South Africa MBB

Question

Hello,

Do you have any tips/feedback to prepare specifically for South African MBB interview phases? It seems from their website that procedures are different. Do they accept applications from Europe?

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

Hi there,

I interviewed with McKinsey Dubai. Here are a few thoughts based on my experience in case it's relevant:

1. Reach out to your local recruiter and get connected to the South African complex

Typically the process is in fact different - your local recruiter can be helpful in putting you in touch with the right folks in SA
In theory, all offices will accept candidates from around the world.
This said, each company may have a preference for candidates with ties to the region, depending on their current recruitment policy.

2. Know the local market

You'll be expected to conduct market sizing exercises and cases with the African economy as the backdrop.
This means knowing the population, household size, population pyramid etc. is important for SA and the African economy as a whole.

3. Be prepared to answer questions about the Eskom scandal

When I interviewed with McKinsey, it was in the wake of the Rajat Gupta indictment. I was asked a number of questions about how I would conduct myself in difficult ethical situations. The Firm at the time wanted to make sure new hires coming through the ranks would uphold standards and values.
I imagine given the Eskom scandal, you may get questions about frameworks for ethical leadership. The HBS case study is actually a really great resource for learning about what happened and how it could have been avoided.

Hope these are helpful!

Answer 2

Hi, Great question. Sharing my perspective having considered exits at various stages. I would say it all depends on... (read entire answer)

Hi, Great question. Sharing my perspective having considered exits at various stages. I would say it all depends on what your exit goals / outcomes are. I would characterize op... (read entire answer)

Answer 3

Hi! I wouldn't worry about them reneging on the offer. Through the background check, they rather want to understand... (read entire answer)

Hi! I wouldn't worry about them reneging on the offer. Through the background check, they rather want to understand whether you purposefully tried to hide something or lie in t... (read entire answer)

Answer 4

Hi there, there have been a lot of reports that processes seem to be running more slowly and people are waiting for a... (read entire answer)

Hi there, there have been a lot of reports that processes seem to be running more slowly and people are waiting for a while to receive feedback. If you have now already waited f... (read entire answer)