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Introduction to Take-Home Case Studies

Premium

Major tech companies like Coinbase, Shopify, TikTok, Uber, and Dropbox often include take-home case studies in the interview process, depending on the role and team, to assess which candidates are the best fit.

Purpose

A data analytics hiring manager at a prominent tech company emphasized,

"The take-home case study is often the round that distinguishes the ultimate candidate we want to offer the position to."

Our interviews with data analytics professionals from big tech companies consistently highlighted the take-home case study as a critical stage.

It allows them to assess a candidate's proficiency not only in data analytics and business acumen but also their ability to collaborate indirectly by how they react to and address questions from the interview panel.

The take-home case study serves as a comprehensive evaluation of a candidate's capabilities, including:

  • Data analytics skills: Proficiency in analyzing data and extracting meaningful insights.
  • Data-driven recommendations: The ability to formulate recommendations based on the available data and information.
  • Cross-functional collaboration (Indirect Assessment): Demonstrated through the candidate's approach and responses to questions from a diverse panel.
  • Communication of technical concepts: The capacity to explain complex technical ideas in a clear and understandable manner to a non-technical audience.

Logistics

Data Analyst 4.1.1 Navigating Take-Home Case Study

Once you've passed the early interview stages (HR screen, technical round, and hiring manager interview), you may be invited to complete a take-home case study. This is often the deciding round at tech companies like Uber, Shopify, and TikTok.

Typically, the process follow the following steps:

StepWhat Happens
1. Receive the promptYou’ll get a case study brief, often a business problem + dataset (but not always).
2. TimelineMost companies give 4–7 days to complete it. Manage your time wisely.
3. AnalysisUse SQL, Python, Excel, or any tool of your choice. You may also need to gather secondary data if no dataset is provided.
4. Create a presentationPrepare a deck or document (usually in Google Slides or PowerPoint) with your findings, visuals, and recommendations.
5. Panel presentationYou’ll present to a 2–4 person panel, often cross-functional. Expect a 45–60 minute session with Q&A.

Types of cases

Most frequently, you will be given a dataset along with a directional task, such as "How can we improve this business metric?" However, these challenges can vary in their level of definition, ranging from more open-ended to very specific. It's more common to receive a dataset than not.

Types of Take-home Assignments

The image above and the table below distinguishes the different types of take-home assignments (defined task vs. open-ended), where you’re likely to encounter them, and the key evaluation criteria for each:

DefinedOpen-ended
What you are being evaluated onExecution, domain knowledge, ability to directly answer the question.Framework, thinking process, ability to gather secondary data to inform decision-making.
ExampleAnalyze this given sales data to identify the top 3 reasons for customer churn.How can we improve user engagement on our platform?

In the next lesson, we will introduce a comprehensive framework for tackling take-home case studies at each step, ensuring you are well-prepared regardless of the specific type of case study you receive.

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