Schedule mock interviews on the Meeting Board, join the latest community discussions in our Consulting Q&A and find like-minded Interview Partners to connect and practice with!
Back to overview

MBB first round interview formats?

Hoping people could provide some insight for what the first rounds look like for undergrads recruiting for FT (business analysts, associate consultants, and associates) at these firms. For example, how many interviews, whether it's back-to-back, what the breakdown is of behavioural, and how many cases?

3
2.2k
22
Be the first to answer!
Nobody has responded to this question yet.
Top answer
Ian
Coach
on Jul 08, 2022
Top US BCG / MBB Coach - 5,000 sessions |Tech, Platinion, Big 4 | 9/9 personal interviews passed | 95% candidate success

Hi Chelsi,

I understand the desire for “control” here, but try to resist that! Rather, learn how to adjust/react to any interview situation. Period!

In general, interviews are 2 rounds with 2 interviews in each round. They are a combination of fit and case (normally split within each interview).

That said, none of the above matters. You will have cases. You will have behavioral. You are likely to have market sizing. and you could have “brainstorming” or unstructured cases. Prepare for all of it to occur in any order to any degree/level!

Anecdotally, I just had a candidate tell me his entire series of interviews didn't have a single case and were just brainstorming questions. Furthermore, 80% of those brainstorming questions were completely unconventional (i.e. not typical profitability, market entry etc.)

He did well because I trained him to be prepared for anything! Unfortunately, most people try to memorize.

Here's some reading for cases: https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/how-to-shift-your-mindset-to-ace-the-case

And some reading for fit: https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/tell-me-about-yourself-interview-question

Moritz
Coach
on Jul 08, 2022
ex-McKinsey EM & Interviewer | 7/8 offer rate for 4+ sessions | High impact sessions + FREE materials & exercises

Hi there,

You need to get to a point where this doesn't matter at all i.e. mastery of cases and personality/fit questions. If this actually matters to you, you're not in the right mindset yet. However, let me answer your question regarding 1st round MBB format:

  • Typically 2-3 interviews with integrated case + fit (except Bain recently adapted their format in some offices and separated case from fit interviews)
  • Can be back to back or spread out - depending on office and candidate profile (e.g. intern recruitment from uni is often done in one day whereas interviews for experienced hires are typically spread out)

What you should spend your time and energy doing is getting really good at the interviews themselves and understand how the format differs between the firms (basically McKinsey vs. the rest of the world). 

Once you have confidence based on actual competence, you'll be unstoppable - irrespective of the format!

Best of luck!

on Jul 09, 2022
Understood, there may have been a miscommunication here in terms of what I'm asking about. I was rather thinking about what the first round interviews look like at the firms I'm applying to so that I could get prepared for how they would fit in my work schedule and whether I'd need to take time off.
Deleted user
on Jul 23, 2022

Hello,

This will be different by firm, geography, recruiting cycle and whether you are applying from a target school or not, so it's hard to give a detailed answer that will be true universally. Most generally, first rounds typically involve 2 interviews (sometimes back-to-back, sometimes not). Usually, each will involve one case and some behavioral questions. Hope that helps!

3
Similar Questions
Consulting
Best Time to Apply to MBB as an Experienced Hire
on Oct 04, 2024
Global
4
2.0k
Top answer by
Hagen
Coach
#1 recommended coach | >95% success rate | 8+ years consulting, 8+ years coaching and 7+ years interviewing experience
70
4 Answers
2.0k Views
+1
Consulting
Trading public stocks prohibited in McKinsey?
on Feb 12, 2025
Global
5
1.8k
Top answer by
Hagen
Coach
#1 recommended coach | >95% success rate | 8+ years consulting, 8+ years coaching and 7+ years interviewing experience
50
5 Answers
1.8k Views
+2
Consulting
Which questions to ask over a coffee chat with an MBB consultant?
on Oct 11, 2024
Global
2
2.6k
Top answer by
Alessa
Coach
xMcKinsey & Company | xBCG | +200 individual & group coachings | feel free to schedule a 15 min intro call for free
47
2 Answers
2.6k Views