Mental Model: Interviews Flashcards
3
Moral question (e.g. do bankers deserve higher salaries)?
- Define ‘moral’, ‘deserve’ or like terms
- Build that into an argument (e.g. ‘deserve’ infers positive moral outcome - outcomes of bankers can be negative (e.g. profits flow to wealthy/GFC, so cannot ‘deserve’)
- If questioned on further morals, build that into your argument
Note: deserve =/= should
3
Causality (e.g. why did QE not cause inflation?)
- Define and explain separate terms (how is inflation caused, what does QE do)
- Work logically to explain process, not missing any crucial logic steps
- If challenged on causlaity or given alternate reason, bring into arg (if spending went to international investors -> would get pound sterling -> not want to convert due to costs (esp in volatile time with global uncertainty) -> invest in UK business)
Don’t need answer before you start speaking (though it is good to) - interviewers can help you with your process
3
Comparison - concept (e.g. what is of greater importance, stability or representation)
- Define different terms and explain their relevance
- . Try to explain why one can be factored into another (representation important for stability)
- When challenged, adapt to answer (e.g. extreme parties could limit informed poltical debate and thus pluralism, result in lesser total representation + undermine stability)
4
Comparison - quantitative (e.g. is China or India the more powerful economy)
- Define concept (output + income)
- Redefine in quantitive terms (GNI)
- Focus on smaller details (whether investment concentrated)
- Use formula to solve this (investment x concentration weighting)
2
Definitional - straight forward (e.g. what is blackmail?)
- Just state answer (e.g. blackmail is wrongfully and purposefully withholding the release of information about others because you gain some sort of private benefit out of it)
- Adapt answer in response to criticisms
3
Definitional - conceptual (e.g. what is purpose of electoral system?)
- Define terms individually (e.g. what is ‘system’ in political sense; what does ‘electoral’ imply)
- Put terms together
- Use to explain argument
5
Estimate (how would you measure level of output in economy?)
- Define what equation you need (e.g. output can be measured by GDP)
- Outline equation further (consumption, balance of payments, govt spending, investment)
- Make any important information known (e.g. consumption represents circa 60% of GDP)
- Estimate values for each (what does just avg household consumer per month of each income bracket, what do they earn; is the economy under a trade deficit, govt spends x amount per year)
- Be prepared to adapt answer (e.g. why not include taxes in govt spending - factored into things such as consumption and investment + public may not be responsive to taxes (e.g. cutting tax may result in liquidity trap)
5
Problem solving - links (e.g. consistent sentences)
- Define concepts
- Look for and explain link (e.g. inconsistent and contradictory sentences)
- Use that to explain difference
- Give example
- Adapt answer through intellectual flexibility e.g. ‘at least’, etc
2
Problem solving - example (e.g. true conclusion but untrue premises)
- Use counter example (true premises + true conclusion)
- Switch word to make premise untrue
5
Game Theory
- Understand conditions - ask question if need to
- Test out problem
- Explain how rationality factors in
- Find right answer - keep on pushing! and KEEP ON TALKING
- Acknowledge that they may not be rationalism (if appr)
Note: may have to work backwards e.g. £1 auction, pirates
4
Unseen material - explainer (e.g. chocolate)
- Establish main trend
- Look at axis and explain significance logically (chocolate consumption → luxury good → spending on luxury goods indicates wealth)
- Denote anomalies - try and explain why
- Adapt answers in response
