I applied through an employee referral. The process took 4 weeks. I interviewed at ZS Associates (Gurgaon, Haryana) in Dec 2012
Interview
Off-campus hiring involves : 1 Aptitude test (by AMCAT) followed by 3 rounds of interviews (a data-based case-study, an HR/resume interview and a final interview with a Principal).
The aptitude test is out-sourced, so the resume is forwarded to ZS only after short-listing via AMCAT. Recruitment team then coordinates with candidates to source resumes and current emplyment status, etc.(sometimes there is a telephonic interview on resumes before the call for the three in-office interviews - conducted within 1 day).
The firm makes travel arrangement for candidates and is very considerate in all aspects of the process.
Interview details :
1) Case-study - is largely a semi-open-ended Data Interpretation exercise on analysis of some given data-sets with client-context. The objective is to ascertain basic analytical skills with charts and business context of numbers/data - to be able to infer relevant points and make reasonably justifiable recommendations (given certain assumptions - which can be verified with the interviewer).
2) HR/Resume round - is individualized to the previous experience of the candidate, and focuses on ascertaining work-ethic and ability to handle ZS working practices and culture. Generally taken by mid-senior management - this round also often involves a guess-estimation case to verify quick-thinking and reasonable communication skills.
3) Principal interview - is to ensure alignment with firm's work and aspirations, ensuring that the expectations are aligned on both sides. Ascertain what the candidate is looking to get from the firm, what is he/she expecting and willing to give, etc, etc.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
The case-study is NOT a conventional business-case or similar to most case-studies shared in books or online.
It is largely a client-project's context - with data and guidelines on how it can be analyzed. The interviewer should then ask questions for clarification on the objective - to understand what is expected as an output, and with what substantiation.
The analysis itself requires basic mathematical skills with sometimes large numbers - and then finally being able to assimilate the results into meaningful recommendations/insights pertaining to the case
I applied through university. The process took 2 days. I interviewed at ZS Associates (New Delhi) in May 2018
Interview
There were 4 rounds.
The first was an aptitude test which was held on campus(DTU)
Selected students had to report to Gurgaon Office for Case study round followed by 2 F2F Interviews.
The aptitude round was not tough, basic quant, reasoning and verbal questions.
However, the Case study was very tough. We had to write the solutions and present analysis on a separate sheet of paper within half an hour. (Try to read the entire case at least even if you don't solve them because you end up solving the entire caselet again with the interviewer.)
F2F Interviews were generic cv based questions followed by a guesstimate and a puzzle.
The last round was with Partner round. Behavioral questions, guesstimate and a puzzle was asked, lasted for more than 1.5 hours.
I applied through university. The process took 2 days. I interviewed at ZS Associates (New Delhi)
Interview
It was a 2 day process . 1st day was a written test.followed by a GD, case study, behavioral round and principal round on 2nd day. It was through campus placement
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Role play - How will you tell a client that you screwed up and get the job done.
I applied online. The process took 1 day. I interviewed at ZS Associates (Gurgaon, Haryana)
Interview
Purely looking for quantitative and analytical skills, your approach towards a problem, your communication skills and answers to questions like why analyst why ZS, what do we do. How could your experience be useful for us
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
I went through 3 rounds.
1st was a case study interview where in we were give a data set and 4 questions based on it. Interviewer asked what I understood from the question, my answer and my understanding of the data sets. He was helping wherever I was getting stuck and overall he looked for the approach.
2nd round was a telephonic interview where I was asked the puzzles and guesstimate. I was asked like how many tennis balls can fill an airplane. Puzzles - classic three ants at three vertices of an equilateral triangle. And another one was, there are 10 steps, you can take 1, 2 or combination of both steps at time then how many ways can you climb up. Then general questions about yourself and why ZS, you are from technical background then why analyst. The last round was with a senior manager who asked basic HR questions like why do you think you will be successful in ZS and asked me some puzzles.
