Don't be afraid to ask questions. The case interview is meant to be interactive, with lots of back
and forth between you and the interviewer. Questions are expected, especially because the
information provided about the case will likely be incomplete. The interviewer will be looking
at your resourcefulness in collecting information. Make sure you ask your questions in a logical
-- not random -- progression. Vault.com notes that it's helpful to adopt "the persona of an actual
consultant trying to learn about the assignment" and warns that failing to ask questions is a fatal
error in the case interview. Be sure, also, to listen carefully to the answers to your questions. And
don't get rattled if the interviewer wants to know why you want the information you're asking for.
It's all part of understanding your thought process.
Construct a logical framework with which to explore the critical issues of the case. Many
of the principles you learned in business school can serve as a framework. Examples include
Porter's Five Forces, the SWOT analysis, Value Chain Analysis, and the Four P's of marketing.
If you have some business experience, you can also draw on applicable situations you've encountered.
Make sure your conclusion is grounded in action, not just theory. Be able to explain and defend your
reasoning.
Prioritize the issues and objectives. Don't get bogged down trying to deal with every
aspect of the case. As you ask questions, you should be able to pick up clues as to which
issues are most important. Some of those clues might be meant to lead you back on track
if you've gone astray, so be sure to listen carefully. If direction is not forthcoming, don't be
afraid to take control of the conversation, advises Vault.com, to get to the meat of the case.
Don't be afraid to think outside the box. Creativity and brainstorming may be just what the
interviewer is looking for.
Some of the standard advice about case interviews is the same advice that applies to any kind of interview:
Maintain eye contact. Eye contact will help you engage the interviewer, establish rapport, and
contribute to the interactivity of the interview.
Project confidence. Your ability to work the case confidently, without getting flustered or frustrated, is key.
Demonstrate your enthusiasm. Behaving as though you feel it's fun to tackle this kind of problem is
integral to showing how well you'd fit in as a consultant or whatever position you're interviewing for.
Assure your interviewer though your enthusiastic demeanor that you are exactly the kind of person he or she would enjoy working with.
Types of case questions:
Calculation/estimation/guesstimate/numerical/market sizing case
Problem case
Probing case
Business operations case
Business strategy case
Resume case (case based on a company at which you worked)
Brainteaser/logical puzzle/IQ question
Find out more about these types of case questions and how to prepare
for case interviews using our collection of
case interview resources.
Get a feel for what a case interview is like -- and what can go wrong
-- in a true anecdote about a
case interview gone bad.
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