Hi there,

1) Between submitting your application and getting the first case interview (if you are selected), how long is that process for McKinsey (or other firms if the answer is widely different company by company)?

It really depends on the office's needs and recruiting pipeline. It could range between a few weeks and a few months.

2) Is it better to case prep to a comfortable point before applying or is there enough time between applying and your first case interview, for a candidate to do case prep/practice?

I would recommend to start earlier than later, for most people getting to a good level requires 100+ hours. It could be challenging to do so in a restricted timeframe. In some cases, you might be able to postpone the interview if you need more time to prepare but that’s not always the case.

You can find some tips on how to prepare below:

▶ How to Prepare for a McKinsey Interview

▶ 4 Ways McKinsey Interviews are Different

▶ 4 PEI Dimensions You Should Know

Good luck!

Francesco

Hello,

So the answer would really depend if you're applying from a target school that has a structured recruiting cycle of if you're applying as a professional/from a non-target school.

1) Target school: In this case, you always follow the school's agreed timeline with the firm. The timeline also depends whether you are applying for a Summer Internship or a Full-time position.

a) Summer Internship: At my school, we applied around 21 Nov, received interview invites around 5 Dec and the Round 1 interviews were in 2nd week of Jan. Round 2 interviews varied per office, but typically 1-3 weeks after Round 1.

b) Full-time applications: At my school, we applied around 6 Sep, received interview invites around 20 Sep, and the Round 1 interviews were in 1st week of Oct. Round 2 interviews varied per office, but typically 1-2 weeks after Round 1. 

2) As a professional: Recruitment happens throughout the year, but expect a bit longer timeframe.

All these timelines do vary per firm. Typically MBB follow what I have outlined above. 

With regards to case prep, if you're confident that you are going to pass the screening and get the interview invites (in cases where you have a great profile fit, geography fit, etc), then of course, start preparing asap. If you're not sure, I would still say to start prep at 50% throttle, and ramp that up to 100% once you get the invites.

Happy to help, all the best!

Rushabh

Hi there,

It really depends on the office and the role and on whether you are applying as part of a batch or off cycle. 
 

For instance, university batches are screened in bulk with around a month between application and the first test, then few weeks between the test and the interview. I've seen however cycles that are shorter and longer. 
 

When it comes to off cycle applications, it usually takes longer but again, you never know. I've seen people do the full process in 3 weeks and others who have been contacted 2 months after applying. 
 

In general, I would become “interview ready” proactively, ensuring that whenever the interview gets scheduled you do a quick refesher on cases and fit and ace them. I would not leave the preps till the last minute. 
 

Mario

(edited)

Hello!

I like that you are being strategic about the timings, it's actually very important!

First, bear in mind that between the submitting and the interview there is an intermediate step, the test (it's called with different names, in McK would be the Imbellus for instance). 

Since it can be as little as a week, I recommend submitting applicantion when you would be ready to receive that call. 

Hope it helps!

Cheers, 

Clara

Hi there,

It really depends on the recruiting channel, region, timing, etc.

Ultimately, you want to be about 80% case ready when you apply…that's to prevent a need for last minute cramming.

I highly recommend you case prep now and make sure you're comfortable going into applications/interviews. Here's a bit more reading to make sure you do it right!

https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/pitfalls-case-interview-preparation

It really depends on whether you're applying through a recruitment round or a prospective application. If it's a recruitment round then it can be anything from a couple of weeks to a couple of months. If it's a prospective application then it could be up to a year depending on when the firm is looking to bring people in. If you've been waiting for a while I'd recommend reaching out to the recruiting team to ask when you can expect to hear. 

Good luck!