McKinsey: Third person during Zoom call who was supervising my interviewer

Interview Interviewer McKinsey zoom
New answer on Feb 15, 2021
8 Answers
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Anonymous A asked on Feb 07, 2021

Hi all,

there was a third person in the Zoom call who turned of the camera and was supervising the interviewer. I had the feeling that the consultant just recently became an interviewer.

Does anyone have some insights on how to become an interviewer at McKinsey and what the supervisor's role is?

Thanks!

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Florian
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replied on Feb 07, 2021
Highest-rated McKinsey coach (ratings, offers, sessions) | 500+ offers | Author of The 1% & Consulting Career Secrets

Hey there,

This is completely normal and can even happen in interviews with more senior interviewers. Pre-Covid, it would have been the three of you in the room.

It happens every now and then to ensure an objective assessment and calibration across interviewers, regardless of their case or context.

Depending on the office, you can interview after one year + with a specific performance rating and evaluation + a special training.

Cheers,

Florian

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Henning
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replied on Feb 08, 2021
Bain | passed >15 MBB interviews as a candidate

It doesn't take much to be an interviewer at MBB, beyond having spend some minimum time, not underperforming in your perfomance reviews and having a more senior tenure than the position you're interviewing for.

An observer in the call might happen every once in a while - it might be an observer that helps to calibrate interviews or maybe also a junior consultant that will be an interviewer soon.

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Ken
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replied on Feb 08, 2021
Ex-McKinsey final round interviewer | Executive Coach

A supervisor is unusual and it tends to be more that a new interviewer sits in to observe a more experienced interviewer. They play no role in the assessment and would typically ask if you are ok to have a third person observe.

Becoming an interviewer depends slightly by office but typically you have been at McKinsey for over a a year.

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Udayan
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updated an answer on Feb 08, 2021
Top rated Case & PEI coach/Multiple real offers/McKinsey EM in New York /6 years McKinsey recruiting experience

You can elect to undergo interview training at McKinsey once you have completed a certain amount of time at the firm provided you are a good performer.

It is completely normal to have a supervisor in the interview so no need to worry about it

Udayan

(edited)

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Ian
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replied on Feb 07, 2021
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate

Hi there,

This is not out of the ordinary. They were just there to ensure your interviewer was conducting the interview in the appropriate manner...nothing to worry about here!

You can become an interviewer after many years at the firm and participating in a sort of training program.

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Antonello
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replied on Feb 08, 2021
McKinsey | NASA | top 10 FT MBA professor for consulting interviews | 6+ years of coaching

Hi, I confirm it is standard for junior interviewers in their first rounds. To became an interviewer in McK you need to be a senior associate or an EM (depending on the office)

Best,
Antonello

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Florian on Feb 08, 2021

You can already interview at fellow / BA level; after a bit more than 1 year tenure

Clara
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replied on Feb 08, 2021
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

This is not what so even uncommon, it´s indeed quite normal! However, usually, in the introductions, they indeed tell you who that person is and his/her purpose in that interview.

This person was not there for you, but for the preson who was interviewing you.

In order to become and interviewer -for which in McKinsey you need to be at least at associate, btw-, you need to both:

  • Shadow
  • Be shadowed

Hence, message of calm here, this does not affect what so ever your interview, it´s part of the capability building process for the interviewer.

Furthermore, don´t assume that the person was auditing your interviewer, since it can be the other way arround: a seasoned interviewer being shadowed by someone who is just starting.

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

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Gaurav
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replied on Feb 15, 2021
Ex-Mckinsey|Certified Career Coach |Placed 500+ candidates at MBB & other consultancies

Hi there,

Don't worry about it - it happens and even if the interviewer was fresh, that's exactly why another person was supervising him/her.

You can interview by yourself +- after one year of experience.

Cheers,

GB

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Florian gave the best answer

Florian

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