Definition
The term case interview refers to a type of job interview that includes answering a question about a business-related challenge or situation. Case interviews are meant to assess the job applicant's business, communication, and analytical acumen.
Explanation
Typically, a case interview would be just one phase of the entire interview process. For example, the case interview can be combined with more traditional questions or a behavioral interview. The distinguishing feature of the case interview is the business scenario presented to the candidate, which may be one the interviewer actually faced, and solved, in the past.
Case interviews are oftentimes used by management consulting firms and investment banks. The business scenario will challenge the interviewee's intelligence, analytical capabilities, business acumen, as well as their ability to communicate effectively. The dialog will be two way, allowing the job candidate to ask questions in addition to explaining how they are going about solving this challenge.
In practice, there may not be just one correct answer. While coming to a logical conclusion is important, the purpose of the case interview is to understand the process the applicant goes through when solving the problem. Typically, the interviewee will be allotted fifteen minutes to develop their answer.
Related Terms
- The term stress interview is used to describe a technique that deliberately places the job candidate in a stressful situation to observe how the candidate reacts during the job interview.
Moneyzine EditorSeptember 26th, 2023 - The term panel interview is used to describe a technique that allows several members of a hiring company to interview a job candidate at the same time. Members of a panel interview team typically include the hiring manager, an internal client of the hiring manager's organization, and a member of the human resources department.Moneyzine EditorSeptember 26th, 2023
- A screening interview is part of the job selection process used by potential employers, and recruiters, to evaluate the suitability of a job applicant to fill an opening in an organization. A screening interview is a brief question and answer session, typically conducted in a relatively informal manner.Moneyzine EditorSeptember 26th, 2023
- The term exit interview refers to a meeting with a departing employee during which they are asked a series of questions concerning their experiences with the company. Businesses will routinely conduct exit interviews to determine if there is a systematic reason that individuals are choosing to leave the company.Moneyzine EditorSeptember 26th, 2023
- A job interview is part of the selection process used by potential employers, and sometimes recruiters, to evaluate the suitability of a job applicant to fill an opening in an organization. The job interview allows the employer's interview team to discuss with the applicant their qualifications for the job opening before making a decision to offer employment.Moneyzine EditorSeptember 26th, 2023
- The term informational interview refers to a meeting used to gather information about a specific job, field of work, company, or industry. Informational interviews are not part of the hiring process; they are information sharing sessions initiated by job seekers as well as employers.Moneyzine EditorSeptember 26th, 2023
- The term open interview refers to a meeting where company representatives are willing to speak with potential job applicants, bypassing any prescreening of candidates. Open interviews are held on a specific date and time, allowing any individual interested in working for the company to attend the meeting.Moneyzine EditorSeptember 26th, 2023
- The term illegal interview questions refer to questions employers are not permitted to ask during an interview or as part of the job application process. Under the law, an employer cannot deny an individual employment based on their age, arrest record, color, disability, genetics, national origin, marital status, military service, pregnancy status, race, religion, sex (gender), or sexual preference.Moneyzine EditorSeptember 26th, 2023
