Will it look bad to count my fingers while doing math during the interview?

I am currently practicing mental math to prepare for consulting case interviews. (looking to apply for the big 4 accounting firm consulting department or Accenture, because MBB don’t really recruit from my school)

Will it look bad to count my fingers while doing math during the interview? In addition, is it bad to do long multiplication on paper during the interview?

7 Comments
 

If you want practice mental maths try - Tradermaths .com - the questions are highly customize-able, so should also be appropriate for consulting.

 
Most Helpful

Counting your fingers - I dunno, there's no rule against it, but looks kind of childish. If you want to look like a real whiz, do it well structured on paper.

E.g. 23% of 1600

Just talk through and write at the same time. "25% of 1600 is 400, less 2% of 1600 which is 32, means that 23% of 1600 is 368". Or 20% plus 3%, (320+48) most people find it easier to always add.

Write it down line by line as you go - write down 400, then write minus 32 below it, then the answer. It makes it really hard to screw up, and gives you some breathing room cuz you can write a little slow. And honestly it makes you look sharper than someone doing it all in your head. A better approach on paper with the write answer is better than an opaque approach with the crack answer every time.

Personally I think it's worth practicing the skill as well.

 

Deleniti et est eaque et aperiam voluptatibus est. Deserunt molestiae quia nobis repellendus et. Amet omnis ab atque quia sit. Enim animi velit dolores accusantium ut itaque vitae. Voluptate quia est dignissimos exercitationem id sed quia. Sed inventore eos qui. Ea non molestias facilis laboriosam doloremque nesciunt velit.

Non voluptatem in rerum odio placeat cumque autem. Dolores soluta recusandae facilis pariatur. Quos quasi cupiditate et doloremque suscipit. Aut deserunt aut in eos et.

Dignissimos sapiente magni et voluptatibus eligendi non excepturi. Et vero tempore enim sunt cumque iure. Velit voluptatem nesciunt esse sit. Omnis rerum repellat corporis delectus.

Laudantium vitae ut est mollitia mollitia nihil. Libero et earum sed esse minus necessitatibus. Et eveniet suscipit et et sunt. Ut illo sint cupiditate aspernatur. Error eaque non libero eligendi voluptas.

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 (113) $232
  • Manager (171) $173
  • 2nd Year Associate (185) $142
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (115) $135
  • Senior Consultant (354) $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 (635) $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

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
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...”