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• Example of Case Interview

Interview Process

While our interview philosophy and the characteristics we look for are consistent across the globe, actual interview processes vary by region.  Each candidate will be given different sets of problems and different interview environments.  Our goal is to best assess the candidate on a fair and thorough basis before making the decision to recruit.  However, there are a number of core components which candidates will likely encounter throughout their interviews.

The paragraphs below summarize the core components of Monitor's recruiting process and its objectives.  In order to better prepare for Monitor interviews, we recommend that candidates request details on specific interview processes from the local Recruiting Coordinator responsible for arranging interviews.  

1. Resume Screening

2. Round 1 interview:

   Conversational Interview (also known as the "Fit Interview")

   Our process always includes one or more conversational interviews where we attempt to assess a candidate's fit with our values and community.  Rather than focusing on, our conversational interview focuses only on understanding the candidate as a person by learning about his or her values, characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses.

3. Round 2 interview:

   Individual Business Case Interview

   Our process will include one or more individual business case interviews which are designed to gain an understanding of a candidate's analytical capabilities, Candidates are required to spend fifteen minutes reading a written business case and preparing to discuss answers to a series of questions with the interviewer.  These cases are 2-3 pages of written text and are accompanied by 4-6 data exhibits which contain information that will help the candidate conduct analysis and formulate responses to the case questions.  In the business case interview, we are looking for candidates to demonstrate such qualities as

   • Logical thought,
   • Both quantitative and qualitative analytical skills,
   • An ability to make sound assumptions, and
   • Effective use of case data to develop defensible answers and recommendations.

   Please note that it is not necessary to have an academic background in business in order to be successful in the business case interview, We are looking for candidates who have outstanding analytical capabilities; we have consistently found that candidates from all academic and experiential backgrounds can be successful in the case interview.

4. Round 3 interview:

   Group Business Case Exercise

   In the final round of the interview process, candidates will be asked to participate in a group business case exercise, In this exercise, we bring together 3-6 candidates who each spend thirty minutes reading background information on a business scenario, Each candidate is then given an additional thirty minutes to spend working through an individual business problem which contains specific questions to be answered, Candidates read their individual problem, perform any analysis necessary to answer the questions, and then take turns facilitating a discussion about their own problem with the group, Successful candidates not only present their own findings and integrate the input from other group members, but also actively participate in the discussion of others' problems.

   Two Monitor consultants observe as each candidate takes turn leading the discussion about his or her problem, The observers are looking for demonstration of strong analytical capabilities and effective facilitation and interaction skills, it is important to note that this is perform any analysis necessary not a competitive exercise, but rather a collaborative one.

   Role-play Interview

   Candidates may participate in a role-play interview, typically, this interview consists of watching two video clips that depict challenging client interactions. The interviewer asks the candidate to diagnose the situation that he or she observed and may ask him or her to suggest next steps or to role-play related scenarios.  The goal of this interview is to evaluate candidates' interpersonal skills and ability to interact effectively in challenging situations

   Feedback Interview

   The interview process is often concluded with a feedback session where the interviewer will provide the candidate with feedback on the previous interviews, The intent to provide helpful feedback on performance as well as to open a dialogue with the candidate about his or her reaction to the feedback and to the recruiting process in general, Feedback and continual learning are an extremely important part of Monitor's culture and value system, and we look to hire people who are reflective of their own experiences and open to learning from them, this interview is also sometimes used to collect further data on specific skills or characteristics that may not have been fully or robustly tested in prior interviews, for example, if the interviewer feels that he or she does not have enough data on a candidate's analytical capabilities to make a sound judgment, then this interview might be used to further test these capabilities by giving the candidate another business case.

5. Offer