Repeating stories between different rounds?

Hi there,

1) Should I repeat stories between different rounds?

It depends on how strong is the alternative story that you would use. In general, I would recommend repeating in the final a great story that fits the question that you used in round 1, rather than a weaker story that you have not mentioned. 

In case you have doubts, you can also clarify that with the interviewers:

• I  coached a few candidates who were told by HR/interviewers it was totally fine to reuse their first-round stories in the final round as they were very good.
• Another candidate I coached asked the partner in the final round if she could use the story mentioned in the first round, and he said it was totally fine. If you have any doubts, you can do the same.

All candidates in the end got the offers, so repeating the stories did not have any negative impact.

On the other hand, if you feel all your stories are great, you can definitely use a different one in the final.

There is one case where you should not reuse your first-round stories – that is if you got feedback that they were not particularly good / that you should not repeat them. Or, even if you didn’t get explicit feedback, you understood there were issues with the story given the reaction of the interviewer. In that case, I would recommend changing them.

At the same time, I would recommend avoiding the same story in the same round in case two interviewers ask for the same dimension.

In any case, you should still have backup stories (so that overall you have 2 stories per dimension) for a couple of reasons:

1. The interviewers may ask for the same dimension in the same round (it is not common but might happen). Presenting two different stories would be better in case they discuss them.
2. The interviewer may not like your initial part of the story and ask to switch to a different one. You can then switch to the other you prepared.
3. Some stories may fit better a particular question (eg tell me about a time when you had challenges as a leader vs tell me about a time when you had to manage a conflict in a team).

In short, don’t use weaker stories in the final just because you used some in the first round. Instead, go for the best story you have given the question and if you have any doubt, clarify that upfront with the interviewer.

2) Do second-round interviewers have access to the stories that were told in the first round?

This might depend on the firm, but I would still use the logic above in any case.

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi there!

It's not that they have access to them, but that in borderline candidate cases (sometimes even in usual cases) all the interviewers across both rounds connect to discuss whether to give you an offer or not. 

Hearing that you provided the same story twice is a minus point. It raises a flag - such as, does this person not have sufficient experiences to share?

So if I were you I'd definitely develop around 2 stories per dimension and consider the stories already presented as ‘burnt'.

Best,
Cristian

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Hi there,

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:

• First of all, you need to distinguish between McKinsey and their specific Personal Experience Interview (PEI) format and other consulting firms. Most consulting firms would not care that much if you reply to the same question in the same way.
• Moreover, while sharing answers to personal fit questions between interviewers might not be a standard practice, I would still advise you to prepare a few backup stories that can be versatile for different questions. This will give you a broader arsenal to pull from during the interviews.

You can find more on this topic here: How to succeed in the final interview round.

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,

Look, the honest answer is that you should try not to, but you still can.

Ultimately, you have to determine How strong your other/backup story is compared to the main one you've told.

20% as strong? Tell the original.

80% as strong? tell the new one.

There are also different ways of telling the same story to make them appear different.

Yes, second-round interviewers at typically have access to the feedback and notes from the first-round interviews (as I did at Strategy&). This includes the stories that were shared by candidates during the first round. It is important to avoid repeating the same story to different interviewers within the same round to demonstrate your versatility and depth of experiences. However, it is worth noting that the second-round interviewers may have different areas of focus and may ask for different dimensions or aspects of your experiences. Therefore, it is still crucial to have a repertoire of strong stories that showcase your skills and achievements.

Hi there,

Some great answers already above. The answer varies across firms but in general I suggest two things:

• Prepare 2-3 stories per dimension in advance just in case
• Ask your recruiting contact in advance or your interview if you can reuse stories from previous interviews

Good luck!

Alberto

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Check out my latest case based on a real MBB interview: Sierra Springs

Hi there,

At McKinsey, you're explicitly allowed to repeat stories between rounds. If and when this happens, I have never seen any negative impact based on the repetition alone.

That being said, you should of course have a variety of stories in your back pocket for each dimension, and make sure that content and structure are on point.

The above is core of my coaching. If there's anything you'd like to discuss, please get in touch.

Best of luck!
Moritz

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Hi,

Cristian has laid out a great explanation already on why it's not recommended to repeat stories.

During my time as an interviewer, it was not common that interviewers would compare stories between rounds, but it does happen. 

So to be safe, just prepare backup stories.

All the best!

Yes interviewers in second round know at least the context, so do not repeat!