Mastering the Case Interview
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22-Sep-2014 -
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Transcript of Mastering the Case Interview
Welcome to the Evisors Webinar
Visit us online at www.evisors.com
Mastering the Case Interviewfeaturing
Marc P. Cosentino
Hosted by: Career Advisors on Demand..com/webinars
• Practice 30 live cases• Read 30 cases• Start a case journal• Network• Attend info meetings• Read
DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!
Hosted by: Career Advisors on Demand..com/webinars
Candidates who receive offers do so for five reasons:
1. Committed to consulting2. Success-oriented3. Able to exhibit good analytical skills when
answering case questions4. Able to articulate their thoughts, create a
positive presence, and defend themselves w/o being defensive
5. Fit with industry and firm (airport test)
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Types of Case Questions
There are two main categories of case questions. However, ninety percent of the case questions will be of one type – business case
• Market-sizing (population, household, & ???)
• Business Case / Oral and Written
individual, team, presentation– Profit and loss– Entering a new market– Pricing– Growth– Strategy by numbers
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Most Popular Cases
Profit and Loss
Entering a new marketM&A, new product, new business
Analyze:• Acquiring company
• Client company
• New Industry
• How best to enter the market
E ( P = R – C ) M
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First Five Steps…
1. Summarize the Questions2. Verify the Objectives3. Ask Questions4. Layout Your Structure5. State Your Hypothesis
Steps 3 – 5 can be flipped around depending on the case.
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NEW PAIR OF SHOES
A PE firm bought a brand name shoe company for $2b paying $43/share. Stock was $30 a share. Shoe company generates $1.5B in sales and has 230 stores, 200 in the US. Last year it experienced a 30% decline in profits. Boss wants you to raise profits by 50%!
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CASE NOTES
Objective
Write the answers to the questions that you asked about the case.
Draw your structure
Case Notes
In this section write down all the information that the interviewer gives you
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CASE NOTES
• Graph or white paper, landscape
• One side of page, number each page
• Draw notes, graphs, arrows, boxes
• Lay them out in front of you
• Star most important points
• Constantly review 1st page
• Separate sheet for math
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CASE INTERVIEW EVALUATION FORM
AnalyticsStructured framework
Quant acumen
Good use of data provided
CommunicationEye contact
Articulation
Listening
Asking probing questions
Note layout
PersonalEnthusiasm
Self-confidence
Teamwork and engagement
Logic, original thought and intellectual curiosity
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The Things They do
• A or B / Let me tell you why you’re wrong
• Headings and bullets / When they cut you off
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MATH SKILLS
Math – flying w/o a calculator
Percentages, Breakevens, Weighted Averages, Net Present Value, Multi/Div with lots of zeros
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WAYS TO PREPARE
• Read Case in Point• Make a case journal• Read practice cases in other books (40 cases)
– University of Michigan
• On-line practice– CQI, Case Chase Clips– McKinsey, Bain and BCG website
• Practice live cases (30 live cases)– Form groups, alumni, career services, and
Evisors.com
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Q&A
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Questions & Answers
Question 1:
What type of case interviews can you expect as an MBA candidate versus an undergrad? What type do the different firms prefer?
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Questions & Answers
Question 2:
What do you do if you hit a dead end during an interview?
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Questions & Answers
Question 3:
Will interviewers ever give you trick questions?
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Questions & Answers
Question 4:
To what extent should you use anecdotal evidence?
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Questions & Answers
Question 5:
To what extent should you keep pushing your own opinion and when should you back off?
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Practice Your Case Interview Skills!
Stephen Tom Vanessa TamaraNicholasOr with any of our 100+ case interviewing experts:
www.evisors.com/expert/349
With Marc himself:
Visit us at careers.evisors.com
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