Junior Associate Interview with no Business Experience

Hi,

First of all, I would take it as a good sign that they have invited you to the call. The firm will only do this if they do believe that you are still an relevant applicant, and the screening process of your resume and experience is part of the normal experienced hire recruiting process. 

What's important to understand, and for you to change your mindset, is that consulting firms really do not care about what you studied. Take it from me - I majored in History in college, and I have had numerous colleagues with various backgrounds -> Anthropology, Music, Law, and of course, Econs as well :)

So what is important is not the topic per se, but the relevant skills and abilities that you have developed and will bring to the table. Keep this in mind as you are preparing for the screening call and framing your experience. 

For more details on how to think about your experience and make it relevant, you can read the article I wrote about this topic:

Breaking into Consulting from a Non-Traditional Background

All the best!

Hi there,

Thanks for sharing — and first, congratulations on getting through the Solve Game and being invited to the next step. That’s already a strong signal.

Now, regarding your experience: you’re actually a much better fit than you think. McKinsey hires Junior Associates from a wide range of backgrounds — not just business. In fact, economics, policy, and research profiles like yours are very common among Junior Associate hires, especially in Europe.

Here’s why your profile works:

• BA and MA in Economics: Shows strong analytical training.
• ECB and RA experience: Demonstrates research rigour, data analysis, and exposure to real-world policy/economic problems.
• RA-ship after Master’s: Signals intellectual depth and the ability to own projects — both valued at the JA level.

The upcoming interview will likely focus on your motivation for consulting, your transferable skills, and your ability to learn fast and solve problems — not whether you’ve done an internship in a bank or a strategy firm.

What you can do:

• Prepare a clear “why consulting” and “why McKinsey” story.
• Draw out transferable skills: problem solving, structuring, communication, working with senior stakeholders, etc.
• Have 1–2 strong examples ready that show ownership, impact, or collaboration.

You’ve earned this shot — now it’s about showing them you can apply your strengths in a business context.

Happy to help you prep – feel free to reach out!

Best,
Evelina

Agree with the above.

I studied English literature at university - and many of my McK cohort had no business experience beforehand.

They are testing for problem-solving, leadership, communication, comfort in ambiguity etc. Business context is fundamentally easier to learn than these skills anyway :)

One thing I’d add:

If you get invited to interview shortly but haven’t really had time to practice your case studies, ask if you can postpone your interviews. Even if you have no business experience to date, you’ll need to case well to  get an offer.

Hello there!

What McKinsey is trying to access is if you possess the qualities that will make you succeed in the job. That is: problem solving, stakeholder management, communication skills, analytical thinking, etc (not a MECE list!).

So tell your story showing that these themes are natural to you by showcasing ocasions where you applied them.

E.g.: “I have studied Econ in university A, where I had the opportunity to develop the work B that required me to analyze the data C/ to solve the problem C, to engage C stakeholders and that generated the impact D.”

You’ve got this! Happy wo work with you if you think professional assistance can contribute to your process.

 Believe in yourself, they already think you have a good fit!

Best,

Mari

hi! 

Your background is actually very relevant, econ, ECB, and RA work all show strong analytical skills, which McKinsey values highly, especially for Junior Associate roles. Don’t worry about lacking classic “business” experience, many JAs come from academic or research paths.

Focus in the interview on how you structured problems, worked with data, and communicated insights. If you show curiosity, clarity, and drive, you’ll be in a strong position.

Happy to help you prep if you’d like!

Best,
Alessa 😊

Hi there, 

You don't need to have business experience in order to join as a JAsc. However, I would get clear about what are the transferable skills from your past jobs and academic experience that are consulting-like and could be deployed as a JAsc. 

You should also consider getting some expert support in shaping your personal story and clarifying what strengths you already have. If you go into the discussion with a chip on your shoulder, it's unlikely to go well.

Best,
Cristian