ZS Associates interview, and its cases
ZS candidates typically have two to four rounds: behavioral interviews, case interviews and, for some roles, subject matter expertise interviews and an online assessment. ZS publishes three sample cases, and says there is no perfect answer, only how you approach the problem and use feedback.
Updated
- Two to four rounds. Depending on role, level and region, ZS says.
- Cases built on its work. Its samples cover market entry, drug pricing and a product launch.
- Feedback counts. ZS looks at how you structure, solve, apply feedback and think creatively.
- An assessment for some roles. Logical, quantitative and qualitative reasoning, plus data concepts for technical roles.
- Two to four weeks. How long ZS says replies take in the busy campus season.
What ZS says it looks for
From ZS's interview process page and its case practice page:
How you structure and solve
In the case, how you structure problems, develop solutions, apply feedback and think creatively.
Learning from feedback
ZS says there's no perfect answer. It looks at how you approach challenges, learn from feedback and bring new ideas.
Fit for the role
Behavioral interviews get to know you, with your recruiter and other ZSers, and vary by position.
Its values
Treating people right, getting it right and doing the right thing, in a culture built on integrity, impact and growth.
From ZS's interview process page and its case practice page.
How ZS interviews run
ZS says the process varies by role and location. Your recruiter walks you through yours.
The stages ZS describes
Some roles
Online assessment
Logical, quantitative and qualitative reasoning, and for technical roles, big data concepts such as cloud, data management, analytics and coding.
All roles
Behavioral interviews
Conversations with your recruiter and other ZSers to get to know you and your fit for the role.
Consulting roles
Case interviews
A real business challenge, where you show how you structure, solve, take feedback and think creatively.
Some roles
Subject matter expertise
Your past projects, responsibilities, quality of work, time management and stakeholder communication.
Typically two to four rounds in all. ZS does not publish how it scores interviews.
12 ZS interview questions
The three case prompts are ZS's own, summarized. The rest are our own wording for ZS's behavioral and expertise rounds.
Case prompts4 questions
ZS says to state hypotheses early and check your numbers with the interviewer.
Should a profitable airline enter a new market, and which one?
ZS's practice case one
What a strong answer does
A profit framework first, then break-even tickets and share by market, then a pick with risks and next steps. Example answer
How should a drug company price a new, best-in-class treatment?
ZS's practice case two
What a strong answer does
Cost-based, value-based and competition-based, then the patient count and a price that wins share without giving up margin.
- “Patients are cost-sensitive. What does that do to your price?”
- “Should the client double production?”
How would you plan the launch of a new premium product?
ZS's practice case three
What a strong answer does
Segments, cannibalization with what the client already sells, profit for your chosen segment, then channels.
Estimate how many people in the US use a product every day.
What a strong answer does
Population, share who could use it, share who do. Round on purpose and check with the interviewer, as ZS's cases do. Example answer
Behavioral4 questions
ZS's values: treating people right, getting it right, doing the right thing.
Tell me about a time you used feedback to change your approach.
What a strong answer does
ZS says it looks at how you apply feedback. Show the feedback, the change and the result. Example answer
Tell me about a time you got a detail right that others missed.
What a strong answer does
Getting it right. What you checked, why, and what would have gone wrong. Example answer
Tell me about a time you worked with people from different backgrounds.
What a strong answer does
Treating people right. What you learned from them and how the work improved. Example answer
Why ZS, and why life sciences?
What a strong answer does
ZS's careers pages feature ZAIDYN, its life sciences platform, and a pharma sample case. Tie the work to your own interest and someone you met. Example answer
Subject matter expertise4 questions
For roles with this round, ZS asks about past projects and how you ensure quality.
Walk me through a past project and your part in it.
What a strong answer does
The goal, your piece, the hardest decision and the result. Example answer
How do you make sure your analysis is right before you share it?
What a strong answer does
Your own checks, from sanity checks to a second pair of eyes, with one example. Example answer
Tell me about a time you had more work than you could finish on time.
What a strong answer does
ZS lists time management and stakeholder communication. Show both. Example answer
Tell me about a time you explained data to someone who wasn't technical.
What a strong answer does
Start from their decision, use one chart or number and check they followed.
More to prepare with
Mistakes that cost ZS candidates
Ignoring the interviewer's hints
ZS says it watches how you apply feedback during the case.
Not confirming estimates
ZS's own pharma case rounds 16.5 million to 15 or 20 million and says to confirm with the interviewer.
Ending without risks
Each ZS sample case asks for risks and next steps with the recommendation.
Skipping the assessment prep
Some roles have an online assessment on logical, quantitative and qualitative reasoning.
How to prepare for ZS
Week 1
Work ZS's three cases
Out loud, timed, before reading ZS's guidance at each step.
Week 1
Learn a pricing framework
Cost-based, value-based and competition-based, as ZS's pharma case uses.
Week 2
Practice break-even math
Fixed costs over margin per unit, then share of the market, as in ZS's airline case.
Before interviews
Prepare feedback stories
Two stories where you changed course after feedback, for the behavioral round.
ZS's three sample cases
All on zs.com, with ZS's own guidance at each step. Work them out loud before you read the answers.
All-Star AirlinesMarket entry
A profitable US airline with slow home growth weighs three new markets. You build a profit framework, find the tickets and share needed to break even within three years, and recommend.
ZS: practice case oneZoltnersDrug pricing, pharma
Price a new COPD drug. 5% of about 330 million Americans is 16.5 million patients, at 26 doses a year. Each dose costs $50 to make, and 150 million doses a year treat about 6 million patients, so capacity is worth expanding.
ZS: practice case twoConsumer Goods Co.Product launch
Plan the launch of a premium sunscreen. Segment the market, check cannibalization with the current product, size profit for one segment and pick sales channels.
ZS: practice case threePractice the case, then take the feedback
Soreno's AI interviewer runs a case one question at a time, follows up like a real interviewer and scores structure, math and judgment. Free for 7 days.
Questions people ask
How many interview rounds does ZS have?
ZS says candidates can typically expect two to four rounds, depending on role, level and region.
What is a ZS case interview like?
A real business challenge where you show how you structure problems, develop solutions, apply feedback and think creatively. ZS's three samples cover market entry, drug pricing and a product launch.
Does ZS have an online assessment?
For certain roles. It covers logical, quantitative and qualitative reasoning, and for technical roles big data concepts such as cloud platforms, analytics and coding.
How long does ZS take to reply?
ZS says two to four weeks during the busy campus hiring season.
Does ZS sponsor visas?
ZS says it offers visa sponsorship for full-time employees and support for interns on a student visa, varying by location, role and status.
What happens after you join ZS?
A New to ZS program with a two-week orientation, a people leader within your first weeks, and first-year projects across areas, like a major or minor in college.