How to Prepare for the 'Case Study' of the Assessment Centre

Welcome to another edition of The Job Seeker Hub newsletter! Last week, we discussed the group activities of assessment centres, what they are and how you can prepare for them. This week, we're focusing on the Case Study in Assessment Centers.

What is a Case Study Interview?

Case studies are tools used by employers to assess candidates' problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills. They involve presenting a business problem and requiring the candidate to analyze it and propose solutions. These exercises can be in the form of written reports, presentations, or group discussions, evaluating both individual and teamworking abilities. Case study interviews are frequent in consulting, banking and marketing. Depending on the company, the candidate is often the brief a couple of days before the assessment centre. Alternatively, you can might get the brief on the day and given some time to prepare your presentation.

What the Case Study Assessment Measures

Case studies mainly measure your analytical skill, your critical thinking and your ability to handle complex information. However, a number of elements are also assessed. Those elements include but are not limited to:

• Your ability to make logical conclusions based on a given information
• Your commercial awareness
• Your decision-making
• Your presentation skills
• Your problem-solving skills
• Your thought-process

Tips for Approaching Your Case Study Assessment

1. Answer the question: Make sure you fully understand the task at hand before coming up with solutions. Do NOT answer the question you think you are asked/ want to answer.
2. Manage your time well:?In most cases, the candidates will have anything between fifteen to an hour for the case study. It is crucial that you do not go over your given slot as not only will you be cut off, but you will also be marked down.
3. Practice your presentation skills with friends or family: This will help you stay within the given time and will help practise your communication skills. You can also ask your family and friends to ask you questions based on your presentation to prepare for the actual Q&A on the day.
4. Know your stuff and be confident: You might get asked ‘tricky questions’ on the day to test your ability to work under pressure and think on your feet. Be confident in your work and do not be afraid to admit you have not considered xyz when answering.
5. Keep the company’s values and mission statement in mind: Make sure your presentation reflects the company’s values and what they stand for. If the company has a big client focus, try to include solutions that are client-centered and cost effective.

How to prepare for case studies

1. Brush up on your commercial awareness: This is true for all interviews you will attend. However, it is especially relevant if you won’t find out about the topic of the case study until the day of the assessment center. Read about what the company has been up to as well as what is going on in their industry.
2. Practise case studies: There is a load of practice case studies online (most might not be free) you can use to get an idea of what to expect. You can also watch YouTube videos from previous candidates.
3. Ask questions: Feel free to ask questions once you are given the brief. This will show your curiosity and your desire to learn.

The next edition of the newsletter will focus on preparing for the assessment centre's HR/Partner Interview. Come back next week to learn more about how you can ace this section.

Have an interview coming up and need more practice? TJSH is working hard behind the scenes to create a booklet with the most common interview questions. Make sure to follow The Job Seeker Hub LinkedIn page to be the first to know when it drops!

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Until next time,

TJSH Team :)