How to engage with interviewers, in a candidate-led case?

Question

I attended a BCG information session today, where they emphasized the importance of "co-creating" solutions during case interviews, mirroring real client situations.

How can we balance "case leadership" with "engagement"? By engagement, I assume it means having a back-and-forth discussion with the interviewer, sharing insights and actions. In such discussions, is it crucial to involve the interviewer in the problem-solving direction by asking if they agree with the approach? I've seen advice suggesting to avoid asking "permission questions." Could you provide insights on how to effectively engage with the interviewer during case interviews?

Answer 1

Hi There,

Great question! Engaging with the interviewer is very important as it will help you to keep them involved and make them perceive you as an equal/potential colleague rather than just a candidate. However, it needs to be done correctly, or else it can backfire. Here are 2 tips to keep in mind:

1. Think out loud: One effective way to engage the interviewer is to voice your thought process out loud, especially when working through calculations. We often interview candidates who remain silent for minutes which leaves us unsure if they are on the right track to solve the case. Sometimes, we really want to help, especially if the candidate is performing well, but we don't step in because the candidate does not share their thought process with us.

2. Take a proactive stance (I would say this is the most important one): Imagine you are the interviewer for a moment, and you want to evaluate these 2 candidates. Which one impresses you the most?

Candidate A: "We can tackle this market sizing question using either the demand or the supply method. Which one do you think I should choose?"

Candidate B: "There are two approaches to solving this market sizing question: demand and supply. I prefer the demand-side approach because... Does this seem reasonable?"

While both candidates are engaging the interviewer in a way, notice how candidate B comes across as more confident by being proactive and suggesting which method to follow.

To sum it up, be proactive at all times, think out loud when possible, to make the interview more of a conversation rather than a formal assessment.

Hope this answers your question, Goodluck!

Answer 2

Hi there,

Case leadership and engagement are not mutually exclusive. They are two sides of the same coin. Candidates who show strong case leadership are usually also very engaging.

Case leadership focuses on driving the direction of the discussion and engagement focuses on keeping the interviewer in the loop about this process, sharing your insights and your thinking - not just what you do but also why and how.

Cheers,

Florian

Answer 3

It means you should explain how you want to proceed, explain your though process, but also be open to suggestions and adjusting direction accordingly, as well as asking for information and asking the interviewer opinion (i.e. validating your assumptions).

Answer 4

Congrats on getting these interviews in the first place! We are looking for the same qualities in the written case as... (read entire answer)

Congrats on getting these interviews in the first place! We are looking for the same qualities in the written case as in the verbal one. You should have 1 hour to prepare so the... (read entire answer)

Answer 5

The actual case is different from office to office and they do not focus on any one specific industry only. The cases... (read entire answer)

The actual case is different from office to office and they do not focus on any one specific industry only. The cases also get recycled with new ones coming in frequently and he... (read entire answer)