Online Resources
A case interview is a type of job interview technique used mainly by management consulting firms to screen candidates by assessing analytical skills in a pressured real-time environment. Below are several resources that may be helpful when preparing for a case interview.
- CaseInterview.comFree blog content, but registration required. Caters to aspiring management consultants. Founded by Victor Cheng, author of "Case Interview Secrets," who is a frequently cited expert on the case interview.
- Interview Preparation Tips (Bain)Includes case interview guidance.
- Practice Case Interviews (Boston Consulting Company)Reviews consulting interview process and tips.
- Preparing for the Case Interview (Deloitte)Deloitte's case interview prep tool allows you to practice problem-solving skills, analytical ability, and strategic and logical thinking.
- FirstHand (formerly Vault)Access provided by Boston University Career Center. Registration is required for first time users. Follow these steps to create your account:
1. Go to Firsthand and click "Get Started".
2. Click on “Register now” at the bottom of the box. Enter your BU email address on the next page. Complete the registration process and then click “Create Account” to get started.
3. Click on the link Firsthand e-mails you to confirm your email address (this can take several minutes to process). Note: Firsthand will send you a follow up email to “complete your profile.” This is not required, and completely optional.
Excellent resource on what it can be like to work within an industry, company, or profession.
How to Find the Vault Guides and Rankings:
Vault Guides are under “The Library.” Select The Library tab on the left side of the page, and you’ll see a link for Guides in the top navigation bar.
Vault Rankings are under “Careers.” Select the Careers tab on the left side of the page to see rankings in various fields.
The Careers tab also includes FirstHand Industries and Professions which include Industry profiles and Profession profiles.
Books
Ace Your Case! Consulting Interviews by
All strategy consulting hopefuls must master the case interview. This WetFeet Insider Guide provides tips on surviving the case interview; an explanation of the different case types, with classic examples of each; seven practice case questions you can use to practice applying your new skills; detailed examples of how to answer each type of case question, including sample interview scripts.
Location: Pardee Library HD69.C6 A24 2003Publication Date: 2005
Case in Point: Complete Interview Preparation by
(Editions 6-9). The Wall Street Journal calls Case in Point the MBA Bible! Cosentino demystifies the consulting case interview. He takes you inside a typical interview by exploring the various types of case questions and he shares with you the acclaimed Ivy Case System which will give you the confidence to answer even the most sophisticated cases. The book includes over 40 strategy cases, ten case starts exercises and 21 ways to cut costs, plus much, much more!
Location: Pardee Library HD69.C6 C675Publication Date: 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2020
Case in Point, 6th Edition (10th Anniversary Edition) by Location: Online (Internet Archive)Publication Date: 2010
Case in Point: Complete Case Interview Preparation, 5th Edition by
Cosentino demystifies the consulting case interview. He takes you inside a typical interview by exploring the various types of case questions and he shares with you a system that will help you answer today's most sophisticated case questions.
Location: Online (Internet Archive)Publication Date: 2007Fa xian gong zuo li : Jue ding mian shi cheng bai de 22 ge shi zhan an li by Ze ye shi mei yi ge xiang zhao dao li xiang gong zuo de ren yao mian lin de shi qing, Ben shu ji chu 22 ge an li gao su du zhe ru he neng tong guo kao guan de mian shi er huo de man yi de gong zuo.
Location: Online (Internet Archive)Publication Date: 2004
Case in Point: Graph Analysis for Consulting and Case Interviews by
The use of complex graphs in case interviews has exploded. You have a very short time to look at the graph, analyze it, extract what's important and apply it to your answer. This book was designed to help you understand the role of graphs in consulting (both during an interview and on the job). The authors introduce the Ivy Graph Framework, which will allow you to analyze 11 of the most popular graphs quickly, completely, and with great confidence. In addition the book provides eight sophisticated cases with numerous graphs per case and allows you to see how these cases unfold. There is nothing else out there like it!
