McKinsey is among the most selective consulting firms, with only 1.5% of applicants receiving offers. Their demanding process and high expectations require a thoughtful and strategic approach to preparation.
This guide is designed to help candidates navigate McKinsey’s interview process, incorporating all the latest updates for 2025. It provides a clear breakdown of the key steps, from understanding the interview structure to targeted preparation strategies, ensuring you’re ready to perform at your best.
Structure of the guide
- How Is the selection process at McKinsey structured?
- What are the components of a McKinsey interview?
- How do McKinsey interviews differ from other consulting firms?
- What types of cases can you expect at McKinsey?
How do you approach preparing for a McKinsey case Interview?
Why this guide Is different
This guide is tailored specifically to McKinsey’s unique requirements and the latest trends in their recruitment process. Whether you are just beginning your preparation or refining your approach, this comprehensive guide will give you the tools to confidently navigate McKinsey’s interview process and maximize your chances of success.
How is the selection process at McKinsey structured?
Here is a detailed comparison of McKinsey’s interview format and other consulting firms, designed to help you focus your preparation on the key differences.
| Criteria | McKinsey | Other consulting firms (e.g., Bain, BCG) |
|---|---|---|
|
Interview format |
Interviewer-led: structured and guided by the interviewer |
Candidate-led: the candidate drives the discussion |
|
Interviewer role |
Actively guides the candidate through predefined questions |
Acts as a client, observing and responding to candidate-driven questions |
|
Case structure |
Sequential: individual questions on structuring, data analysis, math, and brainstorming |
End-to-end problem-solving driven by the candidate’s approach |
|
Evaluation process |
Collaborative decision-making using detailed checklists |
Relies heavily on individual interviewer judgment; less standardized |
|
Feedback timing |
Feedback provided within 2–3 days |
Feedback timing varies; often longer than McKinsey |
|
Number of rounds |
Two rounds, each clearly structured |
Less structured; typically two or three rounds, but varies by firm |
|
Interviews per round |
ContentTwo interviews per round |
Two or three interviews per round |
|
Common industries |
Tests all industries but places specific focus on public sector to neutralize candidates’ industry-specific advantages |
Tests all industries, with focus depending on the firm (e.g., FMCG, healthcare, private equity) |
What are the components of a McKinsey interview?
The McKinsey interview process is divided into three main parts, each designed to assess different aspects of a candidate’s skills, values, and suitability for the firm.
- Personal experience interview (PEI)
McKinsey assesses the qualities they expect to see in your work by asking targeted questions about your professional experience. They focus on four key areas:
- Personal impact: Your ability to influence others non-linearly and demonstrate empathy.
- Leadership: Taking on additional responsibility and guiding a team toward success.
- Entrepreneurial drive: Solving business problems and identifying opportunities for growth.
- Courageous change: Adapting to change and showing resilience in challenging situations.
This structured approach allows McKinsey to evaluate how well you align with the qualities they value in their consultants.
2. Case interview
The second and most extensive portion of the interview lasts about 35–40 minutes. You will be presented with a printed description of an imaginary business scenario. The interviewer will then guide you through a series of tasks, including:
- Business structuring and issue analysis.
- Interpreting and analyzing graphical data.
- Solving quantitative problems.
- Creative thinking and brainstorming potential solutions.
This part assesses your ability to break down complex problems, think analytically, and communicate your thought process clearly.
3. Your questions for the interviewer
At the end of the case interview, you will have the opportunity to ask the interviewer questions about their experience at McKinsey, their most memorable projects, or any other topic of interest. It’s best to avoid asking questions related to your performance during the interview.
While most interviews are conducted via Zoom, as of 2025, there is an increasing trend of scheduling at least one in-person interview during the final round. This hybrid approach allows McKinsey to maintain personal interaction while leveraging virtual efficiency.
How do McKinsey interviews differ from other consulting firms?
One of the most common mistakes candidates make is failing to prepare specifically for McKinsey’s interview style. This often leads to misunderstandings about what is expected during the interview and, ultimately, to rejection.
Unlike most consulting firms, McKinsey uses an interviewer-led format, whereas others, such as Bain and BCG, typically employ a candidate-led format.
In the interviewer-led format, the interviewer guides you through the case step-by-step, much like a university exam. Each component of the case—business structuring, data interpretation, math problems, and creative brainstorming—is addressed through specific, sequential questions. Your responses are evaluated individually using a structured checklist.
In the candidate-led format, however, you are expected to independently drive the case from start to finish. You ask questions, request data, analyze it, and present your recommendations. In this scenario, the interviewer acts more like a client, observing your approach rather than leading the discussion.
This difference significantly impacts how candidates approach business structuring:
- In McKinsey’s interviewer-led format, you are expected to present a structured set of hypotheses. For instance, in a case about Airbnb entering the Chinese market, your response might be:
“To succeed in this market, it is crucial to analyze customer needs. I believe customers would value a wide selection of apartments, competitive prices, a user-friendly website, a transparent communication process with hosts, and access to reviews.” - In Bain/BCG’s candidate-led format, your response might focus on data requests:
“I would like to request customer development data to better understand their needs. Could you share any findings from recent studies?”
