Interview Question for Associate at Boston Consulting Group:

Classic market sizing exercise.

This is more about the thought process, the assumptions, than just the final answer.

I was once asked in an interview in France how many people got married in France every year. Just show that you have a thought process and are not missing any big inputs; and work through the numbers confidently and thoroughly.

The French, it seems to me, emphasize the memorization of facts and figures. When I was a graduate student there, I was asked if I knew how many tons of coal were produced in France the year before. My American answer was, "No, I have no idea. However, my business school education has taught me where to go to find out the answer." In other words, I have great research skills.

I would say a similar thing to the hair salons in Japan - and just add some personal info about the one I used when I lived there for 7-1/2 years.