Need your help - how to communicate effectively / precisely (in interviews)?

Hi there,

Remember the objective/question - If they ask a question, listen intently and lead with an answer. When working through the case, remember everything you do should be focused on the objective

Structure your thinking - When thinking + speaking, use structure to organize everything. By grouping things and talking in buckets you'll get your point across more concisely

Signpost - If needing to communicate multiple things, first state those x things! Then, afterwards, dive into each. So "I"m thinking about this in 3 ways. Way A, Way B, and Way C. In terms of Way A...."

Remember less is more - Think about longer sentences/phrases you use. Reflect on how to make them shorter. Much like you edit an essay, edit your speaking. Why use 5 words when a well-placed single word encompases that? Build your vocabulary (especially business vocabularly) to be able to use key words instead of wasting time "explaining" a concept

Practice with others - Tell others that you're working on this. Ask them to force you to be concise. So, tell them to interupt you if you're rambling! Record yourself for answers and listen to yourself....look for ways you could have been quicker.

========COMMUNICATE DURING CHARTS/EXHIBITS=======

Step 1: Summarize the exhibit in your own words

Step 2: Ask for a moment to interpret…if you need it

Step 3: When you speak again, lead with the insights

Graph Interpretation Tips

1) Read the title - and understand it

2) Read the legends - and understand them

3) Remind yourself of the objective / hypothesis in the case, to see where this might fit

4) Find the differences - where does the line graph plummet or spike? Which column is a lot smaller or bigger than the others? Where does change occur? The differences are what matter

5) Talk outloud while interpreting - first, it helps you think and process your thoughts, second, it lets the interviewer provide guidance and course correct if needed.

========COMMUNICATE DURING MATH==============

1. State what you'd like to calculate and why (i.e. how it will help to solve the problem)
2. Ask/take a moment to come up with the formula
3. Articulate the structure to the interview (I will multiply this, then add this, etc.)
4. Go and silently do the math
5. Pop your head up at intervals to give a # update if the calcs are particularly long/complex
6. State the final number and the impact/insight

===========GENERAL COMMUNICATION==============

Stop rushing!

You're rushing to be as fast as you can, and then you're giving a bad answer.

If you're lost in the woods is it better to run really really fast? Or is it better to pause, breathe, and look around and steadily walk to the way out.

Same goes with cases.

Summarize the exhibit in a sentence, ask for a moment if the insight isn't clear, then be very deliberate in stating the insight and what you would like to do next.

If you're still struggling after this Q&A make sure to get a coach to help fix your issue.

Hi there,

First off, making it to the final rounds of an interview with a global consulting firm is an impressive feat, and you should be proud of your accomplishments. Let's address your concerns directly to help you fine-tune your interview technique.

Q: When being asked questions, I tend to clarify purpose or ask for what interviewers expect first. How can I ensure my responses are genuine and authentic?
It's crucial to remember that interviewers appreciate directness. While it's good to understand the question, over-clarification might come across as hesitation. When you're asked something, take a moment to understand the question's core and respond based on your true experiences and beliefs. Trust your instincts.

Q: Sometimes my reply is not direct, especially about previous experiences. How can I be clearer?
When discussing past experiences, remain focused. Begin with the main point or result of your experience and then delve into the relevant details. This gives interviewers immediate clarity and allows you to expand as needed.

Q: I'm wondering if I've been overcomplicating questions or taking every question as a “case interview question”. How can I strike a balance between understanding the question and replying directly?
Differentiating between fit and case questions is essential. For fit questions, which tend to be about your experiences or views, aim for direct answers. For case questions, while a structured approach is beneficial, ensure your response is relevant, concise and well-justified. Listen actively to quickly gauge what's being asked and adjust your response style accordingly.

Keep practicing, gather feedback, and stay true to your experiences. Best wishes for your future interviews!