Understanding these nuances is critical for success at McKinsey. Their format requires concise, structured, and hypothesis-driven answers that demonstrate analytical clarity and creativity within the bounds of the interviewer’s guidance
What types of cases can you expect at McKinsey?
Contrary to the popular belief that solving cases requires you to “think like a consultant,” the truth is that success in case interviews relies on mastering fundamental frameworks and learning how to apply them effectively. Here’s how the case-solving process typically unfolds:
Key steps in solving a case
- Clarifying questions
After receiving the case prompt, ask targeted questions to better understand the client’s problem and objectives before structuring your approach. - Structuring
Choose a relevant framework and adapt it to the specific problem and industry. - Analyzing graphical data
Identify trends in the provided charts and interpret their implications for the client’s problem. - Solving the math problem
Perform calculations and interpret the results within the context of the case. - Providing recommendations
Conduct a structured brainstorming session to offer actionable solutions, considering the client’s objectives and constraints.
Common types of business problems tested
- Quantitative structures
- Market sizing: Estimate the market size for ice cream.
- Profit and Loss (P&L): Why has Company X experienced a decline in net profit?
2. Qualitative structures
- Growth strategy: How can our company grow?
- Market entry: Should we enter Market Y?
- Pricing: What price should we set for a new gadget?
- Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A): Should our fund acquire Company Z?
- Capacity expansion: Should we build a new factory?
- Public sector strategies: Design an environmental strategy for Dubai.
3. Process-oriented structures
- Operational cases: Production levels have dropped at an iron ore mine. Why?
- Customer journey cases: Customer satisfaction in an airline has declined. Why?
- Unique public sector processes: Student performance has decreased. Why?
Industry knowledge
In addition to mastering case types, it’s critical to familiarize yourself with key industries: banking, metals and mining, oil and gas, FMCG, telecom, and especially the public sector. McKinsey often emphasizes public sector cases, as they handle numerous such projects. This focus helps neutralize any advantage candidates might have from prior industry-specific experience, ensuring a fair evaluation based on case-solving skills.
By following a structured approach and understanding these business scenarios, you’ll be well-prepared for the variety of cases McKinsey tests during interviews.
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What can you expect in the FIT portion of a McKinsey interview?
The FIT portion of McKinsey’s interview is as important as the case interview, assessing your personal values, motivation, and experiences to ensure alignment with the firm’s culture. This section typically includes three types of questions:
- “Tell me about yourself and your experience”
You will need to provide a concise, structured overview of your background, focusing on experiences relevant to consulting and McKinsey’s values. - Motivation questions
Interviewers will ask why you want to pursue a career in consulting and why specifically at McKinsey. Be prepared to articulate what attracts you to McKinsey’s culture, values, and impact. - Personal experience interview (PEI)
This is the most critical part of the FIT section, where you will be asked to share one of four types of stories. Each story must demonstrate specific skills and values:
- Leadership: Describe a situation where you led a team to success in a challenging project.
- Personal impact: Explain how you influenced a client or manager using logic and empathy.
- Entrepreneurial drive: Share a story of identifying and realizing potential, which doesn’t necessarily have to involve a traditional entrepreneurial context.
Courageous change: This is a new story type added in 2025, focused on your adaptability and resilience in unstable or uncertain environments.
Preparing your stories
It’s best to prepare these stories 2–3 weeks before the interview, ensuring they meet McKinsey’s specific criteria for each category. For example, in a Personal Impact story, it’s crucial to demonstrate empathy. Each story should be 3–4 minutes long and follow the STAR structure (Situation, Target, Action, Result), with the main emphasis—around 70%—on your actions. Be prepared for follow-up questions, as interviewers will often dive deeper into your story to better understand your decisions and approach.
How do you approach preparing for a McKinsey case Interview?
Preparing for a McKinsey case interview requires a structured and disciplined approach. Below are the key stages of an effective preparation process:
- Setting a clear goal
A well-defined goal is the foundation of your preparation. Without a clear objective, you risk losing focus and motivation. Knowing that your aim is to secure an offer will give you the energy and drive to stay consistent throughout the process.
- Creating a study schedule
Consistency is key. Allocate time daily based on your available preparation period:
- 3 months: 45 minutes per day.
- 1.5 months: 1.5 hours per day.
- 1 month: 2 hours per day.
Establish a routine and treat it as a priority.
- Mastering case interview theory
Before diving into practice, ensure you have a strong theoretical foundation. Cover all aspects of case-solving, including:
- Key steps of solving cases.
- Types of cases (quantitative, qualitative, and process-oriented).
- Industry-specific nuances (banking, public sector, telecom, etc.).
Dedicate specific days to each theoretical block to avoid overwhelming yourself.
- Practicing case interviews
Practice is non-negotiable. Aim to solve at least 50–80 cases, focusing on feedback and continuous improvement. Work with experienced candidates or professional case coaches to ensure the feedback you receive is actionable and high-quality.
- Preparing the FIT portion
Craft your FIT stories following McKinsey’s requirements. Use the STAR framework to structure your stories (Situation, Task, Action, Result), ensuring they are 3–4 minutes long and address the core values McKinsey seeks. Seek feedback from a coach or experienced candidate to refine your responses.
By following this structured approach, you’ll develop the skills, confidence, and readiness to succeed in the rigorous McKinsey interview process.What can you expect in the FIT portion of a McKinsey interview?
