The case interview Beginning a case The case will begin with the interviewer presenting you to an issue – either orally or by providing you with a written case. Irrespective of the issue you are presented to, the first step is to listen carefully to what your interviewer is saying, as they may be dropping important hints. We advise you to take notes, so you do not forget important information that might be relevant later in the analysis. Another good advice is to paraphrase the information back to the interviewer so that they can correct any possible misunderstandings right away. The second step is to ask follow-up questions. By doing so, you should try to gather all the necessary information for identifying the problem and sketching a framework for solving the case. Ask the interviewer to give you a couple of minutes to gather your thoughts and identify the issue. This is expected, so do not stress yourself unnecessarily. During a case A good structure is central for doing well with a case. The interviewer wants to know that you can take the presented information and create a logical structure, process it and get to an answer. By drilling down into each part or branch of your issue tree one at a time, you can identify the underlying cause of the problem as well as potential solutions. Think of the case as a conversation rather than a test. Yes, you are expected to solve a problem, but you are allowed and expected to ask your interviewer for more information and talk them through your assumptions, analysis and specific calculations. A good advice is to think out loud. Doing so will foster a productive conversation and enable your interviewer to subtly steer you in the right direction and guide you in case you get stuck. Also, always make sure to check that your answer seems reasonable. A rounding error is easy to miss, but if your conclusion is to make cost savings larger than the actual costs, you know something went wrong. Condition Sub-condition Sub-condition Hypothesis Condition Sub-condition Sub-condition Condition Issue tree template Sub-condition Sub-condition When you know in which direction to go, embark on step number three: Present your approach to solving the case and your hypotheses in a structured manner. A good structure deconstructs the problem at hand into its most relevant parts. We suggest that you create an issue tree that graphically tests your hypothesis in a logical, definitive way. All the case frameworks we will present in this case book are issue tree templates. A well-structured issue tree passes the MECE test. Being MECE means that the issue tree is mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive. If each branch tests a distinct aspect or category of the issue separate from the others, leaving no overlap, the issue tree is mutually exclusive. If all the branches added together cover the entire range of key issues or categories, the issue tree is collectively exhaustive. Creating a completely MECE issue tree is not always possible or feasible but try to make it as MECE as possible. Closing a case Close your case by synthesising your findings and developing recommendations. Create an overview of the most important points you have identified in your analysis and present them. It is very important that you do not simply reel off all your findings one after another; instead, you should synthesise your findings inductively by starting with the big picture – your conclusion or answer to the problem – and then logically present your supporting data. In this way, you quickly get the message across, it becomes simpler to follow for the interviewer, and it is often more impactful. This is often where the good candidate stands out. If the case allows it, focus on making your conclusion as action-oriented as possible and remember to prioritise the supporting data so you only present the most important points. 5
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