Customized for: Jessica (jessicalee25@gmail.com) CASE INTERVIEW VAULT GUIDE TO THE 2008 EDITION is made possible through the generous support of the following sponsors. Using the case book. Ask the interviewee if they wish to focus on specific: – Case formats / concepts – Levels of difficulty – Industries.Inform interviewee which case you plan to deliver to confirm they have no prior knowledge of the case. Spend at least 30 minutes to review the case. Interviewer (delivering case). Blackberry 9320 software download free.

• Consulting Basics 101

Business consulting is a growing sector of the employment and business industry. There has been no better time to join the consulting industry, based on industry growth statistics.

More importantly, as businesses strive to develop their positions in the market place, improve efficiency, reduce costs, and optimize operations, consultants are used on an increasingly larger basis. If you have the burning desire think you have the necessary skills and the mindset to be a consultant this course will show you how.In this course we look at a number of the key topics you need to know. Whether you are consulting by yourself, as a partnership, as a small team, or with a large company, we will provide you with all of the information you need to be a successful consultant. This includes consulting in any industry regardless of your level of experience. We also provide you the tools and understanding to develop strategy to deploy and be successful in your own consulting business. From choosing a business model, to determining your pricing, to managing overhead costs, then we cover the more complex tasks like developing a great marketing strategy, developing the best proposals, tips for consulting success, and implementing your recommendations.

Best of all, we discuss consulting lessons learned and problems you can avoid; and end with consulting 'Best Practices'.Consultants serve several purposes for their clients. They provide solutions to specific problems and resolve challenges that the organization cannot address itself. The consultant may be brought in to resolve a specific situation, or to be an independent neutral party in circumstances where emotions run high, or bias may exist. The client may not have expertise in the area of need, and the consultant may be used to fill that role.

Consultants provide a specialized level of competence in their field, and also must have the skills to run their own business, serving as its:.Client relations manager.Marketing executive.Office manager.Accountant.Customer service managerAs the client relations manager for your consulting business, you will be responsible for nurturing customer relationships to ensure client satisfaction. Consulting actually flows along a continuum of services you are able to offer a client over time. As you structure your consulting business, you will be faced with the challenges of any other business, as you determine how it will grow. Whether you want to operate as a single individual, a team, or manage a company with a group of hundreds of consultants, you have to determine the size of the company you want to develop. The consulting continuum is similar to a business life cycle. There are a number of steps related to the services you will provide, which also offer opportunity for future growth. The chart that follows will delineate your overall objectives.

Some of these are short-term activities, as you initiate consulting, while others can become a longer-term relationship with your client. Building consensus, facilitating learning, and improving the overall organizational effectiveness may be long-term endeavors, as they require a cultural shift and change.As a consultant, you are able to review the company from a high level, through its strategic plan, as well as its mission, vision, and values.

Although you perform the initial required analysis for a project in a broader sense, you facilitate learning, and in the future may also improve organizational effectiveness. You have the opportunity to become an integral part of a company's improvement efforts. As long as you can show them a return on investment, clients may continue to use your services in the future.Your role is to provide your clients with expertise on an as-needed basis to solve problems. That you have the right expertise to solve the problem and accomplish the necessary improvements. Never stretch your expertise.

This could be disastrous for your reputation. You may lose the client's respect and wind up hiring additional consultants to pick up the areas where you have weaknesses.

As a consultant, you will conduct your business in a confidential manner. Clients expect confidentiality and integrity as the highest weighted priorities when interacting with you as a consultant. Some clients will expect a signed nondisclosure agreement. One of the primary roles you will serve as a consultant is to conduct a needs assessment, based on the current state of operations for the company. Other roles and benefits of hiring a consultant.They help clients to clearly define their needs and requirements.They provide an independent and objective view.They help prepare companies for the introduction of change.They provide technical skills that are currently nonexistent, or in short supply.They implement recommendations.They provide a level of speed in reaction.They provide outside exposure to other industries and best practices.Summary Reminders and TakeawaysThe consultant provides a specialized level of competence and expertise in the field in which they are consulting. Consultants provide solutions to their clients' specific problems, or challenges that they cannot resolve themselves.

The consultant may be brought in to resolve a specific challenge, or to be an independent neutral party for situations where emotions run high or bias may exist. Consultants serve as client relations managers, marketing executives, entrepreneurs, office managers, customer service managers, accountants and business owners. It is important to conduct your business with humility, competence, and confidence.

You are the narrator of the story your clients want to hear about improvements. Consulting businesses have a number of objectives, which include providing clients information, diagnosing the problems, providing recommendations, facilitating learning within the organization, and improving overall organizational effectiveness.

The primary role you will perform as a consultant is to conduct a needs assessment. The needs assessment is developed by taking internal client information, such as the organizational structure, employee staffing, market competition, reward programs, and information on training and development, and synthesizing this information to develop the future state of desired operations for the client.Consultants are expected to be problem solvers, coaches, and mentors, who work with integrity, confidentiality, and technical expertise. Consultants may work in an endless number of industries. 'All parts were very helpful.All parts of the course were very helpful. The feedback from Instructor is very helpful, let's you know the areas you have missed.' - Catherine M.

'The instructor was very prompt with feedback - and he is good at making positive comments.' - Austin M. 'The instructor is a very good man who is always available when needed.' - Bontle M. 'Great Class and Good Job!' - Daryl S.

'He's just great! Very inspiring. One of the main reasons for studying under this system! I'm not a consultant, but I truly enjoyed learning about their duties and responsibilities!'

Consulting Basics 101

- Levander K. 'Great, Great. Thank You.It gave me structure, because I already consult with businesses, and it helped with today's economy.Great, Great.