I am preparing for some IB technical interview questions.
Are you usually able to write down your thought process during the interview? I find I do much better if I can write out what is happening, instead of keeping it all in my head
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Based on the most helpful WSO content, writing down your thought process during an interview can be a great strategy, and it's often encouraged. Here's why:
Time Management and Clarity: Writing things down gives you a moment to collect your thoughts and slow the pace, which can help you avoid rushing into mistakes.
Communication Skills: It demonstrates your ability to explain complex concepts in a clear, methodical way—an essential skill in client-facing roles like investment banking.
Error Correction: If you make a minor mistake, having your work written out allows the interviewer to quickly spot and correct it, giving you a chance to recover.
However, it's important to ensure that your written notes are neat and organized. Avoid burying your head in the paper or creating a chaotic mess of numbers, as this can make you appear disorganized or overly anxious. Instead, use writing as a tool to showcase your logical approach and problem-solving skills.
Sources: Notes for Technical Interview Questions, Superday Advice From a Tired Interviewer, Business School Case Books, The 24 Interview Lessons I Learned on the Way to Getting My First Full Time Job, Feeling down about rejections
Interviewer here. Generally yes, but ymmv. Also depends on the type of question. If it’s a multi-step question or case study-like question, then most interviewers should be okay with it.
But if it’s a simple question like walking through impact of depreciation on the 3 statements, then I would practice mentally, as some hardo interviewers may force you to do it mentally (Moelis did this to me during superday many years ago…even with a multistep Capex and D&A 3-statement question…yeah
I got dinged lol).
I would also caution you to not instinctively reach for your pen and paper though. Some questions are meant to test high level conceptual thinking with simple solutions and it’s easy to get lost in the sauce if you immediately dive into your notepad.
For example, if you look at the recent thread on this forum titled “Tricky M&A Question” that I answered, you can see how one can easily get lost in formulas for EV, goodwill, etc. when the answer is much simpler. Worth taking a step back in those cases and thinking conceptually.
I had an interview with an EB for M&A where they specified no notes or calculator. It was a first round on zoom, so whether or not you can sneakily check a calculator is on you. I believe most interviews are pretty reasonable though and expect you use a pen and paper.
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