got destroyed when an MD asked how i’d adjust my dcf if the CEO suddenly quit mid-model. heard the community has actual ‘what if’ drills from top firms. anyone run through these? did they actually mirror real interviews? how do you balance quick thinking with not sounding desperate? any traps to watch for in these practice cases?
lol they’ll always find ways to break your model. real trick? stall. say ‘great question’ while thinking. the GS scenarios here are decent but overengineered—no MD remembers their own firm’s exact WACC method. just show you can pivot without crying
the mckinsey supply chain shock drill here is brutal but helped! my buddy said his interview had same curveball. still practicing tho!
Treat curveballs as case studies: 1) Acknowledge the variable 2) Quantify impact ranges 3) Link to comparable scenarios. The Goldman energy transition scenario pack is particularly current. Remember—they’re testing composure, not perfection. One candidate I mentored turned a CEO question into discussing succession plan valuations—landed a callback.