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I think firms value more the FIT and engagement more than the actual case performance

BCG McKinsey
New answer on May 31, 2020
7 Answers
1.9 k Views
Anonymous A asked on Nov 25, 2019

Hey, I recently got an offer from McKinsey. I did a very good job in the two first-round interviews but a rather terrible job in the three final-round interviews and still got the offer although I was sure that I would be rejected.

I think that the key issue here was that I had three amazing FIT cases and also very good engagement with the three interviewers at the end of the case. With a partner we spent about an hour at the end talking about really interesting stuff about McKinsey, the economy, etc.

So the takeaway here for candidates would be: Practice and be proficient in cases, but focus a lot on being likable and engaging with the interviewers.

Thought was useful to share my experience in the recruitment process. Do you think this may be the truth? Or that I was lucky and other candidates were just even worse than me in the cases?

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Antonello
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Content Creator
replied on Nov 25, 2019
McKinsey | NASA | top 10 FT MBA professor for consulting interviews | 6+ years of coaching

Hi,
I am totally with you: during the preparation, it is crucial to focus on case interview but also on the fit part, which will influence even the rest of the interview (i.e. the case).

Congrats for getting the offer :)

All the best,
Antonello

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Robert
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Content Creator
replied on Nov 25, 2019
McKinsey offers w/o final round interviews - 100% risk-free - 10+ years MBB coaching experience - Multiple book author

Hi Anonymous,

Thanks for sharing your experience. I fully agree that the personal fit part (for McKinsey the "Personal Experience Interview", or short PEI) is a vital component for receiving an offer. However, a couple of additional points:

  • For first round interviews, you need to deliver on both case + personal fit. Lacking case interview/analytical/problem-solving skills is a show-stopper.
  • For final round interviews, your interviewers are usually focusing most on those areas in which you could not fully convince your interviewers in the first round interviews - seems to be it was more on the PEI (personal fit) part. However, you might have been a bit more lucky than other candidates that your specific profile was interesting enough to disregard case performance from final round interviews.
  • From perspective of running a consulting firm: if projects are to be staffed and new recruits are missing, the bar for recruiting gets a bit lower. Finally, a big portion of the profit is made with more junior consultants, who are leveraged by an engagement manager and partner/director - so if more junior ranks are missing, they tend to get filled up rather quickly.

Hope that gives you some additional inputs and food for thougt!

Robert

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Francesco
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replied on Dec 01, 2019
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.000+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success (➡ InterviewOffers.com) | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi Anonymous,

congratulations on your offer. The fit part (including as well your general communication) is as important as the case, thus definitely something to consider in the preparation. Having said that, your case performance was probably better than you perceived, as I don’t think there is a way to get a McKinsey offer without nailing the cases, independently by the performance of the other candidates.

Best,

Francesco

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Deniz
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replied on Nov 29, 2019
5+ Years at BCG & Kearney Dubai & Istanbul | 400+ Trainees | Free 15-min Consultation Call

Hi,

First of all, congratulations! I would not make a strong statement that fit is more important and that it would override your performance in the cases. Both are as important, maybe you performed better than you anticipated?

Best,

Deniz

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Vlad
Expert
updated an answer on Nov 25, 2019
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

Congrats, you have really good sales skills and you are good at connecting with people. However, I would not make a strong statement that fit is more valuable. Unfortunately, there will always be only 1-3% who are really good at sales. The rest of the people should practice both case and fir equally to increase their chances

Best

(edited)

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Anonymous A on Nov 25, 2019

Yeah, that may be so. I failed to add in my question that my backround is as a sales manager for a medium size craft brewery

Anonymous updated the answer on May 31, 2020

Dear A,

I would say that first, my congratulations to your offer in McKinsey. Wish you best of luck and smooth career path. If you need any tips and insights, feel free to reach out.

Regarding your question, I think that both personal fit and case performance are equally important, and you have to practice both. I can't say that one is more important than the other one, because everything could be a key criterion.

And definitely you have a luck of being selected to get an offer

Best,
André

(edited)

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Clara
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Content Creator
replied on May 27, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

On top of the insights already shared in the post, next week will be pusblished in PrepLounge´s Shop material related.

In concrete, the "Integrated FIT guide for MBB". 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.

Here I leave you the link > https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/tests-2/integrated-fit-guide-for-mbb-34

Feel free to PM me for disccount codes!

Hope you find it useful!

Best,

Clara

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