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What is rejection criteria of McKinsey interview?

McKinsey
New answer on Sep 30, 2023
6 Answers
2.4 k Views
Anonymous A asked on Dec 14, 2019

What is rejection criteria of McKinsey interview?

I am sure that case interviews are the most important things but what if candidates have similar thinking process and similar answers? (Don't count fit interview) Obviously, interviewer would give higher scores to a candidate with better school or more experiences, right?

Also, I have engineering BS, MS degrees and 5 years of work experience. Would I have less advantage than a candidate with engineering BS and MBA?

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Alberto
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Sep 30, 2023
Ex-McKinsey Associate Partner | +15 years in consulting | +200 McKinsey 1st & 2nd round interviews

Hi there,

If 2 candidates performed above the bar and exactly the same in the case (which is never the case), both would received the offer. There is no gaussian filter to cover certain amount of positions.

Best,

Alberto

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Luca
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Dec 14, 2019
BCG |NASA | SDA Bocconi & Cattolica partner | GMAT expert 780/800 score | 200+ students coached

Hello,

In case of both candidates doing a great interview it's likely that they will both receive an offer.
The interviewer don't consider the CV in his valuation. An impressive CV can influence the interviewer but the fit part is far more important and significant.
To answer your last question: the MBA is one of the best plus that a candidate can have.

Best,
Luca

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Antonello
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Dec 14, 2019
McKinsey | NASA | top 10 FT MBA professor for consulting interviews | 6+ years of coaching

Hi,
once you pass the CV screening only your performance will count. The personal part has the same importance as case resolution, and in particular, your fit with company values and mindset will be crucial as well as your personal contribution, leadership, and entrepreneurship skills. Top-down communication will be another fundamental aspect, valued both in the fit part and the business case and it will be important to work on this during case prep.

Hope it helps,
Antonello

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Clara
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Dec 16, 2019
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

In MBB in general, you are competing "against yourself", meaning that if they like you as a candidate, you get in -even if they just hired another person who was also great, even if you followed an approach that is correct but it was used by other candidates too.

This said, for sure orginality is a bonus, and using the typical frameworks is a minus.

Furthermore, don´t understimate FIT! I have seen maaaaany people with a decent case rejected for lack of fit. At the end, the person who is interviewing you is a consultant, not HR! He/she is trying ultimately to answer the question "would I staff this person in my team, even when it comes to working 100 h/week together?".

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

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Deniz
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Dec 16, 2019
5+ Years at BCG & Kearney Dubai & Istanbul | 400+ Trainees | Free 15-min Consultation Call

Hi,

There are many different factors considered when evaluating candidates, such as:

  • Past experience (i.e. fit is important)
  • Overall communication (i.e. you need to build a connection with the interviewer)
  • Problem-solving (i.e. you need to outperform others during the case interview)

Best,

Deniz

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Vlad
Expert
replied on Dec 15, 2019
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

First of all, your fit interview at McKinsey is 50% fo success. So don't underestimate it.

Secondly - you can't find 2 people who would solve the case in a similar way. There are tons of mistakes you can do and it's very easy to stand out if you have a good performance.

Thirdly - your education and resume do not matter at this point. It matters how you talk about it and how you describe it (coming back to the fit part)

Finally - despite the formal criterion, the interviews are very subjective. So you should definitely have a connection with the interviewer

Best

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