McKinsey Interview Anyone?

2007Analyst:

with MBB. Best tip is always have structure, but that's a given.

McKinsey - limited fit, primarily case work and shear intellect. Had a complicated numbers case. Final round is with partners and complicated math, if you don't nail it, I got the sense you were cooked.

Bain - connect everything with real world strategy and tips to grow the company. Diagnosing the problem is not enough, connect it with a solution that can drive real returns. Fit is also very important, work hard, play hard.

BCG - More fit, academic in nature. Serious work with charts and graphs. Easier then the other two.

Agree: McKinsey cases are math intensive, especially in the early rounds. In my experience, the Bain cases were much more logical..much easier to get through.

The BCG cases were more difficult in terms of putting a structure around a problem and then drilling down into the issues.

There is a book called "Case in Point" which is great case prep

Although my partner interview wasn't that math intensive...everything depends on how you structure. I found that they work with you and give feed back. They aren't trying to screw you, they just don't make it easy.

For example:

EM walks in, shakes my hand, we start talking... before I knew it I was deeply entrenched in the organic foods industry discussing how I would increase sales of ketchup from $25 mm to $400 mm in 5 years. They don't expect you to re-invent the wheel, but you need to know the right steps to at least build a wheel. Poor analogy, I know, but everything is structure, structure, structure, step by step. A= .... B= .... C=....

In following up, the guy told me flat out that I need to improve my structure and that I need to force myself to think within a framework. He said if I get a partner interview, that I should take more time and pause before thinking, brutally honest but helpful.

I got the offer...so hopefully I'll figure it out. Also, remember that they train the crap out of you, so don't try and be perfect. Be enthusiastic, genuine, communicate well, show intelligence, and ace the 70 minute test. I had no contacts and not the world's greatest resume either...

I think showing true desire to be there and not just get a couple years on the resume and a sincere interest in who they are and what they do is key. Just from my experience so take it with a grain of salt...

raider4ever:

I more or less did it wrong, whereas I just started going and picked up steam as I went along...but the EM told me afterward that it would be better to ask for a moment to think about it before just diving right in.

Take a moment (i dunno 15-30 seconds) and work within a framework in your mind. Come up with 3 points and then proceed:'

"There are three things to consider:

1) 2) 3)...."

He also mentioned, which I thought was somewhat funny, that after saying "Here are 3 things" that thinking in a framework may help you think of other things...so there could be a 4)... and 5)...

During your time of personal thought, be sure to quickly consider alternatives or rejections, because once you take your course of action, right or wrong they will push you and challenge your assumptions so that they stand firm.

Good luck!

So you received an offer to be a partner at McK?