McKinsey First Round rejection

Question

Hello,

I have recently been rejected at the first round of McKinsey because I didnt have the level in the maths section of the case as well as their structuring. I have done a loooot of cases already. I dont want to give up my chances but could you tell me what I can do to improve me structuring and case math skills?

Thank you

Answer 1

Hi there,

I agree with the other coaches - your questions are a bit too generic.

Problems in the math part for example could be:

Wrong math
Very slow math
Lack of structure presenting the math
Lack of connection of the math results with the goal
Took wrong numbers/made wrong assumptions

The same thing is true for structuring. Without knowing the specific issue, it is not possible to provide good suggestions.

If you know already which areas you could improve, I would recommend you edit the question or ask a new one with the specific parts you find challenging so that we can help you more.

If instead you are unsure about which are the improvement points, I agree with Ian that a coach could be a good investment.

Hope this helps,

Francesco

Answer 2

Hello!

Sorry to hear about that :/

It´s impossible to give you a good answer without having worked with you as a candidate. Have you considered working with a coach?

Furthermore, what have other candidates told you as feedback when practicing with them?

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

Answer 3

You need a coach.

Sorry to be to blunt, but we don't know what you need to do without assessing you. You are not able to assess yourself (we are bad judges of ourselves).

If you didn't pass the 1st round, there is more than just 1 issue with your casing and you need a fundamental step change/mindset shift!

"I have done a looooot" of cases. Quality over quantity my friend. Someone who prepares well/smart can do 10 cases and get in. I've seen countless people who have done 100 cases that just aren't very good!

Answer 4

Hey there!

You always can write me a message! I've helped a lot of people in their preparations for case interviews, so don't hesitate.

Cheers,

GB

Answer 5

You will typically get a lot of good advice on this forum but you will need to be much more specific on the feedback you have received and interpretation of your performance. Being familiar with cases is a good start but you need to a deeper understanding of what McKinsey is looking for in each section of the case for you to improve your chances next time.