Hi!
When I get a table, I usually take a minute to look over it and prepare a short analysis of it (typ this table shows x, and three possible takeaways could be 1, 2, 3). Is it ok to ask clarifying questions about the table after I have taken a minute and before giving my analysis? I sometimes realize that I don't fully understand the table after I have been silent for a few seconds. And how many takeaways should I mention? If I find 8 things should I say all or pick the 3-4 most important?
Hello,
As always if you feel you need clarification, it's better to ask than working without it.
On top of this, you'll find few tips on how to proceed when receiving a chart :
- High level overview > Tell the interviewer that you understood what the table is about
- High level data analyisis > Try to quickly generate insights from the first reading of the data (not always necessary / relevant)
- Detailed analysis > will require calculation from your side. Make sure you can process it with intermediary result so you avoid the "funnel effect" with the interviewer
- Insight generation> This is why you have been provided a table, so please interpretate the data and connect it with the perspective of a reco after you've done your maths !!
Best
Benjamin
Hi,
You can use the following approach:
Sources to learn from (prioritized):
Good luck!
I would definitely ask clarifying questions if there is something I do not understand. Beyond this, don't forget the following 3 steps to reading an exhibit:
1. High level, what am I looking at? What is the exhibit talking about?
2. Read the data, what's the story?
3. What is the insight, what am I going to do with this? Do I need to refine my hypothesis as a result?
Of the 3, the last is the most important, by far: As a consultant, generating insights will take 5% of your time but be 80% of your value add.
