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Case Competition Advice

Hi,

I am competing in a case competition with a notable boutique consulting firm. Any advice on how to be successful? We received the materials recently and I am not sure how in-depth we need to go in terms of secondary research. They provided facts and figures as well.

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Top answer
on Feb 12, 2022
Empathic coach, former McKinsey Engagement Manager |Secure offers from top consulting firms

Hi Anonymous, 

congratulations. In terms of prep it is really important to quickly get to the level that you cover each of the basics in casing (structure, problem solving, delivery) and then to get to the second level that you cover these as well as content (all the proposed solutions are great). Try to get to 2nd level if you have time. For the exercise the outcome is much more important than the amount of the prep you are putting in. So ensure your materials 

- answer the questions asked in the format asked and are typo free

- focus on so whats and tell a cohesive story from beginning to end (for example if you are preparing a slide set, ensure you put action titles at the top, then present data that supports these messages)

- contain insights that you and the interviewer can have an intelligent conversation about

Of course feel free to give more information on what the tasks are but I assume you are given data, a problem and are asked to make recommendations.

Ian
Coach
on Feb 13, 2022
Top US BCG / MBB Coach - 5,000 sessions |Tech, Platinion, Big 4 | 9/9 personal interviews passed | 95% candidate success

Hi there,

It's going to be hard to get a good free answer here. Case competitions are so big and complex and nuanced that there's not much we can say here. If you'd like support, feel free to hire one of us!

In general, the same rules apply as in casing. That is:

  1. Be super clear on the objective (answer the question and the question only)
  2. Ruthlessly eliminate any information that doesn't help #1
  3. Organize your answer with a clear, linear, structured story
Lucie
Coach
on Feb 12, 2022
10+yrs recruiting & BCG Project leader

Hi there, 

hard to say, without knowing what the instruction was.

I guess the firm shared some “game rules”. If not I would recommend 80/20 rules,  you prioritize the 20% of factors that will produce the best results. Focus on what is the most important, what will answer the key question

The other option is to ask HR what is expected. 

On the research: it is good to have a basic understanding of the industry, but ensure not overinvest your resources, if the critical information was shared. 

Good luck,

Lucie

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