McKinsey experienced hires are a critical part of McKinsey’s workforce. Experienced hires at McKinsey help fill gaps in recruiting, provide technical expertise, and offer industry experience.

 

In exchange, McKinsey offers experienced hires the opportunity to work on a variety of challenging, impactful projects while accelerating their career progression and compensation growth.

 

If you’re considering applying to McKinsey as an experienced hire, but are not sure if it’s the right fit for you or how to get an offer, then this article is for you.

 

I’m a former MBB manager and interviewer and in this comprehensive article on McKinsey experienced hires, we’ll cover:

 

• What is a McKinsey experienced hire?

 

• Where do McKinsey experienced hires come from?

 

• Why does McKinsey recruit experienced hires?

 

• Is joining McKinsey as an experienced hire right for you?

 

• What roles are available for McKinsey experienced hires?

 

• McKinsey experienced hire recruiting process

 

• McKinsey experienced hire application

 

• McKinsey experienced hire interview

 

• How to get into McKinsey as an experienced hire

 

• Recommended resources to land a McKinsey offer as an experienced hire

 

If you’re looking for a step-by-step shortcut to learn case interviews quickly, enroll in our case interview course. These insider strategies from a former MBB interviewer have helped thousands land consulting offers while saving hundreds of hours of prep time.

 

What is a McKinsey Experienced Hire?

 

A McKinsey experienced hire is someone who joins McKinsey after having significant work experience at another company or consulting firm. Unlike traditional hires, who are recruited from top undergraduate and graduate programs, experienced hires are not recruited directly from school and are typically recruited off-cycle while they are still working.

 

McKinsey experienced hires can have anywhere from 2 to 10+ years of work experience, working in various industries such as technology, healthcare, manufacturing, and finance. They typically have held meaningful roles, such as management positions, technical expert roles, or specialized functions, with substantial responsibilities.

 

Experienced hires can join McKinsey at a variety of different levels, depending on how much work experience they have and how relevant that experience is for consulting.

 

McKinsey experienced hires are an integral part of McKinsey. They contribute to the diversity of thought and approaches at McKinsey and often have established networks and relationships in their industries, both of which are incredibly valuable to the firm.

 

Where do McKinsey Experienced Hires Come From?

 

McKinsey experienced hires come from a variety of different industries and functions, the most common being finance, corporate strategy, technology, healthcare, academia and research, and consulting.

 

Finance

 

McKinsey experienced hires from finance typically come from backgrounds in investment banking and private equity. These professionals bring strong analytical skills, a deep understanding of financial markets, and experience in complex transactions and strategic financial planning.

 

They are skilled at valuation, financial modeling, and advising on mergers and acquisitions, which are valuable skills for McKinsey's clients, especially for financial services projects.

 

Corporate strategy

 

Professionals from corporate strategy roles within large organizations are another significant source of McKinsey experienced hires. These individuals have experience in strategic planning, market analysis, and business development. They bring a high-level perspective on driving growth and navigating competitive landscapes.

 

Their skills in shaping and implementing strategic initiatives make them valuable for McKinsey’s strategy projects.

 

Technology

 

The technology sector is another source for McKinsey experienced hires, particularly companies in software development and tech startups. Experienced hires from this sector bring technical expertise, innovation experience, and a deep understanding of digital transformation.

 

Their knowledge in areas such as data analytics, cybersecurity, software engineering, and emerging technologies helps McKinsey clients stay competitive in an increasingly digital world.

 

Healthcare

 

McKinsey experienced hires from the healthcare industry have backgrounds in clinical practice, healthcare management, pharmaceuticals, or biotechnology. These professionals bring extensive knowledge of the healthcare ecosystem, including regulatory environments, patient care protocols, and healthcare technologies.

 

This expertise is valuable for McKinsey's healthcare clients, who require insights into improving patient outcomes, optimizing operational efficiency, and innovating in healthcare delivery.

