| Topic Name: |
Failure ... to ace the cases ... |
| Message Name: |
Case sharing entirely appropriate |
| Date Posted: |
01/04/2002 |
| In Reply To: |
I've got a BS and MS in engineering and am also looking to get into strat consulting. I've heard a lot about the case interview and some basics about what it entails. At first I thought, being an engineering consultant, that my innate problem solving skills would be enough for me to work a case problem well. However, I've been hearing more and more, from seemingly intelligent people, that the case interview is a killer.
Having taken tons of math classes myself, it surprises me that someone with a PhD in applied math lacked structure in their solutions. It surprises me but I've been hearing about more and more difficulties that people are having with the case.
In my industry, there is a very well accepted design practice called Performance-Based Design where we essentially throw out all "accepted" practices, all conventional rhetoric and all prescriptive regulations. We start with a clean slate and just apply sound engineering principles and common sense in order to meet the client's goal. I figured my experience with this design practice would give me all the structure and analytical tools necessary to do well in a case interview. I'm beginning to think that I've overestimated myself.
Shot_down, I don't suppose you could give me an example of the problems that you were presented with in some of your case interviews? If this is inappropriate of me to ask then I apologize. If you'd prefer you could email me at wayman28@hotmail.com
Thanks. |
| Message: |
FYI ... case sharing is entirely appropriate. That's how the many case practice books by Vault, Wet Feet press, etc. are built.
Also, the major firms know that practice and poise under pressure are critical in case interviews, and they encourage practice ... as evidenced by interactive cases on many firm web sites (McKinsey, BCG, maybe Mercer) and the fact that firm consultants lead "crack the case" sessions before interviews at major business schools.
So, by all means, post the case questions (or at least, the starting scenario and issue) here ... might be a good way for others to generate practice materials.
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