Sometimes interviewees find it hard to differentiate themselves by simply using common frameworks. The problem with common frameworks is that they are too board to allow you to give an insightful synthesis. And as more and more candidates start to use them frequently, it is harder to impress the interviewers. Hence, I would like to […]
Category: Interviews
Candidates often use the Value Chain Framework without being aware of it. It may form part of your thinking when breaking down a problem using a MECE tree diagram or used when drilling into upstream suppliers and downstream distributors. However, the Value Chain Framework is indeed very useful when it comes to breaking down a […]
Another framework you should know is the Mergers & Acquisitions framework (M&A framework). The reason that this framework is worth introducing is due to the increasing frequency of M&A cases confronting candidates in the case interview. Needless to say, M&A deals are notoriously complicated financial activities, which makes candidates panic when they are prompted with […]
As I have been asked by quite a lot of people to share some frameworks, I will use the next 3 posts to walk you through the most frequently used frameworks in the case interview. While you are reading those frameworks and related examples, keep in mind that no framework is the skeleton key to […]
This post will mainly focus on introducing the case interview format, and an overview of several key formats that are typically used. You may wonder, shouldn’t the format always be the same? No, there are different formats for the case interview, in other words different setups. Standard Format The standard format is a one-on-one case […]
Well for this part, since there is so much to say, let’s get straight into it. To start with, a short definition of the case interview is “a simulation of the beginning of a consulting project”. Its purpose is to test candidates for three capabilities: Structured Thinking, Analytical Ability, and Communication Skills. Each of these […]
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Navigating the Case Interview
The journey to management consulting has many pitfalls that a candidate needs to navigate. Along the way, every candidate will encounter the case interview. As monstrous as it may look, it is said that the case interview reflects the reality of day-to-day consulting. Preparing in the right way can provide candidates with the armoury needed […]
Overview This is the most challenging part of the journey. Let’s take it really seriously. First, I would say congratulations if you have made it to this step. It is an extraordinary achievement already. Now, to move forward, you have to understand and prepare extremely well for the interviews. This article will give you a […]
Let’s admit it. At every single consulting interview the very first question you get is “why consulting?”. It’s also one of the most popular questions at networking events. There could be a variety of reasons you would like to truthfully shout out such as: high salary, prestige, MBA sponsorship, and travel. But hold your seatbelt […]
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Case Interview Basics
What is a Case? Cases are a tool used by interviewers based on a business scenario; they go beyond behavioural and background questions to assess the actual abilities of a candidate by replicating the steps of a consulting project. They are a means of evaluating potential candidates when facing a real-life business challenge to determine whether […]
Interviews were fast approaching and I knew I wasn’t on track. Nothing was working until I finally had three key insights. These insights led to a 100% hit rate at my consulting and tech interviews, which included MBB, Strategy&, AT Kearney, Amazon, Cognizant, and several boutique consultancies. What I discovered is that the interview outcome, […]
The process of securing an internship at an investment bank is both a daunting and strenuous endeavour. Through research and experiences of my own, I have gathered insights into how to prepare for and succeed in the search for an internship. I began by considering what to do to get an initial foot in the […]
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Why Consulting?
First and foremost I want to address the myth that all high achieving students have about consulting, “You need talent to be a consultant!”. I completely dismiss this notion and would like to replace it with another idea, “You need no special talent, you only need to be passionately curious!”. Curiosity drives intuition and that’s […]
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Practice Case Questions
(Source: Flickr) If you want to practice case questions, I highly recommend Marc Cosentino’s book Case in Point. You can also access sample case questions from various consulting clubs here, and from the following consulting firm websites: McKinsey & Company; Bain & Company; Oliver Wyman; Deloitte; A.T. Kearney; Accenture; and L.E.K. Consulting. [For more information on consulting […]
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Case Math
(Source: Flickr) In this post we outline some mathematical concepts that may prove useful for solving consulting case questions. 1. Break Even Analysis: Relevant when trying to decide whether to launch a new product or invest in a project with high fixed costs. 2. Customer Lifetime Value: Customer lifetime value is a prediction of the entire future […]
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Sample Consulting Case Questions
(Source: Flickr) Below we provide a selection of sample consulting case questions. The questions are broken down into seven (7) question types to make them easier to digest. 1. Declining Profitability Our client is eBay. Its share price fell from $310 to $200 per share on reports of declining profits. What’s going on and how […]
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Concluding A Consulting Case Question
(Source: Flickr) At the end of a case question it is important to provide a summary of the problem and a set of actionable recommendations that answer the question. Recommendations should be justified with the key findings that you had been noting down as you progressed through the case. For example, you might say something like […]
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Tackling A Consulting Case Question
