Case Style Interviews
Are you interested in a career as a management consultant? If so, you should prepare to tackle a case interview along your job search path. Many firms use case interviews to test a candidate's communication, critical thinking, and analytical skills. They will want to see that you can listen well, respond quickly to issues, and summarize your results clearly.
Case interviews have become popular with management consulting firms and other employers. This format of interviewing allows an employer to see how candidates respond to situations that they may face everyday in their field. As a consultant, you may be asked to visit a city to meet with a new client about a business problem. How will you respond in that situation? Will you be able to ask good questions that will provide you with the information needed to resolve the issue? Can you listen well enough to the client to hear the true problem? Your success in a case interview will show your ability to take on such tasks in your work.
In a case interview, you will be given a business problem or scenario that generally falls into one of three types: the brainteaser; the guesstimate; or the business scenario. While most problems don't have one "right answer," it will be important for you to ask appropriate questions, analyze the situation accurately, and formulize a clear and concise response. Be creative in your thinking, but realistic in your assumptions.
Generally, you will get your case question verbally from the interviewer and will work on it alone. You may receive your case before the interview, allowing you time to prepare, or be asked to work on it in a group setting. If you are in a group interview, you may be judged on your ability to work on a team and your leadership skills.
According to Vault.com, the consulting industry looks for the following skills in a case interview:
- Leadership
- Analytical
- Presentation
- Energy
Types of Case Questions
There are three basic types of case questions that you may encounter in a case interview:
Brainteasers are riddles or puzzles that will showcase your ability to think logically. Some brainteaser cases may be timed. Remember to stay calm and think creatively when faced with this type of problem. Examples: "If we call oranges 'orange' why don't we call bananas 'yellows' or apples 'reds?'" or "Why are manhole covers round?"
Business Scenario questions may be based on real or hypothetical situations. They may test your common sense and your ability to ask appropriate questions to ascertain relevant information. Always make sure that you know the specific problem to be addressed and take into account general business issues, such as market share and competition. Examples: "A small airline company based out of Cleveland wants to add a new route between Cleveland and New York. The CEO wants your advice on whether they should go forward with service to the new destination." According to Vault.com, there are generally eight types of business scenario cases:
- Falling Profits
- Introducing a New Product
- Entering a New Market
- Entering a New Geographic Market
- Selecting a Location to Site a New Facility
- Handling Mergers and Acquisitions
- Preparing a Competitive Response
- Responding to Change in Government/Regulatory Environment
Guesstimates require you to answer "how many? or "how much" of something. Remember that your goal is to reduce the huge problem into smaller, more manageable parts. Rough calculations are accepted, as long as they are realistic, and you don't need to get the exact answer (although you should be close). Examples: "How many CDs were sold in the United States last year?" Or, "How much money is spent each year on hair gel in Ohio?"
Preparing for a Case Interview
In preparing for your case interview, make sure that you are familiar with the three basic types of questions you may be asked. Have friends quiz you on sample cases, many of which can be found online or in books. Through practicing, you will become confident in your interviewing and presentation skills. You will also want to make sure that you remember how to do some basic math calculations, such as averages and percentages, without using a calculator. Always arrive on time for interviews, especially case interviews. You may want to bring with you something to write with, paper, a watch to keep track of time, and a calculator (which you might not be able to use, but will be very helpful if you can).
During the Case Interview
One of the most important things you can do in a case interview is to listen to the question being asked so that you know you are addressing the right issue. Take notes when the interviewer is telling you the case and repeat it back to him once he finishes. You will also want to ask for details to clarify the case, such as the company type, market share, competition, long term and short term goals. Be sure to break down the problem into manageable parts and prioritize them. Think about the issues before speaking. As you are responding to the case, write down or chart your answer. This will help you recall some assumptions you made along the way and keep your response organized and logical. It will also show the interviewer that you are making logical assumptions that can be supported by calculations.
Keep an eye on the clock to be sure to cover the case fully and remember to summarize your response at the end. The interviewer may provide you with some feedback at the end of your case - be sure to listen. If you feel like you made a huge mistake in responding to the case, don't panic. Ask the interviewer for feedback and ideas on how the case could have been answered better.
Refer to the following sources for more information about case interviews: