3rd/4th-level insights - Structuring (to write them down or not?)

Question

Hi everyone.

Since we're given roughly 2 minutes to structure our thoughts, I actually wonder if we need to write down the 3rd-level insights on the paper. I tried doing this, but it took a very long time to write down detailed 3rd-level insights for each branch. (or sometimes even 4th-level insight).

For example, Revenue (1st Level) -> Price (2nd Level) and Volume (2nd Level) ->

[See Bold]

3rd Level Insights for PRICE
- price change over the past 2 years?

3rd Level insights for VOLUME
- Customer Segments: business/leisure, preference
- Size and growth: how they change over the past few years - etc
- etc
- etc

This is just part of the structure, and I still have other 2nd-level branches (e.g. Financial and Non-Financial) in my structure.

Do I list the detailed 3rd/4th-level insights down during the 2 minutes, or if I just have to talk them out while explaining my structure to interviewers?

Thanks a lot!

Note: I understand that at McKinsey, we can take more than 2 minutes to write 3-4 bullet points of 3rd/4th-level insights for each respective 2nd-level branch; but I'm not sure if this applies to BCG and Bain as well

Answer 1

Hello!

I would say that not only you don´t need to write down those 3rd and 4th level insights, but you probably wont even have time for it.

However, that is the key about the structure, you use the 2 mins to build the overal structure and then, as you tell it, you keep adding ideas.

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

Answer 2

Hi there,

You do not need to write down 3rd level insights. In terms of frameworking, make sure you've written down your skeleton/outline, just enough so you can speak to it. In terms of talking through your 3rd/4th level insights, the phrase "for example" helps you to just list things out and move through it quickly :)

Answer 3

I personally wouldn't worry about writing them explicitly down. Your interviewer doesn't really care what you write on your piece of paper, and with virtual interviews, its even less the case. Don't forget, the case interview is about testing how you think!

Answer 4

Hi there, As a Senior Manager in BCG, I can tell you that luck mainly plays a role in the following way: sometimes yo... (read entire answer)

Hi there, As a Senior Manager in BCG, I can tell you that luck mainly plays a role in the following way: sometimes you apply in times where there is growth and projects and get... (read entire answer)