Read through this case competition guide to gain a deeper understanding of what a case competition is, and how to make the most of the experience! Apply this knowledge to some of our upcoming case competitions in 2024… we hope to see many of your submissions!
Teams ranging from 3 - 4 students are presented with a case brief problem and the goal is to ideate, design and present the most innovative solution...
There are many components that lead to a successful case presentation…
Tips and pointers to guide you so you can tackle your cases with confidence…
If you’re new to slide deck creation, here are some tools to help you get started!
“When I first learnt about case competitions as a first year, the thought of participating in one was very daunting and seemed a little scary at first. Now after having participated in several of these, I must say that I’ve been very glad to have been able to do so as I truly believe that case competitions has allowed me to build upon critical presentation, technical and problem solving skills and allowed me to make valuable friendships with like minded people. In saying this, I would highly recommend each and every one of you to try one out for yourselves as I truly believe these competitions are a great avenue for both social and professional development. And finally to those of you who are looking to win one of these competitions, my best tip is to find the right team, because from personal experience having the right team members makes your job exponentially easier and miles funner.”
“Case competitions are, in my opinion, the most valuable experience you can do for your personal and professional upskilling at university. They are undoubtedly the best insights you will get into the day-to-day of a role, and provide an exceptional environment for team building, opportunities for in-person presentations with industry feedback, and unparalleled networking opportunities. They are admittedly time consuming, but I believe case competitions provide immense upside through 3 key components - technical development, personal growth, and professional networking.
Technical
From global markets, Aussie equities to asset management, countless industry areas run case competitions through student societies to provide real insights into the sort of work professionals are staffed on. These are fabulous ways to build technical exposure, particularly as many competitions provide information sessions of the depth they expect to see, and relevant resources to get started. For people scared of creating a multi-pronged consulting strategy, building a DCF, or just want to know where to begin, the sponsors and societies are here to help! Past case comp competitors are also here to provide advice. A stand-out competition for me this year was BSOC’s PWC ESG Competition. With the challenge to address how PWC could expand their ESG offering, I was exposed to how under-served several SME companies were to affordable and accessible ESG accounting tools. Many of the skills learnt on these case competitions - whether it be running financial market sizing, building flawless slide decks or conducting succinct industry research - are highly transferable to industry jobs. Throughout my work experience to date, I can genuinely say learning how to make a good PowerPoint slide has been invaluable for these roles. A last point I’ll add is that when applying for jobs or internships, many interviews now incorporate a form of case competition-style presenting, so you can think of it as early practice!
Personal
The confidence needed to stand up and present in front of an audience, let alone MDs, was a skill I could never imagine possessing. But having been forced to get up on stage and withstand the brutal fire that is Q&A, I can safely say every stressful chance to speak up and present is an opportunity that should be grasped with both hands - not to mention, it will help immensely with COMM1120 and FINS2615. Working with a team teaches you some of the real highs and lows in the workforce. You learn a lot about the sort of position you like taking, whether that be Type A leader with work stream delegation, or if you thrive in a supporting position able to focus on the task at hand rather than quality control and overall cohesion. You learn to play to each other’s strengths, ensuring everyone gets a chance for speak in Q&A, and ultimately celebrate success as a group no matter the outcome.
Networking
And lastly, networking. I highly encourage everyone not to go into case competitions with the mindset of solely using it as a chance to land an interview or job - but instead, use it as a chance to really learn, ask hard questions and be challenged. Judges are going to notice these qualities, and it’s an invaluable chance for you to also learn about their line of work. As an example, winning BSOC’s ESG challenge meant my team and I got to meet all the judges for coffee at the PWC offices. Always take initiative, even if you were not 100% happy with your case day performance (no one ever is!), and reach out to judges for coffee chats or calls afterwards. You never know what could happen!
I’d like to end with the reminder that case competitions are always going to be nerve-wracking, but judges do not expect perfection - they simply expect you to give it your best shot. They value attitude, rationale, clear communication and team work more than anything. If you have further questions I’m always open to chat, and I really cannot stress enough how lucky we are as students to have societies and sponsors put in so much effort to provide these invaluable opportunities for us.
Happy case cracking!”
“If you’re fresh into university and looking to actively practise your problem solving and presentation skills, through collaborating with like-minded peers, case competitions are definitely the way to go. You not only gain professional experience through cracking the case itself, but it also provides excellent opportunities to network and seek advice from professionals across industries. From my personal experience with case competitions, I have gained greater confidence in navigating professional settings, and this is furthered from the occasional great results that ensue. Most notably, having won the AMEX case competition that BSOC had hosted definitely honed my soft skills in teamwork and collaboration, and it is always a great feeling to achieve success with the team you form along the way. As such, case competitions are an excellent choice if you wish to challenge yourself and some friends, and there are many beginner-friendly competitions to give a shot in your first year.”
“Case competitions are where I have learnt the most at university - content wise and about myself. University teaches the importance of critical thinking and communication skills, however it is through the competitions where you can truly practice these abilities and learn how to improve them. Above all, working alongside like-minded and incredibly motivated teammates to solve a gruelling case is the crux of why case competitions are the most rewarding experiences. No matter your degree, age, or experience, I would highly recommend anyone to give a go at a case competition.”
“Coming into university I was actively looking for a way to balance professional, personal, and sociable development which I found through case competitions. The malleability and creativity needed for a case competition allows your intuition to flourish, providing an amazing platform to learn more about yourself. Also, being in a team setting of 3-4 individuals with different specialisations and striving to the same goal creates a sense of connectedness as you learn from each other. This is the beauty of case competitions and if it’s your first one my best advice is to get creative because at the end of the day there is no set structure, it's just the team and the case question.”
“Case competitions are the perfect way to practice problem solving and presentation skills, meet like-minded individuals, and learn about various industries and business problems. Personally, participating in case comps has improved my self-confidence and provided me with many opportunities to network with professionals in industries I aspire to work in. No matter how daunting it may seem, I highly recommend all first-years get involved with case competitions. There are a great range of beginner-orientated competitions as well as various societies that offer programs teaching case competition fundamentals and providing students with an opportunity to apply casing to real business scenarios.”
“Those who have ever finished a case competition have probably signed up to many others they never submitted. Understand that case competitions take time - deconstructing the case and working and presenting with your group - but you’d surprise yourself with just how much you can put together in a limited amount of time. So don’t shy away from the opportunity - commit to trying, I’m sure you won’t have any regrets.”
"AUBCC was a very rewarding ICC which opened my eyes more to the world of case competitions. Competing in this competition and just in general, helps you develop crucial problem-solving & presentation skills, highly sought-after by employers. Outside of our serious casing, I really got to banter and develop genuine connections with my team to the point we are good friends now. I highly recommend anyone to give case competitions a go no matter your experience or ability."
"Aside from the well-known benefits of case comps such as problem solving, critical thinking and communication, I believe there is so much more to gain – whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned veteran. Having organised case competitions myself, I’ve seen many students come out of a case comp with a greater sense of confidence and self-appreciation. Such a unique feeling is hard to replicate in other situations and all it takes is some participation! You will also find that this will permeate in other areas of your life such as academics, establishing relationships and networking."
“If you’re fresh into university and looking to actively practise your problem solving and presentation skills, through collaborating with like-minded peers, case competitions are definitely the way to go..."
"Case competitions are, in my opinion, the most valuable experience you can do for your personal and professional upskilling at university..."
“When I first learnt about case competitions as a first year, the thought of participating in one was very daunting and seemed a little scary at first..."
“Case competitions are where I have learnt the most at university - content wise and about myself. University teaches the importance of critical thinking and communication skills..."
“Coming into university I was actively looking for a way to balance professional, personal, and sociable development which I found through case competitions..."
“Case competitions are the perfect way to practice problem solving and presentation skills, meet like-minded individuals, and learn about various industries and business problems..."
"Those who have ever finished a case competition have probably signed up to many others they never submitted. Understand that case competitions take time..."
"Australian Undergraduate Business Case Competition was a very rewarding International Case Competition which opened my eyes more to the world of case competitions..."
"Aside from the well-known benefits of case comps such as problem solving, critical thinking and communication, I believe there is so much more to gain – whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned veteran..."
Find the case briefs and winner's slide decks from our past competitions!