 

Academia and research

 

Academia and research professionals who transition to McKinsey as experienced hires often hold advanced degrees, such as PhDs and MDs, and have substantial research experience.

 

These experienced hires are skilled in analytical thinking, problem solving, and conducting research. Their ability to apply scientific methods to business problems and their expertise in specific domains are incredibly valuable to McKinsey.

 

Consulting

 

Experienced hires from other consulting firms, including both boutique and large consulting firms, already bring relevant consulting-specific skills. They are skilled in client management, problem structuring, and delivering high-impact recommendations.

 

These experienced hires understand the consulting business model and can quickly and seamlessly integrate into McKinsey's case teams.

 

Why does McKinsey Recruit Experienced Hires?

 

McKinsey recruits experienced hires to fill recruiting gaps and needs, acquire technical expertise, leverage their industry experience, and tap into their network.

 

Fill recruiting gaps and needs

 

Experienced hires help McKinsey address specific recruiting gaps and immediate business needs. By bringing in professionals with established skills and knowledge, McKinsey can quickly fill roles that require specialized expertise or industry experience.

 

This approach ensures that the firm maintains a balanced and comprehensive talent pool, capable of addressing a wide range of client challenges without the lengthy ramp-up period often required for new graduates.

 

Acquire technical expertise

 

McKinsey experienced hires often possess technical skills and specialized knowledge in hot areas such as data analytics, digital transformation, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. By recruiting these professionals, McKinsey improves their ability to offer cutting-edge solutions and stay ahead of technological advancements.

 

Leverage their industry experience

 

McKinsey experienced hires bring a deep understanding of specific industries, including market dynamics, regulatory environments, and operational challenges. Their insights help McKinsey provide tailored strategies that reflect real-world industry knowledge.

 

This depth of experience allows McKinsey to more confidently address client needs, offering innovative solutions that are backed by industry experience.

 

Tap into their network

 

Experienced hires at McKinsey have already established professional networks that can be leveraged for business development and client engagement. Experienced hires provide McKinsey with valuable connections to industry leaders and stakeholders that can lead to new business opportunities.

 

Additionally, the relationships and reputation that experienced hires bring with them can enhance McKinsey’s credibility and reach within specific industries or sectors.

 

Is Joining McKinsey as an Experienced Hire Right For You?

 

To determine if joining McKinsey as an experienced hire is right for you, consider whether consulting and McKinsey matches your interests, needs, and goals.

 

Why consulting?

 

Experienced hires are attracted to consulting because they get to work on challenging and impactful problems, work on a diverse array of projects, work with ambitious and smart people, accelerate their career progression, and receive high compensation.

 

Work on challenging, impactful problems

 

One of the main draws of consulting is the opportunity to tackle some of the most pressing and complex issues faced by businesses and organizations. Experienced hires are often motivated by the intellectual challenge and the potential for significant impact.

 

Whether it's helping a company navigate a major transformation, optimizing operations, or developing innovative strategies, consultants play a crucial role in driving meaningful change in the world.

 

Work on a variety of problems

 

Consulting provides the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects across different industries and functions. This diversity keeps the work exciting and prevents the monotony that comes with more specialized roles.

 

Experienced hires appreciate the chance to apply their skills to new and varied challenges, continually learning and adapting to different environments.

 

Work with ambitious, smart people

 

Consulting is known to attract top talent. Consultants are typically ambitious, intelligent, and driven. For experienced hires, this means joining a community of like-minded professionals who are passionate about their work and committed to excellence.

 

Collaborating with such a high-caliber team can be incredibly stimulating and rewarding. It creates a culture of continuous learning, where individuals are constantly challenged to grow and develop.

 

Accelerate their career progression

 

Consulting offers a clear and accelerated career path, with opportunities for rapid advancement based on performance. Experienced hires can leverage their prior experience to quickly move up the ranks, getting promoted to higher titles with more responsibilities.

