Is the standard for case interviews always the same for everyone?

Hi there, 

No, of course, the standard / expectations differ(s) from role to role based on seniority (of the role that you're applying to), your background (if you're given a case that is similar to your background the expectations are higher), role type (generalist or specialist). 

Which is why it makes sense to get tailored feedback on your performance. Try and get feedback from people with a lot of expertise in the field because they're the ones who can best assess whether you're at the level you should be at for your target role. 

Best,
Cristian

Hi there,

This is a nuanced Q&A but, fundamentally, the bar is both the same and different.

As in, no matter the level, you need to show that you can do the job. You need to demonstrate all of the same traits/skills. That is, problem-solving, judgement & insights, structured thinking, communication, etc.

How this is assessed is sometime different, and the context of it all changes. For example, ironically project leads/principals aren't expected to perform as well on the case but they are expected to have a strong professional background and impressive experiences.

Make sense?

I would write pages about this, but hopefully it gives you an idea. 

Hi there,

Q: When is the “bar” different, and by how much does the standard vary in each case. Meaning what would be expected of some groups that wouldn’t be expected of others?

Normally the bar for a given position is the same regardless of your background. Some exceptions are:

• If you are hired for a specific role as an expert, they will expect that you know that industry and could ask questions about that
• In periods with low supply (like now), the bar is higher. As an extreme case, even a very good performance may not lead to an offer. I know a case during COVID when a candidate was told he passed the interview but could not get an offer because the company stopped hiring
• If the interviewer knows you had a previous experience in a specific field (eg banking) they may have expectations about your knowledge there (eg how banks make money)
• If you have more years of experience, they will most likely expect that to be reflected in your fit stories

Best,

Francesco

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, while it depends on the specific strategy consulting company you applied to, in general, there are no differences in performance expectations regarding the field of studies, work experience, etc., as long as candidates are interviewed for the same position.
• Moreover, while performance expectations do not significantly differ below leadership positions, there are significant differences between non-leadership, leadership, and senior leadership positions when it comes to industry/capability knowledge, leadership skills, and client relationships.

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

Hi there,

Scoring is absolute and I never made a difference between MBAs or experienced professionals when I interviewed on behalf of McKinsey, as should be the case for other interviewers.

However, additional support for preparation is sometimes given to those who don't have the benefit of being part of an MBA Consulting Club, including coaching calls and group practice sessions.

Hope this helps a bit. Best of luck!

Moritz

To provide a contrarian view to the other answer:

Everyone is going to be held to a high bar whatever background you are from (particularly so now when firms are more sensitive around hiring given the current economic situation). I would not plan worry about this going into interviews as this is something out of your control.

On the flip-side, thinking about what unique perspectives you can bring (e.g. as a former engineering major understanding tech / manufacturing processes / anything you learnt) is something you can differentiate yourself with.

Feel free to reach out and I can hopefully help you think through what your unique value proposition can be as a consultant.

The bar is not that different. It may be different on the FIT part (particularly if you have direct consulting experience), but your problem solving ability, analytical capability and communication skills.

If you are being hired for the same role… you have the same performance expectation for the role, you have the same performance expectation for the interview.

What sometimes is different is preparation expectation, and consistency with your own profile. If you are from a non-business background, I don't expect you to know all the business terms. But if you are an MBA, I do. If you are coming from an MBA I expect you to understand how the case interview works. If you are coming from a different background, I don't.

McKinsey uses the same cases for everyone and the bar is the same. What is slightly different is that the more senior you are, the more industry knowledge / business acumen you're expected to have. And if you are going for a very specific role e.g., finance, you will likely get more finance focused cases. But otherwise, the raw skills of being analytical, doing maths, being creative are applicable for everyone.