Preparing for Case Interviews
Candidates often find case interview a daunting task as case interview can be very fluid and it makes it hard for any candidate to be well prepared.
This article provides a structured approach to any candidate who is invited for a case interview. It is structured around the 5 C's - Clarify, Concur, Conduct, Confirm and Conclude.
Clarify:Listen to the case carefully and focus on the issues highlighted by the interview. In times when the topic or terminologies used in the case are unfamiliar to the candidate, it is important that candidate clarify the terminologies with the interviewers and not to rush into providing any analysis about the case. The last thing that any candidate wants to avoid is to misinterpret the requirements of the case by misreading the terminologies used and be penalized for being the "carelessly wrong".
It is alright for candidates to ask the interviewer to repeat the case if unsure and to para-phrase the issues as an alternative way to clarify the issues of the case. The rule of thumb is always - if unheard of, if unfamiliar with, if unsure of - always ask to clarify.
Concur:Never rush to analyze the case but take time to structure a framework with how the candidate intend to approach the case. Articulate clearly to the interviewer the approach or framework and seeks concurrence with the interviewer if the approach or framework is acceptable to the case.
By articulating loudly the framework to be used for the case, candidates are creating higher success rate to tread the case in the right track. In the event if the framework is inappropriate for the case, interviewer is alerted and interviewer often than not are willing to guide candidates in adopting a proper framework to the case. But this can only happen with the cooperation of the candidate who is willing to verbalize the thought process.
Conduct:After clarifying any unknowns and developing an appropriate framework, the next step is to carefully conduct analysis of the case at hand. It is important to note at this juncture that innovation, creativity, inquisitive minds and analytical skills are usually look out by the interviewer rather than getting a model answer.
At this stage, quantitative information and qualitative information should be requested by the candidate if they are not provided for by the interviewer.
It is important to focus the analysis targeting at the case issues. A scattered or a rigid approach should be avoided. Candidate should be sharp enough to differentiate noise from facts by aligning the information provided with the case issues using the framework developed.
Confirm:Candidates should constantly check and balance the analysis with the interviewer by confirming if the analysis are on the right track. Once again, it is important that candidates verbalize what's on the mind to allow the interviewer to understand where the analysis is heading towards. Candidate should allow the interviewer to guide the course at times and be flexible to change course of analysis especially when theinterviewer hinted that the analysis if off track.
During this stage, candidates should strive to confirm the findings based on those analysis.
Conclude:There will never be enough time to complete a case so candidates must be sensitive to the time and allow the last ten minutes of the case interview to consolidate all the analysis and to conclude any recommendations or suggestions.
Candidates should note that interviewer is not seeking a model answer according to script. Interviewers are more interested with how a certain conclusion is derived and thus candidates need to explain the rationales behind the conclusion made that must be well supported with all those analysis conducted.
By methodologically following the 5 C's, candidates would be better prepared and be more confident with dealing a case interview. As the old sayings go - practice makes perfect. Good luck!
