What The Oliver Wyman Group Says Concerning The Case Interview

| Thursday, July 14, 2011
By Victor Hong


The Oliver Wyman Group is considered by numerous to be the leading financial services consulting firm and amongst the very top general business management consultants on the planet. With offices in much more than 50 countries in 25 countries, Oliver Wyman's 3000 experts provide their talents to large businesses and worthy non-profits alike. If you'd like to take part in that team, mastering the strategy of the successful case interview is an important first step - Oliver Wyman says of its heavy emphasis on the case interview "our approach is designed not just to get to know you and to understand more about your strengths and interests, but also to enable you to learn much more about our people and our business."

The recruiter in an Oliver Wyman case interview is looking for 3 fundamental qualities in possible candidate: - intellectual curiosity - strong analytical abilities - interpersonal abilities

The Oliver Wyman group stresses that the case interview is a "scenario that needs a resolution," not a question that needs an answer, and the process for creating that resolution is a "conversation," not a test. An additional way of looking at the business issue you will be presented with at an Oliver Wyman case interview - it is not an audition for the initial assignment, it's your first assignment, and you need to bring to it the creativity and authority that you simply will bring to every challenge of your working life.

Oliver Wyman's advice on how you can approach the case interview ranges from fundamental and practical tips that could apply to any interview format (arrive early, bring pens and paper, dress professionally) to some key observations about the case interview process. For instance, whilst asking questions of your interviewer is regular procedure in a case interview, Oliver Wyman warns against the open ended question that produces general, untargeted information. Rather, ask questions which will illicit specific answers that reveal your thinking. (The example given by Oliver Wyman is "These products could be sold over a web site - do we have one?" as opposed to vaguer and therefore much less useful "How are they selling these goods?")

Other case interview insights from Oliver Wyman - be alert to any necessary mathematical calculations. Getting them right will demonstrate quantitative abilities, an important talent for a consultant.

And lastly, present a strong conclusion that weaves together all of the information you've received or deduced together with your own unique approach towards the problem. In selling your answer, you will be selling your self!




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