Weird Case Interview - RB Middle East

Question

Hi members,

One of my friends gave the first round case interview for RB Dubai office, and the case question was very different. It felt as if it was set up to reject her.

Case: A govt. entity has approached you to identify the root cause (and potential solutions) for the increase in proportion of circulation of currency X (foreign currency) from 10% points to 20% points in the country

Not only the case, the solution to the case was also unusual. The interviewer mentioned that this is due to ‘process inefficiencies’ at the exchange counter resulting in ‘long queues’; hence people not inclined to go to exchange stores (interviewer ruled out any instances of counterfeit currencies, export/ import angle etc.)

Candidate background: works for a top tier consulting firm in the Middle East

Any thoughts? Anyone faced a similar case?

Answer 1

Hi!

First of all: this is not an unconventional case at all. It is in fact a classic diagnostic situation where the focus metric is not the usual boring case book stuff like “profits” or “revenue”. This is exactly the type of questions which interviewers at the top firms love to discuss with candidates - because it immediately shows whether the candidate has a sound method of solving problems, or whether he is just used to replicating lists and buckets (like >95% of candidates).

If you are applying the principles of running a proper diagnostic, the path towards this specific cause would probably be pretty straight forward. One of these principles is for example that you first understand and check the conceptual/numerical drivers of currency circulation, before asking qualitative questions. But this is just one of multiple important points I am teaching my mentees.

Cheers, Sidi

___________________

Dr. Sidi S. Koné

Former Senior Engagement Manager & Interviewer at McKinsey | Former Senior Consultant at BCG | Co-Founder of The MBB Offer Machine™

Answer 2

Hello,

This does seem like a somewhat unusual case, though it is fair play to have cases involving governments and public entities. If you get a weird case like this in an interview, the key is to stay calm and remember you are being tested on your analytical capabilities and logical reasoning, not your knowledge of currency mechanisms.

Answer 3

Hi there!

This sounds like a very interesting prompt.

Not sure why you're saying it was set up to reject her.

It just sounds like an unusual case which is actually becoming more and more ‘usual’ as part of interviews with the top firms.

The background to this is that all the big firms have been getting lots and lots of candidates over the past decade who learned frameworks by heart. That made the interview useless because the interviewer couldn't actually assess the candidate's way of thinking.

So what they're doing now is that they're providing situations that are not easily turned into a ‘template’ e.g., market-entry case type that can be applied across multiple cases.

And that seems to be exactly the situation with your friend.

My recommendation would be to try and practice as much as possible thinking from first principles, just like consultants do - that's what I also teach my candidates.

If you don't know how to do that yet, then get somebody to teach you. It won't only make you a better candidate, it will also make you a top consultant once you start.

Best,
Cristian

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Practicing for interviews? Check out my latest case based on a first-round MBB interview >>> SoyTechnologies

Answer 4

Hi there,

sounds like an unusual case indeed - it's fair to say that the candidate wasn't particularly lucky on this one. That said - instances like this will happen and please note that there are no rules and overly strict guidelines in terms of cases an interviewer can / cannot give. Accordingly, don't expect anything.

At the end of the day, a case interview will always aim to test a candidate's ability to frame, analyze and solve problems in a structured manner, irrespective of case type, client context and industry. With that in mind, it's a good idea to always focus on the honing the skill, rather than banking on certain types of questions

All the best.

Regards, Andi

Answer 5

Hi there,

every interviewer you get was likely in a similar position as yourself some years prior - preparing for case interviews and practicing all the case material available. It is only natural that these consultants will now try to put a spin on the cases they give to new candidates rather than just go with the “standard stuff” that everyone is trying to memorize.

At the end of the day, the case interview is supposed to test a candidate's ability to formulate and structure an approach to a problem, to derive a solution and to think on the spot.

There might always be some weird cases in the mix, so you need to roll with the punches and think from first principles when you get stuck. However, consulting firms don't design cases to deliberately let candidates fail. That would be a waste for everyone and if there is one thing consulting firms don't like it's wasting time and resources (which equates to money).

All the best

Answer 6

Hi there,

It was not set up to reject her.

As us coaches here consistently try to warn you all, please do not go in expecting x and y.

These cases are designed to be unique, unseen before, and test your ABILITY TO REACT TO THE UNKNOWN.

I see nothing wrong with this case at all - in fact, it's a great one!

Look at all these other examples:

https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/what-are-some-of-the-most-unconventional-or-socalled-partner-level-cases-youve-seen-and-whats-the-approach-8107

https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/unconventional-case-interview-how-to-improve-roas-14492

https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/unconventional-case-designing-logistics-network-10767

And some unconventional cases to practice:

https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/candidate-led-usual-style/intermediate/yodaphone-195

https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/interviewer-led-mckinsey-style/advanced/mckinsey-digital-bcg-platinion-oil-gas-upstream-technology-196

https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/candidate-led-usual-style/intermediate/roma-solutions-senior-expert-level-tech-case-240

https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/candidate-led-usual-style/intermediate/cutting-carbs-divestiture-in-the-electrical-power-market-228

Answer 7

Hi there, As a Senior Manager in BCG, I can tell you that luck mainly plays a role in the following way: sometimes yo... (ganze Antwort lesen)

Hi there, As a Senior Manager in BCG, I can tell you that luck mainly plays a role in the following way: sometimes you apply in times where there is growth and projects and get... (ganze Antwort lesen)