intro to case interviewing 2012 - fisher college of business to case... · case interviews. ......
TRANSCRIPT
Mission Impossible
Highly respected company Outstanding applicants (on paper) Thousands of applicants Only need a few new hires The Best of the Best AND◦ The job is not easy◦ It requires unique individuals with unique skills
Interviews assess:
Skills, strengths, values (do you have insight into yours?)
Communication skills – can you tell a good story?
Leadership style / philosophy Do you fit with the organization? Are you interesting? Meet you to see all the non-verbals
As an interviewer:
I need to: get inside your head –SEE you think understand your ability to structure, deal
with ambiguity, define the problem, work to a solution
watch your composure during the process
But how????
Keys to success
Enjoy the problem Check out your assumptions! Question your assumptions Ask questions
Visualize the problem Use pencil/paper
Can you put 10 pennies into three glasses in such a way that each glass contains an odd number of pennies?
Market Sizing Questions
Listen and Determine the type:◦ Population based◦ Household◦ General population◦ Preposterous
Question (terminology or clarification) Lay out your STRUCTURE ◦ Steps you will take◦ Then do the math
Keys to success:
Enjoy the question / the challenge Know your market sizing values How are you going to break it down? Reality test? Work through the math Is it making sense? Any reasonable answer may be OK
Case interviews see if you can:
Identify which issues are important in the problem
Structure an analysis of the problem Process data (numerical and otherwise) Summarize, make conclusions,
recommend actions Take in new information and re-evaluate
PREPARATION
You need:◦ Paper – white (can be blank or graph – or a blank on one side and graph on the other◦ Pencil◦Calculator (but you might not use it)
Your name/date
In this area the problem – issue identification – possible questions –“buckets for analysis”
Calculations, graphs, decision tree, images, etc.
Your:ConclusionsRecommendations
Are you answering the key questions?
Additional issues and insights of this problem
Follow - up
Find what works for you! But have a PLAN for your PAPER!!!!
CLARIFY
Ask questionsThink OUTLOUDLet the interviewer know where
you are going . . Okay to draw on personal
experience
ANALYZE
Take some time to think Talk your way through the analysis once
you have the structure Clarify – ask questions Get new information Is structure still good? Keep going
CONCLUDE
Remember the question Answer it State why you are recommending that
solution Be prepared to hand over your
worksheet!
Cosentino’s Case Commandments1. Listen to the Question2. Take Notes3. Summarize the Question4. Verify the Objectives5. Ask Clarifying Questions6. Organize your answer7. Hold that Thought for “One Alligator”8. Manage your Time9. Work the Numbers10. Be Coachable11. Be Creative and Brainstorm12. Exude Enthusiasm and a Positive Attitude13. Bring Closure and Summarize
Keys to success:
Have breath and depth Identify the essence of the problem Probe for information Be insightful Draw on resources Be creative Think for yourself Remember the question and answer it
I own a microbrewery in Seattle. I want to expand my brand nationally. What are some of the issues I would need to think about if I were to do this? And what are your recommendations of how I should address those issues?