Hello,
I have a R1 with McKinsey coming up and I was wondering if candidates are given the two PEI "themes" they will be asked ahead of time? In my interview email from the recruiter there is an attached PDF that outlines the stages of the interview process, including the PEI themes associated with each PEI round. I am not sure if that was meant to be a template or if I can rely on those questions being the ones I will be asked.
Does anyone know the answer to this? Thanks!
Hey there,
I've seen different offices and McKinsey recruiters doing this differently.
My candidates in the US offices tend to get told which PEI's they'd be doing in each specific round, and in some European offices too. I've also seen others not being told specifically which PEI they'd be getting (and then they only hear it when the interviewer starts).
Then McKinsey does try and make sure that you are asked all the PEI dimensions as you progress through the stages.
In your case, coming from the North America office, it won't hurt to ask given that this has been done commonly.
All the best!
Hello,
Yes - I agree with Thabang. My mentees in the US are often told which PEI questions they’ll be asked in each round.
If you have any doubts, you should confirm whether this info is accurate with your recruiting contact, since it is variable by office and region. In some locations, not much is shared.
Best,
Mihir
Hi there,
Most of my mentees — whether in the US, Europe, the Middle East or elsewhere — are being told less and less in advance which PEI dimension they’ll be tested on. That’s not an accident. McKinsey expects you to be ready for all of them, and they’ll cover the full range across your interviews whether they tell you or not.
The tricky part? PEI isn’t like Bain or BCG fit. It’s a very specific, structured interview. The interviewer isn’t looking for “vibes” or general storytelling — they’re trained to hunt for precise markers in your story. Most online guides completely miss this.
The most efficient way to prep is to work with someone who knows exactly what those markers are. A former McKinsey interviewer can help you pick the right stories, refine the structure, and cut the fluff. That way, you'll spend less time in the PEI during your interview, allocating more time for the case.
Best,
Alberto.
Hi there,
Typically, no, you don't know what the themes of the first round will be.
Some offices, for some roles, do communicate them in advance e.g., for the first round, you will only need to prepare Inclusive Leadership and Personal Impact. But this is more of an exception than the norm. Feel free to double-check with the recruiter, though.
If you are preparing for the PEI, you might find the following guide useful:
Best,
Cristian
Hello,
I have personally never heard about candidates being told PEIs in advance, but could be because I am based in Europe. This means different offices do this differently.
Hi there,
In addition to what other coaches said, make sure to have all the stories ready, even if you know which ones will be required in R1 as the window between rounds may be very short.
Happy to help you building amazing stories, I am a former McKinsey consultant and have worked with several candidates on this topic.
Best,
Mari
Expertencase von