Schedule mock interviews on the Meeting Board, join the latest community discussions in our Consulting Q&A and find like-minded Case Partners to connect and practice with!
Back to overview

What are guesstimate questions exactly?

Are market sizing questions a type of guesstimate? Like how many laptops are sold in the US every year? How many fish are in the oceans? etc.? Are those guesstimates? 

2 Answers
3.8k Views
11
Be the first to answer!
Nobody has responded to this question yet.
Top answer
Vlad
Coach
on Jun 14, 2018
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

I've seen that some books using the word "guesstimates" for market sizing, for brainteasers and for the mix of both (weight of the Boeing). In reality what matters is that there are 2 types of questions:

  • Market sizing - In most of the cases market sizing can be a part of the bigger case, but sometimes they give it as a separate case. You need to spend some time practicing various market sizing types.
  • Brainteasers - There is no dedicated part of the interview for brainteasers and to be honest they are quite rare. Although the interviewer might want to ask you a brainteaser question either before or after the case. To prepare you simply read the 2-3 most popular books with the brainteasers (Are you smart enough to work at Google?, How would you move mount Fuji?).

Best

on Jun 14, 2018
Ex-MBB, Experienced Hire; I will teach you not only the how, but also the why of case interviews

There are two main types of market sizing questions: the complex ones, which require many assumptions, bottom up. These will be precisely wrong, fine.

The other type are very high level, think a couple of top down assumptions, roughly right. This is what "guesstimate" would be, also called "back of the envelope" or "baby math". FWIW, I've seen a former boss, (ex-McK, CFO) successfully run a $5B company using only baby math. The idea here is to get to the essence of the problem, without getting lost in the noise. Very powerful stuff.

Similar Questions
Consulting
Einstieg bei einer Top-Beratung (McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Roland Berger)
on Nov 11, 2015
Global
1 Answer
15.0k Views
Top answer by
128
1 Answer
15.0k Views
Consulting
Difference between first round and second round interviews?
on May 28, 2020
Global
18 Answers
25.8k Views
Top answer by
Anonymous
64
18 Answers
25.8k Views
+15
Consulting
Market Sizing Case Question: How big is the market for physicians in the US?
on Dec 12, 2015
Global
3 Answers
14.8k Views
Top answer by
Anonymous
38
3 Answers
14.8k Views
How likely are you to recommend us to a friend or fellow student?
0 = Not likely
10 = Very likely
You are a true consultant! Thank you for consulting us on how to make PrepLounge even better!