A verbal case study is one part of a Nous case interview. Case interviews are used to test a candidate’s critical thinking skills: problem-solving, math, and communication. In a case interview, you are presented with the information needed to respond to a potential client project. You will be asked to consider the client’s problem, review all the provided information, analyse the data, and develop recommendations.
There is a method to solving cases which can set you up to deliver a successful response.
What does it take to succeed in a verbal case study?
- Clarify the situation – listen carefully, ask questions and take time to make sure you understand the problem before trying to solve it.
- Develop a framework – develop a custom framework by extracting the main elements from the question, breaking it down into components. This will help you organise your thoughts and explain your thinking to the interviewer. Be logical and structured.
- Analyse the information provided – be thorough and structured in your approach.
- Show quantitative thinking skills – quantitative questions will assess your capability solving numerical problems, interpreting graphs, and interrogating tables. You may also be asked to make assumptions when no data are available.
- Develop recommendations – logically summarise your findings and discuss what the client should do.
- Be bold and creative – show your ability to generate innovative ideas and solutions, in a structured way.