Identify skills the interviewer is testing for

- Have you ever seen the movie "The Notebook"? In it, Allie and Noah are star-crossed lovers from different sides of the tracks. The movie is a constant tension of whether or not they should stay together. After one particular late night fight over whether they can keep seeing each other, Noah shouts at a very indecisive Allie, "What do you want, Allie, what do you want?" I kind of resonate with that when it comes to case study interviews. What do you want employers, what do you want? It's really easy in these types of interviews to get overwhelmed and feel like they are looking for some fairy unicorn with communication skills of a magical creature but also has a rough and tough demeanor with the analytical skills of a Harvard PhD. If you aren't careful, it can feel like you will never measure up. And that lack of confidence, my friend, is definitely not going to help you in these interviews, so let's make it stupid simple. Here are three things every employer is looking for in your case study interview. Number one, they are testing your business acumen. In these interviews, employers are looking to see that you understand the concepts you'll experience on a daily basis. Makes sense, right? They want to make sure you are prepared for the work ahead. These concepts could include, but are definitely not limited to: profitability, market sizing, pricing, mergers and acquisitions, competitive analysis, and cost-benefit analysis. Basically, they want to make sure that business degree of yours or classes you took are getting some good use. Number two, they are testing your soft skills. Interpersonal skills are just as important in this type of interview as technical skills. After all, it is a people business. Employers are looking to see that you are confident, humble, intelligent and eloquent. The most important part? They want to ensure that you will represent the company well as this interview often places candidates in client facing roles. This is your opportunity to wow them with your professionalism. Number three, they are testing your analytical skills. While you don't have to be a rough a tough technical mind with that Harvard PhD to succeed, employers do care that you've got some analytical chops. They want to see that you're capable of quickly sifting through data and synthesizing it into a conclusion. I cannot say it enough, strategic thinking and problem solving are the cornerstones to these type of interviews. Focus on brushing up on those business concepts, practice your communication skills, and bring some confidence to your problem solving game. Do that and you are already ahead of your competition.