McKinsey interviews are among the hardest job interviews in the world. The questions are difficult, specific to McKinsey, and the interviewer can sometimes seem intimidating.
Of course, the good news is that if you prepare well, it can be pretty easy to do well at a McKinsey interview. We have put together the ultimate guide to help you maximise your chances of success.
Getting a job at McKinsey as a management consultant But being prepared with the right interview answers can significantly boost your chances.
This comprehensive article will arm you with inside knowledge of the most commonly asked interview questions at McKinsey, along with suggested responses
Whether you’re a recent MBA grad or an experienced professional these tips will help you navigate the rigorous recruiting process and stand out from the pack.
So let’s dive right in and start prepping for your McKinsey interview!
Why McKinsey Wants to Hire You
Before we get to the questions, it’s important to understand what McKinsey looks for in potential hires.
As one of the top strategy consulting firms McKinsey seeks candidates who demonstrate
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Intellectual ability – Strong analytical and critical thinking skills. The capacity to solve complex problems.
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Leadership – The ability to influence and motivate others. Experience managing teams or projects.
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Communication skills – Articulate speaking and writing skills. Able to convey ideas clearly and tailor messaging to audiences.
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Client service mindset – A desire to provide top-notch service and develop trusted relationships.
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Cultural fit – Values that align with McKinsey’s guiding principles of integrity, collaboration, and passion.
Keep these traits in mind as you craft your interview answers. Showcase how you embody what McKinsey is looking for in their consultants.
Now let’s get into the questions!
Common McKinsey Interview Questions and Answers
1. Tell me about a time you solved a challenging problem. What was your thought process?
As a consultant, you’ll constantly face new problems that require creative solutions. This question tests your problem-solving skills under pressure.
Suggested Answer: Walk through your step-by-step approach in identifying the root cause, gathering data, developing solutions, and implementing recommendations. Emphasize your analytical thinking, structured approach, and how you drive improvements.
Example: “In my previous role, we were facing chronic delivery delays due to bottlenecks in our supply chain. I analyzed our logistics data, identified the key pain points, and proposed a new transportation management system to optimize routes. After implementation, we saw a 15% boost in on-time deliveries within 3 months.”
2. Describe a time you persuaded someone to see things your way.
Consulting often involves getting buy-in for your proposals from clients. This question assesses your influencing and negotiation abilities.
Suggested Answer: Share a scenario where you used data, logic, and effective communication to gain alignment on a plan or recommendation. Focus on how you understood objections and found common ground.
Example: “When proposing a new CRM system at my company, the sales team was skeptical about adopting it. I presented data showing how it could enhance productivity and customer insights. I also arranged demos showcasing the user-friendly interface. By listening to their concerns, addressing them, and focusing on benefits, I convinced the team to approve a trial run. The results spoke for themselves, and we fully implemented the system shortly after.”
3. Tell me about a time you faced a challenging interpersonal situation at work. How did you handle it?
Consultants collaborate constantly, so the ability to work through interpersonal challenges is crucial. This question reveals your emotional intelligence and conflict management skills.
Suggested Answer: Share a candid example demonstrating your empathy, diplomacy, and ability to find solutions acceptable to all parties.
Example: “My team once had tension due to conflicting work styles between two colleagues. I brought them together to better understand their perspectives. Recognizing their differing strengths, I was able to realign responsibilities in a way that leveraged their unique skillsets. This improved team dynamics while also boosting productivity.”
4. Describe a time you provided excellent client service. What did you do and what was the outcome?
McKinsey lives and breathes client service, so expect to get a question testing your commitment in this area.
Suggested Answer: Highlight how you identify client needs, provide solutions tailor-made to their business, and strengthen relationships through communication and excellence in execution.
Example: “A previous client was facing market share erosion and wanted to regain competitive edge. Through in-depth interviews with their leadership team, I pinpointed specific customer pain points. I then developed a targeted growth strategy and product optimization plan. My proposals led to a 10% boost in sales and 20% increase in customer satisfaction scores over 6 months.”
5. Tell me about a time you managed multiple priorities under tight deadlines. How did you approach it?
Consulting projects move at lightning speed, so time management abilities are highly valued. Showcase your efficiency and focus when faced with competing priorities.
Suggested Answer: Discuss your logical system for prioritizing tasks, setting deadlines, eliminating distractions and ensuring progress is made on all fronts.
Example: “When leading the launch of our new e-commerce platform, I faced tight deadlines across marketing, operations, and product categories. Using techniques like Kanban boards, daily stand-ups, and collaborative tools, I empowered teams to stay aligned while driving progress in parallel. We successfully launched within the ambitious 3 month timeline through structured prioritization and constant communication.”
6. Walk me through a situation where you had limited information to make a critical business decision. What was your thought process?
Consultants often have to devise strategies based on limited or ambiguous information. This question tests how you make sound decisions despite uncertainties.
Suggested Answer: Demonstrate your use of logical reasoning, data analysis, benchmarking and other methods to formulate robust recommendations even when data is incomplete.
