During assessment centres, companies might ask you to deal with a case study of a business situation. Here are Futureboard’s tips on case studies.
During assessment centres, companies might ask you to deal with a case study of a business situation. Here are Futureboard’s tips on case studies.
Case studies generally consist in dealing with a specific business situation, usually focusing on industry news. Candidates generally get about 45 minutes to go through the material offered by the company, dealing with a hypothetical business problem.
They should then show understanding of the brief given and report back with recommendations on how to solve the problem.
Megan Nee, consultant at Futureboard, says: “Case studies give companies the chance to test your analytical and problem-solving skills while presenting them back what you’ve learnt.”
Nick Barker, consultant at Futureboard, adds: “It’s important that you manage your time effectively and draw out what’s relevant while reporting back. The company wants to know if you have a solution that will improve the process in place.”
Nick says it’s also essential to keep time in mind and choose quality over quantity while talking solutions. Backing up your evidence with your own knowledge also gives plus points.
Case study questions generally involve business investment scenarios. They can be answered with the SWOT (Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats) technique or with the less notorious PESTLE analysis.
The PESTLE analysis, which is sometimes referred as PEST analysis, is used as a tool by companies to track the environment they’re operating in or are planning to launch a new project/product/service etc.
PESTLE is a mnemonic which in its expanded form denotes P for Political, E for Economic, S for Social, T for Technological, L for Legal and E for Environmental. It gives a bird’s eye view of the whole environment from many different angles that one wants to check and keep a track of while contemplating on a certain idea/plan.
Futureboard wishes you good luck with your assessment centre!
Picture by: Easy Marketing Strategy
