I have R2 interview with Mckinsey next week, however I am not sure what to expect in the second round. Is there anything specific the partners are looking for? What exactly makes candidate pass the R1 but fail R2? Thank you in advance!
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In my case, the partner threw a very out-of-the-box case. I think the goal was to destabilize me a bit and see how I would work through something I hadn’t seen before. It wasn’t just about getting to the “right answer”; it was about how I approached it, stayed calm, and structured my thinking under pressure.
So I think the difference between passing R1 and R2 isn’t usually technical skill. It’s more about composure, clarity, and showing that you could handle a client situation confidently.
Hi there,
R2 at McKinsey is generally very similar to R1 in terms of what they’re assessing, which is structured problem solving, communication, and business judgment. One small difference is that partners might throw in a few spontaneous questions to see how you think critically on your feet, but it’s not guaranteed. Passing R1 but not R2 usually comes down to not demonstrating consistency in these core skills rather than anything completely new.
