ICF Next Associate Quality Analyst Interview Questions and Answers

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: Recommended Approach
Broke it into financial and non-financial and said ROI seems to be the best metric in financial. Went ahead after getting her buy-in and looked at various cost components in detail like labor, overheads etc. Throughout the interview, I was asked to go deeper and even when I was asked to move horizontally to other cost components, there was no closure of an issue. In the end, was just asked to summarize whatever we had done so far with 2 concluding statements

PI questions
Totally work and CV related cross questioning Why did you do this ELP and what did you learn Why SMC now This was a kind of stress interview where questions would start before I finished my answer. The same tone carried on in the case where scoping questions were frowned upon
Tips: What was good: Cool under pressure, confident What could be better: Take the hint if the interviewer is not giving data and lay out a structure and then ask questions explaining their relevance

Skills:
College Name: Indian School Of Business (ISB)

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: Recommended Approach
Depends on the interviewer and his discussion

PI questions
About yourself
Something that is not on your resume
Example of Learning from an achievement
Example of Learning from your work experience and what could you have don
Tips: What was good: PI, Patience to go on during the role play What could be better: I got caught up in the role play when he gave excuses not to cooperate

Skills:
College Name: Indian School Of Business (ISB)

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: Recommended Approach
Started with a Cost – Benefit – Risk and was asked to mainly consider capability building under major costs
Was given numbers for 2-3 projects and the case ended after straightforward calculations

PI questions
Talk about a personality trait that has evolved over time
An example of personal and professional success and cross questions on that In hindsight what could you have done better at work
Tips: What was good: PI, Calculations accuracy What could be better: I was given feedback to engage the interviewer more so that I could start with a more refined structure instead of a conventional structure

Skills:
College Name: Indian School Of Business (ISB)

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: Started with a Cost – Benefit – Risk and was asked to mainly consider capability building under major costs Was given numbers for 2-3 projects and the case ended after straightforward calculations
Tips: What was good: PI, Calculations accuracy What could be better: I was given feedback to engage the interviewer more so that I could start with a more refined structure instead of a conventional structure

Skills:
College Name: Indian School Of Business (ISB)

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: Broke it into attracting required labor at the site or outsourcing Within outsourcing talked about factors by which I would identify countries for this task.
In the end was just asked to recommend 2 industries from where I could use skills of existing engineers and I came up with other power generation industries and aerospace for blade design
Tips: What was good: PI, Involving the interviewer in case discussion What could be better: Quicker solution of case, he gave me a lot of hints and nudges for the solution After the final interview, I was also asked to rank each performance to check self-awareness. Overall, SMC checks a lot on cultural awareness, fit in their culture and personality traits.


Skills:
College Name: Indian School Of Business (ISB)

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: So the case started with an exhibit that showed compensation figures for salesmen by geography for a Logistics company (My core domain pre-ISB) and He asked me to draw inferences. First of all he asked me if I see any issue by just looking at the data. I gave a warning that I’m going to make some statements which ideally need to be by further supporting data. I noticed that the compensation was good in states like Massachusetts and New York but not so good in states like Pennsylvania. So he asked me to give probable reasons. I said things like targets vs. geography misalignment, motivation issues, training issues and few other issues that I don’t think I can ever recollect. So he asked me what other data I want. I asked for targets vs. geography data. He showed me some data and I noticed that it was pretty much same everywhere. I said that I can make a broad inference that sales targets were not set properly. To confirm I asked for employee satisfaction data. He didn’t have it. He then gave me a non-standardized balance sheet which had all the information messed up or as ratios etc and asked me to calculate the Net Profit. I very quickly calculated the answer and spurted out a number. The moment I told it I realized that I had messed up the numbers. I announced this myself and asked that I be allowed to do it again. He just smiled and I redid it. At this point I thought that I'm out of the process but I sure did come up with the right answer☺.
Frankly I didn’t get any feeling like I cracked the case etc. But I went with an attitude that ZS would not find me the consulting types (Based on a previously unsuccessful consulting interview). So I was totally chill and nonchalant about the whole thing.
I was trying to do everything fast because somehow I wanted to get done with this. That is not the right way to go about things.
Tips: They were not silly enough to reject me just because I made a calculation error. So the idea is to chill and be aware of what’s going on.

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: They actually used a timer and ensured that I get just exactly 45 minutes☺. I used the SWOT, 4P’s, 3C’s and some fundae I learnt in the Advertising and Consumer Behavior courses and peppered in some prior knowledge I had on cable TV services in the US.
I was given a white sheet and markers. I drew up a SWOT on one side and then put up a set of recommendations on the other in crisp points. Then I explained how I analyzed the case in a structured fashion. There were lots of questions once I presented but I always went back to the structure used and so it went well.
Tips: After a not so stellar first round I went to the quad and slept. So I was really fresh for this interview. I think a fresh mind really helps. So as far as possible try to get enough rest between interviews.

Skills: Case Solving Ability, Case Analysis
College Name: Indian School Of Business (ISB)

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: The focus is more on structured approach and your analytical skills (i.e. the way you interpret the given data). PI was the last round and taken by the Principal/senior person. It is an equally important round and aims to check whether you are the right fit for the role or not. So, questions will be asked to check your situation handling skills and leadership capabilities. .


Tips: Round 1: Be hands on. Do the calculations as for market sizing they are looking for a number. For other questions also, listing down your ideas would be a good idea. The questions are not very hard. They want you to think clearly and logically, with some data analysis.
Practicing a few market sizing/new product launch/market entry/ pricing cases was helpful. Knowing those frameworks comes a little handy.

Round 2: Allocate some time to read all the material and the remaining to make the presentation. (It was not like the usual cases we get in class. But a real world scenario with the different reports, survey results and so on.) Create a clear structure for your presentation. During the presentation, defend your point with good logic. I made an incorrect recommendation as I had missed some piece of information, but then corrected myself there. So, I feel its better to course correct rather than sticking to the wrong point.

Skills: Ability To Handle Situations, Analytical Skills, LOGICAL THINKING ABILITIES, team leader, Team Player
College Name: Indian School Of Business (ISB)

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: The focus is more on structured approach and your analytical skills (i.e. the way you interpret the given data).
Tips: Be hands on. Do the calculations as for market sizing they are looking for a number. For other questions also, listing down your ideas would be a good idea. The questions are not very hard. They want you to think clearly and logically, with some data analysis. Practicing a few market sizing/new product launch/market entry/ pricing cases was helpful. Knowing those frameworks comes a little handy. I went wrong with my calculation a bit, but then corrected myself, so it was okay

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: During the presentation, defend your point with good logic. I made an incorrect recommendation as I had missed some piece of information, but then corrected myself there. So, I feel its better to course correct rather than sticking to the wrong point
Tips: Allocate some time to read all the material and the remaining to make the presentation. (It was not like the usual cases we get in class. But a real world scenario with the different reports, survey results and so on.) Create a clear structure for your presentation.

Round: Other Interview
Experience: Personal Interview was the last round and taken by the Principal/senior person. It is an equally important round and aims to check whether you are the right fit for the role or not. So, questions will be asked to check your situation handling skills and leadership capabilities.
Tips: The interviewer had a checklist and was asking regular PI questions, mostly based on prior professional experiences. Was trying to know about my past experience of working in a team – Team player, team leader, any project management experience.

Skills: Analytical Skills, Logical And Structured Thinking, team leader, Team Player, Leadership Skills
College Name: S.P. Jain Institute Of Management And Research