I applied through a recruiter. The process took 2 days. I interviewed at McKinsey & Company (London, England) in Nov 2009
Interview
This is a review for a BA problem-solving test and first-round interview. I passed the interviews and am now waiting for the final round one. I was interviewed in London.
The problem solving test was slightly harder than the example available on the website, but as long as you can estimate fast, know basic business stuff ("I didn't know what the formula for "profit" was! --> actual applicant...) and can do arithmetic decently you'll manage.
Interview itself very professionally organised - McKinsey London has the best corp HR I've ever dealt with: invited to interview 48 hrs after test, and once there everything was just perfect. They even pretend to care about you.
Was given a print briefing on the person interviewing me and off we went. First interview with a young American who clearly hadn't had enough sleep. He did his best to stay awake through the slog of the case study, but it went well. For the personal bit he was much more awake and I did my best to impress.
Second interview was also someone from a different office, more senior. More methodical, with a more numerate case study with which I felt I wasn't impressing at all, but apparently I thought wrong. He seemed much more at ease in the company and told me a bit about his projects after the whole scripted thing had finished.
When preparing for case studies, try to understand McK culture and then do it as methodically as they would. Sorted.
Currently pondering if I'll accept an offer from them. They really do seem to make you into a machine. But then, maybe that's good?
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Neither difficult nor unexpected, it all went like clockwork. But I guess... "Tell me about a time when you had a problem with someone in your team and what you did to resolve it."
After submitting my application in their portal. In about two days I recevied the link to do their Solve assessment, The assessment had three games. I was however not selected for the next rounds.
Recruiter Round - not that difficult: we dicusssed background, interview timeline, current visa stutus, and limited bahaviroal questions. And I was able to pass into the 1st round interview after this one.
Whole timeline: recruiter interview -> 1 month -> 1st round
The interview process was tricky - several technical and consulting questions were asked. Good preparation is needed to clear it on the basis of data analysis, problem solving and communication.