Primer on Case Interviews

August 21, 2012

Introduction to case frameworks

Agenda
Interview Structure
Types of Case Interviews
Live Case Demonstration
Approaching the Case Interviews
Typical Fit Questions
Prep Resources
Mentorship Program

Types of Case Interviews

Brain Teasers /
Estimation cases

Business Cases

Market Size Estimation

Guess Estimates

Market Entry
Growth Strategy
New Product
Competition
Profitability
In
House Vs. Outsourcing

Comfort with Ambiguity

Ability to structure
Ease with numbers
Ability to think out of box

Analytical Skills
Ability to structure
The big picture perspective
Details

Types of cases
1.
Profitability

Market
attractiveness/market entry
2.
New
product/service introduction
3.
Marketing a new product/service
4.

Pricing a product
5.

Investment
decision
and
many more.
6.

Sample Case Demonstration

Approaching the Case Interviews

Approaching the Case Interviews

Approaching the Case Interviews

Approaching the Case Interviews

Approaching the Case Interviews

Approaching the Case Interviews

General Approach to a Case

1 Business Situation / Client Objectives

Issue

Issue

Issue

3 Hypothesis Hypothesis Hypothesis Hypothesis Hypothesis Hypothesis

Key
Question

Key
Question

Key
Question

Key
Question

Key
Question

Recommendation

Key
Question

General Approach Example

U.S Subsidiary of a French spring water bottler is

experiencing
a drop in profits despite Distribution
overall
costs
Revenue
is flat after
market growth. Why?
are rising
years of growth

Hypothesis

Hypothesis

Hypothesis

Hypothesis

Not just a test of Academic skills

Skills

KeyQuestions

AnalyticalSkills

Is the candidate thinking creatively?

Is the candidate demonstrating analytical horsepower?
Is the candidate logical, intuitive, detail oriented, big picture?

StrategicThinki
ng

Is the candidate comfortable discussing the multi-functional aspects of the case?

Is the candidate examining the organizational and cultural issues as well as functional and strategic
issues?
Is the candidate approaching the problem at the right level of detail?

StructuringSkill
s

Is the candidate good at organizing the information provided?

Is the candidate good at developing a framework for analyzing the information?
Is the candidate stating assumptions clearly?

InterpersonalSk
ills

Is the candidate relaxed and confident?

Communication
Skills

Is the candidate engaging?

Is the candidate a good listener?
Is the candidate asking insightful, clarifying questions?

WorkingStyle

Attitude for team-work?

Is the candidate participatory, verbal, aggressive?

Typical Fit Questions

Walk me through your resume
Tell me
what you are most proud of on your resume

Why are you interested in Consulting?

Why have to chosen to interview at our firm?

Why should we hire you?

Are you
comfortable working in teams? Any experiences to share?

Have
you demonstrated leadership in the past?

Tell me about this high/low point on your CV

Prep Resources
Practice Cases

Company websites
Online content
Casebooks

Casebooks
Case Frameworks

News, Blogs, Websites, etc.

Sector reports

Mentorship Program
Casebooks

Thank You