3092015 CaseshyStyle Interview Questions | Cawley Career Education Center | Georgetown University

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CASEshySTYLE INTERVIEW QUESTIONSWHAT IS CASEshySTYLE INTERVIEWINGThe case interview is a scenario modeled after a real business or management problem Candidates areasked to analyze a problem and provide a solution based on the information given The majority ofcases donrsquot have a specific answer that you are expected to give instead the interviewer is looking foryou to demonstrate a thought process that is both analytical and creative

WHO USES THIS STYLE OF INTERVIEWINGMany consulting firms use the case interview as part of their interview process The case givescandidates a sense of the type of work that consultants do and allows the employer to test thecandidatersquos ability to analyze present information and perform under pressure However anyemployer who is looking for strong problem solving and presentation skills can use case styleinterviewing

SKILLS EVALUATED DURING A CASE INTERVIEWCommunication skillsAnalytical and reasoning skillsAbility to organize and present informationAbility to perform under pressureUnderstanding of basic business principlesCreativity and resourcefulness

TYPES OF CASE QUESTIONSBusiness case (most common) A scenario to gauge the general business knowledge of candidates andhow they can logically apply this knowledge It could focus on different areas such as profitlossorganizational structure and marketing Example ldquoAn airline finds that while its revenues are high thecompany is still operating at a loss What is going onrdquoMarketshysizingGuesstimates Estimation questions that require the use of logical deduction andgeneral statistical information to estimate some number or size Example How many gas stations are therein the US Brainteasers Puzzles or logic questions used to gauge creativity quantitative skills and problemshysolvingskills Example Why are manhole covers round

HOW TO APPROACH A CASE INTERVIEW1 Listen to the case Take notes and rephrase the question to make sure your got all the information2 Clarify the problem Ask good questions to clarify and show your understanding of the problem3 Analyze the problem Pause and take time to think about how you will approach the problem Silence is

okay4 Structure an answer Write out your method for solving the problem Use examples from in and outside

the classroom to show insight5 Share your answer Talk through your approach using key points to guide you6 Summarize your findings Provide a conclusion that restates your main points

HOW TO PREPARE FOR A CASE INTERVIEWThe best preparation for a case interview is to PRACTICE The more cases you work through the morecomfortable you will become with the process

Use this general timeline and the resources below to structure your practice

As early as possible

Read the case resources Case in Point and the Vault Guide to the Case Interview

3092015 CaseshyStyle Interview Questions | Cawley Career Education Center | Georgetown University

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Read the case resources Case in Point and the Vault Guide to the Case InterviewCoordinate an informational interview with a Georgetown alum working in consulting Use HoyaGateway to get connectedSign up for a mock interview to practice your behavioral interview skills (these are important too)

Two weeks before an interview

Review and practice cases with a friendAttend an employer case workshopCome to a PeershytoshyPeer Case Study Hour at the career center to get more practice time (see out career centercalendar for times and dates)Visit employer websites for companys tips and sample cases

The day before the interview

Review our tips belowGet enough sleep so that your mind will be sharpBring paper and pens to the interview

CASE INTERVIEW TIPSTake notesRemember the case is a chance to demonstrate how you think ndash donrsquot be discouraged if you donrsquot know theindustry well Use your analytical and communication skills to show how you would break down theproblemMake sure you understand the problem you are being asked to analyze Paraphrase back to the interviewer tomake sure you heard them correctlyAsk questions and listen to the answers you get (donrsquot be discouraged by information that the interviewerdoesnrsquot provide that likely means it is not important)Take time to collect your thoughts (and ask for more time if you need it) Donrsquot be afraid of silenceLay out a road map for your interviewer (your framework will help here)Think out loud to allow the interviewer to see your analytical skillsPresent your thinking in a clear logical mannerSummarize your recommendations and use examples from your classes internships or extrashycurricularactivities to provide insight beyond the caseRead industry magazines and journals (both general and specific)Familiarize yourself with some basic statistics such as the population of the US

There are several resources available both in the career center and online which can help you prepare for casestyle interviews Some of the best resources are

RESOURCESBooks amp GuidesAll the books below are available to view in our career library on the first floor of the Cawley CareerEducation Center Check in at the front desk for help

Case In Point Case Interview Preparation 10th Edition (Marc P Cosentino 2010)Case Interview Secrets (Victor Cheng 2012)Vault Career Insider Guides shy career guides employer profiles and rankings and more You must create anaccount with your Georgetown eshymail address to access VaultVault Guide to the Case Interview 8th EditionVault Case Interview Practice Guide 2 More Case Interviews

