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

 

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