11 Comments
 

Many consulting firms have stopped or significantly decreased the use of brain teasers. A more relevant question would be like:

Estimate the market size for product X in location Y.

Also, questions like: "A cabbie just dropped off a passenger at La guardia. Should he wait at the airport to pick up another passenger or should he go back to Manhattan immediately. Explain your reasoning"

 
Best Response

Pick up a case interview guide.

More info on market sizing questions:

What Is Market Sizing?

In their simplest form, market-sizing cases require the candidate to determine the size of a particular market (hence the name). In the real world, this information can be especially helpful when gauging the attractiveness of a new market. In the interview context, a market-sizing question might be pitched in an extremely straightforward format (for example, "What is the market for surfboards in the United States?").

Or it may be disguised as a more complex question (for example, "Do you think Fidelity should come out with a mutual fund targeted at high-net-worth individuals?") which requires the respondent to peel away the extraneous detail in order to identify the market-sizing issue at the core.

 

Market sizing is one of the main questions....

ANy other they focus on..... I remember hearing in my freshman year that some consulting interviews get quantative in terms of statistical questions.. e.g. how would you forecast, a few probability questions.... directly.

Any comments/opinions.....

 

What is the angle between the minute and hour hand at 3:15?

Sometimes, depending on the area of consulting your going into you might get more specific questions.

How many cargo crates fit inside a super tanker? How many oranges are consumed every day?

 

I was asked a question by a EM at McKinsey during my interview...

crapload of information about starting up an airline company and I was required to extract all the formulas and solve a series of 5 equations under a time limit. Luckily, I answered the problem correctly. Unfortunately, I didn't get the offer (other interview didnt go to well in the same round)

GOOD LUCK

 

Magni est sint magnam est. Deserunt ut tempora quam molestias nihil non quia veritatis. Tempora eius accusamus temporibus. Laudantium ut tempora qui facere aliquam ab quis. In voluptatem molestias quae nulla quae. Aspernatur modi placeat temporibus non rerum sed. A vitae iure qui ut quia. Et dicta ea ullam expedita.

Quam rerum est odit. Quam natus quod cum quo et sequi. Et aperiam laudantium distinctio et ut.

Id animi inventore aut illum quia quo. Doloribus numquam ea quam et quis. Velit vero ea optio et quis asperiores voluptatibus. Omnis expedita occaecati error et.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Consulting

  • Boston Consulting Group 99.5%
  • Bain & Company 98.9%
  • McKinsey & Company 98.4%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.9%
  • LEK Consulting 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Consulting

  • Cornerstone Research 99.5%
  • Bain & Company 98.9%
  • Boston Consulting Group 98.4%
  • McKinsey & Company 97.9%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Consulting

  • Bain & Company 99.5%
  • Boston Consulting Group 98.9%
  • McKinsey & Company 98.4%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.9%
  • LEK Consulting 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Consulting

  • Partner (4) $361
  • Principal (30) $294
  • Director/MD (58) $274
  • Vice President (52) $246
  • Engagement Manager (114) $233
  • Manager (171) $173
  • 2nd Year Associate (185) $142
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (115) $135
  • Senior Consultant (355) $132
  • Consultant (642) $122
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (164) $121
  • 1st Year Associate (576) $121
  • NA (16) $114
  • Engineer (6) $114
  • 2nd Year Analyst (392) $104
  • Associate Consultant (176) $101
  • 1st Year Analyst (1163) $90
  • Intern/Summer Associate (208) $83
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (636) $68
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”