Note-taking techniques

Hi Anonymous,

Using two sheets, one for clean and one for "dirty" work is generally a good idea to separate your structure and thinking from rough calculations. To answer your questions:

1) You will not be evaluated on your ability to take clear notes when you are given the initial prompt. What is important is that you can understand it - therefore, use the least possible level of detail so that you can still clearly understand the key points". I would always take these notes at the top of the "clean" paper, as they form the context of the entire problem and should be referred to throughout the case.

2) Similar to above: as long as it is clear enough that you can verbally explain it, it's fine. I certainly wouldn't fully write it out (e.g. "Profitability has decreased due to increased costs")

3)This really depends but I would generally write out the full issue tree which you intend to take your interviewer through in your opening structure. It is likely that during discussion this will be expanded, at which point it is perfectly fine to expand it further.

4) I would recommend to first think of categories, and then write down specific ideas. For example, if the question is "how are some ways this MNC could increase its profits" you might first break it down into:

•  Existing business
  • Revenue
    • idea 1, Idea 2, etc.
  • Costs
    • idea 1, idea 2, etc.
• New business
  • New markets
    • Ideas: acquire, organic, JV, etc.
  • Existing market
    • Ideas: acquire, adjacancies, etc.

5) This depends on the case. When the interviewer asks you to make a final recommendation, ask if you can have a minute to structure your thoughts. Some interviewers will want you to answer on the spot (pressure test), in which case you shouldn't write anything. If they give you a minute, then you should definitely write out the (brief) structure exactly as you say with supporting points. To shine in the interview it can also be recommended to add some additional colour on top of the standard "Conclusion is X because of A, B, C" - for example, you might lay out "low hanging fruit" vs "long term goals", or suggest immediate next steps / what further analysis you would want to do if you had the time.

6) It is not worth wasting any time transcribing things from the "dirty" to the "clean" paper. Dirty should be used primarily for rough calculations, while clean is for your structure, notes, and cleaned numbers. 

Hope this helps!

Hi Anonymous,

you don’t necessarily need to have two pieces of papers for “clean” and “dirty”, although for long math computations a separate paper could be handy. My recommendations would be to divide the paper in 4 areas as reported below; when talking notes, you can then put the information in the appropriate box. Sometimes you would have to do back and forth, as you may get information, objective 1, additional information, objective 2, etc.

• top-left: who is the client
• bottom left: initial information
• top right: objectives
• bottom right: structure

After the first page, you could still divide the page in four parts. Left and right could now be at the same distance. Top areas should be smaller to leave more space for the structures:

• top-left: name of the first area analysed
• bottom left: structure for the first area
• top right: name of the second area analysed
• bottom right: structure for the second area

Besides that you should also

• Use abbreviations.Eg, for revenues use R, for costs use C, for increase use an arrow directed up, etc.
• Write down essential information only. You do not have time to write everything, thus you should exercise in writing down only the necessary information. If you have a client which produces steel which has four plants, with a revenue problem, your notes could be something as Steel producer, R (arrow down), 4 plants

I provided an answer to your questions below:

1. As for the previous structure they could go in bottom left in the first page
2. You don’t necessarily need to write down your hypothesis – you can simply show the interviewer the part of structure you want to focus first. If you prefer to write it down though that would be ok as well
3. You should be able to complete the full structure in 1-2 minutes, and at the bare minimum all the first level of the structure, thus when doing mock interviews you should keep that as target. I would not recommend taking more than that time as the interviewer could ask to start after that. If there is any second-third level you are unable to complete due to the fact that the interviewer wants to start, you can complete later when explaining the structure.
4. It’s better to think about broader categories, in order to show you are able to structure when brainstorming
5. It’s totally fine to write down the solution points if the interviewer allows time for that in the conclusion
6. As mentioned you won’t necessarily need two “clean” and “dirty” pages. If you want to keep such division, I would use the “dirty” page for long math computation.

Best,

Francesco

Needing multiple pages is not a big issue if you always know what is where - but I agree it is suboptimal when a candidate starts moving things paper around and gets lost due to too many pages.

Here is how I set up my page:

1. At the top of the page, I write the question

2. Right below, I draw out my framework

3. Below still, I do my calculations & write down my significant findings (which I put in a box to quickly find them at the end if needed)

4. On the side, I draw a line ~1 inch away from the edge; at the top of that long rectangle, I write out a couple of words for each interim conclusion I have (useful at BCG if the interviewer doesn't leave me any time to prepare a final recommendation

5. At the bottom of that rectangle, I'll write down crazy ideas I have in the middle of the case but that aren't relevant just at that moment. That will help me not forget, and perhaps use in the 'conclusion / next steps' if I haven't addressed by then

Some people write a lot, or write big. If so, a 2nd page can be useful for the question + recommendation; a 3rd page can also be used for all the math. I think that's probably the maximum number of page most people can properly use in a case; anymore and you will stress yourself out while trying to find what you are looking for.

Hope this helps; good luck!

Note taking is of course a critical piece of a strong case delivery, so it will pay off to practice this early on in your preparation.

Whatever system you chose (and practice), it needs to fulfill 3 main purposes:

• Allow you to note down the critical data and information you hear during the case prompt and have the readily available whenever you need them
• It needs to enable you to note down an initial framework and track the execution against it
• It should provide room to store your key insights (1-2 numbers or 1 short bullet point per branch of your framework)

There are certainly many different styles of note taking that provide these three functions, so you should find our which one works for you and enables you to focus on the case execution, rather than the note taking. Keep in mind that you should practice this system early on in your journey, so you are comfortable with this method when you go into the interviews.

 Find below a screenshot of the notetaking system that works for me personally. In this system, I first draw one vertical and one horizontal line. Then I use the column on the left side to take the initial notes during the case prompt and clarifying questions. Then I write down the key question of the case in the top row and develop the framework in the main area on the page.

 During the case, I scribble less important stuff on separate pages (e.g. notes during the quant part). However, I will write down the key insights of each branch of the framework at the bottom of my main page. That way, when I get to the recommendation, I can simply read the notes from left to right to have the supporting arguments for the case recommendation.

Dear A,
 

During the case interview you will be given sheet for taking note. Designate each sheet to each specialized task.

• The data sheet is where you note down neatly and ideally in a table format all information, data, provided by the interviewer throughout the case. If you have additional data as the result of analyses or calculations performed, put them into the data sheet too.

• The presentation sheet is literally what you use when speaking to interviewers. For example, if you say: “… problem A can be broken down into B and C”, literally draw those on this sheet and point to each one as you speak.

• Lastly, the scratch paper is there for anything else you need to write out in interviews’ brainstorm ideas, calculations, etc. The purpose of this sheet is to make the other two clear and neat. So you don’t have to worry too much about what you write here on this scratch paper.

Also, below some general recommendation on how to take notes:

• Write down all the important information. You can use abbreviations

• Client name 

• Industry

• Geography 

• Current situation 

• Goal/objective: 

And for your analysis put the name of area you supposed to analysed and it structure

• Name of the first area analysed

• Structure for the first  area

• Name of the second area analysed

• Structure for the second area

Hope it helps,

Best,

André

Hello!

To add on top what´s been said, keep in mind that now with the online method this is less important than before.

If you find a method that works for you, even if it´s not the tidiest thing, won´t be prio1 anymore, since interviewers won´t see it anymore.

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara