Case interview preparation
Some job candidates might be unfamiliar with the "case interview" process that is typical of professional services firms. A "case" is simply a business problem or opportunity, in which you are provided some information and asked to "solve" the case. Case interviews provide the interviewer with important insights about the candidates approach to problem solving, creativity, thoroughness, analytical capabilities, and ability to think under pressure.
Case questions are often quite challenging, and if unprepared or unpracticed, a candidate is likely to be caught off-guard. Unfortunately, the interviewer does not have the information to determine whether you are not strong at case-work or are simply unprepared. In either case, if you are unable to demonstrate excellence during the case interview, it is unlikely that the interviewer will recommend that you proceed to the next step in the recruiting process.
The purpose of this section is to help you become prepared to the best of your abilities. The sections below provide you with some guidelines to help you develop familiarity and basic skills with case interviews. You may also follow this link to access some practice cases.
Guidelines:
- Cases are typically word problems that ask how you would address a specific business situation - often one involving issues of strategy, marketing, product, distribution, pricing or cost.
- However, we recognize that in the short time period of an interview, it is unlikely that you will be able to solve the complex business issues we often see. We also recognize that you are unlikely to have the specific industry experience necessary to effectively address real-life case situations.
- Therefore, the case questions we use are synthesized and simplified "everyday" business situations that you are likely to intuitively relate to. The examples shown below will demonstrate what you might expect to be asked.
- While there is typically no single "right" answer, there are better and worse solutions. The interviewer is not a relativist. He/she is looking for specific considerations:
- The understanding of the problem
- A framework for analysis
- Formulation of hypotheses
- Understanding of analytical techniques
- Familiarity with basic business and economic concepts
- Facility with numbers and complex concepts
- Creativity, coupled with the ability to form compelling evidence
- The ability to draw conclusions
- Cases are not tricky riddles with missing information you have to ferret out (at least Novantas cases aren't!). Don't waste your time probing your interviewer for secret information you think is necessary to solve the case. The cases are designed to simulate real-life issues we have had to deal with, and the absence of information is a reality of our business.
- Time efficiency is clearly important, given the limited span of an interview. However, rushing to answer before you've thought it through will likely waste more time than taking a more measured approach. Take a moment and size up the situation. Consider: What information was I given? What am I solving for? What approach am I going to use?
- Walk your interviewer through your process as you solve the case. He or she needs to understand how you approach and solve a problem. Since you do not have raw data, the process you use provides the best indication of how well you can solve problems. Be thoughtful about your process. The interviewer is looking for insight, creativity and pragmatism.
- Be careful not to take your interviewer on a random walk through the realm of chaotic synapse firings. This is your chance to demonstrate that you can think in logical, structured ways.
- Don't get lost in the problem, don't blank out, and don't try to be cute. Stay away from only expressing the obvious.
- The interview isn't intended to be a grilling; make it into a conversation and you will show yourself at your best.
Finally, engage the interviewer. Make your interview memorable (in a positive light!)