I have an interview with Mckinsey,could you please recommend free books/sources and linksboth for case studies and PEI

Dear Aytaj,

I have written in detail about

• the McKinsey interview process: https://strategycase.com/the-mckinsey-interview-process-the-only-post-you-need-to-read/
• the McKinsey PEI: https://strategycase.com/mckinsey-personal-experience-interview-the-only-post-you-need-to-read
• the McKinsey case interview specifics: https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/mckinsey-pre-1-round-case-screening-interview-9369
• structuring a McKinsey case: https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/how-long-should-i-take-to-develop-my-framework-during-a-case-interview-8952

These 4 resources should be good starting points for your journey. Please reach out if you have more McKinsey-specific questions.

Cheers,

Florian

Hi Aytaj,

First of all congrats for being invited to the interviews.

On top of the resources suggested by Florian, you can check the case library on this site and you will find a lot of free cases you can practice with. My recommendation is to spend enough time on the personal behavior/fitting questions as well. Too many times I've seen candidates overprepared for the cases that failed the interview even before the case started because they were not prepared enough for the first part of the interview!

Anyway, good luck with your interview!!

Franco

Hello!

Precisely for people who are looking for prep material on the topic, 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´s not a free resource, but feel free to PM me for disccount codes for the Integrated FIT Guide, since we still have some left from the launch!

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, if you want to stick to the free resources, 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

Cheers :)

Hi, I recommend working with:
- PL bootcamp: https://www.preplounge.com/en/bootcamp.php
- PL case library
- top business school libraries

Feel free to text me for sharing some additional material

best,
Antonello

Hi Aytaj,

1) There's a HUGE list here (14 casebooks, scroll down to item #12):

https://www.firmsconsulting.com/quarterly/case-interview-examples/

2) Most of the coach-created cases are very good. Check out all of them here!

https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases?language=en&style[]=expert-case&sort=real-case-desc&page=1&perPage=20

https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/candidate-led-usual-style/intermediate/chinese-chess-airline-business-during-covid-19-191

https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/candidate-led-usual-style/intermediate/cutting-carbs-divestiture-in-the-electrical-power-market-228

https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/candidate-led-usual-style/intermediate/hot-wheels-186

https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/candidate-led-usual-style/intermediate/yodaphone-195

3) I like the following MBA casebooks

• Ross - great firm overview, industry overview, key concepts, and the cases aren't bad (they also include proposed frameworks)
• Stern - EXCELLENT industry overview, cases not just good but really clear and easy to follow
• Columbia - awesome in late stages when looking to focus on certain areas. In their table of contents (and in header of each case), they lay out not just industry and case type, but firm (BCG, Bain, etc.), concepts tested (breakeven, brainstorming, etc.) AND difficulty across math, structure, and creativity

Hi Aytaj,

FIT / PEI PART 

The goal when answering these questions is to show the interviewers your critical thinking and problem-solving skills and how suitable you are for the job.

 Behavioral questions might be like:

• Why consulting? / Why company XX? / Why are you the perfect fit for this position? / Lead me through your CV

• Describe a time when you disagreed with a team member

• Tell me about your biggest mistake at the workplace

• Name three improvements you made in your most recent position

• Entrepreneurial drive 

You can find other questions online; just pick some of them and start answering them in a way that makes sense:

• Keep it short (1.5 minutes max)

• Use storytelling techniques (Structure your speech!)

• Try to get the interviewer to participate, e.g., while telling about your experience in place XX, ask them whether he has been there.

The more questions you practice, the easier it becomes for you to come up with a friendly and suitable answer. 

Regarding the fit part, many candidates tend to underestimate its importance. 

However, as a former part of the recruiting team, I must say that the Fit part is not only about the questions you’re asked, but it is something that can be judged throughout the entire interview. Candidates who think it’ll be enough to master 2-3 questions for passing the fit are wrong. It is more about your approach, what kind of a person you are, how you behave in stressful situations, whether you are friendly, what kind of first impression you make. 

CASE PART 

What’s essential for the case: 

• Independently of the firm, on the project they are specializing in, you should be able to recognize the problem and suggest solutions

• Graph/chart reading

• Driving the case 

• structural / logical / strategic thinking (Test like Imbellus, GMAT, McKinsey PTS, etc. will help, too)

• math (Practice math with  a tool provided by PrepLounge: (https://www.preplounge.com/en/mental-math.php)

Here is an excellent preplounge article on case solving: https://www.preplounge.com/en/bootcamp.php/interview-first-aid/crack-the-case-interview/approaching-a-case 

Start by studying this one but don't waste your time studying plain theory because case solving is all about PRACTICE.

Here are some cases you might want to check out: 

For Beginner level: Laundry Chain - Revenue Increase https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/interviewer-led-mckinsey-style/beginner/laundry-chain-revenue-increase-215 

Launching Caskets in North Africa https://www.preplounge.com/en/admin/cases.php?action=preview&id=225 

For Intermediate level: Grain Co-operative – Brand Launch https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/interviewer-led-mckinsey-style/intermediate/grain-co-operative-brand-launch-217 

Case with a twist: Chinese Alloy Wheels – US Market Entry https://www.preplounge.com/en/admin/cases.php?action=preview&id=226 

For Advanced level/the real one and used for final rounds:

Non-Profit Museum Revenue Increase

https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/interviewer-led-mckinsey-style/advanced/mbb-final-round-case-non-profit-museum-revenue-increase-219

I also recommend preparing with somebody who is more experienced than you - it'll save your time immensely! Could be a case-buddy or a coach (the latter in general more effective:))

Good luck!

GB