Corporate Finance Advisory Deparment at McKinsey

The case interview is one of the most challenging parts of the application process for consulting jobs. But why do companies prefer this method over traditional interviews? The answer lies in the many benefits case interviews offer — not just for you as a candidate, but also for the companies themselves. Let’s first explore why case interviews can be valuable for you before taking a look at the perspective of consulting firms. The Benefits of Case Interviews for You as a CandidateA case interview is very different from traditional job interviews because it simulates real challenges from the day-to-day life of a consultant. It gives you direct insight into typical problems and the ways of thinking and working in consulting. At the same time, it helps you identify your strengths and weaknesses while showing how you handle stressful situations. You’ll get the chance to test your resilience, decision-making skills, and analytical thinking — all essential qualities, not just in consulting.Additionally, a case interview allows you to gain hands-on experience. You’ll learn to work efficiently under pressure, use resources effectively, and develop innovative solutions for complex problems. Even if you don’t pass the interview, you’ll often receive valuable feedback to help you prepare for future opportunities. In group case interviews, you also get to showcase your teamwork skills — an important factor for your success in consulting. How Companies Benefit from Case InterviewsCase interviews also offer a range of advantages for companies. They allow employers to assess candidates in realistic scenarios and pinpoint the skills that are crucial for the job. By using practical challenges, companies can thoroughly evaluate a candidate's suitability and ensure they meet the demands of day-to-day consulting work.Moreover, case interviews are an efficient and standardized method that makes the selection process more objective and streamlined. They enable companies to test the specific skills needed in consulting, helping them identify the most qualified candidates. At the same time, these demanding interviews enhance employer branding by showcasing the company as an attractive and professional workplace. They also provide candidates with valuable insights into the company’s work environment, potential projects, and industry focus areas. What Skills Are Tested in Case Interviews?In case interviews, consulting firms want to ensure you have the key skills needed for a successful career in consulting. These include:Problem-Solving Skills: How do you approach complex challenges?Analytical Thinking: Can you critically assess information and draw logical conclusions?Structured Thinking: Are your arguments clear, logical, and goal-oriented?Quantitative Skills: How comfortable are you with numbers and data and can you perform quantitative analyses?Communication Skills: Can you present your solutions clearly and persuasively?Creativity: Do you come up with innovative approaches to tackle unusual problems?This might sound like a lot, but you're already on the right path! With proper preparation and practice in presenting these skills effectively, you’ll lay a solid foundation for your consulting career. Key TakeawaysCase interviews are an essential part of the consulting industry. They’re a crucial element of the application process and bring benefits for both sides.For you as a candidate, they provide a first glimpse into the typical tasks of a consultant’s day-to-day work. They also give you the chance to showcase your skills directly during the interview. Additionally, case interviews help you identify your strengths and weaknesses. Even if things don’t work out, you’ll often receive valuable feedback to help you prepare for future interviews.For companies, case interviews are a vital tool for realistically assessing a candidate's abilities. They allow firms to check whether you have the right skills and can handle the demands of a consulting role. Overall, they provide an efficient and practical way to identify the best candidates.Case interviews are challenging, but they’re far from impossible to master — with the right preparation. Make use of our resources and take the first step toward your consulting career!

In the field of consulting, the hypothesis plays a central role in the analysis of problems, the development of solutions and the derivation of strategic recommendations. A hypothesis is a preliminary assumption or conjecture made on the basis of existing information and data. It serves as a starting point for investigations to gain empirically verifiable knowledge. This article explores the meaning, purpose, and application of hypotheses in the consulting context.The Importance of a Hypothesis in ConsultingIn the world of consulting, where complex business issues must be solved, the hypothesis is a fundamental component in developing structured approaches to solving them. A hypothesis allows consultants to sort through their thoughts and focus specifically on certain aspects of an issue. It also serves as a guideline to direct and guide the research process as data are collected and analyzed.The hypothesis also functions as an "educated guess" or informed conjecture based on existing knowledge, experience, and market insights. It helps structure the advisory process and guide efforts in the right direction.Components of a HypothesisA well-formulated hypothesis consists of several essential components:Independent and Dependent Variables: The hypothesis defines the relationship between an independent (manipulated) variable and a dependent (measured) variable. The independent variable is the one that is purposefully changed in an experiment, while the dependent variable is the response that is measured.Prediction: The hypothesis contains a clear prediction about how the change in the independent variable will affect the dependent variable. This prediction is what is tested in the experiment.Testability: A hypothesis must be testable, meaning that it can be tested by experimental investigation. It should be formulated in such a way that its correctness or incorrectness can be determined from observations and data.Clear Formulation: the hypothesis should be precise and clearly formulated to avoid misunderstandings. Clear wording also facilitates communication of the results.The Purpose of a Hypothesis in ConsultingFormulating a hypothesis serves several important purposes in consulting:Directional Thinking: A hypothesis forces consultants to think about possible causes and relationships that may have led to a problem. It promotes structured thinking and prevents aimless poking around in problem-solving.Focused Analysis: Hypotheses help focus the investigation on relevant data and information. This prevents an overload of unimportant details and allows for an in-depth analysis of the aspects that are most likely to have an impact.Measurable Results: A clear hypothesis makes it possible to establish concrete criteria for the success or failure of an investigation. This creates a basis for evaluating the effectiveness of proposed solutions.Structured Communication: A precisely formulated hypothesis facilitates communication between consultants and clients. It enables the planned steps, methods and expected results to be communicated in an understandable way.The Application of Hypotheses in ConsultingThe use of hypotheses in consulting spans several key phases of the consulting process and contributes significantly to structuring and finding solutions. In the problem identification phase, hypotheses help identify potential causes and influencing factors of a business problem by serving as a starting point for in-depth investigations.During data collection and analysis, hypotheses act as a guide to extract targeted relevant information, enabling more precise and focused data analysis.In the solution development phase, hypotheses play an important role in the evaluation and selection of different solution approaches. By serving as criteria to assess the probability of success of different options, they contribute to the development of the most promising solutions. Finally, hypotheses enable strategic recommendations to be derived. They provide a sound basis for formulating persuasive arguments in favor of particular strategies and for convincing clients of the soundness of proposed actions.Overall, the application of hypotheses functions as a systematic approach in consulting to bring structure to complex issues, perform targeted analyses, and ultimately derive informed decisions. This approach promotes the efficiency and effectiveness of the consulting process and ensures that the solutions developed are based on sound and validated assumptions.ConclusionThe hypothesis is an essential tool in consulting that helps structure complex problems, conduct targeted analyses, and derive informed solutions. It promotes a structured and focused approach and plays a crucial role in communicating ideas and recommendations to clients. In an industry based on informed decision-making, hypothesis is a powerful tool to influence the success of consulting projects.