Interviewer gave me a starting population number that seems wrong. Should I challenge it?

Question

In a market-sizing case, the interviewer gave me a population figure that did not match what I thought was correct. I froze because I did not know whether it was a test or just a simplified assumption. Should you challenge a number the interviewer gives you if you think it is wrong?

Mayank G. · Accepted Answer

Use the number provided for the case unless there is a clear reason to clarify what it represents.

Case interviews often use simplified or fictional figures so the math stays manageable.

If you believe the interviewer said 30 million but the country actually has 50 million people, confirm, 'We'll use 30 million for this estimate, correct?' and continue.

Clarify the number once if needed, then treat the confirmed figure as a case assumption.

@kayakGarden8697 · Answer

Use the case number. Market sizing isn't population trivia.

Forum

Interviewer gave me a starting population number that seems wrong. Should I challenge it?

Similar Questions

What do you do when a market-sizing answer changes a lot based on one assumption?

BCG gave me a market sizing and I completely panicked on the assumptions

What do you do when you don't know a market-sizing input?

Search CaseBasix

Interviewer gave me a starting population number that seems wrong. Should I challenge it?

Similar Questions

What do you do when a market-sizing answer changes a lot based on one assumption?

BCG gave me a market sizing and I completely panicked on the assumptions

What do you do when you don't know a market-sizing input?