Do IB interviewers let you jot down numbers for technicals?
Rising sophomore preparing for IB recruiting. Curious what the standard is during technical interviews (mainly at EBs) when they throw out more complex numbers. For simplicity’s sake, let’s say they ask: “Walk me through a $287 increase in depreciation with a 37% tax rate” or better yet lets say something more involved like merger math - Do interviewers typically let you jot down numbers on paper, or are you expected to do all of that mental math in your head?
(I fully understand the process and how to walk through the logic for the scenarios, just sometimes get tripped up with the actual numbers when there are non-round figures or combined multiple steps.)
Trying to get a realistic sense of what’s allowed in interviews, especially during Superdays or technical Zoom screens.
Thanks
In the early rounds, it’s all online and they allow you to write down the information. I’ve never had an issue with asking them to repeat it or taking extra time to write it down.
In terms of superdays, all mine were online and so was able to jot down notes. I think bring a notepad in for in person superdays and you’ll be good to go.
Thank you very much, really appreciate it. If you don't mind me asking, did you mostly interview for EB, BB or MM banks?
I interviewed at a wide range, but mostly EB and MM. Ended up signing at a MM.
I am wondering whether they would allow us to do the math on paper for large or ugly numbers?
I think it depends on the interviewer. Some (myself included) want you to do math in your head because that's what you'd be doing on the job if you were in a meeting, but for that reason I use round numbers.
An interviewer might use complex numbers for one of two reasons: (1) to make you nervous and see if you can keep your composure as you think through the answer, or (2) because they really do care about seeing you do the exact math. I don't think it'd be unreasonable to respond in an interview by asking if it's alright to use round numbers for the sake of approximating the answer, or if it's preferred to arrive at an exact answer. Any reasonable interviewer who answers with the latter should let you write out your math after that.
Needed to hear this. Thank you for the detailed response, really appreciate it.
For what it's worth, the numbers are usually such that you can remember them and or do the calculations in your head. In my interviews, both first rounds and superdays, the numbers have always been exclusively round (e.g. $200% at a 30% tax rate or 10x P/E multiple, etc.) which makes things easier. I've also been in interviews where I've been prompted to write down the numbers specifically as part of a longer question - so to echo the above, make sure you have a notepad/paper ready, as you don't want to be the candidate who has to get up to find it or ask for it.
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