Why do companies use case interviewing for job interviews?
Case interviewing can be more broadly defined as problem solving. This technique is used to assess your skills in fields requiring strong analytical and quantitative skills, the ability to demonstrate structured problem solving skills, as well as other less obvious but equally important competencies such as active listening, interpersonal and communication skills, business acumen, performance under pressure, creativity, ability to navigate change, address problems in a logical way, synthesize the findings, and articulate these results in a concise manner to the interviewers.
Case interviewing has historically been reserved for large consulting firms. However, in recent years companies have started to adopt this style of questioning to gain a deeper understanding of your ability to assess a problem (typically a specific issue facing a particular company), analyze the situation, identify key issues, and articulate how you would address the problem.
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Your goal
- Identify a problem
- Recommend a solution
- Not necessarily a “right” answer
Structure
- Sent in advance [Written Case]
- On the spot [Verbal Case]
Company is assessing
- Ability to determine what information is needed [needs assessment]
- Ability to problem solve within defined timeframe
- Quantitative skills
- Thought process
- Ability to function under pressure
- Self confidence
- Creativity
- Fit for the company
- Interest in problem solving
- Ability to navigate ambiguous situations
- Strong communication
Recommendations
- Practice
- Take it seriously
- Restate
- Ask questions
- Take your time
- Think out loud
- Determine assumptions
- Check calculations
- Consider alternatives
- Take a deep breath and relax
Sample questions
Consulting firm websites give sample cases as well as practical advice on surviving their interview process. Included in this section are additional case question examples to get you moving in the right direction.
Brain teasers
- How would you move Mount Fuji? [Creative]
- Estimate the market for light bulbs in Australia. [Market Sizing/Estimating]
- You have a 3-liter bucket and a 5-liter bucket. How will you measure out exactly four liters of water? Assume you have an endless supply of water and no markings on the bucket. [Logic Problem]
- How many barber shops are there in Seattle? [Logic Problem]
Business problems & strategy
Your client is a company who makes specialist batteries for mobile homes [motor homes] in the United States. The battery is powerful, long-lasting, and of high quality. New industry conditions are occurring, and motor home dealers are starting to use a cheaper battery as the ‘factory standard’ to lower the overall price of motor homes. Your client’s product is now only offered as an added feature for which the customer must pay an extra $500 to get. How should your client go about maintaining profits given these new market conditions?
Resources for case interviewing
MBACase.com has a variety of resources related to case interviewing. All materials are free, but you will need to create an account.
Books:
- Crack the Case System: How to Conquer Your Case Interviews by David Ohrvall
- Case in Point: Complete Case Interview Preparation by Marc P. Cosentino
- Case in Point: Graph Analysis for Consulting and Case Interviews by Marc P. Cosentino
- Case in Point: Government and Nonprofit by Marc P. Cosentino
- Case Interview Secrets: A Former McKinsey Interviewer Reveals How to Get Multiple Job Offers in Consulting by Victor Cheng
- The Ultimate Case Interview Workbook: Exclusive Cases and Problems for Interviews at Top Consulting Firms by Taylor Warfield
Professional insight
“What is the point of the case interview? Why do I have to spend so much time mastering these random skills for some interviewer?” I hear these questions all the time. It is easy to miss the benefits when you are stressed out and buried in case interview books, but there are three key reasons to master these skills: knowledge integration.
Case interviews are the ultimate chance to pull together your work experience and academic training. You will evaluate, reinforce, and build your business knowledge; Senior Management Presence – solving problems quickly with crisp logic and practical analytics is what business leaders do all the time; Holistic Thinking – case interview prep teaches you to think about how to solve problems in a broad way, pulling in strategic, operational, organizational, and financial elements. Invest time in cases and you will accelerate your holistic understanding of how a business works and ultimately, you will be prepared for a variety of roles.”