Congrats on the interview invite!

This is a format that McKinsey uses in some geographies of having a half hour phone case to see if it's worth inviting the candidate to the actual first round interview. 

This phone case can be from any industry or topic. Since it's over the phone, you won't be given an exhibit and body language matters less. Instead, you can expect a structuring question (likely the first), then a calculation and a brainstorming one. Depending on how quickly this goes, you might also get asked to provide a recommendation. 

You will likely also be given the opportunity to ask questions at the end. 

In terms of preparation, you should prepare for this phone case the same way you would prepare for the live case (minus the exhibit component as discussed). 

If you have further questions, reach out. 

Aside from this, sharing here a mini guide on structuring:

Expert Guide: Mastering Structuring & Brainstorming

And then specifically for the PEI component, I just launched a video course that covers everything you need to know and provides actual recorded examples of stories used for successful interviews. More here:

Video Course: Master the McKinsey PEI

Best,
Cristian

Hi there,

I had several candidates go through this.

The interview is usually (not always) conducted by HR or alumni of the firm, not an active consultant and it is a bit easier and more straightforward than the actual case interviews.

It is a gatekeeper and screening device to

1. not waste consultant's resources
2. make sure you are prepared going forward

1. The level is similar to a normal McKinsey case. In these cases, there are usually no exhibits. You would still go through the other elements of a case (structuring, brainstorming, math - see the link below).

2. Preparation should follow the same as for any other McKinsey case. The only 100% way is with a McKinsey coach, who knows the cases and metrics in and out. Have a look at this article as it can also guide your preparation: https://www.preplounge.com/en/mckinsey-interview

3. At this stage, you should have stories ready. You can follow the advice of this article to create them: Personal Experience Interview

Happy to help out!

Cheers,
Florian

Hi there,

1) What exactly is a mini case interview? 

Based on the candidates I helped, it is simply a shorter version of a standard case – that is, fewer questions asked.

2) How should I prepare for this mini case interview? 

You can prepare as you would do for a standard case as it is going to be a reduced version of it.

3) Should I also prepare for the PEI even though it's not mentioned for the phone interview? 

Given that they indicated that the pre-screening will be based just on the case, I don’t think they will ask PEI questions, however you might want to clarify with HR just in case. 

Good luck!

Francesco

It's a case, just fewer questions. 

The required preparation is exactly the same you will need for a full case. In other words, consider this as demanding as a 1st round interview (because it is).

This is normally a phone screening to check your fit to the position.