In the world of management consulting, candidate-led cases are widely used as a key component of the interview process. As a candidate, understanding what to expect from this type of case and knowing how to handle them can make all the difference in securing a job offer from a prestigious firm.
In this comprehensive guide, you will find crucial information on candidate-led cases, including an overview of the format, essential tips for success, and example cases to help you sharpen your case interview skills.
Candidate-led cases are a unique type of case interview where the candidate is expected to take the lead and drive the case from start to finish. This format is popular among top-tier consulting firms such as Bain and BCG. The primary goal of a candidate-led case is to evaluate the candidate's ability to structure a complex problem, analyze data, drive a case forward on their own, and draw logical conclusions while maintaining a strong client-focused approach.
A typical candidate-led case interview begins with an open-ended question or prompt, which the candidate must then address using a structured approach. The interviewer may occasionally interrupt with additional questions or guidance, but for the most part, the candidate is expected to lead the discussion.
The case may involve a variety of problem types, including:
As the candidate, you will be tasked with breaking down the problem, identifying key issues, requesting relevant data, and formulating a hypothesis. Throughout the process, you will need to communicate your findings and thought process clearly and concisely.
Candidate-led case interviews are designed to assess a range of skills that are essential for success in management consulting, including:
Successful candidates demonstrate the ability to think critically, adapt to new information, and synthesize data to arrive at well-supported conclusions.
To excel in candidate-led case interviews, consider the following strategies and best practices:
The following premium cases will help you familiarize yourself with the candidate-led case format and practice your problem-solving skills.
Example Case 1:
Hot Wheels – Part 1
In this particular scenario, the task at hand is to provide counsel to Korean Car Parts (KCP), a multinational manufacturer of original equipment for cars which is headquartered in Korea. Recently, they've been experiencing a slump in their profit margins and have enlisted our assistance to comprehend and rectify this downward trend in profitability.
Your role, as the candidate, is to comprehend that requesting a split based on product, competitor, or geographic factors is the most efficient way to advance the case. Upon receiving information that profits in the US have taken a hit, you understand that this is the area that requires investigation - a textbook example of candidate-led case leadership!
Following this, your task is to further segment the US market and request data concerning our offerings in this region or those of our competitors. Note that the interviewer will provide only the data you explicitly request, which, in this instance, pertains to both our products and those of our competitors. Based on this information, we can deduce that our client is facing challenges in the Wheels, Airbags, and Seatbelts categories.
To further the case, the candidate should strive to address the deficiencies in these three product categories, which are primarily due to slow delivery times. When it becomes clear that these issues cannot be resolved and the struggling products cannot be improved, it is concluded that these products should be phased out.
As is evident from this example, steering a candidate-led case doesn't require one to be a rocket scientist! In essence, it involves dissecting the issue into its most fundamental components, requesting relevant data, and tracing the path laid out by the data.
Example Case 2:
Hot Wheels – Part 2
This case was explicitly crafted by me to serve as a counterpoint to Hot Wheels – Part 1 and to exhibit case leadership within a candidate-led scenario.
In this instance, the issue remains identical:
We are consulting for Korean Car Parts (KCP), a global original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of automobile parts headquartered in Korea. They've witnessed a downward trend in their profits recently and have sought our expertise to comprehend and tackle this dwindling profitability.
The case "divides", so to say, right from the onset. Contrary to the first case, where we noticed an increase in profits in certain geographies (Korea and Japan), here, Korean Car Parts is encountering a drop in profits across all geographies. This effectively negates the necessity for a geographic split, marking a departure from what we had to do in the initial case.
Consequently, we need to delve deeper into the macro forces at work, particularly the dynamics among competitors (since the interviewer indicates that some competitors are still flourishing).
Upon requesting the appropriate data, we are furnished with aggregate market data for products. Once again, this is on a macro level, owing to the overarching nature of the problem, unlike the first case where we had a distinctly geographic issue.
From this exhibit, we can discern that the markets for Wheels, Seatbelts, and Airbags are simply on the decline (not a result of our actions), while the remaining two products are witnessing market growth (indicating we might be making some mistakes).
This informs us that the markets for the other two products (Carburetors and A/Cs) are being dominated by competitors. Therefore, it is only natural that we inquire about the competitors in this scenario!
As we receive data about the competitors, it becomes evidently clear that the two competitors experiencing robust profit growth do not even deal in Wheels, Seatbelts, and Airbags; they either never ventured into these markets or have already exited them! Our deduction, therefore, is that Wheels, Seatbelts, and Airbags represent unappealing markets that we should consider withdrawing from.
Notice how our inference in this case mirrors that in the previous one: cease the sale of Wheels, Seatbelts, and Airbags. However, the route we took to arrive at this conclusion was different. The path diverged because the data, insights, and hints provided were different.
And there you have it, a classic demonstration of case leadership.
👉 If you want additional resources, read our article in the case-interview-basics on candidate-led cases and check out other helpful cases.
Mastering candidate-led case interviews is essential for aspiring management consultants. By understanding the format, honing your problem-solving skills, and practicing with example cases, you can significantly increase your chances of success in the interview process.
Remember to structure the problem, hypothesize, analyze data, communicate effectively, and synthesize your findings to demonstrate your ability to tackle complex business challenges and add value as a strategy consultant.
Ian started his career at Appian, an IT Consultancy, where he realized how great a company they were (great people, interesting work, and great company and personal growth prospects). He signed on the dotted line and, 4 years later, he had been promoted twice, moved to Australia, and learned a plethora of valuable skills (Client and project management, leadership, database design, IT architecture, coding, etc.). This experience built the foundation for who he is today, both professionally and personally. Ian joined PrepLounge as more of a "side hustle". He read a lot about personal finance, and it has also been drilled into him to have diversified income streams.
However, what started as a 1 or 2 session a week gig turned into something far more - it turned out that he gets immense joy and satisfaction from teaching! Now, he focuses a lot more on what he loves to do - contracting/consulting has now ironically become the "side hustle"!
