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Preparing for the Interview

Our interview process is designed to provide a glimpse into the nature of our work while allowing us to assess your thought process, comprehension, communication skills, and ability to receive and apply real-time feedback.

The Interview Process

The interview process for the Analyst and Summer Analyst roles is identical. You will participate in two rounds of interviews: two virtual 30-minute first-round interviews, and a multi-hour final round in one of our offices.

 Two rounds of interviews

The Case Interview

An important part of each round is the case interview. You will be presented with a different case at each round to review and discuss. Analysts at Cornerstone Research start contributing to casework upon their arrival. Therefore, it is important that candidates have skills that translate into strategic thinking and quality work product. Not only will the case interview provide you with awareness of our work, but it is also another tool that provides us with insight into your thought process, comprehension skills, and your ability to articulate ideas.

Tips for Success
  • Break down questions into smaller parts to organize your thoughts.
  • Analyze the issue from various perspectives.
  • Take notes and ask thoughtful questions during the interview.
  • Clearly articulate your thought process to the interviewer.
  • Listen actively—your interviewers are there to guide you.

Case Interview Examples

These example cases will help prepare you for similar scenarios presented at the interviews.

Case 1: Securities

Estimating the impact of the announcement on the company’s stock price.
Read the case study >

Case 2: Intellectual Property

Determine the extent of alleged lost profits.
Read the case study >

Hear From Our Interviewers
Headshot of Vijeta Tandon

“Remember, interviews are a two-way street and are just as informative for the applicant as they are for the firm. The interview process helped me gain a deeper understanding of the role, as well as Cornerstone Research’s culture and values.”

Vijeta Tandon
Senior Manager, Los Angeles
Headshot of Sarah Abraham

“The best advice I can give for the interview is to be an active listener. We are looking for people that we want to collaborate with, and the first step of successful collaboration is always listening, a skill that you have ample opportunities to demonstrate throughout the interview. It’s ok to take a beat to think about the best response so you can articulately respond to the question being asked.”

Sarah Abraham
Principal, Boston
Headshot of Spencer Pigg

“Candidates preparing for an interview at Cornerstone should make sure to consider the behavioral components as much or even more than the case element. Our cases are designed to be accessible to a wide variety of experiences and academic backgrounds, but we can only learn more about a candidate’s style and soft skills if they are prepared to tell us. Candidates should be prepared to explain how they have handled similar situations in the past, especially focusing on dimensions of collaboration, conflict management, and mentorship.”

Spencer Pigg
Manager, Washington

Discover More

Our core values—commitment to our clients, our experts, our staff, and delivering consistently high-quality service—remain the standard of the work we do and the people we support.

Client Commitment

We feature a large range of health and wellness benefits, covered more in detail at the bottom of our main Careers page.

Careers

Recognizing the range of backgrounds and experiences across our team, we foster a collaborative culture that supports growth throughout our offices. Through affinity groups, leadership development, and other initiatives, we aim to support our people, our work, our clients, and the broader community.

Community and Connection

Our firm is retained on some of the largest and most complex cases at the crossroads of economics and law. Our teams support leading academics from top universities and the business world.

Recent Cases

Ready to apply?

Cornerstone Research actively recruits qualified applicants from a wide range of colleges and universities.

Apply Here

Equal Opportunity Employment

Cornerstone Research provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to legally protected categories, such as age, sex, gender, gender identity, race, color, creed/religious belief, medical condition, predisposing genetic characteristics or genetic information or testing, disability, marital status, pregnancy status, military status, veteran status, arrest or conviction record (except where permitted by law), sexual orientation, ethnic background, citizen status, ancestry, national origin, or any other consideration protected by federal, state or local law.

Disability Accommodations

Cornerstone Research is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact Margaret Dondero at 617.927.3099 or via email margaret.dondero@cornerstone.com.