Essex Lake Group Business Analyst Interview Questions, Process, and Tips

Round: resume shortlisting
Experience: The firm provides high quality profit enhancement solutions for some of the world’s leading companies.
Tips: Including start-up experience & civil consulting intern will of great advantage to the candidate.

Round: Interview
Experience: This was the 1st round of interview.

Round: Interview
Experience: HR questions were asked along with guesstimate interview.

Round: Interview
Experience: This was the 2nd round of interview and questions were asked from resume as well.

Round: Interview
Experience: This was the 3rd round of interview and 4 puzzle questions were asked.

Skill Tips: ""Top academic performance along with being energetic, very eager and capable to learn fast. Peoples who have Willingness to travel are most sought for by the company. Being confident is the key to grab the offer and you should be fir for the company and the profile.""
Skills: Strong analytical ability, Logical thinking, Excellent communication skills, Strong team spirit
College Name: IIT Madras

Round: Other Interview
Experience: This was not exactly an HR interview but a similar one where they quizzed us on guesstimate and case studies. Resume points were asked.

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: 1 case study and 4 puzzles were asked.

Skill Tips: Preparation for CAT will prepare you for Quant.
Skills: Mathematics, Basic knowledge of minor (IE), Quants
College Name: IIT-Madras

Round: Resume Shortlist
Experience: There was an initial shortlisting based on pure resume evaluation.There was a freshlist along with a waitlist. I was lucky to get shortlisted on the freshlist.
Tips: Give time to prepare your resume. Take a look at the resumes of seniors.Also get their feedback and comments on your resume.A lot of finishing is required.Dont do any mistakes on your resume.List your best attributes and make it as powerful as possible.Dont get dismayed by other's achievements, make your shine as brightly as possible.

Round: Guesstimate Interview
Experience: My first round was a guesstimate round.The questions asked were pretty basic and I breezed through.The interview was partially stress interview as the interviewer wasn't paying much attention to me, but staring into her phone.
Apart from the two guesstimate interviews, I was given a basic case to solve.
However 'Tell me about yourself' was asked initially to break the ice.So be ready with the answer!
Tips: Dont get perturbed by lack of attention from the interviewer, they are just testing you.

Round: HR Interview
Experience: This was an HR round. The experience was positive.
Tips: Be thorough with your HR answers.Students tend to delay HR prep a lot, however this round is often the deal breaker.You have to be likeable! So give sufficient time to your HR prep for questions like: "Tell me about yourself","Strenghts and Weaknesses"," Why you" and "Why this firm". Tell me about yourself is a very important question, make the answer unique and powerful.

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: The question was basic however the round was a stress round.The interviewer was grim throughout the process.I proceeded step by step through the solution. I gave him three options for entering Delhi, saying that if he was ready to adopt these steps, he could enter the market (I don't remember all, however one was entering the luxury segment like BMW, Audi etc)
After 15 minutes, the interviewer told me that I was wasting his time and that I hadnt come up with a feasible solution.I was a little taken aback but I confidently stated that he had to adopt the steps I had suggested to enter otherwise he culd give up the endeavour.I also said that I wont lie to him just to please him. He then said" How would you feel if I offered you the job right now?"
Elated I accepted the offer.

Tips: Dont be scared.Take your stand,If the interviewer says your solution is rubbish, defend your answer well.Chances are they are just stressing you out. Ask ample questions.They might act that you are wasting your time, but dont hurry up.try to extract as many details about the case as possible.
The interviewer also said that the job is very hectic and involved travelling and if I was up for the challenge.I beamed and enthusiastically said that I was.

General Tips: Practice a lot of cases and guesstimates.They are not very tough, however you need time to get comfortable. Also by the time of the interview, you must have practiced many of them so that the interview would feel vvery easy.
Skill Tips: Practice in groups of 3-4.Practice cases with a friend.
Skills: HR Skills, Case Analysis, Guesstimate Skills
College Name: IIT Delhi
Motivation: Wanted to get into consulting industry.