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Third interview at McKinsey

I was invited for one more interview after the two first  at McKinsey. Why and when it happens? Does it happen at the final round too? 

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Anonymous
edited on Oct 06, 2017

This is very country (not as much office) dependent. However, the typical format is that you have 4 final round interviews with Associate Principals, Partners and/or Senior Partners (formerly Directors). The 4 final round interviews are conducted on the same day 95% of the time. If there is a real shortage of APs and Partners, they may only conduct 3 interviews. If they can’t even schedule 3 interviews with APs and Partners, they may ask you to come back for another interview. This is not usually a sign that they need “another read”. This is also usually only the case if you are locally based. If you are traveling for the interview and they have a shortage of APs and Partners, they likely ask you to reschedule.

All of the APs and Partners don't need to say YES for you to get an offer. It helps but if there is a NO or even two NOs, you need to have a really strong YES advocate (the more senior the better) in the decision meeting. The decision meeting is not a vote. Basically, all of your scores have been put into a database from all rounds and are displayed on a screen for all of the final round interviewers to see. The leader of the decision meeting asks for someone to "make the case for" and then someone to "make the case against". Everyone listens to both sides and then there is a discussion before ultimately a consensus is ageed upon.

6
on Oct 06, 2017
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success (➡ interviewoffers.com) | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi Anonymous,

that usually happens after the first round when interviewers are uncertain about your overall performance. It is likely that one of them found ok to move you to the final, while the other had doubts; they thus moved you to a further interview in order to make a final decision. In case you manage to do well in the next interview, you will move to the final, as if the first round was succesful in the first place.

Best,

Francesco

on Oct 05, 2017

I don't know for which office and role you are applying for. A Mckinsey recruiter for consultant position told me that all process consists of 4 interviews:

-2 with 2 consultants

-2 with 2 partners 

All need to say yes and you get an offer

0
Clara
Coach
on Oct 31, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

 It happened since there was no consenseus. 

As it has been outlined, its very similar, but :

  • Cases you can expect are more "free riding" - less organized than the ones your found in the 1st round or most prep pages
  • Stronger emphasis in the FIT part, as outlined before by other coaches.

If you are interested in deepening your knowledge and preparation on the FIT part, the "Integrated FIT guide for MBB" has been recently published in PrepLounge´s shop (https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/tests-2/integrated-fit-guide-for-mbb-34)

It provides an end-to-end preparation for all three MBB interviews, tackling each firms particularities and combining key concepts review and a hands-on methodology. Following the book, the candidate will prepare his/her stories by practicing with over 50 real questions and leveraging special frameworks and worksheets that guide step-by-step, developed by the author and her experience as a Master in Management professor and coach. Finally, as further guidance, the guide encompasses over 20 examples from real candidates.

Furthermore, you can find 3 free cases in the PrepL case regarding FIT preparation:

- Intro and CV questions > https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/fit-interview/intermediate/introduction-and-cv-questions-fit-interview-preparation-200

- Motivational questions > https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/fit-interview/intermediate/motivational-questions-fit-interview-preparation-201

- Behavioural questions (ENTREPRENEURIAL DRIVE) >https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/fit-interview/intermediate/behavioral-questions-entrepreneurial-drive-fit-interview-preparation-211

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