Acing case interview!

Interested in building a career in Consulting but scared of case interviews?

Preparing for case interviews is the steppingstone for getting a position in a consulting organization. While they are super interesting, they can seem like quite a mountain to conquer, fairly because we see them as a mere 'step in the hiring process’. At #BCG, The Boston consulting Group, we view case-solving as an enriching, simple problem-resolution exercise. But here's the deal: the purpose of a case interview is not to intimidate; but to see your problem-solving prowess, your business smarts, and your ability to communicate—skills that'll be your allies in the real world of consulting.?

I am a fan of case interviews; here’s how I attempt them.

1?. Get the Lowdown: I start by laying out the case. Listen sharp, jot down the critical facts and figures. And if there's any fog in your mind, I go ahead and ask for clarification. Case interviewers are all about asking for the right, not the smartest questions.

2?. Know the Objective: What's the heart of the issue? Make sure you and the interviewer are on the same page about what needs fixing or what question needs an answer. Is it boosting revenue, cutting costs, entering a new market, or launching a shiny new product?

3?. Proposing a Framework: Think of it as your roadmap through the business labyrinth. You can go with classic tools like Porter's Five Forces, SWOT analysis, or the 4Ps of marketing, or cook up your unique framework—it's your logic and creativity on display. You could also deploy custom framework built by combining a few existing ones. But be sure to have a judicious argument around it! Always remember, your approach of problem solving is being judged more than your final response.

4?. Hypothesize Away: Take a shot at guessing what's behind the problem. State your hunch clearly and why you think it holds water, based on your initial understanding.

5?. Test the Waters: To validate your hunch, gather data and evidence from all corners. Crunch numbers, create charts, and maybe throw in some interviews or surveys. And remember, Interviewers drop hints and data along the way, so be ready with questions.

6?. The Grand Finale: Wrap it up with a clear, snappy recommendation that hits the objective on the head. Back it up with reasons why it's the winning move. And don't forget to think ahead—what could go sideways, and how would you save the day? A great consultant always engages in 3rd Order thinking.

7. Time it up well: Case interviews usually have a time constraint around them – interviews being a time bound activity. So do try and practice tons of mock cases to time them well. It is necessary to elaborate the thinking process, problem solving approach and summarizing conclusion smartly to have a fruitful discussion. You might also need some time for some cross questions around the case and hence it is important to timebox activities.

8. Thinking on the feet: You could face scenarios where in mid of the case the interviewer would just flip/modify the case or just introduce new complexities in the case problem to test how fast you can adopt to changing scenarios. The intent is also to test how soon can you improvise, how effectively you can translate your ideas and make a coherent unbiased recommendation with a new set of information. ?

9. Effective communication - Communicate clearly and at the same time try to form a relationship with the interviewer. Over validation can be a negative aspect so be cautious not to ask random absurd questions. Try and be crisp, specific, and well articulated

10. Open to suggestions - It is important to show coachability. Often you won’t get the right solution but the interviewer will give you hints and guide you. You should be open to accepting ideas and take guidance. Being a good listener is the key here.

11. Practice, Practice, Practice: There cannot be a shortcut to practicing these cases and problems. Attempt as much mocks as you can to prepare well for a case interview. Try variety of cases like Profitability, Market entrance, Segmentation, Estimation, Valuations based, Market-sizing, framework oriented. Practice Qualitative as well as Quantitative cases. There are tons of mock cases available on web. So, get going - practice, practice and practice! ?

#interviewtips #caseinterviews #bcglife #Consulting #interview #BCG

P.S. - I intend to make this article a reference point for folks who want to prepare for case interviews. Hence, please feel free to make suggestions and share your thoughts in comments.