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CAR E E R
G U I DE
VAU LT CASE I NTE RVI E W
P R A C T I C E G U I D E 2
M O R E C A S E I N T E R V I E W S
CASE
INTERVIEW
© 2008 Vault.com Inc.
CAR E E R
G U I DE
VAU LT CASE I NTE RVI E W
P R A C T I C E G U I D E 2
M O R E C A S E I N T E R V I E W S
CASE
INTERVIEW
RISHI MARWAH, SRIDHAR PARAMESHWARAN, ROBERT VUJOVICH AND THE STAFF OF VAULT
© 2008 Vault.com Inc.
Copyright © 2008 by Vault.com Inc. All rights reserved.
All information in this book is subject to change without notice. Vault makes no claims as to the accuracy and reliability of the information contained within and disclaims all warranties. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose, without the express written permission of Vault.com Inc.
Vault, the Vault logo, and “The Most Trusted Name in Career InformationTM” are trademarks of Vault.com Inc.
For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, contact Vault.com Inc., 150 West 22nd Street, New York, NY 10011, (212) 366-4212.
Library of Congress CIP Data is available.
ISBN 13 : 978-1-58131-546-2
ISBN 10 : 1-58131-546-5
Printed in the United States of America
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We are extremely grateful to Vault’s entire staff for all their help in the editorial, production and marketing processes. Vault also would like to acknowledge the support of our investors, clients, employees, family and friends. Thank you!
Table of Contents
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INTRODUCTION |
1 |
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Basic Structure of a Case Interview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Do’s and Don’ts in the Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Basic Structure of the Non-Case Part of the Interview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Do’s and Don’ts of the Non-Case Part of the Interview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Practicing Interviewing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Case Interview Categories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
SAMPLE CASES |
17 |
Amusement Park Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Bicycle Manufacturer Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
B2B Fertilizer Manufacturer Acquisition Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Chinese Chemical Market Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Coffee Chain Market Entry Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Consumer Products Growth Strategy Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Credit Card Company Revenue Growth Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
EU Customs Brokers Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Eyewear Chain Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Health Care CPG Consumer Loyalty Program Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
Housing Loans Market Entry Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
IT Benchmarking and Business Alignment Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
IT Outsourcing Strategy Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83
Medical Devices Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
NGO Partnership Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
Nonprofit Brand Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
Norwegian Widgets Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
Online Gambling Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
Organic Fast-Food Chain Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Outsourcing Commercial Debt Collection Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122
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C A R E E R L I B R A R Y
ix
Vault Case Interview Practice Guide 2: More Case Interviews
Table of Contents
PetCo Revenue Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127
Pro Bono Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131
Publishing Company M&A Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135
Regional Bank Commercial Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .143
Satellite Communications Systems Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .149
Specialty Kitchenware Brand Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .154
Telecom Equipment/Services Provider Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .159
FINAL ANALYSIS |
169 |
APPENDIX |
173 |
Sample Guesstimates/Brainteasers |
175 |
Sample Non-Case Interview Questions |
176 |
Acing the Case: Checklist |
181 |
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C A R E E R |
© 2008 Vault.com Inc. |
L I B R A R Y |