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McKinsey 1st-round Interview

associate coach Interviewer McKinsey
New answer on Jun 17, 2020
15 Answers
2.5 k Views
Anonymous A asked on Jun 15, 2020

Hi everyone. I will be having my first round of McKinsey interview next week.
I am wondering if my current coach buddy (Associate) will be one of the interviewers, as I was told that either Associate/Engagement Manager will be interviewing me. Thank you.

(edited)

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Anonymous replied on Jun 15, 2020

Hi,

First of all, congratulations on having a buddy from McK - it means they believe you have a strong background.

Secondly - no, your buddy will never be your interviewer.

Best,

Anton

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Julie
Expert
replied on Jun 15, 2020
McK interviewer, Ph.D (advanced degree) | Experienced coach (150+) | Practical tips, confidence-based approach

Hi !

Your interviewers next week will be different from your coach buddy. Your buddy is there to help answers questions you have regarding your preparation, and give you one case practice + feedback, prior to your first interview. He/she will not be part of the official interview process, - you can use them to ask questions and practice.

Treat that buddy carefully though, and make sure you practice your case session with them only when you feel at least 80% ready for the actual interviews, so you can make the best use of the session with them.

Hope that helps ! Let us know if you have more questions as you prep for the big day :)

Julie

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Réka
Expert
replied on Jun 16, 2020
3+ years McKinsey consulting experience|Strategy @ Coursera |Oxford MBA

Hi A,

It's very unlikely that your buddy will be your interviewer. However, you typically receive the names of your interviewers before the interview, so you can check their profiles on LinkedIn an ask around in your network to have a sense of what to expect in terms of interviewing style.

Fingers crossed for the interview!

Best,

Réka

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Robert
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jun 15, 2020
McKinsey offers w/o final round interviews - 100% risk-free - 10+ years MBB coaching experience - Multiple book author

Hi Anonymous,

No, definitely not. And McKinsey is rather good in separating the evaluation of interview performance vs. any other activities happening before - so all candidates do have the same chances independent from pre-interview occurences (unless you did really very stupid things consistently..).

Not only for formal relationships - also if you happen to know somebody else, this person is not supposed to interview you.

Hope this helps - if so, please be so kind and give it a thumbs-up with the green upvote button below!

Robert

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Antonello
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jun 16, 2020
McKinsey | NASA | top 10 FT MBA professor for consulting interviews | 6+ years of coaching

Hi,
I confirm your buddy will not be one of your interviewers. I recommend to leverage it by asking her to do some case practice together. Feedback from consultants/former consultants are crucial in your preparation

Best,
Antonello

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Ian
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jun 15, 2020
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate

Hi,

They will not be.

But absolutely leverage your buddy to give you a practice case and provide feedback (as much as they are willing to, of course)

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Clara
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jun 17, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

For sure not, you can sure about that.

Cheers,

Clara

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Udayan
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jun 15, 2020
Top rated Case & PEI coach/Multiple real offers/McKinsey EM in New York /6 years McKinsey recruiting experience

Nope that's not allowed

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Vlad
Expert
replied on Jun 15, 2020
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

Absolutely not. It will be a different person

Best

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Luca
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jun 15, 2020
BCG |NASA | SDA Bocconi & Cattolica partner | GMAT expert 780/800 score | 200+ students coached

Hello,

Nope, they will be really careful to not match you with your current buddy. ANyway, you can try to ask for interviewers name (sometime they give them), so that you can take a look on their background and also receive some tips from your buddy.

Best,
Luca

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Anrian
Expert
replied on Jun 15, 2020
Ex Kearney Senior Manager | Ex McKinsey Engagement Manager | Interviewer & Case Coach at McKinsey (200+ Real Interviews)

Hi There,

There is no chance for your recruiting buddy (coach) as your first round interviewer. The recruiter has made sure that.

The Associate/EM that will interview you should not involve in your coaching or your referral.

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Anonymous replied on Jun 15, 2020

Hi there,

No - your coach is there to help answer some questions and have a practice case with you. Feel free to fail as hard as possible with him/her so he/she can give you detailed feedback (your performance in the practice session has no impact on your interview evaluation).

Best of luck in the process :)

Best regards,

Khaled

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Arzu replied on Jun 15, 2020

Hey!

I had my first round of intreviews past Friday (12.06.2020).

I had two interviews, and both of them were conducted by Engagement Managers.

In the first 2-3 minutes of the interview, each of them presented himself. Their experience with McKinsey were approximately 3-4 years.

Hope that helps.

Good luck!

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Anonymous replied on Jun 16, 2020

Hi,

No, this coaching offer is well processed ! It's impossible :)

Best

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Anonymous replied on Jun 16, 2020

Dear A,

My congratulations to your upcoming interview!

No, it won't be

Wish you best of luck,

André

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