McKinsey interview preparation materials

[alee228]

Here is some insanely helpful information about the McKinsey interview process, as well as preparation materials. This information was provided by a McKinsey Recruitment Coordinator.

The round one interview consists of the McKinsey Problem Solving Test, followed by two interviews.

1. Preparing for the McKinsey Problem Solving Test

The McKinsey Problem Solving Test is a 60-minute, 26-question multiple choice test designed to help McKinsey learn about your ability to think through the types of business problems McKinsey consultants face. You will be presented with three scenarios based on actual McKinsey client cases. The exercise should also provide you with a better idea of what consultants do. You do not need to bring anything with you for the test (calculators are not permitted).

To help you prepare, please find attached an official McKinsey practice test, along with a coaching guide.

2. Preparing for your interviews

Interviews at McKinsey are challenging. As with any challenging objective, good preparation is essential. McKinsey encourages applicants to spend as much time as possible preparing for interviews so that you can demonstrate your best qualities on the day. In particular, McKinsey strongly recommends that you follow these preparation guidelines:

1. Visit the McKinsey website where you will find a comprehensive set of support materials.
2. Watch the online video carefully, as many times as you need to. This represents the type of interview that you will have with McKinsey, and contains plenty of tips on how to approach the discussion with the McKinsey interviewers.
3. Prepare for the experience interview: Think carefully about situations you have been in where you have needed to use the types of skills described in the video. These may or may not be the types of experiences you have outlined on your CV. Be prepared to discuss these experiences in great detail with your interviewer, and try to focus on your specific contribution and actions when describing them. McKinsey recommends that that you discuss situations where you felt challenged and stretched, as these are the ones that will demonstrate your true potential.
4. Prepare for the case interview: The case studies McKinsey discusses with you reflect the type of work its consultants do. Practice some case study examples. Take time to think through your answers and challenge yourself to develop an organized and structured response to the questions. If you are not confident about your numerical ability, practice some basic numerical problems, as you are likely to be asked about numbers and data in the interview.

3. During the interviews

You will most likely meet with two McKinsey consultants, each of whom will discuss your past experiences and a case study with you. There will also be time for you to ask the consultants questions regarding McKinsey or regarding your career choices more broadly.