PrepLounge - link to homepage PrepLounge - link to homepage
Consulting Consulting
Consulting Finance General
Login Sign up for free Sign up for free
Consulting Finance General
Community
Meeting Board
Consulting Q&A
Interview Partner
Premium Membership
Coaching
Coaches
Coaching Packages
Consulting Q&A
Resources
Case Interview Basics
Case Library
AI Casebot
Tests & Guides
Mental Math Tool
Stress Questions
Drills
Video Tutorials
Brainteaser
Career
Employers
Career Events
Consulting Jobs
Consulting Blog
Sign up for free
Login
Community
Meeting Board
Consulting Q&A
Interview Partner
Premium Membership
Coaching
Coaches
Coaching Packages
Consulting Q&A
Resources
Case Interview Basics
Case Library
AI Casebot
Tests & Guides
Mental Math Tool
Stress Questions
Drills
Video Tutorials
Brainteaser
Career
Employers
Career Events
Consulting Jobs
Consulting Blog
Schedule mock interviews on the Meeting Board, join the latest community discussions in our Consulting Q&A and find like-minded Interview Partners to connect and practice with!
Meeting Board
Consulting Q&A
Interview Partner
Premium Membership
Back to overview
Anonymous A
on Sep 26, 2019
Global
I want to receive updates regarding this question via email.

Time vs accuracy

My questions concerns mainly interviewer led style. 

Both in quantitative and qualitative parts I can come up with more detailed/accurate solution if I take more time to communicate my approach and findings. However, when doing so I also tend to rush myself as I feel that I wont have enough time to finish the question. 

What is the good balance between time and accuracy. Are consultuncies looking for people that can solve the problem very quickly, or is it more about the process of getting to the anwer (explaining each step, forming structured followable arguments etc).

thanks!

2
2.5k
18
Write an answer
Be the first to answer!
Nobody has responded to this question yet.
Top answer
Deleted
Coach
on Sep 26, 2019
Senior Consultant @ Google | McKinsey, BCG, Bain exp. as Client | 100+ REAL MBB cases

Hi A,

It depends on the interviewer and the question asked. In my experience, most interviewers would would be ok with an estimation upfront and then would allow you more time to come to the actual number, if that is what they want.

If things are simple multiplication/addition/etc, and you know you can calculate it within 15-30 sec, just take your time and then walk the interviewer through your calculation.

If you think you will need longer, do an estimation up front and then ask the interviewer if they want a more precise number.

Does this help?

Best, Aws

1
Contact coach
1 comment
Sara A
on Sep 26, 2019
Thank you! This is very helpful.
Deleted
Coach
on Sep 26, 2019
Consultant at BCG Nordics| PE and Due Diligence | BCG London, Boston & Dubai office experience

In my experience, more often than not, interviewer is looking at your approach rather than getting the right answer. This stems from the fact that In consulting, the problems are often vague and there is no one correct answer. so what matters more is how you think about problem in a structured way and prepare a convincing reasoning

So coming back to your question, i would prioritize reasoning over speed. To convey to the interviewer that you can think fast, during the interview, jot down all the drivers in your hypothesis tree on paper so that even if you can't talk about it, interviewer can see that you thought of several possibilites.

