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2nd round McKinsey: What are the interviews about besides leadership/drive/personal impact?

Hello everyone,

my second round interview at McKinsey is coming up next week and I already know the two main situations that are going to be asked about in the morning interviews (personal impact and entrepreneurial drive). However, in case I proceed to the "final" round, there will be another interview (before the partner interview) conducted by a more senior interviewer which I don't know anything about. Does anyone have an idea what this interview is going to be about? Is this more about motivational aspects or rather situations that haven't been clear in previous rounds? And are they going to give me a case as well?
Thank you very much in advance!

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Ken
Coach
am 4. Feb. 2021
Ex-McKinsey final round interviewer | Executive Coach

I have heard of McKinsey offices that have three rounds of interviews like your situation but I have not heard of a mysterious interviewer in second round that you are not told about. Some offices include an informal meeting with Professional Development to discuss and answer any questions you have around your learning and development or a coffee chat with a consultant or recruiter. Since you have a final third round with a partner, whom if anyone would be asking about your motivations and addressing concerns from previous rounds and so I would surprised if that happened before. 

Good luck!

Ian
Coach
am 4. Feb. 2021
Top US BCG / MBB Coach - 5,000 sessions |Tech, Platinion, Big 4 | 9/9 personal interviews passed | 95% candidate success

Hi there,

Unfortunately, like with casing, we can't perfectly predict this. The human aspect means there will always be the unexpected!

As such, I recommend you focus less on "what exactly will I be asked" and far more on "How can I be prepared to respond to any question". Train yourself (with colleagues or a coach) to react.

Just like with casing, where you can't just memorize the top 5 frameworks (because there are infinite cases/case types), for fit/behavioral you can't memorize answers to just the top 2 questions. Craft flexible, dynamic stories that you can adapt/adjust based on what they ask, AND practice how to respond when you don't have something pre-prepared!

am 5. Feb. 2021
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success: ➡ interviewoffers.com | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi there,

I agree with Ken, McKinsey usually has 2 or 3 rounds of interviews, 4 are rare (I know some offices in SEA that keep a 4-step approach for MBB though).

It is difficult to guess what could be the format. I would:

  1. Clarify with HR and
  2. If you don’t receive useful information, expect the “most complete” kind of McK interview just in case (Motivational questions + PEI + Case + Your questions)

Best,
Francesco

Alberto
Coach
am 30. Dez. 2023
Ex-McKinsey AP | Training top candidates to perform at MBB level and win the offer

Hi there,

There is a new PEI dimension called courageous change to check how you deal with changing and ambiguous situations.

Best,

Alberto

am 4. Feb. 2021
McKinsey | NASA | top 10 FT MBA professor for consulting interviews | 6+ years of coaching

Hi, I recommend asking HR without worrying about bothering them. They are there to help

Best,
Antonello

Florian
Coach
am 5. Feb. 2021
1400 5-star reviews across platforms | 600+ offers | Highest-rated case book on Amazon | Uni lecturer in US, Asia, EU

Hey there,

As others already suggested, call HR to clarify first. If they won't provide many insights, just keep preparing for the typical McKinsey question as you would do naturally anyway:

Case

  1. Structure
  2. Chart interpretation
  3. Math

PEI

  • Entrepreneurial drive
  • Inclusive leadership
  • Personal impact

I could imagine that this interview might serve as a further data point to prove yourself especially in areas you have not fully convinced interviewers of the previous round. Be mindful of this.

Fingers crossed!

Cheers,

Florian

Clara
Coach
am 5. Feb. 2021
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

Congrats!

In FIT interviews, you are going to find several "types" of questions: 

  • Intro & CV questions
  • Motivational
  • Behavioural

(see free cases below on them)

If you want to deep dive, the "Integrated FIT guide for MBB" has been recently published in PrepLounge´s shop (https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/tests-2/integrated-fit-guide-for-mbb-34)

It provides an end-to-end preparation for all three MBB interviews, tackling each firms particularities and combining key concepts review and a hands-on methodology. Following the book, the candidate will prepare his/her stories by practicing with over 50 real questions and leveraging special frameworks and worksheets that guide step-by-step, developed by the author and her experience as a Master in Management professor and coach. Finally, as further guidance, the guide encompasses over 20 examples from real candidates.

Furthermore, you can find 3 free cases in the PrepL case regarding FIT preparation:

  • Intro and CV questions > https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/fit-interview/intermediate/introduction-and-cv-questions-fit-interview-preparation-200
  • Motivational questions > https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/fit-interview/intermediate/motivational-questions-fit-interview-preparation-201
  • Behavioural questions (ENTREPRENEURIAL DRIVE) >https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/fit-interview/intermediate/behavioral-questions-entrepreneurial-drive-fit-interview-preparation-211

Feel free to PM me for disccount codes for the Integrated FIT Guide, since we still have some left from the launch!

Vlad
Coach
am 5. Feb. 2021
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

In any case, it will be very similar to the rest of the interviews:

  • Case
  • Fit

In terms of fit, they can ask any of these 3 stories, even the ones asked in the previous interviews (Btw, not sure how did you manage to get an inside about the stories that would be asked)

Best

Gaurav
Coach
am 7. Feb. 2021
#1 MBB Coach(Placed 750+ in MBBs & 1250+ in Tier2)| The Only 360° coach(Ex-McKinsey+Certified Coach+Active recruiter)

Hi there, 

Good luck with your interview!
As an ex-McKinsey and part of the recruiting team, I can only point out that each interview depends mostly on the interviewers. They set the tone and decide what you'll talk about. 

It's a safe choice to always be prepared for the "classic" interview structure. 

Hit me up if you have any questions! 

Cheers, GB

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