McKinsey phone call

Hi there,

Congrats on getting this call lined up!

1 - I have not even applied for this position and recruiter directly wants to have a call with me. Does it mean that they are interested in my profile (by looking at my CV) or is it because partner looped in the recruiter so he has to do the call.

Yes, they are interested! This is excellent networking and a great way to get your foot in the door (i.e. increase your chances that your application moves forward to the interview stage)

2 - Can I apply to both Associate - PIPE position and Associate - Generalist position (I have a referral for this position from EM and Partner).

No. Be careful with this as you do need to decide. I just coached a candidate who had thought she could apply for multiple roles and was let down when her “real” choice said no because she had already done a generalist interview.

3 - I have a call next week so what should I expect in that call? Will it be like a screening call? Can I get interview directly without even applying on the portal? 

You'll still need to apply directly. For this call, be ready with your elevator pitch, why you're interested in consulting, and what you know/like about McKinsey. Be prepared to talk about yourself and your experiences and also come forward with questions.

Here's some additional reading to help: https://www.preplounge.com/en/tell-me-about-yourself-interview-question

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the strong referrals!

This is indeed an interesting question which is probably relevant for quite a lot of users, so I am happy to provide my perspective on it:

• The recruiter mainly wants to understand your experience so far so that he/she can allocate you on the right level (Associate vs. Junior Associate). Obviously they are interested in interviewing you, but this is it.
• When it comes to your practice affiliations, you can be sure that McKinsey will do their best to allocate you where you want to focus on and where do create the biggest value for the company. To my understanding, there is no possibility - but also no necessity - to apply for both positions at the same time. I would advise you to simply ask the recruiter when you will have the call.
• It is very hard to compare the PE practice of McKinsey and Bain. Obviously, Bain has a larger footprint and connections in the industry. Still, I could not say that there is one better and one worse company for PE.

In case you want a more detailed discussion on the PE practices at McKinsey and Bain and your upcoming interviews, please feel free to contact me directly.

I hope this helps,

Hagen

Answers below

• The recruiter got an email from a partner looking to hire you so they want to make sure you are eligible for the role and will invite you to formally apply if you meet the criteria. Which given what you wrote should not be an issue at all
• No - you will be asked to choose. I strongly suggest you use this call to ask any clarifying questions to the recruiter about which is the right path for you based on your fit.
• It is not a screening call, they will not ask you any case questions or PEI questions. They will go over your resume and it is also an opportunity for you to ask the recruiter questions that you might have
• Choose the firm that is the best fit culturally and from a work perspective. Both firms do similar work but usually are more dominant in specific industries or with certain clients.

Best,

Udayan

Hi!

1. Yes, they are! Congrats!

2. Unfortunately, you can't.

3. The call will probably be an introduction to the company and the position. They will also ask for your specific interest in joining them, so prepare the basic interview questions.

4. It depends on how you define best, the specific office, the specific projects, etc.

Hope this helps.

Best,

Anto

1. Yes, they are interested in your profile. A partner won't lose time with this if he doesn't think you have a good profile. If a partner thinks you have a good profile… HR won't disagree.

2. No, you have to chose which one do you want to apply to. Chose based on what you want to do. If at some point they think you would better fit the other position, they may “move” your application.

3. This is not an interview / screening. They probably want to better understand your experience and priorities. You should use this call to understand your answer to 2.

4. Bain is very strong at this, and this is a big part of Bain's business (bain was almost buildt around this). This is very close to Bain's core values, methodologies ("answer first", “true north”) and culture. I believe Bain is stronger in this regard.