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Is more important the PEI part or business case resolution?

Can one do a great business case, but a poor PEI and be selected? 

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Top answer
Florian
Coach
on May 10, 2021
1400 5-star reviews across platforms | 600+ offers | Highest-rated case book on Amazon | Uni lecturer in US, Asia, EU

Hey there,

Both are equally important. If you ace 5 cases in a row, however, your story lacks in one of the 3 PEI stories, chances are high that you will be rejected.

For a detailed answer on the PEI, please check my answer here: 

https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/i-have-been-invited-to-mckinsey-pei-how-do-i-go-about-it-details-below-10155

Cheers,

Florian

Ian
Coach
edited on May 09, 2021
Top US BCG / MBB Coach - 5,000 sessions |Tech, Platinion, Big 4 | 9/9 personal interviews passed | 95% candidate success

Please don't play this game. You need to excel at both. It's that simple.

Why?

Well, would you want to hire someone who can't do the job but is likeable? Or, rather, someone who's really good at their job but unbearable to work with? You wouldn't.

You need both. Plain and simple!

Deleted user
on May 09, 2021

Nope. Holistic performance matters in all parts of the interview. 

Am sure there are exceptions as with every event in life, but I havent come across a single candidate I either coached or interviewed (we are talking 100s in total over the past years) who got selected by not showing good overall performance in all parts of the interview process.

14
on Mar 31, 2024
#1 Rated & Awarded McKinsey Coach | Top MBB Coach | Verifiable success rates

It depends on how poor it is. 

I developed a video course on the PEI in which I explain this in detail, but at a high level, the PEI carries an equal weight to the case. So it's highly unlikely that you do well in one and a terrible in the other and still pass. You typically need to show potential in both of them.

For anyone else who is preparing for the PEI component, I've created a video course with my 6-step storytelling framework that has helped my candidates get distinctive feedback on the McKinsey PEI. You can find out more about it here:

Best,
Cristian

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

Hi there,

You will have to perform well in both, they have the same weight for the final decision. PEI is easier to prepare although sometimes candidates don’t prepare at all and fail for that reason.

Best,

Francesco

Clara
Coach
on May 11, 2021
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

100% no, you wouldn´t be selected. Both need to be from good to great. 

If you want to deep dive on the topic, 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 5 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 (LEADERSHIP) >https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/fit-interview/intermediate/behavioral-questions-entrepreneurial-drive-fit-interview-preparation-211
  • Behavioural questions (ENTREPRENEURIAL DRIVE) > https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/fit-interview/intermediate/behavioral-questions-entrepreneurial-drive-fit-interview-preparation-238
  • Behavioural questions (LEADERSHIP) > https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/fit-interview/advanced/behavioral-questions-personal-impact-fit-interview-preparation-239

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