1
Contact coach
0 comments
Sign up for free to read all answers.
Sign up for free to read all answers.
Yes, I would like to be informed about new content, exciting jobs, relevant events, and selected employers.
By creating an account, I confirm that I agree to PrepLounge's Terms of Use. Please read our Privacy Policy.
Sign up with
You already have an account? Log in here.
Similar Questions
Consulting
Question about
Case
Presenting your structure in interviewer-led cases
on Feb 19, 2023
Global
4
2.1k
Top answer by
Hagen
Coach
#1 recommended coach | >95% success rate | 9+ years consulting, interviewing and coaching experience
28
4 Answers
2.1k Views
+1
Consulting
What do I do if don't know wether an interview is candidate or interviewer led?
on Oct 08, 2023
Global
10
1.0k
Top answer by
Ian
Coach
Top US BCG / MBB Coach - 5,000 sessions |Tech, Platinion, Big 4 | 9/9 personal interviews passed | 95% candidate success
16
10 Answers
1.0k Views
+7
Related Article
Interviewer- vs. Candidate-Led Cases
Every case interview has a certain structure. An important factor on how your case interview is going to proceed is if the interview is interviewer-led or candidate-led.We’d like to explain the two interview formats – candidate-led cases and interviewer-led cases – highlight their differences, and provide you with tips on how to excel in each of them.Interviewer-Led CasesInterviewer-led cases are most frequently used at McKinsey. As the title suggests, the interviewer guides you through the interview and leads the general process. This gives him or her a more direct opportunity to test specific skills that are expected and assess areas of weakness.The following are a few indicators that hint towards interviewer-led cases:A very specific case question is posed.Either a lot of data will be given to you along with an initial breakdown of sub-problems or a broad problem may be given to you, and you would need to structure the problem by being as specific as possible.After structuring, the interviewer will ask you a set of pre-determined questions irrespective of what your structure is (this could be an abrupt move, so do not get nervous when this happens!)The interviewer might induce sudden interruptions and turnarounds that do nit result from your analysis.You will be asked "What else" and “Please explain more in detail” types of questions.What's Important in Interviewer-Led Cases?Despite the name of this case class, you need to remain in the driver's seat and be the active leader of the overall case interview. Especially in interviewer-led cases, the largest fallacy is to become passive, unstructured, and driven by the interviewer. To lead the case, you need to be particularly structured. Be prepared for interruptions, and anticipate that they might disprove hypotheses or force you to develop a completely new framework.The following tips might be helpful:Keep the big picture in mind: Consider other problems or solutions if the interviewer suggests a hypothesis. These might be important later.Apply the MECE Principle: Structure your answers to be Mutually Exclusive and Collectively Exhaustive. This approach helps you be thorough and organized, avoiding random or unstructured ideas.Watch for curveball questions and stress tests: Be prepared for unexpected changes or time constraints. Stay calm and adapt as needed.👉 Would you like to try one of our interviewer-led cases right away? Here are two examples.
View article
Related Case
Expert case by
Francesco
MBB Final Round Case - Smart Education
4.6
33.2k times solved
Advanced
Interviewer-led
Open case
Similar Questions
Consulting
Question about
Case
Presenting your structure in interviewer-led cases
on Feb 19, 2023
28
4
2.1k
Consulting
What do I do if don't know wether an interview is candidate or interviewer led?
on Oct 08, 2023
16
10
1.0k
Everything for Your Career
  • Interview Coaching
  • Q&A
  • Interview Partner
  • Mental Math Tool
  • Interview Drills
  • Stress Questions
  • Blog
Everything for Your Career
  • Interview Coaching
  • Q&A
  • Interview Partner
  • Mental Math Tool
  • Interview Drills
  • Stress Questions
  • Blog
Popular in Consulting
  • Case Library
  • Meeting Board
  • Interview Partner
  • Case Interview Basics
  • Case Interview
  • Consulting Q&A
Popular in Finance
  • Finance Q&A
  • Interview in Investment Banking
  • Investment Banking Salaries
Popular in Consulting
  • Case Library
  • Meeting Board
  • Interview Partner
  • Case Interview Basics
  • Case Interview
  • Consulting Q&A
Popular in Finance
  • Finance Q&A
  • Interview in Investment Banking
  • Investment Banking Salaries
Consulting and Finance Employers
  • RWE Consulting
  • Whiteshield Advisory
  • All Employers »
About PrepLounge
  • For Companies
  • For Universities
  • For Coaches
  • About Us
  • Career
  • FAQ
© 2012 PrepLounge
Our servers are powered by electricity from renewable sources.
  • Cookies & Privacy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Imprint
  • Sitemap
  • Contact
Facebook Linkedin Instagram TikTok Youtube
Questions or Feedback?
Select category
  • Select category
  • General Feedback
  • Case Interview Preparation
  • Coaching
  • Technical Problems
  • Other
Your name
Your email address
Cancel