Can anyone guide me on what are the things I can focus on, to stay prepared for the same?
(edited)
Can anyone guide me on what are the things I can focus on, to stay prepared for the same?
(edited)
Hi there,
Generally, McKinsey interviews are always about the process and your thinking, rather than what you know about a certain topic.
Yet it makes sense to become familiar with a couple of topics that can guide your understanding and idea generation for a case interview.
For that matter, have a look at all the latest research articles by McKinsey on Sustainability here: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/sustainability/our-insights
Other than that, McKinsey cases are a bit different. For more details, have a read here: https://preplounge.com/mckinsey-interview
Let's break it down below as well:
1. The difference between a McKinsey case and a non-McKinsey case first and foremost lies in the interviewer-led format as you are aware. Every case you have in this case book can be asked from an interviewer-led perspective.
In the McKinsey interview you will have to answer three different questions types - broadly speaking:
While in candidate-led cases, they should arise naturally when you drill down into your structure, in McKinsey interviews, the interviewer will bring them up in succession.
2. The second big difference lies in the nature of questions asked at McKinsey. At the core, McKinsey wants to see creative ideas communicated in a structured manner, the more exhaustive the better.
As a result, McKinsey cases will usually be very creative in nature and not something that can be solved by looking at industry frameworks or industry trends.
The example of the machine breakdown in the lower part of the article is a real McK case question and demonstrates the creative and out-of-the-box aspects of their interviews.
Be aware that frameworks were applicable in the 2000 years, the era of Victor Cheng and Case in Point. McK has long caught up on this and the cases you will get during the interviews are tailored in a way to test your creativity and ability to generate insights, not remember specific frameworks.
3. The third big difference is how to answer the questions in a McKinsey interview. Since the interviewer guides you from question to question, you need to be in the driver's seat for each question and treat each almost like a mini case in itself.
Your goal should be to come up with a tailored and creative answer that fits the question. The framework should - broadly speaking - follow these three characteristics:
The firm wants to see exhaustive and creative approaches to specific problems, which more often than not do not fit into the classic case interview frameworks (or can be derived from industry drivers and trends) that were en vogue 10 years ago...
Again, this only applies if everything you say
As a result, you can spend several minutes, guiding the interviewer through your structure!
Now for Structure and Exhibit Interpretation, there is also no right or wrong answer. Some answers are better than others because they are
That being said, there is no 100% that you can reach or the one-and-only solution/ answer. It is important that your answers display the characteristics specified above and supported well with arguments.
As for Math questions, usually, there are answers which are correct (not always 100% the same since some candidates simplify or round differently - which is ok), and others that are wrong, either due to the
The difference in format and way of answering a question is the reason why I recommend preparing very differently for McK interviews vs. other consultancies.
Now that you know about
you can start using the cases you already have and approach them in a McKinsey-specific way.
If you have any more questions, please feel free to reach out for some free guidance on how to come up with your own McKinsey-type cases on the spot.
Also, check out this answer I wrote on how the cases McKinsey posts online are comparable to the actual interviews: https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/are-mckinsey-website-practice-cases-representative-for-what-will-come-10002
Cheers,
Florian
A good way to approach challenges like this is to see what are the real world challenges companies are facing when it comes to sustainability?
Some examples that come to mind
Those are just some examples of issues companies are facing. It is impossible to predict what you will get unless you have the actual interview question. However you can be more prepared by reading about sustainability issues firms are facing. At the end of the day, the case is not about testing your ability to structure a particular problem but to be able to structure any problem so you do not need to know these in great detail in order to come up with a good structure.
Best,
Udayan
Hi there,
If I were you, I would check with the recruiter / HR whether specifically for the role - office combination you are applying to the cases will be from one specific industry or rather general. For almost all candidates the cases can be from any industry, but it's best to know in advance so you can adjust you preparation accordingly.
Best,
Cristian
Hi there,
Here's a case I've just completed on Sustainability: https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/candidate-led-usual-style/intermediate/hunger-warriors-270
Secondly, read BCG Insights and McK Insights. You'll literally see a plethora of topics:
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I would prepare for cases “as usual” and read as much as possible about the sustainability practices and available materials from consulting firms on those topics.
Each of McK, BCG, and Bain have more and more cases on sustainability.
My suggestion is to be aware of the key topics (e.g., emissions, COP27, electricity storage, EV, etc). You can find plenty of material on this on the MBB websites.
If you want I have a couple of cases on ESG that I can propose to you.
Structured framework for sustainable corporate development, including market penetration, product development, market development and diversification.
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