Does referral play any role in McKinsey final decision?

interviews McKinsey Referral
Edited on Nov 30, 2023
11 Answers
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Anonymous A asked on Sep 23, 2020

Hi,

Besides CV screening, does McKinsey take referral unders consideration for the final round interviews decision?

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Clara
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Content Creator
replied on Sep 25, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

Not at all.

Referrals only secure your CV getting reviewed.

After that, it´s all about performance in the interviews.

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

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Robert
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replied on Sep 24, 2020
McKinsey offers w/o final round interviews - 100% risk-free - 10+ years MBB coaching experience - Multiple book author

Hi Anonymous,

Under normal circumstances it doesn't .. unless you carry a very very prestigious 2nd name or have a referral by that .. this might help at least a bit.

In my example it was BCG - not sure if a member of the Quandt would have gotten an offer without the last name.

Hope that helps - if so, please be so kind to give it a thumbs-up with the green upvote button below!

Robert

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Mehdi
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replied on Sep 23, 2020
BCG | Received offers from all MBB & Tier 1Firms | Supporting you secure your top tier consulting offer

Hi there,

Referrals only help you secure spot in Round 1. From there, it's only your performance that counts!

Mehdi

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Anonymous replied on Sep 24, 2020

Nope. Referral gets you the interview, but once you go into that process, you are judged by your interview performance and referral doesn't matter any more.

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Anonymous replied on Sep 23, 2020

Hi,

From formal perspective referrals do not play any role and the process will be standard.

But of course a referral from partners/ principals will increase your chances to pass the interview. At least they will be more attentive to you.

Good luck!

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Anonymous replied on Sep 23, 2020

Hi A,

Actually, a referral helps you to get invited to the interview. But it doesn't define whether you get a job offer or not.

Best,

André

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Ian
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replied on Sep 23, 2020
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate

No, not at all!

A referral helps to get you in the door for the interview (incredibly valuable on its own).

The interview itself takes 0 consideration of the referral...you have to prove yourself in a vacuum...else it wouldn't really be fair would it!

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Ken
Expert
replied on Sep 23, 2020
Ex-McKinsey final round interviewer | Executive Coach

No - not for entry-level recruiting, where the final round decision is made purely by your interview performance (namely case and PEI). The exception is for senior hires (Partners not BA/Associates) where referral is part of the case for you joining.

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Henning
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replied on Sep 23, 2020
Bain | passed >15 MBB interviews as a candidate

No. They get you the interview. That's it.

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Kobi
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replied on Sep 25, 2020
McKinsey interviewer|EM @ McKinsey & Company | 100% fit interview success rate | Coached +20 candidates | Personalized interview

Not at all. As an interviewer i can tell you there is 0% impact. The only impact is to get an interview.

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Alberto
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Content Creator
updated an answer on Nov 30, 2023
Ex-McKinsey Associate Partner | +15 years in consulting | +200 McKinsey 1st & 2nd round interviews
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Clara gave the best answer

Clara

Content Creator
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut
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