Lazard Online Assessment

1. The Extraction Phase

When looking at a multi-column dataset, the first step is to filter out "noise." The table provides data for five different realtors across two different years. To answer this specific question, we must ignore:

• The other four realtors (Jenkins, Miller, Wilson, and Wright).
• All Year 2 data, which represents a different market cycle.

By focusing solely on the "Boggs" row and the "Year 1" columns, we find our two essential variables: a total volume of £1,550,000 spread across 5 individual sales.

2. The Formulaic Logic

The "Average" (or Arithmetic Mean) is the most effective way to understand the "typical" value of a sale. The formula is expressed as:

$$\text{Average Sales Price} = \frac{\text{Sum of all Sales}}{\text{Number of Sales}}$$

In the context of real estate, this average is a key performance indicator (KPI). It tells us whether a realtor is focusing on high-volume, lower-priced starter homes, or low-volume, high-end luxury estates.

3. Step-by-Step Mathematical Execution

To solve this without a calculator, we use a technique called Decomposition. Instead of trying to process the millions all at once, we break the number into manageable chunks:

• Step A: Isolate the significant figures. Look at 1,550 (ignoring the final three zeros for a moment).
• Step B: Divide the thousands. $1,500$ divided by $5$ equals 300.
• Step C: Divide the remainder. $50$ divided by $5$ equals 10.
• Step D: Combine and Restore. $300 + 10 = 310$. Now, re-attach the three zeros we set aside.

This brings us to a clean total of £310,000.

4. Why This Number Matters

In the provided list of options, £310,000 stands out as the exact result of the calculation. If we had accidentally used the Year 2 figures (£2,450,000 divided by 7), we would have ended up with £350,000—which is also an option on the list, designed to catch students who don't read the table headers carefully!

By meticulously isolating the Year 1 data, we confirm that Mrs. Boggs’ average house sale was valued at exactly £310,000.

What They Are Looking For

Companies use these tests to build a profile of your "work personality." Here is how they typically interpret your answers for this specific prompt:

• Agree / Strongly Agree: This suggests you are disciplined, have high self-control, and can maintain productivity in open-office plans or high-pressure environments.
• Neutral: This can sometimes be seen as "playing it safe." In a competitive assessment, too many neutral answers can make your profile seem "flat" or indecisive.
• Disagree / Strongly Disagree: This might flag a concern that you require a perfectly quiet environment to be effective, which isn't always possible in a modern workplace.

How to Choose Your Answer

To provide a "thorough" response to this prompt, consider the following three factors:

1. The Role You Are Applying For

• High-intensity roles (Sales, Trading, Emergency Services): "Strongly Agree" is usually the best fit here, as these jobs are inherently distracting.
• Detail-oriented roles (Accounting, Coding, Data Analysis): "Agree" is a solid choice. It shows you are focused, but still human enough to acknowledge that deep concentration is a conscious effort.

2. Consistency (The "Trap")

These tests often ask the same question in different ways to see if you are lying. Later in the test, you might see: "I often find my mind wandering during long tasks."

• If you said "Strongly Agree" to ignoring distractions, you should say "Strongly Disagree" to your mind wandering. If your answers don't align, the software may flag your profile for "low consistency."

3. The "Extreme" Filter

While it’s tempting to pick "Strongly Agree" for every positive trait, some psychometric algorithms look for "extreme response bias."

• Pro-tip: Use "Strongly Agree" for traits that are core to the job (e.g., "I am reliable"), and "Agree" for more general traits like this one, unless you truly feel your focus is a superpower.

"Can you please give me a brief overview of your work experience?"

Sample Answer:

"I am a [Your Current Major/Role] with a strong interest in financial advisory. Recently, I interned at [Company Name], where I supported the team in performing valuation analyses and conducting industry research. One of my key accomplishments was building a comprehensive market map for a client in the renewable energy sector, which helped the team identify three potential acquisition targets. This experience sharpened my technical skills in Excel and deepened my understanding of how macroeconomic trends impact corporate strategy. I am now eager to apply this foundation to the high-stakes, global environment at Lazard."