolkit includes key concepts, frameworks, and case types. Available in hard copy at the GBCC. Case Study Interviewing presentation by the Carlson Consulting Enterprise, December 2002. Available in hard copy at the GBCC. Harvard College Guide to Consulting Case Questions (1996) by Marc Cosentino Case in Point, 2nd edition (2001) by Marc Cosentino Consulting Interviews: Ace Your Case! by WetFeet, available in hardcopy and online Consulting Interviews: 15 Questions by WetFeet, available in hardcopy and online The Wharton MBA Case Interview Study Guide, Vol. II Vault Guide to Advanced Quantitative and Finance Interviews, 1st edition Other resources: Case Interviewing Resources section of the GBCC website, with links to print resources and Bain case interviewing video on Wetfeet Vault Guide to the Case Interview (2002), available as print and e-book at www.vault.com Quintessential Careers website (www.quintcareers.com)

Case Interviewing

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The GBCC Concise Guide to Case Interviewing

McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas - links to case interview presentations given by A.T. Kearney, Ernst & Young and Diamond Cluster (http://www.bus.utexas.edu/students/gcg/members_interview.asp) BCG website (http://www.bcg.com/careers/interview_prep/interview_prep_splash.asp) Capital One website (http://www.capitalone.com/careers/caseindex.shtml) Bain website (http://www.bain.com/bainweb/join/interview/practice_overview.asp) Case interview guides developed by other business schools Consulting Clubs Your key to success with case interviewing is FREQUENT PRACTICE.

Grab some friends and set up a regular time to practice case interviews. Work with a variety of people so you get accustomed to different interviewing styles. The GBCC can help with sample cases and practice sessions too.

GOOD LUCK!

Case Interviewing

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