Location: Pardee Library HF5549.5.I6 C69 2015Publication Date: 2015
Case Interview Secrets by
In Case Interview Secrets, you'll discover step-by-step instructions on how to dominate what many consider to be the most complex, most difficult, and most intimidating corporate job interview in the world--the infamous case interview. Victor Cheng, a former McKinsey management consultant, reveals his proven, insider's method for acing the case interview. Having personally secured job offers from McKinsey, Bain & Company, Monitor, L.E.K, Oliver Wyman, and A.T. Kearney, he has also been a McKinsey case interviewer--providing you with a hands-on, real-world perspective on what it really takes to land job offers. Cheng's prot g es work in all the major strategy management consulting firms, including McKinsey, The Boston Consulting Group, Bain & Company, Monitor Company, A.T. Kearny, Oliver Wyman, L.E.K, Roland Berger, Accenture, and Deloitte, as well as in the strategic planning departments of numerous Fortune 500 companies. Whether you're an undergraduate, MBA, PhD, or experienced-hire applicant candidate, you'll discover: * What case interviewers really say about you behind closed doors but wouldn't dare tell you--until now * The subtle yet specific performance differences that separate those who get management consulting offers from those who don't * The 10 biggest mistakes candidates make in case interviews (and how to avoid them) * The 3 specific things interviewers expect in the first 5 minutes of a case that often decide the outcome on the spot * An insider's take on what interviewers really look for and why--and how to give them what they want Praise for Victor Cheng and Case Interview Secrets "With Victor's help, I went from not knowing anything about consulting to securing offers from McKinsey and BCG." --Mihnea Munteanu, University of Michigan "I received six offers--from McKinsey, BCG, Booz, Deloitte, A.T. Kearney, and Marakon. Everything Victor said was right " --Michael Yang, Northwestern University "Despite having a liberal arts degree from a state school, I landed a dream job with L.E.K. Consulting. Thanks, Victor." --Jackson Boyar, Indiana University "Victor has put me in a very difficult position--now I have to decide between offers from two of the top three consultancies " --Christopher Perez, The Wharton School "In my first attempt to break into consulting, I failed every one of my interviews with McKinsey, Bain, BCG, Oliver Wyman, Monitor, Booz and probably a few others. On my second attempt two years later, I followed everything Victor Cheng suggested and took advantage of every resource he provided ... and received an offer from McKinsey " --Daniel Suo, Business Analyst (Offer Recipient), McKinsey, Stamford "Without Victor's help, I never would have gotten an offer from BCG. What he teaches really makes the difference between getting an offer and not." --Puttipath Tasnavites, Boston Consulting Group, Thailand "After following Victor's guidance, I had a complete breakthrough in my case interview performance and got an offer from Monitor." --Marine Serres, Monitor & Company "As a PhD candidate in engineering, I had an academic background that left me completely unprepared for the case interview process. That's when I found Victor Cheng and ended up getting my dream job. Thank you, Victor " --Zach Jacobson, McKinsey, New York About the Author As a former McKinsey consultant, r sum screener, and case interviewer, Victor Cheng mentors thousands of aspiring consultants via his articles and video tutorials at www.caseinterview.com. As a candidate, he passed 60 cases and received job offers from McKinsey, Bain, Monitor, LEK, AT Kearney, and Oliver Wyman. At McKinsey, he was rated in the top 10 percent of consultants worldwide in his cohort. Today he advises Inc. 500 CEOs.
Location: Pardee Library HD69.C6 C43 2012Publication Date: 2012
The Fast Track: the Insider's Guide to Winning Jobs in Management Consulting, Investment Banking, and Securities Trading by
Get an Insider's Edge on Launching Your Career. Are you thinking about working for the likes of McKinsey, Merrill Lynch, or Salomon Brothers?nbsp;nbsp;Thousands of undergraduates, MBA students, and others are rushing for prestigious entry-level positions in the highly competitive and lucrative fields of management consulting, investment banking, and securities trading.nbsp;nbsp;How are you going to compete?nbsp;nbsp;In The Fast Track, experienced recruiter and fast-track insider Mariam Naficy helps you make the right decisions every step of the way as she guides you through the rigorous, highly specialized recruiting process.nbsp;nbsp;The Fast Track includes: Comprehensive job descriptions of consultants, analysts, and traders, explained in layperson terms. Over twenty in-depth interviews with people in the business at every level from first-year analysts to CEOs and recruiting managers.nbsp;nbsp; Tips on preparing an irresistible rÚsumÚ, giving a great interview, and choosing the right firm.nbsp;nbsp;Listen in as recruiters at a top firm review candidates they interviewed. Profiles of the top forty firms across the country with information you can't find anywhere else, including career paths, office culture, and interviews with employees.
Location: Online & Pardee Library HD69.C6 N33 1997Publication Date: 1997
The Wharton MBA Case Interview Study Guide by
This book explains what consulting firms are looking for in case interviews and the types of cases to expect. It also explains how to approach each of these types of cases and summarizes some of the frameworks that may be helpful in structuring your approach. The guide concludes with a number of cases that recruiters have used in past years.
Location: Pardee Library HF5549.5.I6 W47Publication Date: 1997
