Experts agree on many of the fine points for approaching case interviews:

• Practice extensively before undergoing a case interview. Use books and Web
sites in our resources section for practice cases. Some companies that use case
interviews provide good information on their own Web sites. Boston Consulting
Group, for example, provides an interactive case you can work through for
practice, as well as additional cases you can rehearse with friends. Vault.com,
which has some of the best resources on the Internet regarding case
interviewing, suggests starting out by practicing explaining something like how
to change a tire. Move on to assessing a situation for friends or family
members, such as which bank they should choose for a checking account. In all
cases, try to avoid "um's" and other filler words. Practice summarizing in a
minute or less, advises Vault.com.
Boston Consulting Group notes that Harvard Business School produces numerous
case studies that can be used for practice; the studies are likely available in
your business-school or career-services library. Other experts suggest talking to
alumni from your school or others who've been through a case interview, as
well as reading business magazines and periodicals such as the Wall Street
Journal to get a sense of how companies deal with the kinds of issues likely to
be asked about in case interviews. Some universities offer case interview
workshops.
• Listen carefully to the question. Paraphrase it back to the interviewer to ensure
your understanding. As StudentAdvantage.com puts it in its article on case
interviewing, "Listening is the most important skill a consultant has. The case
isn't about you or the consultant; it's about the client." You may also want to
take notes; in most cases the interviewer will allow you to do so. Vault.com
suggests bringing not only a pad of paper but a pad of graph paper in case you
want to create a graph as part of your conclusion.
• Silence -- but not too much of it -- is golden. The interviewer expects you to
take a minute or so to collect your thoughts, so don't be afraid of silence. It's a
nice idea, however, to ask the interviewer if it's OK to take a moment to
ponder the case. And don't take too much time. Experts agree that five minutes
would be excessive.
• Remember that rarely is there one "right" answer for analyzing a case. Your
process for reaching your conclusions is equally important to the interviewer as
is the conclusion itself. In fact, the interviewer wants to observe as much of
that process as possible, so it's important -- once you've taken the time to
gather your thoughts -- to "think out loud" as you're working through the case.
Although there is probably not one right answer, the McKinsey representative
who spoke at Columbia warns against "wrong approaches," including "ignoring or
forgetting important facts, defending impossible ideas, and force-fitting the
wrong structure onto a problem."
• Don't be afraid to ask questions. The case interview is meant to be interactive,
with lots of back and forth between you and the interviewer. Questions are
 expected, especially because the information provided about the case will
likely be incomplete. The interviewer will be looking at your resourcefulness in
collecting information. Make sure you ask your questions in a logical -- not
random -- progression. Vault.com notes that it's helpful to adopt "the persona
of an actual consultant trying to learn about the assignment" and warns that
failing to ask questions is a fatal error in the case interview. Be sure, also, to
listen carefully to the answers to your questions. And don't get rattled if the
interviewer wants to know why you want the information you're asking for. It's
all part of understanding your thought process.
• Construct a logical framework with which to explore the critical issues of the
case. Many of the principles you learned in business school can serve as a
framework. Examples include Porter's Five Forces, the SWOT analysis, Value
Chain Analysis, and the Four P's of marketing. If you have some business
experience, you can can also draw on applicable situations you've encountered.
Make sure your conclusion is grounded in action, not just theory. Be able to
explain and defend your reasoning.
• Prioritize the issues and objectives. Don't get bogged down trying to deal with
every aspect of the case. As you ask questions, you should be able to pick up
clues as to which issues are most important. Some of those clues might be
meant to lead you back on track if you've gone astray, so be sure to listen
carefully. If direction is not forthcoming, don't be afraid to take control of the
conversation, advises Vault.com, to get to the meat of the case.
• Don't be afraid to think outside the box. Creativity and brainstorming may be
just what the interviewer is looking for.
Some of the standard advice about case interviews is the same advice that applies
to any kind of interview:
• Maintain eye contact. Eye contact will help you engage the interviewer,
establish rapport, and contribute to the interactivity of the interview.
• Project confidence. Your ability to work the case confidently, without getting
flustered or frustrated, is key.
• Demonstrate your enthusiasm. Behaving as though you feel it's fun to tackle this
kind of problem is integral to showing how well you'd fit in as a consultant or
whatever position you're interviewing for. Assure your interviewer though your
enthusiastic demeanor that you are exactly the kind of person he or she would
enjoy working with.
Types of case questions:
• Calculation/estimation/guesstimate/numerical/market sizing case
• Business strategy case
• Brainteaser/logical puzzle/IQ question
Job Interview Questions &
Answers:
Know What to Expect and What to Say
Although many candidates dread them, job interview questions are wonderful things!
They are your greatest opportunity to prove to the interviewer that you are the best
person for the job!
The key is to give better answers than anyone else. To do this, you must:
(1) Anticipate likely questions;
(2) Develop excellent answers;
(3) Practice!
Be enthusiastic and confident when responding to questions. Don't rush your answers,
but don't ramble on and on, either. Try to, um, avoid, like, using unnecessary words,
right? And um, repeating yourself or, like, annoying phrases, you know?
