McKinsey's Interview

I have a first round of interviews at McKinsey's at Associate level in a few weeks' time?

Could anyone give me some tips?

thanks

John

I got through to the 3rd round at MK before being dropped.

Know you're basic maths and how to implement it under pressure of a MK consultant sitting there. There'll also be a written reasoning test - just common sense from the text place in front of you.

But know your CV you'll get questions like "give me 3 highlights/problems you'v encountered from your cv" - be prepared and have they ready to say.

Practice case studies. First rounds aren't too bad, only had business types ones as opposed to "how many light bulbs in america", though and I was looking at a Technology strategy postion. Be likeable and articulate, be the person they would like to be down the pub with or stuck at a hotel with. be relaxed but professional - it's hard to describe just be happy to be working there...

PRACTICE CASE STUDIES UNER PRESSURE, do them with your parents or someone that you would be embaresed to do them with and get them wrong with - thats the kinda pressure.

good luck

Lex

Can you please detail me further about the case studies. Any further tips ?

First round case interview will be fairly basic business case usually around some of the work the interviewer has done recently. Expect the interview to follow the format of five min 'get to know you' chat followed by twenty min dicussion of a personal experience usually based around your leadership abilities. The case will be the rest, examples online from bcg, mercer and mckinsey's website are a good guide. You'll be expected to ask questions and the interviewer will guide you were they want you to go. Know your maths as there will be a numerical excercise in the case. Don't worry about the 'how much does a jumbo jet weigh' questions as i have been reliably informed mckinsey dont use those, at least not in the first round.

Thanks for your kind response.

I am been selected for an interview for Production System Design Centers in the area of Lean manufacturing. Appreciate any further interview tips. Thanks - Rajesh

Hei,

I've been through the whole process and got a no after the second interview with partner, in which i definitely did not show my best... :(

You can find a lot about cases on different consulting companies' pages - loads of examples. I actually got a few brain teasers (sort of in in the middle of a case - talking about agriculture had to calculate how many cows there are in the country)...

Otherwise - try to be very structured under case solution. do not just give your ideas as in the brainstorm, but try to give a structure to it. In addition, try to look for unusual, not clearly obvious solutions...

On the personality part - just be a nice person, but be able to show that you can be both - tough and humble :)

Good luck :O)