Sample Cases amp Websites

Management Consulting Case Interviews shy hundreds of case interview questions organized by typeindustry and employer Questions are available for free but solutions require a subscriptionCaseInterviewcom shy Sign up for free access to case interview training videos newsletters and strategies forsuccess from Victor Cheng author of Case Interview SecretsMConsulting Prep shy Started by a former McKinsey consultant this website has videos and coachingstrategies for interview preparation

Videos

3092015 CaseshyStyle Interview Questions | Cawley Career Education Center | Georgetown University

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Read the case resources Case in Point and the Vault Guide to the Case InterviewCoordinate an informational interview with a Georgetown alum working in consulting Use HoyaGateway to get connectedSign up for a mock interview to practice your behavioral interview skills (these are important too)

Two weeks before an interview

Review and practice cases with a friendAttend an employer case workshopCome to a PeershytoshyPeer Case Study Hour at the career center to get more practice time (see out career centercalendar for times and dates)Visit employer websites for companys tips and sample cases

The day before the interview

Review our tips belowGet enough sleep so that your mind will be sharpBring paper and pens to the interview

CASE INTERVIEW TIPSTake notesRemember the case is a chance to demonstrate how you think ndash donrsquot be discouraged if you donrsquot know theindustry well Use your analytical and communication skills to show how you would break down theproblemMake sure you understand the problem you are being asked to analyze Paraphrase back to the interviewer tomake sure you heard them correctlyAsk questions and listen to the answers you get (donrsquot be discouraged by information that the interviewerdoesnrsquot provide that likely means it is not important)Take time to collect your thoughts (and ask for more time if you need it) Donrsquot be afraid of silenceLay out a road map for your interviewer (your framework will help here)Think out loud to allow the interviewer to see your analytical skillsPresent your thinking in a clear logical mannerSummarize your recommendations and use examples from your classes internships or extrashycurricularactivities to provide insight beyond the caseRead industry magazines and journals (both general and specific)Familiarize yourself with some basic statistics such as the population of the US

There are several resources available both in the career center and online which can help you prepare for casestyle interviews Some of the best resources are

RESOURCESBooks amp GuidesAll the books below are available to view in our career library on the first floor of the Cawley CareerEducation Center Check in at the front desk for help

Case In Point Case Interview Preparation 10th Edition (Marc P Cosentino 2010)Case Interview Secrets (Victor Cheng 2012)Vault Career Insider Guides shy career guides employer profiles and rankings and more You must create anaccount with your Georgetown eshymail address to access VaultVault Guide to the Case Interview 8th EditionVault Case Interview Practice Guide 2 More Case Interviews

Sample Cases amp Websites

Management Consulting Case Interviews shy hundreds of case interview questions organized by typeindustry and employer Questions are available for free but solutions require a subscriptionCaseInterviewcom shy Sign up for free access to case interview training videos newsletters and strategies forsuccess from Victor Cheng author of Case Interview SecretsMConsulting Prep shy Started by a former McKinsey consultant this website has videos and coachingstrategies for interview preparation

Videos

3092015 CaseshyStyle Interview Questions | Cawley Career Education Center | Georgetown University

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How to Ace the Case Consulting Interview webinar Igor Khayet (Frsquo06)Case Interview 101 shy an introduction video from MConsulting Prep

PeershytoshyPeer Case Study Hour

The Cawley Career Education Center is providing space and resources for you to practice your caseinterviewing skills Bring a friend or find a partner when you arrive to practice case questions and workthrough solutions together Be sure to check our calendar on Hoya Career Connection for any updatesto location and times

COMPANY RESOURCES FOR CASE INTERVIEW PREPARATIONAccenture

Succeeding in Case Study Interviews a blog post from an Accenture recruiterClient case studies

Bain amp Company

Interview preparation tips and interactive case studies

BCG (Boston Consulting Group)

Interview process and tipsGuided practice cases

Dean and Company

Interview preparationHow to Crack a Case presentation (PDF)

Deloitte

Interview tipsInteractive cases

LEK Consulting

Interview preparation tips with samples cases and videos

McKinsey amp Company

Interview processVideos sample cases and practice tests

Oliver Wyman

Interview preparation and case interviews

PwC

Interview preparation and processAn Insiders Guide to Consulting Interviews (PDF)