What is a case study interview? What are common case study interview questions? How do you crack a case study interview? As a tech career coach, I’m frequently asked these questions by job seekers looking to break into my industry.
Following the recent success of our technical interview prep guide and one-way interview prep guide, I caught up with professional resume writer and interview coach Paula Christensen to learn how you can best prepare for a case study interview.
Here’s what she shared about case study interviews and how to succeed in them:
What Is A Case Study Interview?
For starters, what’s a case study interview? “A case study interview is a specific interview method in which applicants are given complex business problems to analyze and solve on the spot,” explains Christensen. “They assess a candidate’s analytical and critical thinking skills as well as personality traits such as adaptability and curiosity.”
According to her, employers use case study interviews to not only evaluate how applicants approach problems, but also the analytical frameworks they use, as well as their communication skills.
How To Prepare For A Case Study Interview
Now, how do you effectively prepare for a case study interview? Perhaps not surprisingly, preparing for a case study interview has a lot of similarities to preparing for a regular interview.
First, “To enhance any interviewing skills, especially case study interviewing skills, practice is essential,” argues Christensen. She recommends reviewing common case study interview frameworks, then practicing them with a mentor, partner, or interview coach.
Next, Christensen suggests that you “be prepared to ask clarifying questions, learn to structure your thoughts and communicate them clearly, and get in the habit of using data and facts to support your recommendations.”
You also want to be ready for follow-up questions from the interviewers. “Good follow-up questions dig beneath the surface, and by answering them well, you can demonstrate that you have done your due diligence,” adds Christensen.
Sample Case Study Interview Questions
“There are hundreds, if not thousands, of practice case interview questions available online,” says Christensen. “Be selective about the cases you choose and practice situations that closely mimic scenarios you will encounter in your job function and industry.”
With these suggestions in mind, Christensen provided the following several sample case study interview questions along with explanations on how to approach answering them.
Sample Case Study Interview Question 1
“A company is considering entering a new market; what steps would you take to evaluate the potential success of the venture?”
Christensen explains that the interviewer might ask this question with the hope of learning how you evaluate potential business opportunities, including your strategies for collecting and assessing information, as well as your process for making conclusions about the probable success of the venture.
“They also want to understand your approach to assessing the risks and rewards of entering a new market and how you make data-driven decisions,” she says. “Can you demonstrate your understanding of what it takes to evaluate a market? Can you clearly explain your reasoning and rationale for your recommendations?”
Sample Case Study Interview Question 2
“How would you approach a restructuring plan for a struggling company?”
According to Christensen, “This question is designed to test your problem-solving and reasoning skills.” With this in mind, she recommends beginning by collecting information on the company’s current situation, which could include its industry, market, finances, and any recent events that might have contributed to its struggles.
Once you’ve gathered the relevant details, you can then take steps to begin to identify the root cause of the company’s struggles, explains Christensen. Examples of the root cause might include operational inefficiency, a lack of market share, or poor financial performance.
Next, based on the root cause, you’ll want to develop an action plan that addresses the issues you identified, says Christensen. Finally, she suggests communicating how you would execute the plan. “This includes identifying KPIs to measure success and regularly monitoring and adjusting the plan as needed,” she adds.
Final Case Study Interview Tips
Learning how to prepare for and succeed in a case study interview takes time. If you can, try to avoid cramming, and give yourself ample runway to learn the nuances of case study interview questions. Also, consider heeding Christensen’s advice and find someone to support you with the process. You’ve got this!
