Case Study

Case Study / Case Study Interview

Case study questions were first introduced into interviews by management consulting firms. They are now used by many employers, in particular city firms such as the big 4.

Case study questions are used to test candidates' analytical skills, creativity and problem solving ability. They can also be used to give candidates a sense of the type of work they will be doing at a firm.

There is usually no right or wrong answer to case study questions. Interviewers are more interested in finding out how candidates go about solving problems and what methods they used to develop their answer.

Specific knowledge of the topics covered by case study questions may be useful to candidates but is not necessary for answering such questions. Usually any extra information that is required for answering case study questions is proved by the interviewer.

In certain circumstances, interviewers may offer little or no background information with their questions. This puts added pressure on candidates, forcing them to work out a solution based on their own knowledge, or an analysis of the limited information available.

Case study questions help interviewers find out how candidates identity problems and how well they can structure a solution. Top level candidates will pay close attention to their instructions, evaluate all information available to them and present a developed conclusion for their interviewer. These type of questions do require candidates to be able to think on their feet and be resourceful.

As a candidate it is your job to demonstrate your analytical and reasoning skills, speak coherently and defend your opinions. There is no right answer; once you have thought of a line of argument stick to this and spend the majority of your time developing and structuring your thoughts.

Now see case study questions.