(Source: Flickr) The second stage of a consulting case question, after setting it up, is to solve the problem. Here are six (6) tips for successfully tackling a case question: Find the source of the problem – You might get asked a question such as “Profits have declined, what should we do?” Before diving head long […]
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Setting Up A Case Question
(Source: Flickr) When it comes to answering a consulting case question, there are three stages to the answer: setting it up, solving it, and providing a recommendation. The first stage is setting it up, and below we provide five (5) steps to setting up a case question: 1. Summarize the question Give yourself time to think by writing down […]
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Playing For Time In The Case Interview
(Source: Flickr) If you get stuck during a case question then there are four (4) things you can do to regain momentum. If the interviewer has just given you some information then you can say something like “let me take a second to consider that information”. You can safely stay silent for up to 90 seconds […]
(Source: Flickr) The business case question is the cornerstone of the consulting interview, and consulting firms use it to assess a candidate for a number of qualities: Structured thinking; Numerical ability; Communication skills; Comfort with ambiguity; Speed of thought; Knowledge of key business concepts; Enthusiasm for consulting; Calm resolve under pressure; and Ability to represent […]
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Factors Questions
(Source: Flickr) Factor questions are a type of question that you may come across in consulting interviews. They are designed to help the interviewer see how you think, and you might be asked a question such as “What factors influence X, Y, Z?” or “What factors would you consider when A, B, C?”. An example […]
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Answers to Sample Brainteasers
(Source: Flickr) Last week we provided a list of ten (10) sample brainteasers that you might come across in consulting interviews. If you didn’t read the post, you might want to read it before taking a look at the answers below (to read last week’s post, click here). Answers to Sample Brainteasers A round manhole cover cannot fall […]
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Brainteasers
(Source: Flickr) Brainteasers are another kind of question that you might confront in consulting interviews. They are likely to be tricky and to require “out of the box” thinking. Why do interviewers ask brainteasers? Well, since clients can sometimes ask questions which have no immediate or obvious answer, the goal of the brainteaser is to assess […]
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Math Questions
(Source: Flickr) In consulting interviews, the interviewer may quiz you on your quantitative skills with one or two short maths questions. Below we outline six (6) sample math questions to give you an idea of what to expect: What is 13 x 13? What percentage is 5 of 42? The total smart phone market is $900 […]
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Sample Guesstimate Questions
(Source: Flickr) The guesstimate question (market sizing or other) is one of the types of question you are likely to encounter in consulting interviews. Below we list twenty three (23) sample guesstimate questions broken down by question type. Population Questions How many births are there in America each day? How many petrol stations are there […]
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Approaching the Guesstimate Question
(Source: Flickr) A guesstimate question can be approached by breaking a question down into smaller pieces by asking the interviewer questions and making a series of narrowing assumptions. You can break a question down either by starting big (e.g. making an assumption about the total population) or starting small (e.g. making assumptions about the average household […]
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Guesstimate Questions
(Source: Flickr) The guesstimate question frequently comes up in consulting interviews. It will often be a market sizing question, which may be a standalone question or part of a larger case question. What will you be asked to do? The typical guesstimate question will require you to estimate a number by doing a rough “back […]
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How to Answer Behavioural Questions
(Source: Flickr) In consulting interviews, when you are asked a behavioural interview question, you will typically want to include five things in your answer: A specific situation; The goal you set for yourself or obstacle you faced; The action you took; The outcome achieved; and What you learned from the experience. [For more information on consulting interviews, […]
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Sample Behavioural Interview Questions
(Source: Flickr) Behavioural interview questions are one type of question that you are likely to encounter in the consulting interview. Below we provide thirteen (13) sample questions to give you an idea of what to expect: Tell me about yourself. Can you provide an example of a time when you demonstrated leadership? Can you provide […]
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Behavioural Interview Questions
(Source: Flickr) In consulting interviews, the interviewer is likely to ask questions based on your résumé with the aim of understanding your skills and experience. Your résumé may provide a structure for these kinds of interview questions, but you also need to be prepared to elaborate on your experience including by highlighting your skills using […]
(Source: Flickr) Below we outline twelve (12) tips for nailing the guesstimate question: 1. Practice Practice doing some guesstimate questions before the interview so that you are prepared. It is a good idea to bring a pen and graph paper to the interview so that you can keep track of your calculations. 2. Know some […]
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Have you ever failed at anything?
(Source: Flickr) Another question that may come up in the consulting interview is “have you ever failed at anything?” This question is designed to assess your ability to learn from experience, and overcome obstacles. In preparing a response to this kind of question, develop a story about a time that you were not able to […]
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Why Consulting?
