Case interviews give the interviewer a quick look at how you can solve real-world problems in a short span of time. Whether it is for a business or technology role, they are bound to be problem-oriented and the case tends to stimulate quantitative, conceptual, analytical, and creative thought. You may think that if you are presented with a problem, then the way to succeed in this interview is to find the right solution. However this is not the case, as the interviewers are evaluating your skillset holistically.
The first part of a case interview is the introduction to the situation. Here the interviewer will give you a brief description of the background and additional information that may help you with the problem you may soon encounter. To approach this, it is important to recap the situation. You should recap the case by reiterating who the client or company is and some background information about the client By understanding what has just been given to you, you may uncover some new areas of focus and possibly clarify some confusions you may initially have on the case. If this step does not change the overall outcome of the interview, it would definitely leave a strong impression to the interviewer.
The next part is when the interviewer provides the overall objective of the case, or the problem that the client is asking you to help solve. This is the part where you clarify by asking questions. Naturally you would have questions about the case, and if you don’t have anything to ask, you are most likely missing some key information. Again the aim of case interviews for the interviewer is to see your approach to solving a problem. Some questions you may ask can be about definitions. Are there any terms or jargon that you do not fully understand? Is it possible that these terms can be ambiguous and have multiple meanings? Do any of the information sound open-ended in that if you do ask for elaboration, the interviewer may present important insight to the case. You should also wonder about time frame and KPIs (key performance indicators) or measurements of success. What is the time frame that this client have to solve the problem? Any goal without a timeline should definitely be clarified, and if the client wants to be the best at something, is it by profit, revenue, asset, or something else? Understanding these key facts can help you formulate a smart, goal-oriented plan and will help you in your recommendation.
The last part is your recommendation. This is where you will be asked for your observations and findings, as well as your strategy on how to approach the problem. Here you might also be required to think mathematically and come to a right answer using numbers. While this number may be a specific answer they are looking for, the overall recommendation may not necessarily be right or wrong.
Again they are not strictly testing you to see if you come to the right answer. In fact, they are seeing your ability to:
- Communicate: can you engage with the interviewer with confidence? Can you clearly articulate your synthesis of information?
- Problem-solve: can you identify key issues of the case and reach the solution accurately and methodically? Can you understand the context by focusing on key, relevant details that would help you come to a final recommendation? Can you envision the scenario with a variety of perspectives?
- Be flexible: if the interviewer were to add in something that would change the situation, would you be able to adapt your recommendation and answer?
- Think analytically: can you use the clues that build on each other while staying on track and focusing on the relevant details?
Some additional tips to a case interview: make sure you think out loud and convey your thoughts through verbal communication. It is perfectly fine to ask for a minute or two to frame your recommendation but when you make calculations or key steps that would move your thinking forward, you have to let the interviewer know what you are doing. Not only does this demonstrate your communication skills, but it would also allow the interviewer to keep you in the right direction and guide you along the case if needed.
It is imperative to stay organized through your work. It is ideal to have a paper and pen in front of you when doing a case interview and it is entirely possible that you may have to refer back to previous calculations. During the case you will be likely to be asked for recommendations, but changes made by the interviewer would result in you thinking for another solution. Being organized allows you to go back to your work and pick up any relevant details you may have.
Lastly, stay calm and maintain composure. Even in the chance that you make mistakes, it is important to continue to show your enthusiasm and not your frustration. They want to see if you are someone they can imagine working with so it is crucial that you show an understanding that mistakes happen all the time.
