McKinsey Round 2 interviews

Question

I have Round 2 interviews coming up in about a couple of weeks. I had a few questions that I wanted clarification on:

1. For the PEI, can I repeat the same example that I talked about in the first round? My understanding is that they are not going to compare notes with the interviewers from Round 1 interview so in that case would it be safe to do so?

2. Do the Partners give you time to think about the structure during the case like the first Round interviewers do? Or do you have to be super quick? If it's the latter, my concern is that it may have a negative impact on the quality of my answer.

3. Can I expected to be evaluated more on the areas that were identified to be the weakest in Round 1 interview?

Answer 1

Hello and congrats on advancing to 2nd round!

1. It might not be standard practice but discussions between 1st and 2nd round interviewers are not prohibited :)

Having said that, it is allowed to use the same story so you don't have to be concerned about it. I would still have more than one example for each of the 3 PEI dimensions though, just in case a partner doesn't like the first one for whatever reason.

2. It is fine to take a moment to think about the structure. Certainly better than to speak immediately compromising the quality. Of course, if you get stuck or the interviewer insists on sharing your thoughts be coachable and let them work with you.

3. In general, the scope of round 2 is similar. However, if your candidacy was for any reason discussed, any weaknesses would be a likely topic so be prepared to address them. Regardless, you should receive feedback after round 1 and it is genuinely meant to help you improve before the 2nd round - use it for your advantage since partners may independently identify the same areas as being worth probing deeper!

Good luck and let us know if you need more help!

Answer 2

Hello,

First of all, congratulations on your second round interview!!

To answer your questions:

1) Yes, you can use the same examples, it is not prohibited. It is always best to try and use different examples since you only get a few behavioral questions and each new story is a chance to share more about your experiences with the interviewers. But if your best story happens to be an example you already used in round 1, it's fine to use it again.

2) The structure of the interview is the same as in the first round, so yes, you will get some time to structure your answer.

3) I would be flexible and go in expecting to be tested on all areas of the case. If something was a particularly weak area in round 1, it may have been flagged to the interviewers, so definitely be sure to brush up on it so you can do better in the second round.

Best of luck!

Answer 3

Hey there,

1. I would definitely recommend you to prepare new stories for the 2nd round. If you want to craft strong PEI stories and communicate them well, check out my McKinsey PEI article here: https://www.preplounge.com/en/mckinsey-pei

2. While in theory, they should stick to the standardized approach, it is more common in partner interviews that they deviate so be prepared for some rapid-fire answers. Of course, they know that this will not be the same as if they offer you 2 minutes to think about your structure. The key here is not to get puzzled or become surprised.

3. Yes, there will definitely be a focus on perceived areas of weakness. If you want to get some insider tips on the McKinsey case, check out my article here: https://www.preplounge.com/en/mckinsey-interview

Fingers crossed!

Cheers,

Florian

Answer 4

Hi there,

Well done on getting past the first round! The general rule is that you should expect more of the same in the second, and keep doing what you're doing (apart from any identified weaknesses).

1) That is correct. I would always have a robust story bank, and aim to stay diversified, but if the “best” story for a given question is one you've already used, then use it!

2) Of course they do! You will be given time to come up with a framework (unless it's a brainstorming question, then it depends).

3) Yes! 100%