1. Case Interviews “What You Need To Know” Katie Bleicher Jon Garcia
Steven Hawkins
Mac Joyce
Charlie Vickland

2. Overview Background/Concerns How to Succeed Class Exercise
Debrief and Discussion
Company Information
Summary
Questions

3. Background What are Case Interviews? Real business problems
Thoughtful discussions
Chance to show problem solving skills and creativity
Tests ability to think and act like a consultant

4. Concerns Intimidating Interview Format Requires Participation
Need General Business Knowledge
Communication Skills

5. How to Do Well Utilization of structured thinking:
Break the problem down
Focus by prioritizing areas
Demonstrate analytical thinking
Math & Logic
Make a recommendation

6. Different Case Interview Formats
Brain Teasers
Short answer format, solve riddles and puzzles, looking for out-of-the-box answers
Market Sizing
Longer answer format, essential to explain reasoning, looking for ability to structure problems, make assumptions and educated guess calculations
Project
Longest format, working on a typical business situation that applicants are not familiar with, looking at analytical skills, ability to question, focus is on the process

7. Class Exercise Brain Teaser Market Sizing Project
You have 2 empty jugs. 1 Holds 3 gallons, the other holds 5. How do you get exactly 4 gallons of water from the tap?
Market Sizing
How many copies of Windows NT did Microsoft sell last year?
Project
You are consulting for one of the largest supermarket chains in the country. This chain is considering opening its own bank branches in its supermarket locations. What is your advice?

8. Debrief and Discussion
What process did you use to answer the question?
No right answers – the process is what counts!
Tips
Show you’re thinking critically by talking out loud and taking it seriously
Practice (available from company websites, internet career sites, know business issues)
Familiarize with business frameworks (Porter’s 5 Forces, 4 Ps of Marketing, SWOT, etc.)

9. Company Information The following companies use case interviews:
Management Consulting companies
Bain & Company, Boston Consulting Group, Mercer Management Consulting, McKinsey and Company
Investment Banking companies
Capital One
Is it effective?

10. Summary Background/Concerns How to Succeed Class Exercise
Debrief and Discussion
Company Information

11. Questions ? ?

12. Sources
Case Interview Questions. Acing Interviews. Retrieved 20 Sep 2004, from
Case Interviews. How to Counseling interviews guide. Retrieved 20 Sep 2004, from
Case Interviews. MIT Careers Office. Retrieved 20 Sep 2004, from
Join Bain. Bain & Company. Retrieved 20 Sep 2004, from