Example: “My client needed guidance on international expansion but had little data on the new target market. I supplemented available financials with competitive benchmarking, industry research, and market trend analysis. These insights allowed me to build an expansion roadmap addressing local regulations, partnerships, and product customization. Although data was limited, my diligent analysis enabled me to provide actionable recommendations.”
7. How would you go about influencing a resistant client to accept your proposal?
Resistance to change is common in consulting – this question tests your perseverance and client management skills.
Suggested Answer: Emphasize relationship building, empathy, logic/data, and creativity in crafting solutions. Discuss bringing compelling outside perspectives to overcome resistance.
Example: “First I would seek to understand the root of my client’s concerns. I would then highlight case studies and data demonstrating the merits of my proposal. If still resistant, inviting respected industry peers who have successfully adopted similar solutions can be highly persuasive. Above all, maintaining patience and open communication is key to overcoming resistance.”
8. Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn from that experience?
Don’t be afraid to discuss failures – this reveals your self-awareness, growth mindset, and resilience. Be sure to highlight key lessons.
Suggested Answer: Share a candid example demonstrating humility, accountability, and your ability to glean insights from challenges. Emphasize the concrete improvements you made.
Example: “Early in my career, I struggled to obtain client buy-in for a plan I had devised. In my enthusiasm, I had made assumptions instead of actively seeking client input. This taught me the critical importance of aligning recommendations with client needs from the start. I now ensure collaborative ideation and early stakeholder engagement on all my projects – this has led to much smoother client adoption.”
9. How do you stay up-to-date on business, economic and industry trends?
Lifelong learning is essential to success in consulting. Demonstrate your curiosity and commitment to continuous skills development.
Suggested Answer: Highlight how you consume reputable business publications, fostering professional relationships, pursuing certifications/training, and more.
Example: “I devote time each week to reading top publications like Harvard Business Review cover-to-cover. I also leverage resources like McKinsey Insights and MIT Sloan Management Review to stay up to speed on the latest strategies. In addition, I am an active member of industry associations and attend major conferences yearly. These habits allow me to stay current and offer cutting-edge counsel to clients.”
10. What is one of the biggest challenges consulting firms face today? How would you address this?
This reveals your industry perspective and problem-solving abilities on a strategic scale. Ensure your solutions align with McKinsey’s priorities.
Suggested Answer: Identify current issues like increased competition, talent retention, or emerging technologies. Propose innovative yet realistic solutions.
Example: “One major challenge is leveraging Big Data and AI effectively to augment value for clients. To harness these emerging technologies, I would invest in upskilling consultants on advanced analytics while forging partnerships with leading tech firms. This allows us to tap AI capabilities while equipping our people to interpret insights and strategize accordingly. Combining human creativity and technology will boost our problem solving and client service.”
McKinsey Behavioral Interview Questions
In addition to assessing your technical abilities, McKinsey behavioral interviews evaluate your leadership skills, motivation
4. Become really confident at maths
You dont have to have a perfect GPA or GMAT score to succeed at case interview maths. However, during your McKinsey interviews, you will be expected to quickly perform accurate mental maths.
To do this, you need to know how to calculate common metrics like breakeven point or return on investment. And it’s also helpful to know a few maths shortcuts to help you solve problems more quickly. To learn more about these topics, check out our free guide to case interview maths.
Based on our experience, the best applicants start getting ready for interviews by practicing math, so make this step a priority.
2 McKinsey interview timeline ↑
When you’re getting ready for your McKinsey case interview, it can be hard to know when each part of the process will happen. To help illustrate a typical timeline, weve created the below overview of McKinseys recruitment schedule. As a rule of thumb you can expect the whole process to take 5 to 8 weeks.
Please note: this is meant to give you a general overview, and may not reflect your specific interview timeline. Actual interview timelines depend on a number of factors (e.g. Experience hire vs. University hire). The below is based on the expected recruitment timelines at the University of Chicago (an MBB target school). You can find the original document from the University of Chicago here.
You now know what to expect from the hiring process and when it will happen. Next, let’s talk about the skills that McKinsey will test you on during case interviews.
Personal Fit Interview Questions – Get into McKinsey, BCG, Bain
FAQ
Is a McKinsey interview difficult?
What does McKinsey look for in consultants?
What is the first round interview at McKinsey?
Does McKinsey require an expertise interview?
If you are interested in McKinsey careers beyond consulting, you can learn more about the assessment process for our internal roles here. *Please note, not all interviews at McKinsey will require an expertise interview or follow the same format. Please contact your recruiter for details about your process.
How many McKinsey & Company interview questions are there?
Read more Glassdoor has millions of jobs plus salary information, company reviews, and interview questions from people on the inside making it easy to find a job that’s right for you. McKinsey & Company interview details: 5,629 interview questions and 5,365 interview reviews posted anonymously by McKinsey & Company interview candidates.
What should you say during a McKinsey interview?
During your interview, you should share details about the challenges, goals, and actions you took to create change. If you are interested in McKinsey careers beyond consulting, you can learn more about the assessment process for our internal roles here.
What skills do McKinsey consultants need?
This question is designed to test your leadership, persuasion, and negotiation skills. McKinsey, as a global consulting firm, values these skills highly because their consultants often have to convince clients to adopt recommendations or strategies that may initially be met with resistance.
