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How many types of cases will be asked within Mckinsey interviews (both 1st and 2nd rounds)

In addition to the below list, are there any new types of cases would probably used within Mckinsey interviews for both 1st and 2nd rounds?

(1) Market entry

(2) Profitability or Revenue growth

(3) Competitive response

(4) M&A / PE investment thesis (including valuation like NPV)

(5) Capacity change (Is it the same as Operation?)

(6) Pricing

Considering recent hot topics about online, digital disruption, any other thoughts from experienced former Mckinsey interviewers and candidates having been through Mck interviews recently?

Many thanks!

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Top answer
Vlad
Coach
on Oct 26, 2018
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

I would add:

  • New product
  • Investment decision (not the same as M&A. Rather investment in new technology, business)
  • Operational math problems - (How to reduce the traffic jams on a bridge with certain output rate, capacity?)
  • Cost cutting
  • Digital (IT Strategy, IT investment, etc)

Finally, 30% of McKinsey cases are non-conventional. Here are some examples:

  1. Factors influencing the price (What are the factors influencing the price of oil? Factors influencing the price of real estate?)
  2. Macroeconomic cases (How will you improve life expectancy in a particular city? How will you decrease the unemployment?)
  3. Public sector non-profits (Increasing the revenues of a museum; increasing the revenues from tourism in a city)
  4. Redesigning the processes (How will you develop a new anti-monopoly regulation?)
  5. Non-profit investments (A billionaire is building a new school. What are the factors to look at?)

Best

on Oct 25, 2018
Ex-MBB, Experienced Hire; I will teach you not only the how, but also the why of case interviews

Off the top of my head, I can also think of non-profit fundraising and cost cutting / right sizing,

Operations could includte capacity change, logistics and lean manufacturing for example.

Really, there is a near infinite type of cases you can be given; a single word may alter the case completely. This is why I always teach the mechanics of the case (teach a man to fish) rather than focusing on a specific type of case (give the fish). Even as a consultant, you'll always do well the second time you have to work on the same problem - but this will pretty much never happen at MBB (it would at Tier2 and boutiques however)

Clara
Coach
on Oct 31, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

Congrats for moving to final round!

As it has been outlined, its very similar, but :

  • Cases you can expect are more "free riding" - less organized than the ones your found in the 1st round or most prep pages
  • Stronger emphasis in the FIT part, as outlined before by other coaches.

If you are interested in deepening your knowledge and preparation on the FIT part, 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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