Glassdoor is your free inside look at McKinsey & Company Associate interview questions and advice. All 140 interview reviews posted anonymously by McKinsey & Company employees and interview candidates.
McKinsey & Company Associate Interview Questions & Reviews
Getting the Interview 140 Interviews
Interview Experience 119 Ratings
Associate at McKinsey & Company
No Offer – Interviewed in New York, NY Nov 2012 – Reviewed May 21, 2013 New
Interview Details – Recruited from campus, and made it to the final round. Didn't really have much of a chemistry with the partner, which is what I think went against me.
Interview Question – Describe a challenging situation in a team environment - it seemed like the partner was after something specific. Didn't really give him the "right" answer. Answer Question
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Associate at McKinsey & Company
No Offer – Reviewed Apr 25, 2013
Interview Details – Applied online first for the insight program, did not pass the phone screen for the insight program. Did the first around interview in New York office, written problem solving test first followed by two rounds group discussion.
Interview Question – the time for problem solving test is limiting, better to find a way to practice more Answer Question
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Associate at McKinsey & Company
No Offer – Interviewed in New York, NY Jan 2013 – Reviewed Apr 17, 2013
Interview Details – Interviewed in New york. Was recommended internally. Had 3 rounds of interviews after 2 phone interviews. Strong learning experience. variety of typical mckinsey style cases. stumped on industry related questions from my background as those were unexpected. overall 7/9 interviews went extremely well however that wasnt good enough. Strong learning experience
Interview Question – what would you say to the CFO for a large american bank Answer Question
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Associate at McKinsey & Company
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in New York, NY Jan 2010 – Reviewed Apr 5, 2013
Interview Details – Interview came over two days. Three interviews on the first day and two on the second. Each interview was thirty minutes of fit and a thirty minute case. The cases are manageable if you prepare. The fit interview is all about figuring out what your story is: why you want to do consulting and why mckinsey.
Interview Question – The cases are typical business cases that you can find examples of online. View Answer
Negotiation Details – No negotiation
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Associate at McKinsey & Company
No Offer – Reviewed Mar 19, 2013
Interview Details – The first round of the interview process involved a data interpretation/quantitative exam as well as 2 simulated group case study sessions. The second round involved two back-to-back one-on-one with current associates. Each interviewer asked me two behavioral questions, then did a case interview with me. Prior to the second round, you are required to submit your regional preferences, which may be a bit of a strategy game to select offices/regions with openings for your skillset.
Interview Question – 'Tell me about yourself' Answer Question
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Associate at McKinsey & Company
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Florham Park, NJ Nov 2009 – Reviewed Mar 8, 2013
Interview Details – Very well structured, explained well up front...application with grades, then two rounds of interviews as well as one in-house aptitude test.
Interview Question – A case on growing revenues for new innovation in laboratory equipment Answer Question
Negotiation Details – Very little negotiation - they do so much hiring it's hard to move their numbers..did get a little relo assistance.
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Associate at McKinsey & Company
No Offer – Reviewed Feb 3, 2013
Interview Details – APD applicant still in the application process. Submitted application online. Received an invitation for IWIA with several potentially interested offices. PST is straightforward. Make sure you practice the tests given on McK website. Group case session was useful. Remember the feedback you get, so you can apply them to the second round.
Interview Question – I will update this when I get to the round 2 Answer Question
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Associate at McKinsey & Company
No Offer – Interviewed in New York, NY Oct 2012 – Reviewed Dec 6, 2012
Interview Details – This was MBA recruiting. Took the PST, passed first round, failed second round. I felt the second round interview went poorly because of interpersonal interactions with the interviewers rather than any technical failure, though the reason they gave me for not extending an offer was "structuring."
Interview Question – The most difficult parts were the case, hands down, but not necessarily because of their content. The hard part was the context - I was in an unfamiliar city because of regional interviewing, and my time was short because I was flying in and out for a day trip. Because of this, the cases felt rushed and I couldn't really be myself. Answer Question
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Associate at McKinsey & Company
No Offer – Interviewed in New York, NY Mar 2011 – Reviewed Dec 10, 2012
Interview Details – Off-cycle, 3rd year PhD student leaving early, interview at Associate level. PST SFO, round two Silicon Valley, round three Manhattan. No offer.
Interview Question – (In response to behavioral interview) Imagine I'm a fly on the wall - give me the line by line conversation you had. View Answer
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Associate at McKinsey & Company
No Offer – Interviewed in Hartford, CT Aug 2012 – Reviewed Nov 29, 2012
Interview Details – Standard process for b-school students. Submit resume (no cover letter), interview requested via e-mail, call from current alumni to go over process and practice, then on day-of, two interviews back to back
Interview Question – Behavioral question: Tell me about a time that you had to deal with a difficult person in a team environment. Answer Question
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