Hi,

It's great that you received feedback on your interviews, and it's even better that you're proactive about addressing it. The feedback you received suggests that you might be overthinking or overcomplicating your answers, which can sometimes come across as not being direct or genuine. Here are some tips to help you strike a balance between understanding the question and providing a clear, concise, and direct response:

1. Active Listening: Make sure you are actively listening to the interviewer's question. This means paying full attention to what they are asking and not jumping to conclusions about what they want to hear. If you're unsure about the question's intent, it's okay to seek clarification, but do it in a concise manner.
2. Clarify with Precision: When you need to seek clarification, ask targeted questions to ensure you understand the specific aspect of the question that's unclear to you. Avoid asking overly broad or vague questions, as this can make you appear indecisive.
3. Structure Your Response: Even for fit questions, it's helpful to structure your responses. A simple framework like "Situation, Task, Action, Result" (STAR) can work well. Briefly describe the situation, the task or challenge you faced, the action you took, and the result or outcome. This structure ensures your response is organized and easy to follow.
4. Be Concise: While it's essential to provide enough information, avoid over-explaining or going off on tangents. Keep your responses concise and to the point. You can always provide additional details if the interviewer asks for more.
5. Practice with Mock Interviews: Consider practicing with a friend or mentor who can provide feedback on your responses. This practice can help you become more comfortable with balancing clarity and structure in your answers.
6. Tailor Your Responses: Customize your answers to the specific question and the role you're interviewing for. Generic answers can make you appear insincere. Show how your experiences directly relate to the role you're applying for.
7. Practice Active Communication: Ensure that you are communicating your thought process to the interviewer. You can say something like, "Let me think about that for a moment..." or "I want to make sure I address your question accurately, so please bear with me." This shows you value precision in your answers.
8. Seek Feedback: After practicing and implementing these strategies, request feedback from mock interviewers or mentors to see if you've improved in delivering clear and direct responses.
9. Stay Calm and Confident: Nervousness can lead to overthinking and complicated responses. Practice relaxation techniques to help you stay calm and confident during interviews.

Remember that the goal of an interview is to showcase your skills and experience while also demonstrating your ability to communicate effectively. Finding the right balance between understanding the question and providing a direct, structured response takes practice, but it's a skill that can greatly improve your interview performance.

Hi,

Sharing some perspectives from an interviewer & manager's seat, having faced and interviewed/managed candidates and consultants who have demonstrated similar issues as you do. 

• As an interviewer or manager, I try to be as direct and pointed with my questions as possible because I do not want to waste time and I believe in the clarity of my communication
• Even if your interviewer is not actually very clear, be rest assured that they will perceive themselves as being direct and precise thus they will feel that some clarifying questions may not be necessary and they expect a simple, direct, and precise answer
• The first thing I would encourage yourself is to ask yourself why you are hesitant/struggling to give a concise, direct answer
• Either there is an issue with your comprehension of the question, OR you don't trust yourself enough to give a strong POV/answer
• Often times I feel that many new consultants, and nervous candidates doubt their own thinking/logic, and therefore feel the need to over-clarify/hedge before answering
• I would suggest not to overthink things and trust in your own logic/perspective. Take what the interviwer is asking at ‘face value' and give an answer
  • If they want to find out another different angle or more details in a specific area, they will ask further probing questions 

All the best!

Hi there!

Congrats on making it this far! Sounds like it was really close. 

Based on how you describe it, it rather sounds like you weren't spot on answering to what the interviewer was asking. 

Most of these issues tend to come from candidates not understanding well enough the relationship they should have with the interviewer. Your interaction with them is meant to replicate a conversation. The more connected / in tune you are, the better the content is received because the better you the candidate are able to calibrate it. 

Technically, what that means is to make sure that you really understand what the interviewer is looking for. Rephrase the question in your own words to verify that you're certain of the meaning. Write it down. And try to stay within the scope of that conversation. 

Best,
Cristian

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Practicing for interviews? Check out my latest case based on a first-round MBB interview >>> SoyTechnologies  

1. Listen and Answer: Stay focused on the question asked.
2. Structured Thinking: Organize thoughts into clear buckets.
3. Signpost: State the number of points you'll cover before diving in.
4. Be Concise: Edit your speech for brevity.
5. Practice Conciseness: Seek feedback and record yourself.
6. Charts/Exhibits: Summarize, interpret, and lead with insights.
7. Graph Interpretation: Read title, legends, focus on differences, talk out loud.
8. Math Communication: Clearly state what to calculate, articulate steps, provide periodic updates, and state the final number and insight.
9. General Communication: Avoid rushing, summarize clearly, seek coaching if needed.

Best regards, Frederic