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How to Prepare for a Case Interview

What is a case interview?
It is an interview method designed to:
test your analytical ability
test your ability to think logically and organize your answer
observe your thought process
test your tolerance for ambiguity and data overload
assess your poise, selfconfidence, and communication skills under pressure
see if you are genuinely intrigued by problem solving
determine if it is a good fit for you

How should you prepare for a case interview?

1. Become familiar with business frameworks, which can help you structure your thought process.
Some commonly used frameworks include:
Porters 5 Forces: Barriers to Entry, Bargaining Power of Buyers, Bargaining Power of Suppliers
Availability of Substitute Products, and Level of Competition Among Firms
3 Cs: Cost, Customers, Competitors (Capacity sometimes added as a 4th C)
4 Ps: Product, Price, Place, Promotion
SWOT Analysis: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats
Profit = Revenue Costs: revenue is a function of price and volume; costs can be divided into fixed and
variable components
Note: Frameworks may or may not be appropriate for the case you are given. Be careful not to force a
framework onto the problem. However, a general understanding of the various frameworks will help you
address appropriate issues within the case.
2. Some questions require you to make assumptions. The idea is not that you have the right answer to a question
(for example: How many romance novels are sold each year in Canada?) it is your thought process they want to
see. You should also be familiar with:
Population of Canada and the U.S.
Men & Women represent what percentage of the population?
Average life expectancy
People per household
Number of households
% that have cable, DVD, PC, smart phones, Mac & the Internet
3.

Research and practice case interviewing in order to become more familiar with the process. Case examples are
available at various consulting firm websites:

The Boston Consulting Group

Practice cases
http://www.bcg.com/join_bcg/practice_cases/default.aspx
Interactive case
http://www.bcg.com/join_bcg/interactive_case/default.aspx

Visit us online: www.mcgill.ca/caps

2014-04-03

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McKinsey & Co.

Approaching the case
http://www.mckinsey.com/careers/apply/interview_tips/approaching_the_case
Case interview tips
http://www.mckinsey.com/careers/apply/interview_tips/case_interview_tips
Practice case studies
http://www.mckinsey.com/careers/apply/interview_tips/practice_case_studies

Oliver Wyman
Case Interview Preparation
http://www.oliverwyman.com/careers/59.htm

Deloitte
Case Interview Tips
http://mycareer.deloitte.com/us/en/students/gettingthejob/caseinterviewtips
Preparing for the case interview
http://mycareer.deloitte.com/us/en/students/gettingthejob/caseinterviewpreptool

4. CaPS also has the following books and online materials:

Case Interview Secrets: A formar McKinsey Interviewer Reveals How to Get Multiple Job Offers in Consulting
Case in Point: Complete Case Interview Preparation
How to Get Into the Top Consulting Firms: A Surefire Case Interview Method
Mastering the Case Interview: The Complete Guide to Consulting, Marketing, and Management Interviews
The WetFeet Insider Guides: Ace Your Case
Vault Career Guides (Online) http://careerinsider.vault.com/career-insider-login.aspx?parrefer=7165
(Registration with your McGIll e-mail is required).
o Once you are logged in, click the Guides link -> Consulting link to download these guides:
Vault Guide to the Case Interview
Vault Case Interview Practice 2: More Case Interviews
Vault Case Interviews Practice Guide: More Sample Cases

5. Brush up on your math skills. Errors most commonly occur with the zeros. 100,000 turns into 10,000 or
1,000,000.

Visit us online: www.mcgill.ca/caps

2014-04-03