How long is McKinsey's background check/hireright process?

Question

I will begin McK's background check in the next 1-2 days as I've just accepted the offer. However, I have a competing offer and don't want to turn it down until my background check with McKinsey clears and I'm all set there.

How long does this process usually take? And does McKinsey do reference calls in top of employment verification? Wondering if I should reach out to previous managers/colleagues to give them a heads up if I end up listing them.

Answer 1

hey there :)

McKinsey’s background check with HireRight is usually quite straightforward and takes about 1–3 weeks depending on how quickly past employers or schools respond. They mainly verify dates of employment, titles, and education. Reference calls are not standard, unless you list someone as a contact, they typically go through HR/payroll for verification. If you know a past employer might be slow, giving HR a heads up can help speed things up, but you generally don’t need to warn managers unless you want to.

best, Alessa :)

Answer 2

Hi there,

Firstly - HUGE CONGRATS on getting the offer! I hope you celebrate yourself once the admin steps are finalized!

The reference call process is typically very fast (1-3 days), but this will of course vary by McK office, how busy the recruiters/HR are right now, etc.

McKinsey does not always do reference calls (less than half the time), but it's always a safer bet to just assume that they will. So, yes, I would reach out to your managers/colleagues and give them a heads up.

Hope this helps,

Thor

Answer 3

Hi there,

Congrats on the offer! McKinsey’s background check through HireRight is usually straightforward and not a dealbreaker unless there are major discrepancies.

Timeline: Most candidates see it wrap up in about 1–2 weeks, though occasionally it can stretch to 3 if there are international degrees/employers involved
Checks: They typically verify education, past employment dates, and sometimes do a basic criminal/credit check depending on the country
References: They usually don’t call your past managers unless you specifically list someone as a reference. It’s mainly document-based verification

If all the info on your CV/application matches reality, you don’t need to worry. At most, give a heads-up to anyone you list directly as a reference, but otherwise, it’s mostly HR-to-HR verification.

Best,
Evelina

Answer 4

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the offer from McKinsey!

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

First of all, the background check usually takes around 1-2 weeks, but in some cases, it can stretch to 3 weeks, especially if your education or work history includes international institutions or smaller firms that are slow to respond.
Moreover, contrary to what other coaches have said, consulting firms do not conduct reference calls unless you explicitly list someone as a reference. Background checks are document-based and focus on verifying your education, employment dates, and sometimes address or criminal records depending on the country.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Answer 5

There's no right answer for this question.

May take from a few days to a few weeks. They may or may not do reference calls. Most likely they won't - but you should give them a heads up anyway.

If you have not lied in your resume, there shouldn't be a problem with your background check and you will get the offer.