Room for error in MBB interviews

Hi there!

Great question. 

Mistakes are absolutely fine. Not knowing how to recover from them is not. 

I made mistakes in all my interviews and finished all of them thinking that I would fail. I did not. I have candidates who made mistakes their interviews and went on to get offeres. It's absolutely normal to make mistakes and it's something that is virtually impossible to prevent. In fact, putting a lot of pressure on yourself to have a ‘perfect’ performance often triggers the opposite effect. 

Instead, I always recommend candidates to focus on the recovery. Two techniques to keep in mind:

1. The mental restart. If something didn't go well, that doesn't mean that the rest won't go well either. The past doesn't have to determine the future. If you've been corrected, you still have the opportunity to ace the rest, so don't be discouraged and do your best with what's left. 

2. It's a conversation. Any lost opportunity to flawless come up with an approach for the calculation is an opportunity to generate a conversation with the interviewer and thus ‘win points' on the cooperation dimension. Like with a real client, even if you get stuck or you make a mistake, what matters more is how you repair the situation and create clarity over the process of taking it forward.

Best,
Cristian

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In MBB interviews, including those in the Middle East, the evaluation process is indeed holistic, taking into account various aspects such as communication, structure, math, and exhibit analysis. While making a few slip-ups during the interview is understandable, it is important to strive for accuracy and minimize errors as much as possible. Here are a few points to consider:

Contextual Considerations: The tolerance for errors may vary depending on the specific case, complexity of the math involved, and the overall performance of the candidate. Some cases may have more room for error, while others may require a higher level of precision.

Overall Performance: While a single math error may not automatically lead to rejection, it is crucial to demonstrate strong problem-solving skills and analytical thinking throughout the interview. Consistently making errors or struggling with math-related questions may raise concerns about your ability to handle quantitative aspects of the role.

Error Recovery: How you handle and recover from a mistake can also be important. If you make a math error, it is essential to acknowledge it, correct it if possible, and continue with the case. Showing resilience, adaptability, and the ability to learn from mistakes can leave a positive impression.

Competitiveness of the Process: It is true that competition for consulting positions is intense, and firms are looking for candidates who can consistently perform at a high level. While some leniency may be extended, it is still important to strive for excellence and minimize errors to stand out among other strong candidates.

In summary, while a single math error may not necessarily lead to rejection, it is important to aim for accuracy and minimize mistakes during the interview. Demonstrating strong problem-solving skills, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous improvement will increase your chances of success. Good luck with your upcoming interview!

Hi,

This is a great question and has been asked a few times previously. Sharing my perspective having been an interviewer for 5 years at BCG. 

• It really depends on the nature of your error and also the rest of your entire performance
• A single math error may not necessarily lead to a ding, because maybe other aspects of your performance were exceptional, or maybe the rest of your math was fine just that one error
• At the end of the day, what I as an interviewer am really trying to figure out is whether I would trust you to be put infront of the client and to get the job done on my project

You will never know what is going on in the interviewers mind or what he/she writes on the evaluation form. As much as we have guidelines, ultimately there is an element of subjectivity in the interview. So just focusing on doing your best - the rest is out of your control (competition, pipeline size etc).

Hi there,

Q: I have an interview with MBB ME coming up soon and was curious as to how many slips-ups are tolerated in an interview, if at all? If, for example, one math error would be reason enough to reject a candidate? 

If you make one math mistake (or any other mistake), you might still pass. The exact answer depends on (i) the type of mistake and (ii) the rest of the performance, so it is a bit difficult to provide a definitive answer.

For math specifically, you can find some tips below:

▶ How to Answer Consulting Math Questions

Best,

Francesco

Hi there,

It maybe could sound clichè, but the truth is that it depends on a variety of things: specific interviewer, difficulty of the question, ability of the candidate to handle the situation well when he/she makes a mistake, …

However, to be sincere I believe knowing this information will not add anything to your preparation and it could actually be harmful. Imagine you convince yourself that you have to be perfect, and that even the slighest mistake would ruin your chances for an offer. Then you go to the interview and you make a small mistake. Your immediate emotional response would be absolute panic. 

Focus instead on learning how to handle this kind of situation in which you make a mistake. Train your emotional and technical response to those scenarios so that if they will happen during the interview you will be prepared to make the most out of the situation!

Best of luck with your preparation!
Francesca

Get a coach to learn the real evaluation criteria and what it takes to get an offer. Doing just a math error certainly is not on its own a reason for turndown. However, if your whole interview is just barely meeting the bar and then do you the mistake, it may tilt the decision towards turndown. Warm regards, Frederic 

Hi there,

A mistake during your math might not be the end of your interview. In fact, it can work in your favor if the final number doesn't make business sense, you realize and work your numbers again.

I definitely suggest you work with an experience coach to assess how close or far you are in your interview preparation. Happy to talk if you need help.

Best,

Alberto

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Check out my latest case based on a real MBB interview: Sierra Springs

Hi there,

Get a coach.

They will tell you if you are a pass or a fail. Better to find out early, and fix the issues, than play the guessing game now.

One math error can be enough to reject a candidate. But, it depends on the type of math error, and how you recover.

You're absolutely right that competition is fierce - you have to be much much better right now to get in. All the more reason to make sure you're there with coaching!

Here's some further reading to help:

https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/how-to-shift-your-mindset-to-ace-the-case
 

https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/dos-and-donts-in-a-case-interview
 

https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/candidate-led-cases-what-to-expect-and-example-cases

https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/pitfalls-case-interview-preparation

Hello,

This is for what start date if you don't mind me asking?