Advice for Case Interviews
The following advice was provided by an MIT alumnus (PhD, Chemical Engineering) who accepted an Associate position with McKinsey Company.
The case is not the most important component of the interview.
Although cases are an important test of your analytical skills and business instinct, it is important to put it in its proper perspective. Remember that interviewers are trying to answer two important questions about you:
1. Is this someone that makes a good impression on clients?
2. Is this someone I would like to work with?
To demonstrate likely success with clients, one needs to demonstrate good communication skills, good presence, and an ability to analyze business problems. To be judged favorably on the second question, one needs to establish rapport with the interviewer. The best interviews proceed as lively dialogues rather than a series of staccato questions and answers. Successful candidates project enthusiasm, energy, and an ability to engage the interviewer.
Since the case interview only goes part way to answer the first question, it indicates that the interviewee should spend at least as much time preparing for other aspects of the interview, such talking about previous accomplishments and explaining one's reasons for wanting to be a consultant.
The components of a case
A typical case interview has three parts that reflect the problem-solving process in a real case:
1.Understand - Listen carefully to the information the interviewer provides. Understand precisely the question that is being asked. If necessary, ask two or three short questions to clarify some of the information or to reword the question in a form that is easier to understand.
2. Analyze - Develop a framework that identifies the important aspects of the case and the further information is required. Ask the interviewer questions to explore each important issue in turn. Go broad before going deep. In other words, ask brief questions about every issue before analyzing any specific one too deeply. Usually, the interviewer will give some indication of which issue should be pursued to a deeper level.
3.Summarize - Synthesize a solution to the problem. This involves summarizing the information given in a structured manner and explaining how one's proposed solution follows logically from it.
Although an equal amount of time is not devoted to each, the parts are weighted almost equally. Even though one might spend 5 minutes on understanding, 15 minutes on analysis, and 2 minutes on synthesis, the synthesis is just as important as the other two parts.
Relax, practice lots of cases, and good luck!
Last updated on Monday, August 07, 06 at 02:10:49 PM EDT.
