Interview using case study. How to get the best presentation?
Case study interviews are often used when candidates have passed the first round with HR department. In the second round, the hiring manager will give the specific case to the candidate. At this point you will have to look at the situation, make assessments and recommendations for it. So what are the specific steps of the case study interview format? How do you get the best preparation and presentation? Let's find out.
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Specific steps of case study interview format
Step 1: HR sends notice of appointment schedule and interview method
If you have reached this step, congratulations. You must have already passed the screening and first interview round with HR. This next round is when you meet your future line manager.
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Through a call and email, HR will notify the specific date, time and location for the second round interview. If the interview format is online, the email from HR will attach the meeting link. Commonly used online interview platforms are Microsoft Teams, Google Meet or Zoom.
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In some cases, case study interview can be combined with HR interview. This means that the company you are applying to will only have one round of interviews. However, whether case study is used in round 1 or 2, the sequence it takes place will be quite similar.
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Step 2: Sequence of the case study interview
? Firstly, introduce yourself:
Whether you participate in the round 1 or round 2 of interview, getting acquainted and introducing yourself is mandatory. However, in round 2 you will need to do something a little different. That means updating your introduction based on some of the information you got from the first round of interview. This helps you get much closer to the employer.
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? Next is your presentation for the given case study:
Normally the case study will be sent to you 1 hour before the interview takes place. Or if the company only has 1 interview round, you will have about 10-15 minutes to prepare. You will then have about 25-30 minutes for your presentation.
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? Finally, the employer asks questions based on your presentation:
The employer may ask some questions during your presentation. These are just small questions to clarify things you present. Once you've finished your presentation, they'll have bigger questions. It may be related to the case study or expand on other issues of the position you are applying for.
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Get the best presentation for interviews requiring case study
Prepare, prepare, prepare
What is a case study? That's the real situation you'll have to deal with if you get the job. For junior positions, case studies are usually the main tasks that you have to do every day. If it is a management position, the case study will present a problem or major goal of the department that needs you to work out an action plan.
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Therefore, rely on the job descriptions to visualize the details of the tasks you need to complete. You can somewhat predict the case study content so you have time to research the information in advance. During preparation, you should note down information or suggestions that you think are necessary for the case study interview.
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Next, you should prepare in advance the platform and tool you will use when solving the case study. For example, I created a ppt file with 4 slides. In which the first slide is the introduction, the last slide is thank you note. For the 2 middle slides, I have created empty boxes and headings to prepare for the answer. This helps me save time on making slides when receiving case study questions.
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Structure your presentation
Case study will give you information about the general context along with the big goal that the company is aiming for. Next are 4 to 5 questions that need you to answer. In this part you need to be careful. We tend to answer each question one at a time. However, what employers care about is the connection between the answers to the big goal that has been given.
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So structure your presentation from a project manager's perspective. Think of the case study situation as a project. From there, the structure of your presentation will be:
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1. Summary of the situation
2. Project's objectives
3. Your assessment of the current situation. What are the problems and root causes?
4. What are your suggestions for the problem? Which problem should we focus on solving first? What are the necessary resources, systems, stakeholders involved and timeframe?
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Focus on the process instead of the results
The data in the case study will not be too specific for you to give a detailed answer. That means your presentation needed focusing on your analysis, and how you make recommendations. The employer will evaluate how you think and approach the given situation. If you need more information, ask questions or ask the employer for permission to include some hypothesis.
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During your presentation, focus on the process that led you to your proposal. How do you assess the situation? What approach and structure will you adopt when dealing with the problem? Why do you make such a suggestion? This way you will help the employer understand how you think and solve problems. From there, the employer can evaluate whether you are suitable for the position or not?
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Key Takeaways
Interviewing with case studies not only helps employers evaluate your problem-solving ability. Through that you will also realize whether you are suitable for the position you are applying for or not? Is it an ideal job to you? And does it match with your future career path?
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Always prepare more than necessary. Imagine the tasks and difficulties that the job needs you to solve. From there you can partly predict the content of the case study. Pay attention to the structure of your presentation and how you present your proposal. This helps you demonstrate fully your capabilities to employers. And no matter the result, you did your best. That is the most wonderful thing.