Vault Reports - Case Guidelines.doc

Vault Reports Strategies for Answering Business Case Questions
The consulting interview season is upon us, and many of you will soon be facing consulting case interview (a business question presented to you for your detailed analysis). While it's useful to know about advanced
frameworks like Porter's Five Forces and the population of the United States offhand (it's 270, 952,899 as of November 4, 1998, according to the Census Bureau), it's just as important to have a few basic tips down pat.
1. Take notes
As your interviewer presents your case, be sure to take careful notes on the numbers or other facts given. (Always bring a notepad and a pen to a consulting interview.) You don't want to ask your interviewer to later repeat information that has already been given.
2. Ask questions
Your interviewer expects you to ask questions – as many intelligent questions as you need to obtain an accurate picture of the relevant facts in the case. Many inexperienced case interviewees make the error of not asking their interviewer any questions, perhaps afraid that they will look ignorant, or not wishing to “bother” the interviewer. On the contrary – not asking questions is a fatal error in a case interview.
If you don’t know the first thing about the helicopter market, ask how much it costs to manufacture a rotor. If you need to estimate the demand for a beef-flavored potato snack in W