How Does the Referral and Interview System at McKinsey Work?

Question

Hi. I'll be applying to McKinsey fairly soon. I have referrals from a few people, ranging from Partner-EM level, and I'm curious about how these referrals will factor into me getting an interview.

My top choice for office is in the US, but my referrals are coming from either LATAM or ME offices (if it's helpful to know I'm only a US citizen). I'm thinking for my office ranking I'll have my preferred US office first, followed by an ME office and lastly LATAM. I will of course try and network more in the US before I apply.

I was curious about how the interview process works if you're applying for multiple regions, given that each region has its own language requirements and recruiting timelines. I was told, for instance, that my interviews for the LATAM office will be in Spanish. If my office ranking also includes a US office and ME office, is this to say that my interviews will be in both Spanish and English? I'm just a bit confused about how the interview process would work when you're applying to different regions that all have their own system.

Another question I have is that, assuming I have one referral from a partner in ME, would this guarantee getting an invite to the solve game for all offices, or purely for ME? Or to put it more simply, does a referral from an office in the ME increase my chances of getting an interview in the US, or is it a factor that isn't considered at all?

I'd really appreciate any advice on this. Thanks so much.

Answer 1

Hi there!

Great questions.

Let me take them one by one.

1. The referral process differs from office to office. Bigger offices have a referral system (it typically works like this in the US), where once the referee submits the referral you get notified that you should formally submit your application.

2. Get a referral from somebody in the office that you are targeting, who is at a level of seniority at least equal to the one you will be joining at. Don't get referrals from somebody in LATAM if you want to join a US office.

3. A referral increases your chances of passing screening, but doesn't guarantee it. So there are lots of candidates, even with Partner referrals, that still get rejected.

4. Before applying to an office, make sure that you speak with the recruiter and confirm that they are actively recruiting for the role you are applying to. Many people get rejected because it happens that the office has stopped recruiting a while ago.

5. With most offices, the case interview is in English and the PEI is in the local language. Do check this with the recruiter though from your target office to confirm it. Sometimes the process differs.

Do reach out if you have other questions.

You might also find these useful:

Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

Cheatsheet: The Must-Know Consulting Terms for Interviews

Best,
Cristian

Answer 2

Hi there,

1) If my office ranking also includes a US office and ME office, is this to say that my interviews will be in both Spanish and English?

You are going to be considered for one office only. Thus the interview will be based on the language indicated for that office (English for US and ME, Spanish for LATAM).

2) Assuming I have one referral from a partner in ME, would this guarantee getting an invite to the solve game for all offices, or purely for ME

A referral doesn’t guarantee an interview, but it will increase the chances of it. You can be referred by someone based in a different office compared to the one you are applying to.

Good luck!

Francesco

Answer 3

Hi there,

A few things to unpack here:

A referral is not a guarantee to move directly to the Solve Game, even if it's from a partner. A referral can boost your chances but candidates are also rejected with a referral due to their resume or missing fit.
Ideally, try to get a referral from the local office you are applying to
You will interview for one specific office, which determines the language. For instance, if you are applying in the Middle East, your interviews will be in English.

All the best,

Florian

Answer 4

Hi there,

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your questions:

First of all, if you want to apply to a US office, I would highly advise you to get a referral from someone in your target office or at least from the US. Please also keep in mind that ultimately you can only have one referral, not multiple.
Moreover, you can only apply for one job and one office at a time, and the recruiter will give you full details of the application process.
Lastly, all applicants usually have to go through all stages of the application process, so I wouldn't assume that a partner referral would change that.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare your applications, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen