Final question to ask to the interviewer, MCK

Try ask questions that other candidates typically don't; it will make you more memorable!

For example:

• What’s one trend or shift you’ve noticed in the consulting industry that most candidates don’t appreciate yet?
• What’s a project that changed how you think, not just about a client, but about business or people in general?
• What do you think makes someone truly thrive here, not just survive?
• If I join, what could I do in my first six months that would make you think, “This person is definitely going to make partner one day”?
• If I join and we meet again in a few years, what would you hope to hear I’ve accomplished?

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the invitation from McKinsey!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:

• First of all, I think you are overthinking the situation. While you don't need to present yourself in a certain way to receive an offer, if you want to be perceived as interested, ask them about something that genuinely interests you.
• Moreover, if you don't find anything but still really want to ask the interviewer something, you could ask a question that shows your interest in the strategic direction and future initiatives of McKinsey. This could be something like, "Could you share more about McKinsey's current priorities in [topic] and how new consultants can contribute to these initiatives?"

You can find more on this topic here: How to succeed in the final interview round.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming McKinsey interviews, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Great that you’re thinking ahead! The best questions are the ones that show genuine curiosity about how the firm works and how you’d grow there. A few ideas you can use for McKinsey:

1. “How do consultants at McKinsey typically build expertise — do they specialize early, or is it encouraged to stay more generalist at the start?”
   → Shows interest in growth and how you’d fit into the learning model.
2. “How does feedback and mentorship work here day to day? What have you found most helpful in developing your own consulting skills?”
   → Signals self-awareness and a desire to learn.
3. “How does McKinsey maintain its culture of collaboration when projects are so fast-paced and global?”
   → Reflects curiosity about teamwork and adaptability.
4. “If you think back to the best new joiners you’ve seen, what did they do differently in their first few months?”
   → Shows you’re already thinking about performing at a high level.

Keep it conversational and authentic: The goal is to end on a note of genuine engagement rather than trying to impress.

Haha, I hope you weren't planning on using 'describe your day' :) 

The purpose of these questions is for you to either clarify something or gain insight. Don't assume they are there to impress the interviewer or that they contribute in some way to your evaluation. 

So, first of all, think honestly whether there's anything you'd like to ask the interviewer about the firm or the role. 

If not, try to figure out whether based on the introduction of themselves, that they provided at the start, there's anything that you find interesting or worth discussing. You might share some common background, for instance, and you want to understand how they navigated their time in consulting and made the most of their background. 

Last but not least, you can always ask them 'if you were in my shoes, as somebody about to join the industry, what would you focus on? what do you think is most important?' This way you give them the chance to mentor you in an open manner. 

Best,
Cristian 

Hi, learn about your interviewer's background. What's exciting about it? do you have a similarity? if they've been at the firm for a while, think about what you'd like to know about the time they've spent there, to get a gauge of what your experience could be like. There is no prescriptive list of questions.

Hi there,

Ask yourself, what are you curious about them and about the firm? For example, what do they enjoy most at the firm, what do they enjoy the least? What surprised them after joining the firm? What advice would they give themselves when first joining the firm?

Basically, aim for questions that show curiosity about how the firm works and what matters to them. That usually feels more engaging and thoughtful.