Does McK usually ask market-sizing questions in first/second round interviews? I understand that it's fair game - but would it be unusual for that to be the case?
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McK - Market Sizing?
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Hello!
It´s very common to come across market sizing exercises, both in 1st and 2nd rounds.
However, don´t think about them as a market sizing per se, without any context (e.g., tell me how many tourists are going to be in Paris this year), but more an integrated part of a bigger business case.
For instance, you could start with a structure and only then, in the math part -that is always a follow-up of one of the tree branches-, have to estimate somehting that will be used in the overall problem (e.g., how many olive oils bottles are cosumed by italian families per year?)
Furthermore, you will usually have some hints (e.g., number of habitants in Italy, etc.)
Hope it helps.
Cheers,
Clara
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Hi,
Not unusual at all for you to get a market-sizing question. Also, remember, market sizing isn't necessarily a "Ok, I want you to size this market for me". A lot of times, the question will be embedded in a case (for example, a market entry case).
If this question is because you're deciding whether or not to prepare for market-sizing, I would definitively say you should prepare!
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Sure, market sizing is maybe the most common typology of case, especially in specific countries (e.g. Italy). It could be both a stand-alone case or part of a bigger case like in a Market Entry.
I strongly suggest to give market sizing the right importance, feel free to text me if you want to discuss the right approach.
Best,
Luca
(edited)
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Hi there,
Market sizing can be one of the quite common asks during first/secon round actually. But it is not usually to be the case entirely, i.e. the case is not just "estimate the market of XX" then it is done.
More often when there is market sizing, it is just a part of the entire case. E.g. the case could be "Should company X go into a certain industry", and one of the areas you need to look into is the market size of the industry, but you need to look into other aspectives as well.
Best,
Emily
(edited)
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Hi there,
compared to other companies, McKinsey doesn’t use often market sizing.
I know 100+ real questions asked at McKinsey in different offices worldwide through my mentees and just a handful got market sizing. Moreover, this was limited to specific geographies.
Having said that, I would fully prepare on them as well, as you never know and as mentioned by Anrian finals are unpredictable.
Best,
Francesco
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Hi There,
Speaking from experience as interviewer and interviewee - yes, McK does market-sizing question, but it often does come up in the final round (Partner stage).
In the first-round interview, McKinsey always equips the first-round interviewer (Associate, EM, Associate Partner) with cases from the case library, and the market sizing question usually does not appear in an obvious form, but more into like a math or chart reading type of questions. Yet, even so, the interviewee has no need to do a guesstimate or assumption as all the numbers are always there. (e.g. what conclusion could you draw from the table? how many gas stations does the client need to invest?; knowing all these numbers, how many people need to purchase the product in a year to be profitable?)
However, in the last round, Partners usually have their own case and it can contain market sizing questions. So, having the ability to do market sizing is needed for you to get the offer.
Hope this helps!
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Hi,
You may get market sizing during your McK interview. Though usually it happens at the second round. Have a look to my post on how to approach market sizing:
Best,
Anton
(edited)
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Hi,
It's pretty common. You can have market sizing either a part of the bigger case or as a standalone case
Best
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Dear A ,
Yes. They do have market sizing in their interview rounds.
Best,
André
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