Cracking the Case!

Management consulting firms recruit by conducting case interviews. These interviews can be a nightmare for the unprepared candidate. Here are my two cents on how to do well in a case interview:

1. Get a working knowledge of frameworks such as: Porter's 5 Forces, 5 P's of marketing, BCG Matrix, Relative Market share, value chain analysis, segmentation, process maps, etc. Remember to keep the frameworks in mind while doing cases; but never apply a framework to a case unless it fits in to that case aptly.
   
2. Practice! I believe one should focus of quality of practice rather than on quantity. Hence, 7-12 cases should be enough to get good practice - provided you do these cases with people who have conducted case interviews before. Case interview is not a Puzzle interview where you must solve a tough puzzle on your own. It is a two-way process with elements of leadership, brainstorming, dialogue, structured thinking and crisp communication in it. Make sure you convey your capabilities in each of these areas!
3. While facing the interview be relaxed yet attentive. I believe this helps you to think better and quicker. Sometimes, if you are over-excited, even basic ideas and calculations can skip your mind and you can make stupid mistakes!
4. Connect with the interviewer. This is very important. Often a star candidate can get dinged if he does not connect well. On the other hand, if you are just above average but have good interpersonal skills, you may make it! Also, often interviewers drop cues during a case interview. Only an attentive person will be able to catch those cues. Therefore, look at your interviewer in the eye and try to log-in to his mind. This will certainly help you do well!
5. Verbalize! Always explain to your interviewer what you are doing before doing it. This helps the interviewer visualize what you are doing. This helps him evaluate you better. Remember, he is interested more in assessing how you think rather than in what you come up with.
   
6. Finally, smile! The interviewer will try to challenge you often. Never get stressed out in this situation. The key is to take each challenge with a smile. This will impress your interviewer and will also take the pressure off you.

Good Luck!

A year at INSEAD

This is my first post as a blogger. It is high time.

I must start with my experience at INSEAD. I started my 1-year MBA in January 2007, and now I am about to graduate. I have a dream job -with McKinsey - and I am so happy that I have not studied anything since past 2 weeks. This is unthinkable at INSEAD!

My first month at INSEAD was full of challenges. I was adjusting to the new place, people and information. Everything was new and challenging. In fact I noticed that in the first few weeks here was a healthy tension in the campus. There was a lot of sizing-each-other-up going on. All of us were facing some of the best brains from different cultures and were subconsciously placing them in our heads.

I have rarely slept less than 7 hours a day. I did at INSEAD - at least for the first 2 months. That was busy time as we also had to search for summer internships. Later on I got used to beating the system. Not all readings were supposed to be read. Team work meant: divide and conquer the assignments. Some of the early morning classes could be missed.

Nevertheless, I love the time that I have spent here. I have gained amazing information, perspectives and contacts at INSEAD. I am about to finish the program in December and then a new chapter will open. However, I will never forget the time that I have spent here at INSEAD!