Schedule mock interviews on the Meeting Board, join the latest community discussions in our Consulting Q&A and find like-minded Interview Partners to connect and practice with!

Anonymous A

on Jun 20, 2017

Global

How to prepare case interviews in a language you're not fully familiar?

Hi there,

I've recently been invited to start the process at ATK Madrid.

I've never learned Spanish in school but I've interacted with Spanish people from a very young age and I feel my understanding of the language is fairly good.

I've asked the HR if I would conduct the cases in Spanish or English, she said that ideally, I should try to do it in Spanish but that they would try to make the linguistic barrier as small as possible.

My question is: What is a realistic plan to follow that would allow me to be decent doing cases in a third language that one not fully grasp? Jumping right into it and start doing cases? Perhaps creating a table with the main terms (profits, rev., costs etc)? trying to have random conversations with natives?

Appreciate hearing a couple of ideas.

Cheers

5.2k

Be the first to answer!

Nobody has responded to this question yet.

Top answer

Francesco

Coach

on Jun 21, 2017

#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success: ➡ interviewoffers.com | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi Anonymous,

the kind of preparation would depend on how much time you have before your interview and your current Spanish level. I will assume you have a couple of weeks before that and a B2 level; in this case, in addition to the points mentioned by Christian I would suggest to do the following:

Calculate the time available before the interview for Spanish preparation only; then prepare a plan where you allocate the activities below in your calendar
Perform the following in the defined slots, identifying which are the most challenging areas:
- Read cases in Spanish – this should give you an idea of the most common words and help you to highlight what you should learn
- Perform live cases in Spanish on PrepLounge or with peers
- Listen to Spanish business-related podcast in dead time to absorb the language
After a couple of days, perform a review process of the words/expression more difficult for you to absorb and allocate a specific time to review them in your daily schedule.

Hope this helps,

Francesco

Christian

on Jun 21, 2017

I have been in a similar situation. Having done a few interviews, I found the language less than a problem than I had thought. I would practice as many cases as possible in English, your native language and of course in Spanish. The case preparation as such is more important than which language you are practising in.

Some more tipps:

a) Learn the most important business words.

b) You will realise that there some expression you will be using a lot ("May a take a moment to structure my thoughts?" "I would first investigate..." "My recommendation is X for the following three reasons.."). Think how you would say these expressions in Spanish.

c) Don't be afraid to use the English terms in the interview if you can't think of the right Spanish word. With a small apology for your "Spanglish" they don't mind too much in my experience.

d) When preparing for the personal fit part (as improtant as the case!!) think about the most probable questions and about the story you will tell them in your answer. Practice your answers in Spanish (story in indefinido, descriptions etc in imperfecto).

Buena suerte!

Deleted user

on Sep 26, 2020

Hi A!

Basically, you can work on cases in Spanish, write down the most important business words and learn them, and watch some videos on the Internet about the interview process in Spanish.

It is also highly recommendable for you to practice cases with natives or order a couple of sessions with a Spanish speaking coach to simulate the entire holistic interview process and get professional feedback!

Hope it helps!

Best,

André

Anonymous B

on Sep 17, 2018

If you still check this and don't mind me asking, how did the interview process (and preparations for the interview) go for you? I hope it was a success!

Clara

Coach

on Nov 28, 2020

McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

No matter what the local language is, the materials are going to be in English (e.g., in my case, Madrid office, interviews were in Spanish mostly but the interview materials and test were in English). It makes sense if you think it, since it´s the way to standarize it.

however, for sure you need to be fluent in Spanish :/

Cheers,

Clara

Top Answer by

Francesco

Coach

#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success: ➡ interviewoffers.com | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Product Life Cycle

The product life cycle is a way to map the common stages a product undergoes throughout its lifespan. The product life cycle is typically divided into 5 different stages, each having specific strategic decisions affecting profits and revenues: Four Stages of the Product-Life-Cycle(1) Development: In the development phase, the product has just been finished and the most important facts and figures have been determined. As no profits are made here, this phase is not shown in the curve diagram.(2) Introduction: In the first phase, the product is introduced. Normally, at this stage, there are a few competitors and customers. Therefore, sales and profit are low and the risk that the product will not succeed is high. In order to boost sales, the focus lies heavily on promotion activities.(3) Growth: Products that succeed in addressing customer’s needs will lead to an increase in sales. Advertisement is still a key component to promote further growth.(4) Maturity: At this stage, the product can be seen as well established and widely accepted within the targeted customer group. Profits are high and risks are low. Typically, in this phase, competition increases. To keep the market position and expand this phase, companies often employ strategies such as the introduction of complementary or updated products or simply invest in marketing activities.(5) Decline: At this point, the product may not fulfill the current needs of the customers, and sales start to decline. The important decision at this stage is deciding when to take the product off market, such that the client optimizes financial gains and minimizes losses due to time and investment. Meaning of the Product-Life-Cycle in Case InterviewsThe product life cycle is a key concept in case interviews, especially when dealing with market entry, competitive strategy, or growth opportunities. Candidates should be familiar with the different stages and be able to derive strategic decisions accordingly.A common case question might be: "A company is planning to launch a new product. What factors should be analyzed to maximize success in the introduction phase?" A structured approach should consider aspects such as market demand, competitive landscape, pricing strategy, and marketing efforts. Similarly, cases related to the maturity or decline phase could focus on whether a product should be further developed or phased out.

View article

Skills Tested in a Case Interview

If you want to enter the consulting field, you probably already know how selective the industry is and that it only chooses the best and most outstanding candidates. Therefore, the application process is quite intensive and demanding. Case interviews are significantly different from traditional job interviews due to their complexity and specific requirements, as they simulate real business scenarios.To succeed in case interviews, certain skills are essential. These need to be improved and refreshed before the interview to ensure optimal performance. Below, we provide a brief summary of the essential skills you should master to excel in case interviews and differentiate yourself from the competition.

View article