McKinsey PEI ahead of interview

it varies - depends on office.

Prep all four dimensions anyway (Connection, Drive, Leadership, Growth). Even if you know R1 themes, you're prepping to get the offer, not just pass one round. Think ambitiously - you'll need all those stories polished for R2 and final anyway.

Just prep everything. You're going through (++you never know what the interviewer feels like on dday)
best of luck!

Does McKinsey share PEI themes ahead of time?

Yes, often they do. But it varies by office, recruiter, and role level. London can go either way. There is nothing wrong with asking your recruiter. A simple "Could you let me know which PEI dimension I will be assessed on?" is completely fine. No one will hold that against you.

How to prepare:

• PEI generally covers four dimensions: Connection, Drive, Leadership, and Growth. Naming varies by office. Each interviewer usually picks one.
• Have one strong, detailed story ready for each. Real career stories, not generic ones.
• Prepare all four now, not just your R1 themes. You will face different dimensions in R2 and finals. You are prepping for the offer, not just one round.
• PEI goes deep. Interviewers keep asking "what exactly did you do," "why that approach," "what were you thinking." If your story is thin, it falls apart after two follow ups.
• Keep your opening to about two minutes, then let the interviewer dig in.
• Interviewers sometimes switch dimensions last minute. Being ready for everything means nothing catches you off guard.

Ask the recruiter. Prepare all four dimensions. Make sure your stories survive five to six layers of follow ups. That is where most candidates fall short.

Good luck with London R1. Feel free to reach out if you want to pressure test your PEI stories.

Hi there,

McKinsey does not consistently share PEI themes in advance, and whether candidates are told varies by office, recruiter, and sometimes even by interviewer. Some candidates do get themes ahead of time, but many don’t — both are completely normal.

For London specifically, it’s common not to receive PEI dimensions upfront. Interviewers typically choose the theme themselves (e.g. leadership, conflict, drive, failure) and probe deeply rather than follow a fixed script.

It’s okay to ask the recruiter, but manage expectations. Asking politely won’t hurt your candidacy, but the most likely response is that they can’t share specifics. If you do ask, keep it neutral and light, for example:

“I wanted to check whether any PEI themes are typically shared in advance for preparation purposes.”

Regardless, the safest approach is to prepare 2–3 strong stories that can flex across multiple dimensions. McKinsey values depth and reflection more than matching a pre-announced theme.

Feel free to reach out if you need further advice - happy to help!

Best,
Evelina

This is a great question to be asking, and the short answer is that the practice varies slightly, but you absolutely should not be hesitant to ask your recruiter for clarity.

The McKinsey PEI is built around a standard set of roughly three core dimensions—typically things like Personal Impact, Entrepreneurial Drive/Leadership, and Inclusive Leadership. Many offices, particularly highly structured ones like London, provide these themes ahead of time, usually in a preparation email or briefing, precisely because they want you to prepare the highest quality, most concise stories possible. Their goal is standardization, not surprise.

If the information wasn't explicitly provided in your initial briefing packet, it is 100% appropriate—and frankly, expected—to send a quick, professional note to your recruiter. Frame the question as a step in ensuring your preparation is aligned with their expectations (e.g., "To ensure I structure my preparations efficiently, could you confirm which specific PEI dimensions the Round 1 interviews will focus on?"). This signal shows diligence, not weakness.

Regardless of their reply, you should already have three deeply refined stories prepared right now—one focused on overcoming a massive personal challenge, one focused on leading an ambiguous team effort, and one focused on influencing a skeptical senior stakeholder. If you nail the content, the specific labeling of the dimension matters far less.

All the best with R1!

It varies by office (and sometimes role). 

So it's not done everywhere. 

And for the London office, this hasn't happened (at least with my candidates). 

If you're working on improving the PEI, I'm sharing here a resource that I've build which you might be interested in:

• • Video Course: Master the McKinsey PEI

Best,
Cristian

hey there :)

It varies by office and interviewer. In London sometimes candidates are told the PEI dimension in advance, sometimes not. You should not rely on it.

It is completely fine to ask the recruiter politely, it does not leave a bad impression. Just frame it as wanting to prepare thoroughly.

In any case, prepare solid stories for the core dimensions so you are covered either way.

If helpful, happy to share how I structure PEI prep.

best,
Alessa :)