How to improve the ability to drive a case?

Question

One feedback I got a few times is that I am not driving the case actively enough, and the interviewer sometimes feels that I am "waiting for guidance".

I have reflected some possible reasons:

1. My structure was not comprehensive or accurate enough and I "got lost"

2. I did not ask the correct question to "proceed" the case.

3. I did not get enough insight from calculation or chart given.

I'd like to seek advice on how to improve this "drive" of proceeding the case.

Also, how should I balance between leading the case and having enough conversation with the interviewer? I feel that sometimes if the drive is too strong, the case interview becomes very monologue and I am not having enough dialogue with the interviewer.

Appreciate your advice!

Answer 1

Hi A,

follow these steps:

Rephraze the question
Ask 2-3 specific clarification questions
Take time and drwa the case structure
Communicate it top-down to the interviewer and get agreement where to start
Navigate in the analysis through the structure, ask specific questions
Do intermediate summaries at the end of each bucket
Take time and summarize the final recommendations
Ask whether interviewer has any questions to your recommendations

Good luck,

André

Answer 2

You should maybe be more proactive, e.g. by
- not asking broad questions, but try to anticipate your answer and ask for further details
- leading the interviewer through your issue tree by starting with a block, giving a rationale behind your prioritization

Best,
Antonello

Answer 3

You need to picture yourself at the client site, in front of a whiteboard, with your team, figuring out what you need to do next on this project.

Truly reflect on what you need, what you're missing, or what you don't currently understand about the situation. Then, ask questions to fill this in.

This is super hard to learn, and impossible to teach through some written tips/techniques. I'd be happy to give you a crash course in this - 1 hour is all you need to have a complete mindset shift in this area!

Answer 4

Hi there,

lack of drive is a quite common mistake and relatively easy to fix most of the time. Many people have the issue you mentioned, they key to be proactive is to state a hypothesis after your analysis (whatever the finding you had) and then ask a question to the interviewer to verify it and proceed forward with the case.

In terms of driving the case too much: I would say it is quite unlikely unless you have a very strong personality. I would err on the proactivity side as it is far more likely that the interviewer will find you not proactive than too proactive.

Hope this helps,
Francesco

Answer 5

Hey, I recently got an offer at Mckinsey. I'll be happy to give you my two cents and do some prep to help you out. Sh... (read entire answer)

Hey, I recently got an offer at Mckinsey. I'll be happy to give you my two cents and do some prep to help you out. Share your profile so I can dm you. Cheers