Case math methodology

Question

Hi, first of all thank you very much for the website, it is really useful.

I have a question regarding the methodology while doing the math computations during cases. I know the best approach is to tell the interviewer what you want to do, guide the interviewer while doing computations and finally making conclusions.

The thing is that most times I get really confused or make no-sense math errors because I am concentrating too much in walking the interviewer through it rather than doing the math computations correctly (especially when several calculations need to be done). I wanted to know if the following methodologies are ok and which one would be better:

a) Explain what you want to do, ask for time to do the computations and finally make conclusions
b) Ask for time, do the computations, walk the interviewer through them and make conclusions.

Thank you very much. I´ll be happy to hear your suggestions.

Answer 1

Hi Anonymous,

this is what I would recommend for the math part:

Repeat the question – candidates sometimes do mistakes answering the wrong question in the math part
Present how you would like to proceed from a theoretical point of view
Ask for time and perform the first computations
Present the interviewer interim steps to keep him/her aligned – don’t just say the final number
Continue with the computations until you find the final answer
Propose next steps on the basis of the results you found

Hope this helps,

Francesco

Answer 2

It is absolutely ok to ask for a little time to focus on the calculation, and I would strongly recommend option a). That way, you can make sure that you don't have an error in your approach - if you did, you would have wasted quite a bit of time doing calculations.

Answer 3

Hi,

I would recommend the following:

Explain what you want to do and check if that's the right approach
Ask for time to do the computations
Come back with some numbers while doing the calculations to make sure you are on the right track. (E.g. you calculate the "as is case", check the number with the interviewer and get back into calculations of "to be case")
You provide the final number and make the conclusions

Best

Answer 4

Hi A,

I would recommend to tell, firstly, what you are going to do to clarify if you understood the question correctly.

Surely, ask for time to do the computations. Be coherent and discuss interim steps with the interviewer to be sure you do everything right.

Finally, present the final answer and make the conclusions.

Best,

Andre

Answer 5

Hello!

I would add an option c), that I believe would be the best one

Explain what you want to do, DON´T ask for time to do the computations but do them as you walk the interviewer the different steps, and finally make conclusions

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara