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McKinsey & Company Associate Interview Questions & Reviews

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Updated Feb 4, 2012 – Interview questions and reviews posted anonymously by interview candidates.

Difficulty Rating [?] Based on 86 ratings

4.1

“Very Difficult” Interview

Interview Experience [?] Based on 86 ratings

Positive	78%
Neutral	16%
Negative	6%

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4.0

Difficult Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Jan 2012 in Palo Alto, CA (took 4+ weeks)

The McKinsey interview process is 3 rounds: (1) a problem solving test (see their website for a sample test) + Case study workshop, (2) 2 x 1 on 1 interviews, half of it is to test "fit" (whether you fit in the McKinsey culture), and the other half is the case study, (3) Onsite.

The process is as fair as it might get - they set you up with a McKinsey buddy, who answers your questions and helps when you need it. Also, they have workshops to help you along, e.g. a case study workshop, and informational sessions to introduce you to different parts of McKinsey (e.g. the west coast business practices, the business technology office).

I didn't make it past the second round; however it is as advertised- if you practice McKinsey-type cases, and work on your fit interview stories, it should be a fair assessment.

Interview Questions

Conflict question - name a time you had a conflict

Answer Question

Other Details

I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview, an IQ/Intelligence Test and a Personality Test.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

4.0

Difficult Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Nov 2011 in Boston, MA (took a day)

There are totally 3 rounds interviews. The first one includes a one-hour-test with GRE/GMAT format test. It is a little hard to finish the test on time, since there are 26 questions and require reading and calculation. The second and third rounds are case interviews. The interviewer are all very friendly and willing to help you if you have any problem in understanding the questions.

Interview Questions

Tell me about a situation you made some one angry.

Answer Question

Other Details

The interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

4.0

Difficult Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Dec 2011 (took a day)

For the associate position the interview process consists of three rounds. The first round includes a difficult exam at the regional office closest to you that is designed to barely be able to finish in the allotted time. After that everyone breaks off into group interviews with 4 applicants at a time that is less rigorous than rnd 2 and rnd 3. Rnd 2 is in the same regional office with engagement manager level employees. Rnd 3 is in the office you'd like to work and interviews are given by partners.

Interview Questions

They are very transparent in their interview process and the questions you'll receive. They even put you in contact with current employees to practice. No real curve balls are given in the interviews other than the cases themselves.

Answer Question

Other Details

I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview, a Group/Panel Interview and a Skills Test.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

4.0

Difficult Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Oct 2011 (took 2 days)

The first round was written test + group interview. It is unclear how much weight is put on each component. The written test is about 1 hr, and the group interview involves working in a group of 4-5 to solve 2 cases.

The second round was 1-1 interview, with 2 interviewers. Each one asked personal experience questions, with follow-up questions on some details. Then each one gave a case to solve.

Interview Questions

A leadership experience question

Answer Question

A question about experience working in a team

Answer Question

Other Details

I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview and a Group/Panel Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

4.0

Difficult Interview

Overall Neutral Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Feb 2011 in Washington, DC (took 4 days)

Pretty standard consulting interviews, first presentation, then multiple tests to pass, then two case studies followed by a personality test. Everyone is pretty professional and lay out what they expect from you, which is numerical proficiency and the people skills to get your softs across to the interviewers.

Interview Questions

One of the case studies was to figure out how many bags Heathrow airport loses every day.

Answer Question

Other Details

I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview, a Group/Panel Interview, a Presentation, an IQ/Intelligence Test, a Skills Test and a Personality Test.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

5.0

Very Difficult Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Nov 2011 in City of London, England (United Kingdom) (took 4 weeks)

Very professional. First round consisted of two 1:1 interviews and each interview followed exactly the format the recruiters specified: Personal Experience conversation followed by one case study. The consultants and HR staff with whom I conversed were friendly, nice and easy to get along with. Prior to the First Round interview, candidates must take the Problem Solving Test, which consists of 26 multiple-choice questions that must be answered within one hour.

