Jones Graduate

School of Management
Mastering the
Case Interview
 Agenda

 Why Do Firms Conduct Case Interviews?

 Dissecting the Case Interview
 Key Thoughts to Remember
 Mock Interviews

© Deloitte Consulting 1999. All rights reserved.

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 Why Do Firms Conduct
Case Interviews?
Case interviews provide both parties with information:

Interviewer Candidate

 Opportunity to learn about:  Opportunity to demonstrate:

– Experience
– “Do I want to sit with this
person on an airplane?”
 Opportunity to assess:
– Critical thinking skills
– Communication skills
– Aptitude for consulting
– Communication skills
– Focus
– Problem-solving skills
– Analytical abilities
– Poise under pressure
 Opportunity to learn about:
– Type of work that the firm does
– Personality of the firm

© Deloitte Consulting 1999. All rights reserved.

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 Keys to the Case Interview

Preparation Practice, Practice, Practice.

Demonstrate why you want the

Enthusiasm
opportunity.

Show you can think under pressure.

Comfort
Practice, Practice, Practice.

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 The Case Interview

What is it? An opportunity to evaluate five key skills:

Problem Data
Identification Analysis

Use of a
Framework

Effective Logical
Communication Process

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 The Case Interview:
Problem Identification Skills

 Make sure you understand the problem clearly

before starting your response
 Determine and focus on the salient issues
 Ask clarifying and penetrating questions
 Don’t hesitate to take a few minutes (or ask) to
compose your thoughts

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 The Case Interview:
Logical Process

 Determine your structure/framework after

listening to the case – one method does not fit
all cases
 Build a sequence to get the facts you need
(consider asking for them)
or
 Develop a process to get to a point from which
you can work
 Make sure that your case response leads to a
conclusion
 Demonstrating the consultative process is more
important than getting the “right” answer

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 The Case Interview:
Data Analysis

 Determine what facts you have and which ones you

need
 Address the issues you have identified
 Perform the appropriate calculations to support your
hypotheses
 Consider external perspectives: customers,
competitors, suppliers
 Consider the implications/applications of technology

© Deloitte Consulting 1999. All rights reserved.

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 The Case Interview:
Effective Communication

 Listen carefully
 Speak clearly and concisely
 Demonstrate the logic to your analysis
 Support and defend your points
 Don’t lose your cool
 Ask for feedback at the end

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 The Case Interview:
Use of a Framework

 Cost/Benefit Analysis
 Supply Chain/Value Chain
 Porter’s Five Forces
 Financial Statements
 3Cs – Customer, Company, and Competition
 4Ps – Product, Price, Promotion, Place

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 The Case Interview:
Plan Your Response

 Take notes – bring paper and pencil/pen

 Communicate your approach to the interviewer
 Switch approach/framework during the response if
you realize its not working
 Be cognizant of time
 Wrap it up!
– Based on the facts you have gathered, draw a conclusion that
answers the interviewer’s question
– Be prepared to “wrap it up” even if you run out of time

© Deloitte Consulting 1999. All rights reserved.

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 There are different kinds of
Case Study Questions...

 Calculation / Market Sizing

– Ex: What is the annual market size for golf balls in the
United States?

 Business Strategy / Operations Problems

– Ex: A large health-care company has brought in a team
of consultants to determine an appropriate strategy for
improving profitability through growth in the size of its
operations. They hope to reach their profitability goals
over the next three years. As one of the consultants,
what would you recommend that they do?

These types of questions will be the focus of today’s mock case interviews

© Deloitte Consulting 1999. All rights reserved.

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 Key Ideas to Remember

 Ask clarifying questions/think out loud

 Use a framework to organize your thoughts
 Don’t forget to look at the forest while walking among
the trees
 Structure is more important than the answer
(most of the time)

 RELAX and BE YOURSELF

© Deloitte Consulting 1999. All rights reserved.

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 Practice, Practice, Practice

Jones Graduate School

of Management
Mock Case Interviews

September 22, 2000

© Deloitte Consulting 1999. All rights reserved.

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