CASE INTERVIEW WORKSHOP

The Boston Consulting Group

AGENDA

Some questions you might have:

What are case interviews?
Why are they given?
What do companies look for?
How do I prepare for these things?
Examples: Real case interviews

Case Interview Workshop2005 (3).ppt

WHAT ARE CASE INTERVIEWS?

Two Main Types

Brain teaser (unusual at BCG)

How many pencils are sold annually in the United

States?
How many dogs are there in California?
What are the chances of rolling double sixes three
times in a row?

Business problem (BCG norm)

Case Interview Workshop2005 (3).ppt

A pharmaceutical company is trying to decide

whether to manufacture its drugs in house or
outsource; how would you help?
The company that owns Vail mountain has seen a
decline in revenues over the past five years; what
should it think about?

WHY ARE CASE INTERVIEWS GIVEN?

To Test Two Things

How much will you like

consulting?
Expose candidates to case
situations and the kind of work
consultants do

How much will consulting like

you?
Give firm a sense of how you
might approach a case
situation

Firms generally do not expect an extensive business background

Most companies try to give cases that do not require business
experience or knowledge of business jargon
Case Interview Workshop2005 (3).ppt

WHAT DO COMPANIES LOOK FOR?

Not The Answer
Creativity

Poise

Analytics

Apply a unique
perspective to
business situations

Appear excited by the

kinds of issues
consultants face

Provide structure to
unstructured
problems

See the big picture

Are not intimidated by

process or problems

Break problems into

components

Assimilate information
quickly and effectively

Apply transparent,
logical thinking to
each component

Draw conclusions
from partial
information
Make assumptions,
see patterns, and
generate
hypotheses

Case Interview Workshop2005 (3).ppt

Ask insightful
questions

Synthesize
discussion into
solution

HOW DO I PREPARE?
No Magical Formula

Prepare mentally

View the interview as an opportunity, not a hurdle

Remember, most questions have no right answer

Practice

With classmates, friends who interviewed last year, and

people at your schools career services
Look on the web for firm-provided practice questions
(bcg.com)

Read, read, read and think

Case Interview Workshop2005 (3).ppt

Wall Street Journal

New York Times business section

A FEW SUGGESTIONS

Bring notebook and pen

Jot down high level thoughts

Ensure you remember good ideas

Feel free to state what seems obvious to you

Explain why a question is important to the argument

Take interviewer along for the ride

Get comfortable not relying on a calculator for basic arithmetic

Treat it as a two-way learning opportunity

Case Interview Workshop2005 (3).ppt