From the course: How to Succeed in a Case Study Interview
Ask clarifying questions
From the course: How to Succeed in a Case Study Interview
Ask clarifying questions
- I don't know about you, but I love being around kids. They are so uninhibited, say the darnedest things, and have a zest for life that people often lose as they enter into adulthood. And the number one thing I love about kids: they ask a ton of questions. Why is the sky blue? What's your favorite color? Why can't we bring the monkey home from the zoo? When you're young, you have a ton of questions because everything is so new. Your brain is constantly working, and you're curious about everything. I want you to take the same childlike approach when answering a case study. The key to being successful in a case study interview isn't the solution to the problem given. It's the problem-solving path you took to get there. And that process begins with asking really thoughtful questions about the case presented. So when given a case, it is 100% okay to take a beat, organize your notes, and get clarification where you see holes. Remember, questions are expected because cases are often incredibly vague. And what questions you ask is as much a part of the interview as the conclusions you create. So, for instance, if the question is your company is a gas station, but their main profit comes from their convenience stores. How would you recommend maximizing that space? Depending on the framework you want to explore, you may want to ask the interviewer poignant questions like what are their most profitable products in the convenience store? How is the space currently laid out? How big is the space? Are the gas stations located in cities, rural areas, or the suburbs? From a quantity perspective, which products do they sell the most of? Once the interviewer answers your questions, you will have to do some quick thinking, mental math, and start mapping out how you're going to problem solve through this business scenario. In this part of the interview the employer is testing for your business intuition, your thought process, and if you're going to think creatively through issues for their own clients. Ask contextual questions that give you a bigger perspective of the problem. If you do that, you'll have a better idea of what you're working with and how you can thoughtfully frame out your conclusion. Don't rush through this part of the interview, and if you can have some fun with it. Instead of getting frustrated with how vague the question is, turn on that childlike curiosity and get to work.