Hello, should you include all the setbacks you faced in your story and how you dealt with them when you tell it for the first time, or should you wait for it to be asked as a follow-up question? Thanks
Hi there,
"All the setbacks" is something I'd be wary of saying yes to. You need a major setback or 2 summarized, but no, this should not be the Odessy!
In general, I advize the following:
Step 1 - Categorize the main stories
There are 5-10 "themes" you need to prepare for. i.e. Leadership, teamwork, challenge, etc. (by the way, these all fit under the McKinsey 3). Figure out this list and make sure your stories cover this range (PM me and I can provide you with a template for this list)
Step 2 - Create FLEXIBLE stories that cover a range of categories
You need to create 4-6 stories that each cover a range of topics. They need to be powerful stories that can be adjusted and adapted based on the question asked.
One of my "core" or "killer" stories was usable for Initiative, Achievement, Leadership, Challenge, Change of direction, AND Persuasion.
Write down these stories along STAR or similar format...use bullet points
Step 3 - Organize these stories so you know which ones can be used for what and PRACTICE
Make sure you cover the whole gambit. Then, practice getting asked a question and thinking of which stories apply. I can assure you, no-one is coming up with full stories in a few seconds. Rather, they have practiced how to adapt an existing story to the question asked.
Hey there,
In the McK PEI, you should definitely highlight all important aspects of the story by yourself. As a rule of thumb, the interviewer will only ask questions when something is unclear or you did not hit the relevant talking points that McKinsey wants to hear for a specific dimension.
The more details you leave out, the more drilling questions you will receive.
Regarding your statement 'all the setbacks'. Try to focus the story around 1-2 specific pivotal moments that were crucial to reach a conclusion. The PEI is all about depth of a story, and not about being broad.
This is also why you should prepare specific stories for each dimension (entrepreneurial drive, personal impact, leadership) and not prepare general stories that you can use for all dimensions, advice I have been reading here repeatedly and is misleading.
For these pivotal moments, go very deep, remember the interactions, the discussions, the thinking, etc. This will make a much stronger impact than listing a variety of different talking points, only scratching the surface.
Cheers,
Florian
Hi there,
I always suggest to have an internal challenge when you present the actions you took. If you show you did something and have been successful at the first attempt without any challenge, it won’t seem real.
In terms of including all the challenges, it really depends how long your story would go on. If your story becomes a 15 min monologue it won’t be good. In general, presenting one major internal challenge/pushback in your initial story is good enough.
Best,
Francesco
Hi,
Please find the structure below. Just follow it and include as much as you can in this limit. The interviewer will ask for more details if needed:
Best
Hi,
I usually recommend to prepare 2 versions of your personal story: one with only the "skeleton" (around 1min30sec) and another with more context and the reasons-why (around 3min).
This allows you to be more flexible and to adapt if you're interrupted, if there's good feeling with the interviewer, you receive followup questions.
Hope this helps.
Best,
Antonello
Hi there!
I suggest you not to include all as the story could take too much time. Try to stick to the main ones, but be very clear so that it would be understandable.
My advice is to create your story using
STAR+L approach (Situation, Task, Approach, Result, Learnings)
And of course, always be ready for follow-up questions.
Cheers,
GB
Hello!
On top of the insights already shared in the post, the "Integrated FIT guide for MBB" has been recently published in PrepLounge´s shop (https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/tests-2/integrated-fit-guide-for-mbb-34)
It provides an end-to-end preparation for all three MBB interviews, tackling each firms particularities and combining key concepts review and a hands-on methodology. Following the book, the candidate will prepare his/her stories by practicing with over 50 real questions and leveraging special frameworks and worksheets that guide step-by-step, developed by the author and her experience as a Master in Management professor and coach. Finally, as further guidance, the guide encompasses over 20 examples from real candidates.
Furthermore, you can find 3 free cases in the PrepL case regarding FIT preparation:
Intro and CV questions > https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/fit-interview/intermediate/introduction-and-cv-questions-fit-interview-preparation-200
Motivational questions > https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/fit-interview/intermediate/motivational-questions-fit-interview-preparation-201
Behavioural questions (ENTREPRENEURIAL DRIVE) >https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/fit-interview/intermediate/behavioral-questions-entrepreneurial-drive-fit-interview-preparation-211
Feel free to PM me for disccount codes for the Integrated FIT Guide, since we still have some left from the launch!
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