“I found my mentoring session with André very helpful, particularly because I came into it with very little understanding of commercial banking. My background is in life sciences and healthcare, and most of my career exploration so far has focused on consulting. Although I had become interested in commercial banking, I had not previously explored the area in any depth. I therefore needed a clear starting point and an honest conversation about what I should understand before deciding whether to pursue it.
André helped me establish that starting point. The session gave me a clearer way to think about commercial banking, how it differs from consulting, and what I still need to learn. Before the conversation, I was looking at opportunities and wondering whether I should begin applying alongside consulting applications. Afterwards, I understood that I needed to take a step back and make a more informed decision about whether the work genuinely interests me.
One of the most valuable aspects of the session was how it helped me recognise the gaps in my current understanding. I knew that I was new to banking, but I did not necessarily know which questions I needed to answer for myself. André’s guidance helped me think more clearly about where I am now, what I am missing, and what I should begin doing next. Having that direction was useful because it made the process feel more manageable. Rather than treating banking as a broad and unfamiliar industry, I now have a clearer starting point for learning about it.
A particularly helpful message was that I should first develop a better understanding of commercial banking and assess whether I actually like the work. I took away a sensible sequence: understand the area, decide whether it appeals to me, and then, if it does, commit to learning and preparing for applications. If I discover that the work does not suit my interests, I should be willing to recognise that and focus my efforts elsewhere. That advice sounds straightforward, but it was an important perspective for me at this stage.
The conversation made me realise that I should not rush into applying for commercial banking roles simply because I have found programmes that look interesting. Before the session, I was at risk of moving too quickly from curiosity to applications without having a strong enough understanding of the career itself. André helped me see the value of being more deliberate. I would rather make a considered application based on a genuine interest in the work than spend time applying to positions I cannot yet explain my motivation for pursuing.
Another important takeaway was recognising how substantial the differences between banking and consulting can be. Because consulting has been my main focus, it had become my reference point when thinking about other careers. The session helped me realise that I cannot assume banking will involve similar work, suit the same preferences, or require exactly the same preparation. I need to understand banking on its own terms rather than view it mainly as another option alongside consulting.
I also appreciated that the session was useful even though I did not finish it with a final career decision. At this exploratory stage, greater clarity about what I do not yet know is meaningful progress. I now feel better equipped to evaluate my interest, identify what I need to learn, and decide whether commercial banking deserves a more focused place in my career plans.
Overall, André was very helpful, and the session met an important need for me as someone starting with limited knowledge of the field. Its greatest value was giving me direction and encouraging a more thoughtful approach to my next steps. I left with a clearer understanding of my knowledge gaps, a more realistic perspective on the difference between banking and consulting, and a better sense of how to move forward before committing to applications.”
It's all math you should be able to do in your head or with a few quick scribbles. If you're doing long division you've screwed something up. They won't be asking you to do integral calculus or anything.
I'd add that you should be carefully writing out the major steps in your calculations so that you can keep track of what you are doing.
Yes, the math is arithmetic... but you are doing it under timed conditions in front of an interviewer for a job. You will be nervous and prone to make mistakes.
Additionally, it is easier to keep track of what you are doing if you are writing out the steps as you do them.
Finally, it is MUCH easier to explain you calculations if you are writing them out.
Make sure to speak slowly and clearly. Be methodical and take your time.
my advice would be to get quick at doing percents. Specifically, be able to get the multiples of 10 and 5 down...for example: What's 65% of 21,000?
You should be able to do that in your head.
Alright well the next question is: How fast do you have to be able to do these things? Are you allowed to actually write your calculations down (I assume so, according to vyger's comment), or do you need to be able to rattle them off in your head? Or are you just saying you should be able to do it in your head in order to move things along quickly?
"Okay, so we need 65% of 21,000. Well, let's round 65% to 2/3rds - it's within a couple percent. Two thirds of 21,000 is 14,000."
The expectation is that you can talk fluently through math like that. The problem comes when you mess things up, or when you do something like this:
"Okay, so we need 65% of 21,000..." [interviewee writes furiously for a silent minute] "Okay, 13,650."
^^^ that works (the 2/3rds part)
BUT, you can also impress interviewers by doing these calculations quickly and painlessly (if you are comfortable with this). I think of it as 60% of 21,000 is 12,600, and 5% of 21,000 is 1,050, add those together and you get 13,650. You really wouldn't need to write anything down other than your final figure, and that shouldn't take you more than 5-10 seconds.
Again, that is only if you are comfortable, the 2/3rds part works perfectly well and at the end of the day it is the big picture that matters with these companies. And to be honest I've lost some interviewers before with doing too much quick math...that didn't go too well.
I found that it helps to talk through the math out loud as you do it methodically on the paper. Helps engage the interviewer and also makes sure you stay on track and catch errors.
As in the rest of consulting, I think it's all about breaking the problem down in a way you can understand it, and in a way that you can explain well. So that works for the 2/3 approach and the 60% + 5% (how'd you do the 60%?) approach. To me, it seems most intuitive to break 65% into 50% + 10% + 5% (10,500 + 2100+ 2100/2). All easy to calculate. But yeah definitely talk through everything.
MBB Interview Math EMERGENCY (Originally Posted: 03/09/2016)
I have an MBB interview in a little over a month and I am rusty at mental math. How can I practice business math -- percentages of large numbers, decimals, fractions and quick addition and subtraction efficiently? I am interviewing as an experienced hire and I have strong analytical skills. I have math gym on my phone.
I'm an MBB interviewer. Define "rusty". Are you just a bit slower than you'd like to be, or are you unable to identify what it is you're supposed to be doing in a given situation?
Check out calculation rankings
"Quantitative" or "math" questions in an interview (Originally Posted: 03/29/2011)
Has anyone been told to expect "quantitative questions" or "math questions" in a PE or hedge fund interview before? My impression is that they will be more brainteasers or quick math questions, but could be off. I know that is very broad but if anyone has any specific examples of questions they have received (or have asked if they work for a fund) or topics to prepare for, that would be helpful. This is for a top PE / distressed fund.
unless you're explicitly applying for a quant position at that fund it's likely going to be just brainteasers and basic probability theory. go through the respective sections in 'heard on the street' (crack), 'quant interview questions' (joshi) and 'practical guide to quant. fin. interviews' (zhou) and you'll be fine. I found zhou's book the most helpful. that being said, they'll probably also ask some more technical stuff that's related to what they do.
Case Interview Math (Originally Posted: 11/20/2014)
Does anybody know of any good mobile apps to practice math for consulting case interviews? I'm thinking of something with long division, long multiplication, and percentages, like Victor Cheng's math site, but that is at least able to be used on a mobile browser (unlike Cheng's site), and is accessible without an internet connection. The math apps I know of aren't challenging enough.
I like the math app Kopfnuss.
Statistics/math needed for interviews...beyond back of the envelope (Originally Posted: 11/30/2017)
I was just curious to know what kinds of math and algebra one should know for case interviews? The online web practice sites that randomize numbers are useful for helping you improve multiplication, addition, division, and so forth, but I am wondering what you might need to know beyond those basic. Everyone says that all you need for interviews is "back of the envelope" math, but I find that a bit misleading, as I've done fairly complicated practice problems on McK PST practice tests.
In other words, what kinds of math, besides the back of the envelope stuff, should one know and practice when preparing for case interviews?
Thanks.
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