I found out that I am not trained enough to give structured answer to interviewer immediately after I got a deal related or technical question.
Is it okay to take quick time and think of structured answer during interview?
For example, sometimes interviewer ask 'what was the driver of this company?'(deal experience)
Then Can I say. 'Can I take a few seconds to give more structured answer?'
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Absolutely, it's not only okay but often advisable to take a moment to gather your thoughts before responding to complex or technical questions in an interview. Based on the insights from Wall Street Oasis, here are a few points to consider:
Requesting Time: It's perfectly acceptable to ask the interviewer for a brief moment to think about your answer. This shows that you are thoughtful and intent on giving a well-considered response. For instance, saying something like, "Can I take a few seconds to structure my response?" is seen as a sign of professionalism and thoroughness.
Displaying Confidence: Taking a brief pause can actually display confidence. It shows you are not rushing into a potentially incomplete or incorrect answer. Silence and pauses, when used appropriately, can be powerful in showing your calmness and control over the situation.
Structured Thinking: During this pause, you can quickly organize your thoughts into a logical structure. This could involve framing your response around main points or creating a mental outline of what you want to say. This helps in delivering a clear and structured answer that directly addresses the interviewer's question.
Avoiding Fillers: Avoid using fillers like "um" or "like" during your pause. A silent pause is more professional and less distracting.
Practice: To become more comfortable with this approach, you might want to practice taking brief pauses in mock interviews or while rehearsing answers to potential questions. This can help you become more adept at quickly organizing your thoughts under pressure.
Remember, the key is to use these pauses judiciously so that you come across as composed and precise, rather than unsure or hesitant.
Sources: SA interviews – an interviewer’s perspective, Superday Advice From a Tired Interviewer, Case study interview for MBB consulting - 24 of my best tips on how to get in, Grateful Monkey Giving Back Pt. 1: Questions to Ask Interviewers, The 24 Interview Lessons I Learned on the Way to Getting My First Full Time Job
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