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What actually evaluated in McKinsey interview?

On the McKinsey website, it is mentioned that there are many possible answers for brainstorming, structuring, and exhibits. Even for math questions, making a mistake does not necessarily mean rejection. Additionally, I found that MECE doesn't just mean covering all components but actually focusing on the important levers for a problem.

Given this, how does McKinsey evaluate candidates? How do they eliminate bias if there is no single right answer, as one structure may be preferred by one interviewer but not by another? Is the evaluation primarily based on the thinking process and communication skills?

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Michael
Coach
bearbeitet am 9. Juli 2024
Ex-McKinsey EM | I help aspiring consultants from atypical background to nail case interviews

In an interview there are both PEI and case study. Neither of them has a single right answer.

  • Think of PEI as a performance review for roles without quantitative targets (e.g., not a sales person). How will a company evaluate people for such role without using sales number? 
  • The case study as you mentioned, measures your structuring, conceptual thinking, chart interpretation, etc. Those are key dimensions without a single number / checkbox, either.

The evaluation of candidates is based on considerations across multiple aspects.

A firm definitely does not want the interviewer's bias to compromise the quality of incoming consultants. Certain actions are taken to address that, such as clearly written guidelines for assessing each area of the answer, systematic training and apprenticeship (need to be qualified first before playing the formal interviewer role), and validation by a second interviewer.

Pedro
Coach
am 9. Juli 2024
Bain | EY-Parthenon | Former Principal | 1.5h session | 30% discount 1st session

There is no single right answer but… there are many right answers.

A good answer is one that will solve the problem, will be well structured, show business understanding and is customized to the specific problem.

There are many ways to come up with a good answer. There are many ways to show business understanding. 

Same thing on brainstorming questions… I can give you a question and there are 5-6 things I would expect you to reply… out of a list of 7-8. But on top of that you may come up with something unexpected but very insightful… that is worth more than any of my 8 factors. And would never be on my initial list because it is a unique perspective most people didn't consider before.

So in that case it is the fact that it is NOT on my list of possible answers that makes it a great answer. Please do understanding I am not saying you need to come up with something new or “be creative” - what I am saying is that the consulting firms value unique perspective.

If there was a single approach… or a single way to do it… then this would not be a question for a strategy consultant. It would be a technical problem for which a technical expert would be required. But strategy consulting is all about managing AMBIGUITY and UNCERTAINTY.

When I am on a project, I may have multiple partners… because each one of them will suggest solving the problem in a different way. And that conversation is very reach and the true source of value in strategy consulting.

Your interviewer is a seasoned consultant. More likely than not, will enjoy having rich conversations and hearing different perspectives. 

As a coach, I don't train my candidates to “MY WAY” of solving cases. I coach them on their own way, so that their unique strengths become more visible.

So to answer your last question: yes, the evaluation is not based on the specific solution… but on the thinking process and communication skills.

A lot of people think that the objective is to solve the case, and that you need to do it in X minutes, etc. But the objective is to show how YOU SOLVE cases. You may solve the case and not get an offer or pass to the next round. You may not get to the end of the case and get the offer.

Florian
Coach
am 9. Juli 2024
1400 5-star reviews across platforms | 600+ offers | Highest-rated case book on Amazon | Uni lecturer in US, Asia, EU
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