I’ve been asked to do an additional final round interview and to focus on my PEI. No specific feedback, just to make sure my examples are well suited. This didn’t come up in my previous rounds, and I used the same examples so I’m looking for advice. Any tips on how to improve my PEI?
Hi there,
If you’re being asked for an additional round focused on PEI with no specific feedback, it often means the firm wants extra confidence that your stories are a perfect fit for the specific dimensions they’re testing.
Since you mentioned you “used the same examples,” I’d recommend:
A good preparation step is to run each story through the “would this impress a senior partner?” filter: clear context, strong actions, measurable impact, and personal reflection at the end.
Feel free to reach out for targeted PEI prep. I’ve done this many times and am happy to refine your stories with you!
Kind regards,
Kevin
Hello!! I’m happy you are asking this and you’re almost there I promise!
As an interviewer at McKinsey, I focus a lot on PEI because it’s one of the most overlooked parts of the process. What I care about is your personal contribution in the story. I don’t care if your team launched a rocket into space if you can’t tell me exactly what your role was and how you contributed to the success
Equally important, your stories need to be recent and relevant. Volunteering abroad in high school might be a great story for friends, but not for a 30 minute interview where you need to prove you have the skills for the job… Stick to examples from work or internships, team projects in your last year of undergrad, launching a small business (even from your garage with a friend)… anything that shows leadership, initiative, or impact. For leadership, make sure you show teamwork. For initiative, show how you went the extra mile. For impact, highlight the results you achieved.
And once you have the right story and know exactly what you did, go VERY VERY VERY deep in the details, more than you think. Who did you talk to… How did you react.. How did you handle disagreements…
Finally it is CRITICAL THAT YOU PRACTICE OUT LOUD. If you don’t, you’ll drift into irrelevant details. Practice exactly the key sentences you need to say please! I’ve got a lot more I could share on this, but I don’t want to overload you here! If this is helpful, happy to expand of course
The fact that you've used the same examples might be why they asked you to do an additional round.
If you're a borderline candidate, the interviewers will often meet across both rounds to decide on your profile. If they find that the stories are the same, they might arrive at the conclusion that you don't have sufficient relevant experience. They might then suggest to do an additional round.
In short, I'd do two things.
First, aim to come up with new stories for the ones that you've used (consider the used stories 'burnt').
Second, reach back to the recruiter and ask for more specific feedback. Even if the recruiter sometimes doesn't give you clear feedback on the call, that doesn't mean there aren't things that you should work on. Most often it means that things got lost in the translation and didn't reach you. Having clarity over what to work on is key.
I also build a PEI course, btw, that you might find useful:
Feel free to reach out to me if you have any other questions.
Best,
Cristian
Great question—and it's actually a good sign that they’re inviting you back specifically to focus on your PEI. It shows they’re still seriously considering you and just want to ensure your fit and communication come through clearly.
Here are a few tips to strengthen your PEI:
1. It’s less about what story you tell and more about how you tell it.
You don’t need an extraordinary situation. What matters is that it’s relevant (e.g. leadership, impact, overcoming challenges), and that you tell it in a personalized and engaging way. Make it real. Share your thought process, decisions, and emotions so the story feels authentic.
2. Make it relatable to your interviewer.
A useful tip is to look up your interviewer’s profile on LinkedIn if you have their name. If they worked in a specific sector, region, or function, you can highlight elements of your story that relate to their background. It creates a subtle but valuable connection.
3. Focus on delivery, not just content.
Many candidates over-focus on the structure and forget to tell the story. Start with a strong hook, keep context tight, and focus most of your time on your specific actions and impact. Practicing aloud really helps you make the story flow naturally without sounding rehearsed.
If you’d like more tailored help, feel free to book a session—I’d be happy to guide you through multiple PEI scenarios, help refine your stories, and coach you on how to deliver them effectively.
Hey there,
An extra PEI round usually means they just want clearer, sharper stories. Make sure each example follows a tight structure (context, challenge, your actions, clear impact) and really highlights you driving the outcome. Be specific on what you thought, decided, and did, avoid general team language, and bring in tangible, measurable results where possible. Also, connect your story back to traits McKinsey values like leadership under pressure, problem solving, and impact creation.
best, Alessa :)
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