Schedule mock interviews on the Meeting Board, join the latest community discussions in our Consulting Q&A and find like-minded Interview Partners to connect and practice with!
Back to overview

Is it true that everyone is on the same footing once you get an interview?

I’ve heard your resume only gives you an advantage when trying to get the interview, but once you get the interview everyone is on the same footing and it’s 100% about performance. It seems odd to me, because your resume would still likely influence your interviewers.

How true is this in practice?

11
1.3k
14
Be the first to answer!
Nobody has responded to this question yet.
Top answer
on Mar 22, 2023
FREE INTRO I exMcKinsey EM I exKearney consultant I High Success Rate I Official Coach for HEC (160 coachees in 2022/23)

Hi,

From my point of view, it's true. 

When I was an interviewer at McKinsey, we were only looking at the interview performance to decide for next round. The resume was sometimes used to explain weaknesses but never was used as selection tool for next round.

Hope this helps,

Cheers,

Pedro
Coach
on Mar 24, 2023
Bain | EY-Parthenon | Former Principal | 1.5h session | 30% discount 1st session

This is tricky… In theory yes. In practice, not necessarily, and moreover that depends on the office. But not in a significant way.

Meaning that it can still influence, even in an unconscious way (that's why now they don't show CVs to interviewers in some companies). 

In other cases, interviewers tend to particularly value people from certain schools and backgrounds (once again, remember that this really depends on the office/country), so it feels that there's some “double counting”. However, and thankfully, this is rare.

The truth is that, in general, most interviewers just care about your performance during an interview. Nothing else matters. And if you are good… then you are good. (and if you are not… tough luck, you just won't get the offer).

Hagen
Coach
on Mar 22, 2023
#1 recommended coach | >95% success rate | 8+ years consulting, 8+ years coaching and 7+ years interviewing experience

Hi there,

I think this is an interesting question that may be relevant for many people. I would be happy to share my thoughts on it:

  • First of all, it is true that in your interviews, only your performance will be assessed. While your application files and a strong referral will ensure you pass the screening phase of the application process, they will not be actively assessed anymore.
  • Still, given that with most strategy consulting companies, interviewers will receive your application files so that they can properly prepare the personal fit part of the interview, they might still have an impact on what questions you are asked.
  • Lastly, in order to avoid any direct impact of your application files on interviewers, they are regularly trained on unconscious biases that might occur.

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

Best,

Hagen

Moritz
Coach
on Mar 29, 2023
ex-McKinsey EM & Interviewer | 7/8 offer rate for 4+ sessions | High impact sessions + FREE materials & exercises

Hi there,

Yes, from my perspective everyone is the same once they have their foot in the door.

I interviewed many candidates for McKinsey and honestly didn't care too much about their CVs and I certainly didn't let them influence my scoring/recommendation.

My focus as an interviewer was on PEI and problem solving ability, for which scoring is done exclusively on the basis of the evidence provided in the interview and not the CV.

Best of luck for your recruitment journey!

Moritz

on Mar 22, 2023
Ex-BCG|Not-so-ordinary cases| 3/4 of candidates don't crack my cases

Hey,

well yes its about 100% performance, but you will likely see different questions and a different benchmark, e.g. Engineers vs Business Background. So I would not call this the “same footing” MBBs always try to achieve a certain level of diversity in backgrounds, as with gender, and ethnicity. 

Before the interview, the interview checks you resume of course and notes questions about certain aspects of your career. So the more exciting facts you can share in your resume, the more is likely to transfer into the interview itself. Thus, I advise, creating a narrative and sharp/unique profile in the resume already (e.g. don't write in hobbies just “reading”)

Cheers,
Chris

 

Tom
Coach
on Mar 22, 2023
FREE Intro session | Deloitte Senior Consultant | Big4 & Boutiques coaching | Strategy & Operations | LBS MBA

Hi there, 

Would say yes that’s generally true in terms of getting from first round to second/third round but at the end of the interview process, when it’s time to decide on offer or not, your whole profile is discussed (CV/CL/grades/interview performance etc.) to determine fit and capabilities (vs other candidates) 
 

Cheers,

Tom

on Mar 22, 2023
#1 rated McKinsey Coach

Hi there, 

That's true, in theory. 

As in, the interviewers only assess your performance in the interview. The whole CV screening is done at that point. 

However, the fact of the matter is that the only information that the interviewers receive about you prior to the interview (in most offices) is your CV and cover letter. Of course, a distinctive CV and cover letter are going to reflect well on you, so it makes sense to do them right. 

Best,
Cristian

Paul
Coach
on Mar 22, 2023
PL-level BCG experience (6 years)|Interviewer at BCG| 6/6 personal + 95%+ candidates offer success rate

Hi there,

can confirm - MBB interview (once you have your “foot in the door”) is one of the most “performance-oriented” and democratic process I have witnessed in my professional life: I am not saying perfectly democratic, but a good proxy.

Signed: guy coming from bottom-5% family income bracket in my home country + w/ no connections to any MBB/T2 firm + no target school who got an offer

Andreas
Coach
on Mar 24, 2023
McKinsey EM | Top MBB Coach | >70% Success Rate | Free Introductory Calls

Hi there,

it is true that the performance in your interviews is what counts in the end. However, as you mention the interviewers see your CV, there might be areas of overlap with their own career they will talk about (e.g., same university). Also if you have experience in the field a case is about, this might raise expectations.

Cheers,

Andreas

Ian
Coach
on Mar 22, 2023
Top US BCG / MBB Coach - 5,000 sessions |Tech, Platinion, Big 4 | 9/9 personal interviews passed | 95% candidate success

Ah, so goes the game of telephone tag!

Yes, of course a better resume gives you a leg up in your interviews. If you are inherently a better candidate and have better experiences, and if your resume looks better to the interviewer, of course you are on a better footing!

When people say “same footing”, they mean there is no nepotism/favouritism. They mean that, referrals don't help you in the interview stage. They mean, you need to individually prove to each specific interviewer that you are fit, and that happens in a closed room without outside influence.

What else is in that room? Your resume! So, of course a better resume helps you do better in the interview!

Emily
Coach
on Mar 22, 2023
Ex McKinsey EM & interviewer (5 yrs) USA & UK| Coached / interviewed 300 +|Free 15 min intro| Stanford MBA|Non-trad

So it'll vary by firm and by office. But broadly, you're on the same footing. If you have someone who is very strongly routing for you and it's between you and one other person, then maybe that person routing for you is what will tip you over the line. 

Similar Questions
Consulting
Employment Gap on Resume and How to talk about it during Interview
on Apr 14, 2025
Global
9
7.8k
Top answer by
Ariadna
Coach
BCG | Project Leader and Experienced Interviewer | MBA at London Business School
110
9 Answers
7.8k Views
+6
Consulting
Invited for internship but rejected for fulltime
on May 09, 2024
Global
8
2.2k
Top answer by
Hagen
Coach
#1 recommended coach | >95% success rate | 8+ years consulting, 8+ years coaching and 7+ years interviewing experience
56
8 Answers
2.2k Views
+5
Consulting
Do consultants use AI for PowerPoint or excel or anywhere in the Process??
on Aug 24, 2024
Global
7
2.1k
Top answer by
Nilay
Coach
Former McKinsey Sr Engagement Manager | Trained McKinsey interviewer (100+ interviews, 500+ coaching sessions)
50
7 Answers
2.1k Views
+4
How likely are you to recommend us to a friend or fellow student?
0 = Not likely
10 = Very likely
Thanks for your feedback! Your opinion helps us make PrepLounge even better.