How to ace personal fit questions ?

Hi There,

All the MBB firms have a slight variation on what they call and how they conduct the personal fit questions; however, at the core of it what they are looking for is impact. They want to see how you have shown impact in your previous experiences across their values. You can find their pillars on their website. For instance, McKinsey will tend to ask questions around their values of Connection, Drive, Leadership, and Growth.

A good way to prep for this is to spend time writing out your stories that really show how you exhibited these core values. Then use the S.T.A.R. method as a way to actually structure your story.

Hope this helps!

-Ankit A

Hey :)

The best approach is a mix of both. You need to be genuine because interviewers easily sense rehearsed or fake stories, but at the same time you should frame your experiences in a way that highlights what MBB values: leadership, problem solving, drive, and impact. Choose real stories from your background, then structure them clearly (context, action, result) and emphasize behaviors that align with the firm’s culture. That way you come across authentic but also targeted.

best, Alessa :)

Hi there,

For MBB personal fit (PEI at McKinsey, behavioral at BCG/Bain), the best strategy is a mix of both: you want to remain genuine so your answers sound authentic, but you also need to frame your stories in a way that aligns with what the firms are actually looking for.

Here’s how to approach it:

1. Understand what they test for
   • McKinsey: Leadership, Personal Impact, Entrepreneurial Drive, Resilience.
   • BCG/Bain: Teamwork, Leadership, Drive, Client Orientation, Problem Solving under pressure.
     They’re not random “tell me about yourself” questions – each story is designed to test specific dimensions.
2. Build a bank of 4–5 strong stories
   • Examples: Leading a team under pressure, convincing a resistant stakeholder, bouncing back from failure, driving an initiative with limited resources.
   • Each should follow a clear structure (Situation – Task – Action – Result, with emphasis on your personal role and impact).
3. Be genuine, but strategic
   • Authenticity matters (fabricated answers are spotted quickly).
   • But don’t just tell the story as it happened – frame it to emphasize the qualities MBB values (analytical drive, leadership, client orientation, resilience).
   • Example: Instead of “I worked really hard to meet a deadline,” focus on how you structured the problem, motivated the team, and created impact.
4. Practice depth
   • Expect deep probing (especially at McKinsey). Interviewers will dig into motivations, decisions, what you thought/felt. You need to know your story inside out.
   • Practice by having someone interrupt you with “why did you do that?” or “what was the biggest challenge?” at every stage.
5. Adapt to cultural context (Middle East focus)
   • Team-oriented leadership, humility, and resilience are especially valued.
   • Demonstrating ability to work across diverse cultures, build client trust, and adapt to ambiguity will resonate well in the region.

In short: don’t “act” like the perfect candidate, but select, frame, and deliver your genuine experiences to highlight the exact traits the firm values.

Let me know if you need further advice - happy to help you prep!

Best,

Evelina

Hi there,

I understand the struggle, as it sometimes feels like there is a disconnect between the expected answer and our personal belief. But this is very common, and there are ways to address this while still being genuine!

For instance, as you hinted, you should definitely learn more about the firm's culture, and then identify what company values resonate with you to make it more personal.

I'd be happy to provide more tips for you to prepare. I am an ex-MBB and currently based in the Middle East too :)

Good luck!

Oussama