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Assessment Centre Case Study
All the information you need about case studies as they appear at employers' assessment processes. Including a unique opportunuty to practice some important case study concepts.
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Practice in-tray and e-tray concepts online. Learn about tasks prioritization and decision making.
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Please select which type of case study are you interested in learning about:
1. Consultancy and business management case studies
2. Case studies found at assessment centres for various positions in finance, banking, audit, marketing, IT, sales, and more. More information about this can be found below.
Assessment centre case studiesA case study exercise is one of several tools that evaluate a wide array of candidates' abilities from analytical and strategic skills, creativity, and problem solving, to an understanding of basic commercial and marketing principles, time management, working under pressure, and oral communication skills. You may be asked to complete the case study as an individual exercise or as part of a group to allow assessors to evaluate your ability to work in a team. Some employers will set case study exercises as a discrete element of the selection process, others may combine them with an interview. In general, case studies belong to one of two main groups:
Subject related Specific and professional knowledge of subject topics is required. In cases of candidates applying to a role where industry knowledge is essential, the content of the case study is directly relevant to that role. In these cases, candidates are required to use their existing knowledge and experience to identify key information from the brief. For instance, Project Managers may be asked to plan for the release of a new product, which incorporates scheduling, budgeting, and resourcing.
General These case studies are designed for a broad audience of candidates who are tested for different positions. Answering the case study questions does not require any specific knowledge, and most questions can be answered with common sense. Any information that is required for answering the case study questions will be provided by the assessor, whether by word or through additional documentation. These case studies are much more popular as they are completed by a vast number of candidates who are applying to a wide array of positions.
What does it look like?Typically, the case study introduces a series of fictional documents such as reports and results from a recent market research. These documents may relate to hypothetical or real life situations. You are asked to analyze the case at hand and make business decisions or give a brief verbal or written report of your recommendations. You may also be drip-fed additional information to assess and respond to throughout the allocated time. In some instances, these exercises will include content that is relevant to the company's affairs, giving candidates a taste of a real day-to-day task.
Popular topics that appear in case studies
- Strategic decisions in global or local contexts.
- Expansion of departments, acquisition of new companies or products.
- Entrance into new fields of development and product lines.
- Exploring new markets.
- Reconstructing organizational trees.
- Creating advertising campaigns.
Questions you are likely to be askedThere are two types of questions that can be asked by the assessors. Questions whose nature is quantitative would ask to perform some numerical calculations, requiring basic mathematical operations, nothing that exceeds the use of the four basic operations, percentages and ratios. Questions of a more qualitative nature can relate to strategic decisions, future projections, and market analysis. Popular questions would be:
What penetration strategy do you find suitable for the Chinese market?
What are the changes that company Y must go through if it seeks preservation of existing markets?
What are the approximate annual developmental costs of comany X?
*Case studies and e tray exercises. Quite often, an in tray test will involve a short case study based on the same principles mentioned thus far. Therefore, we highly recommend to practice with our online-based in tray exercise.
Tips and approachesIn many respects, solving a case study is like sitting an in tray test. It demands time management, prioritization and distinction between important and peripheral. Case study exercises are usually designed to have more than one ‘correct’ answer; as long as you logically justify your recommendations and they stand up to questioning by the assessor, then your analysis can be regarded in a positive light. Don't spend too much time trying to learn the nuances of a particular industry. Focus instead on tackling common challenges faced by most businesses. Even though you are working against the clock, take time to analyze the situation before attempting to make notes or answer the questions. Identify the key issues, and then prioritize them by importance so that you discuss the most pertinent issues first
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