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    Guide Case Interviews

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    Lucky Yoh
    This document provides tips for preparing for a case interview. It explains that case interviews test analytical abilities, logical thinking, and tolerance for ambiguity. To prepare, candidates should: 1) Become familiar with business frameworks to structure thinking; 2) Practice making assumptions with basic population and technology statistics; 3) Practice sample case interviews from consulting firm websites; 4) Use case interview preparation books and online materials; 5) Brush up on math skills to avoid common errors. Thorough preparation in these areas will help candidates succeed in case interviews.

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    Guide Case Interviews

    Uploaded by

    Lucky Yoh
    117 views2 pages
    This document provides tips for preparing for a case interview. It explains that case interviews test analytical abilities, logical thinking, and tolerance for ambiguity. To prepare, candidates should: 1) Become familiar with business frameworks to structure thinking; 2) Practice making assumptions with basic population and technology statistics; 3) Practice sample case interviews from consulting firm websites; 4) Use case interview preparation books and online materials; 5) Brush up on math skills to avoid common errors. Thorough preparation in these areas will help candidates succeed in case interviews.

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    Guide case interviews

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    This document provides tips for preparing for a case interview. It explains that case interviews test analytical abilities, logical thinking, and tolerance for ambiguity. To prepare, candidates should: 1) Become familiar with business frameworks to structure thinking; 2) Practice making assumptions with basic population and technology statistics; 3) Practice sample case interviews from consulting firm websites; 4) Use case interview preparation books and online materials; 5) Brush up on math skills to avoid common errors. Thorough preparation in these areas will help candidates succeed in case interviews.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    117 views2 pages

    Guide Case Interviews

    Uploaded by

    Lucky Yoh
    This document provides tips for preparing for a case interview. It explains that case interviews test analytical abilities, logical thinking, and tolerance for ambiguity. To prepare, candidates should: 1) Become familiar with business frameworks to structure thinking; 2) Practice making assumptions with basic population and technology statistics; 3) Practice sample case interviews from consulting firm websites; 4) Use case interview preparation books and online materials; 5) Brush up on math skills to avoid common errors. Thorough preparation in these areas will help candidates succeed in case interviews.

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    How to Prepare for a Case Interview

    What is a case interview?


    It is an interview method designed to:
     test your analytical ability
     test your ability to think logically and organize your answer
     observe your thought process
     test your tolerance for ambiguity and data overload
     assess your poise, self‐confidence, and communication skills under pressure
     see if you are genuinely intrigued by problem solving
     determine if it is a good “fit” for you

    How should you prepare for a case interview?


    1. Become familiar with business frameworks, which can help you structure your thought process.
    Some commonly used frameworks include:
     Porter’s 5 Forces: Barriers to Entry, Bargaining Power of Buyers, Bargaining Power of Suppliers
     Availability of Substitute Products, and Level of Competition Among Firms
     3 C’s: Cost, Customers, Competitors (Capacity sometimes added as a 4th C)
     4 P’s: Product, Price, Place, Promotion
     SWOT Analysis: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats
     Profit = Revenue ‐ Costs: revenue is a function of price and volume; costs can be divided into fixed and
    variable components

    Note: Frameworks may or may not be appropriate for the case you are given. Be careful not to force a
    framework onto the problem. However, a general understanding of the various frameworks will help you
    address appropriate issues within the case.

    2. Some questions require you to make assumptions. The idea is not that you have the right answer to a question
    (for example: How many romance novels are sold each year in Canada?) it is your thought process they want to
    see. You should also be familiar with:

     Population of Canada and the U.S.


     Men & Women represent what percentage of the population?
     Average life expectancy
     People per household
     Number of households
     % that have cable, DVD, PC, smart phones, Mac & the Internet

    3. Research and practice case interviewing in order to become more familiar with the process. Case examples are
    available at various consulting firm websites:

    Visit us online: www.mcgill.ca/caps Page |1


     The Boston Consulting Group
     Practice case interviews
    https://www.bcg.com/careers/path/consulting/practice-interview-cases.aspx
     Interactive case library
    https://www.bcg.com/Interactives/ICL/

     McKinsey & Co.


     Interviewing
    This site includes interview tips and downloadable practice tests.
    https://www.mckinsey.com/ -> Careers -> Interviwing

     Oliver Wyman
     Case interview tips & simulations
    http://www.oliverwyman.com/careers/entry-level/interview-preparation.html

     Deloitte
     Case interview tips
    https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/careers/articles/join-deloitte-careers-case-interview-
    tips.html
     Preparing for the case interview
    https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/careers/articles/join-deloitte-case-interview-prep-
    tool.html

    4. CaPS also has the following books and online materials:

     Case in Point: Complete Case Interview Preparation


     Case in point: Graph and Analysis for Consulting and Case Interviews
     Case Interview Questions for Tech Companies: 155 Real Interview Questions and Answers
     Case Interview Secrets: A formar McKinsey Interviewer Reveals How to Get Multiple Job Offers in Consulting
     How to Get Into the Top Consulting Firms: A Surefire Case Interview Method
     Mastering the Case Interview: The Complete Guide to Consulting, Marketing, and Management Interviews
     The WetFeet Insider Guides: Ace Your Case
     Vault Career Guides (Online) http://careerinsider.vault.com/career-insider-login.aspx?parrefer=7165
    (Registration with your McGIll e-mail is required).
    o Once you are logged in, click the “Guides” link -> “Consulting” link to download these guides:
     Vault Guide to the Case Interview
     Vault Case Interview Practice 2: More Case Interviews
     Vault Case Interviews Practice Guide: More Sample Cases

    5. Brush up on your math skills. Errors most commonly occur with the zeros. 100,000 turns into 10,000 or
    1,000,000.

    Visit us online: www.mcgill.ca/caps Page |2

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