(Source: Flickr) In the consulting interview, your interviewer is likely to ask you the following straightforward question, “why consulting?” Relevance of the question The question is relevant for two reasons: Your interviewer is likely to ask it in the interview; and You will be much more likely to succeed (in the interview and afterwards) if you […]
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Consulting Interview Question Types
(Source: Flickr) There are six types of questions that you may encounter in the consulting interview: Behavioural interview questions; Guesstimate questions (aka market sizing); Math questions; Brainteasers; Factor questions; and Business case questions (these form the cornerstone of the consulting interview). [For more information on consulting interviews, please download “The HUB’s Guide to Consulting Interviews“.]
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Case Interview Prep
(Source: Flickr) Case questions form the cornerstone of the consulting interview, and reading this blog or reviewing the case prep resources listed below will not be sufficient preparation. If you want to perform successfully, then you will need to do a lot of practice. Many experts recommend at least 30 mock case interviews with friends, […]
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10 Tips For Nailing the Case Interview
(Source: Flickr) ARE you preparing for consulting interviews? In this post we provide 10 tips for nailing the case interview, written in stone. 1. Practice, practice, practice When it comes to the case interview, preparation is crucial for three reasons: The interview process is extremely competitive. You are unlikely to succeed without a lot of practice; […]
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Stress Interviews
(Source: Flickr) In this post we look at the stress interview. If you’re interviewing for consulting positions, then you may be subjected to one. The aim of the stress interview is to put you under pressure in order to see how you will react and whether you can calmly defend yourself. Your interviewers might do this in […]
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Consulting Interview Structure
IN this post we look at the structure of the consulting interview. Firms will normally conduct two or three interview rounds, and each round will consist of two or more interviews back-to-back. The case question is the cornerstone of the consulting interview, and some firms will employ a fixed structure for the case question, asking each […]
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Purpose of the Consulting Interview
ARE you an aspiring management consultant? If so, then you’re in luck. Over the coming months we will be posting about the consulting interview. In this post we look at the purpose of the consulting interview. The purpose of the consulting interview is twofold. Firstly, it is a test of client readiness. Management consultants are hired by senior executives […]
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Saving RadioShack
When the business landscape changes, how can you turnaround a failing company? (Source: Flickr) RADIOSHACK, an American consumer electronics giant of yesteryear, faced chaotic trading on Wednesday as analysts predicted the company would report it’s 10th straight quarter of losses. RadioShack has hired a law firm to provide restructuring advice in an attempt to avert bankruptcy. Assuming […]
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Growth Strategies
Growth strategy begins with identifying the source of the problem – you will want to look at customers, products, the company and its competitors (Source: Culturamix) THE frequently used term business growth simply describes the process of improving some measure of an enterprise’s success, ranging from promotion, product development, new market entry or improving employee productivity. How can we more closely […]
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Mergers & Acquisitions: Valuation
“Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.” ~ Warren Buffett LAST post, I highlighted the importance of strategy when considering the viability of a potential acquisition; however, before a final decision can be made, a consultant needs to estimate the value of the target company. Building on information provided in Management Consulting: […]
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Mergers & Acquisitions: Strategy
MERGERS have had a ubiquitous presence in the news recently as leaders in the airline, publishing, and telecommunications industries have taken steps to consolidate. Just this week, two of the largest advertising entities, Omnicom and Publicis, announced a $35.1 billion merger. In recent months, tech giants Google and Yahoo have acquired dozens of companies, most […]
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Competitive Response
CanadaCo, the largest discount retailer in Canada, currently holds the dominant market share in the industry. USCo, the largest discount retailer in the United States, has decided to expand into Canada by purchasing CanadaCo’s competition. How should the CEO of CanadaCo respond? WHEN considering a case that requires a competitive response, first take a look […]
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Entering a New Market
Your client is a low-cost airline headquartered in Philadelphia with frequent service to cities along the East Coast of the United States. The CEO is interested in expanding service into a small town in the Midwest; let’s call it Greenville. What is your recommendation? THE first step in approaching a question such as this one […]
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Mastering the Case Interview
Demonstrating that you have the business acumen required for the job AFTER impressing interviewers with tales of leadership ability and applicable work experience, the hard part commences: demonstrating that you have the business acumen required for the job. Cases allow consulting firms to see how applicants would react in front of a client when faced […]
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The Hospital Bed Question
THE guesstimate question is a usual type of question that you can expect to be asked when interviewing for a position at a consulting firm. Here is one to test your mettle. The Hospital Bed Question The question is this: How many hospital beds are required in New York city to provide for all of its pregnant […]
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Understanding the Competition
“Know your [competition], know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster.” ~ Sun Tzu YOU are running a company, advising companies or would one day like to be. A company needs to understand its competition, and here are 11 points to help you do that. 1. Identify the competition Who are the […]
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Understanding the Customer
“One of the deep secrets of life is that all that is really worth doing is what we do for others.” ~ Lewis Carol IF THE GOAL in life (and business) is to help others, then a good first step would be to try to understand the people we are aiming to help so that […]