Most candidates are scared and overwhelmed by estimation prompts. You don’t need to be. This is more about logic than numbers. Remember these quick tips and you will be fine:

• First determine your key variables

• You only need 2 to 3 variables at most

• Share your high-level equation before moving forward

• Sharing your logic for assumptions and framework is key

• A clear breakdown of your methodology is most important

Common Mistakes:

• Problems with Ambiguity: Uncomfortable making an estimate with limited information

• Not Sense Checking: Not double-checking surprisingly large or small numbers

• Diving too Deep: Spending too much time on a part of the estimate that won’t really affect the final number significantly

• Too Much Too Soon: Jumping into the metric details too quickly

  • Candidates who define the behavior change early are more likely to pick a good metric on the first try.

Looking for help mastering the estimation question, reach out to me for a coaching session.