Interview Questions

Tell me about a time you had to lead a team and you were challenged.

Answer Question

Other Details

I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview and a Skills Test.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

5.0

Very Difficult Interview

Overall Negative Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Nov 2011 (took 4 weeks)

I interviewed for McK as APD candidate. The recruiting process is really intense and competitive and unfortunately it's not true that if you "pass the bar" they'll hire you (as they keep repeating at recruiting events).

1st Round: written test (26 questions in 1hr) + 2 group case interviews

2nd Round: 2 or 3 case interviews + personal experience interview with Engagement Managers --- be sure to practice many cases McK style: in this round even if you do a small minor mistake you'll pass (I did), as long as you show confidence and good analytical skills. The good thing about 1st and 2nd round is that you are competing against other PhDs, who have more or less the same skill set, so it's a fair game. I was called ~ a week later and told that I passed. My final round was scheduled 2 days later that call.

3rd Round: three 1:1 interviews with Associate Principals and Partners and 1 case group interview (thankfully, this kind of interview is not done in every office) --- case interviews with AP/Partners are basically the same, the group interview is different from round 1: you are given slides and expected to solve the case with the other candidates for 30 minutes. Partners are in the room and will observe you the whole time. After 30 min, they'll act as your client and you'll have to present them your findings. I was told to be collaborative and be myself during this role play: however, my impression was that the most aggressive and arrogant candidates (who would not shut up for a second to hear your opinions) were the ones considered successful. Also, the other candidates might be MBAs as well, so I let you judge if that's a fair assessment. I was called the same night and told that I was not offered a position.

Reasons: I had great presence and everybody enjoyed meeting me BUT during the case I was a bit slow in answering a question and I didn't fully address it according to my interviewer. In reality, I really felt as if my interviewer was trying to come up with excuses since I asked a clarifying question and it took me probably 30 seconds to understand what he was asking me and fully answer it (I remember him saying "great" after I was done talking). Also, my interviewer didn't know the feedback from the other AP/Partners so I wonder how they discuss the candidate performance if they don't share these details.

At the end of the day I felt I wasted my time, the recruiting process is not as transparent as McK claims it to be. The main reason why I think I was not hired is because I am not aggressive and arrogant enough for McK and honestly, already having an equally good job offer, I am happy this way.

Interview Questions

I can't disclose the questions, but really the standard cases from any business school case book.

Answer Question

Other Details

The interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview and a Group/Panel Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

4.0

Difficult Interview

Overall Negative Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Sep 2011 in Jersey City, NJ (took 6+ weeks)

McKinsey is very eager to spend a lot of time on attracting and interviewing their candidates. However, the interview process is very long and exhausting. The recruiters and lower management are very pleasant and engaging (however a bit clone like), the partners though are very disinterested in the interview process and are quite cold and unwelcoming.

Interview Questions

How can a company raise cash quickly?

View Answers (1)

Other Details

The interview consisted of a Skills Test.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

4.0

Difficult Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Oct 2011 in Atlanta, GA (took a day)

As a PhD student, I had to take the McKinsey Problem Solving Test before being invited to second round interviews in Atlanta (regional office). Met with two consultants, both incredibly friendly and nice guys, and spent about 10 minutes on fit questions, 30 minutes on a case, and 5 minutes on questions I had for them. Was disappointed to not be called for final round decisions but overall was a great experience. As a PhD, I need to work on being more concise and not as detail-oriented as I have been trained to be.

Interview Questions

Describe in detail a recent personal conflict and how you dealt with it.

Answer Question

Other Details

I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

4.0

Difficult Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Oct 2011 in New York, NY (took 2 days)

first round is math and verbal test in office with a group case study; not too difficult, but you do need to prepare as your math, calculating, and verbal reasoning skills.
second round is 2 1-on-1 interview with cases; each with 10-15 minutes fit questions, going into really detail. (e.g., your leadership skills examples), and a 30 minutes case discussion, (well-organized, with specific questions and numbers). only key on success if to practice.