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Home > Careers > Job Search Tools > Preparing for Case Study Interviews
Preparing for Case Study Interviews
Another method employed by interviewers to help gauge how a candidate will respond in situations is a case study interview. Case study interviews differ from behavioral interviews. The goal of case study interviews is to evaluate a candidate's analytical and problem-solving ability.
Consulting firms interested in a candidate's problem-solving skills as they relate to general business problems often use the case study approach. In a typical case interview, you will be presented with a situation facing a particular organization. The situation is almost always one that will have important consequences.
There are various types of case interviews; some examples include the following:
(Note that the first and third questions are impossible to answer precisely.)
Guessing a number
How many carpenters are there in Cleveland?
Brain Teasers
How many cubes are on the surface of a cube made up of 1,000 one-inch cubes?
Business Problems
General Motors is considering launching its own brand of motorcycles. What are some of the things they should be thinking about?
What are they looking for?
Consulting firms use this method of interviewing to assess your problem-solving skills. Additionally, the case itself provides the candidate with a sampling of the type of work consultants do.
It is essential to keep in mind that many case study questions do not have a "right" or "wrong" response. The interviewer is more concerned with how you respond and the thought process behind your approach to the problem than your ultimate answer. Employers will be looking for some of the following characteristics:
- Enthusiasm
- Creativity
- Problem-solving ability
Enthusiasm is an important component of the case study interview. Candidates who do not appear to enjoy being challenged or appear flustered by the analytical and quantitative questioning may not be a "good fit" for the industry. Interviewers are looking for your ability to absorb information quickly and respond with insightful questions, as well as your ability to analyze raw information, provide some structure to it, and break it down into manageable components. Often, since the interviewer will be analyzing your approach to the case, it is important that you "think out loud" during the interview. This enables the interviewer to see your line of thinking as you tackle a problem.
Preparing for Case Interviews
As with preparing for all types of interviews practice will improve performance. Set up a mock interview with SI Career Services and check out these helpful resources that are available to you:
The Fast Track: The Insider's Guide to Winning Jobs in Management Consulting, Investment Banking, and Securities Trading.
The Vault Career Guide to Consulting—specifically focused on case interviewing.
Many large firms offer sample case studies online via the "Careers" section of their Web site. Some even offer interactive case studies. A few examples include:
Being aware of current economic issues and trends may also be helpful. This can be accomplished by reading and critically thinking about issues found in publications such as the The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Business Week.
Finally, it is important to view case study interviews as an opportunity instead of an obstacle. The interview is an opportunity to showcase your creativity and analytic ability.
Last updated: Nov 17, 2005
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