A good technique is to write out your answers to the questions you anticipate, then
edit them to make them more concise. Then practice your polished answers out loud,
over and over. If you can have someone help you do a "mock interview," that would be
the best way to do this.
Most questions will relate either to your ability to do the job or to the type of
employee you will be. Here's one that is very commonly used to help the interviewer
learn about both:
"Tell me a little about yourself."
When responding to this request, you should focus on both your personal and
professional values. Always be honest, but talk about your best traits only, especially
those that relate to the position for which you are applying. Highlight experiences and
accomplishments you are most proud of. Here's an example:
"I'm an experienced communications specialist with extensive knowledge of public
information tools and techniques. I've developed comprehensive communication plans
for major public events, written dozens of articles accepted by worldwide
publications, and created specialized educational programs for adults and students. I
am always eager to learn new methods and procedures, and have implemented
continuous improvement techniques in my past positions that saved money and
increased productivity. I like working with people and enjoy group projects, but am
also a self-starter who doesn't mind working on my own. I'm a volunteer with the local
chapter of Special Olympics and enjoy participating in community events. My goals
are to complete my Master's Degree and broaden my experiences with community
relations."
Remember to tailor your response to the specific job. By studying the job
announcement, you'll get a good idea of the skills and experience being sought. Work
those into your response.
Consider this your own personal commercial. If the interview consisted of only this
ONE chance to sell yourself, what would you say?
"What do you feel has been your greatest work-related accomplishment?"
Choose one example from your past that was important to you and helped the
company you worked for. Give specific details about what you did, how you did it,
and what the results were. Try to pick an accomplishment that relates to the position
for which you are applying. Employers like to hear about accomplishments that
reduced expenses, raised revenues, solved problems or enhanced a company's
reputation.
"What is your greatest strength?"
This is a great chance to highlight your best skills. Don't pick just one, focus on your
top three or four. Some examples are: leadership skills, team-building skills, and
organizational skills. Determine which strengths would fit best with the position for
which you are applying. For example, if the job announcement stresses the ability to
handle multiple tasks, you could say: "I'm good at organizational skills, prioritization
and time management. But my greatest strength is my ability to effectively handle
multiple projects and deadlines."
"What is your greatest weakness?"
Be careful with this one. Most interview guides will tell you to answer it with a
positive trait disguised as a weakness. For example, "I tend to expect others to work
as hard as I do," or "I'm a bit of a perfectionist." Interviewers have heard these
"canned" answers over and over again. To stand out, be more original and state a true
weakness, but then emphasize what you've done to overcome it. For example: "I've
had trouble delegating duties to others because I felt I could do things better myself.
This has sometimes backfired because I'd end up with more than I could handle and
the quality of my work would suffer. But I've taken courses in time management and
learned effective delegation techniques, and I feel I've overcome this weakness."

IMPORTANT: Be sure the weakness you talk about is NOT a key element of the
position!
"How do you handle stressful situations?"
Give some examples of stressful situations you've dealt with in the past. Tell how you
use time management, problem-solving or decision-making skills to reduce stress. For
example, tell them that making a "to-do" list helps. Site stress-reducing techniques
such as stretching and taking a break. Don't be afaid to admit that you will ask for
assistance if you are feeling overwhelmed.
If it's true, say you actually work better under pressure.
"What is the toughest problem you've had to face, and how did you overcome it?"
Try to make this about a problem that faced your company and not just you or your
particular work group. The bigger the problem, the better. Give specific examples of
the skills and techniques you used to resolve this problem. Emphasize the successful
results. Be generous in sharing credit if it was a team effort, but be sure to highlight
your specific role.
"Have you ever had to discipline a problem employee? If so, how did you handle
it?"
This is a likely question if the position for which you are applying requires supervisory
duties. Explain how you used problem-solving skills, listening skills, and coaching skills
to help the employee. If those techniques turned the employee around, be sure to say
so. If those techniques failed, tell how you followed the company's policies and what
the end result was.
"Why do you want this position?"
Here's where your research about the company will help you stand out among the
other candidates. Explain how you've always wanted the opportunity to work with a
company that... provides a vital public service, leads the industry in innovative
products, whatever... find something specific about that company that you can tie in
with your answer. Explain how your qualifications and goals complement the
company's mission, vision and values (use specific examples). If you are applying for a
position in a company for which you already work, explain how you'll be able to apply
and expand on the knowledge and experience you've gained from your current
position, and will be able to increase your contributions and value to the company
through your new responsibilities.
"Why are you the best person for this job?"
As with all other questions, be confident and enthusiastic when you answer this. Don't
try to say you are the best qualified person, because you don't know the qualifications
of the other applicants. Instead, emphasize several reasons why you should be hired.
For example: "I've got extensive experience in [name the appropriate field] and have
the specific skills you are looking for. I'm a fast learner who adapts quickly to change
and will hit the ground running. I'm dedicated and enthusiastic about helping your
company meet its goals, and will provide top-quality results with minimal oversite. I'm
an outstanding performer who takes pride in my work. You won't have any regrets
when you hire me."