 

The skills acquired in consulting are highly transferable and valued across industries. This makes consultants well-positioned for future industry roles.

 

Receive high compensation

 

Consulting is known for offering competitive compensation packages, which are typically higher than the industry-equivalent compensation.

 

For experienced hires, the increase in compensation can be quite significant, sometimes doubling the total compensation of their previous job or role.

 

Why McKinsey?

 

Experienced hires are attracted to McKinsey because of its brand name, strong collaborative culture, prestigious clients, access to unparalleled resources and training, global network, and rapid career advancement.

 

Brand name

 

McKinsey’s brand name is unparalleled in the consulting industry. The McKinsey name is synonymous with excellence. The firm is widely recognized as the top consulting firm in the world, known for its high standards, exceptional talent, and impactful work.

 

For experienced hires, joining McKinsey means being associated with a brand that commands respect and credibility in the business world. This prestigious affiliation can open doors to future opportunities.

 

Strong collaborative culture

 

McKinsey is known for its strong collaborative culture, with an emphasis on teamwork and knowledge-sharing. McKinsey experienced hires appreciate the supportive and inclusive work environment. The opportunity to work with diverse, talented teams on complex problems is both intellectually stimulating and rewarding.

 

Prestigious clients

 

McKinsey is renowned for its prestigious and high-profile client base, which includes many of the world’s leading corporations, governments, and non-profit organizations. McKinsey experienced hires are attracted to the opportunity to work on strategic issues that have significant impact on these influential clients.

 

Access to unparalleled resources and training

 

McKinsey invests heavily in the development of its people, offering unparalleled resources and training opportunities. McKinsey experienced hires benefit from world-class training programs, access to cutting-edge knowledge and research, and a wealth of proprietary tools and methodologies.

 

Global network

 

McKinsey’s global presence and diverse client base provide McKinsey experienced hires with the opportunity to work on international assignments and collaborate with colleagues from around the world. Being part of McKinsey means joining a global network of top professionals, which opens doors to new opportunities and experiences.

 

Rapid career advancement

 

Career progression at McKinsey is based on merit, providing McKinsey experienced hires with the opportunity to advance rapidly based on their performance. The firm offers clear pathways for career growth, with regular feedback and mentorship to support professional development. McKinsey experienced hires can quickly move into leadership and manager roles.

 

What Roles are Available for McKinsey Experienced Hires?

 

McKinsey offers a variety of roles for experienced hires, reflecting their diverse backgrounds and expertise. These roles span across different levels and functions within the firm, including Associate, Engagement Manager, Associate Partner, Expert Partner, Partner, and other functional roles.

 

Associate

 

Associates play a critical role in McKinsey’s client engagements. They lead workstreams within projects, conduct complex analyses, and collaborate with clients to develop and implement strategic solutions. McKinsey experienced hires who join as an Associate typically have 3 to 5 years of work experience.

 

Engagement Manager

 

Engagement Managers oversee entire projects, managing teams of consultants and ensuring the delivery of high-quality solutions to clients. They are responsible for client relationships, project timelines, and the overall strategic direction of the engagement.

 

McKinsey experienced hires in this role typically have significant prior consulting or management experience. They typically have 5 to 7 years of work experience.

 

Associate Partner

 

Associate Partners are senior leaders within McKinsey who guide multiple client engagements and play a key role in business development. They are responsible for building and maintaining client relationships, driving thought leadership, and mentoring junior consultants.

 

McKinsey experienced hires in these roles usually have extensive consulting experience and a proven track record of leadership and impact. They typically have at least 8 to 10 years of work experience.

 

Expert Partner

 

Expert Partners bring deep industry or functional expertise to McKinsey, focusing on specific areas such as digital transformation, operations, marketing, or healthcare. They provide specialized knowledge and insights, helping to shape innovative solutions and strategies for clients.

 

McKinsey experienced hires in these roles often have advanced degrees and at least 10 years of work experience in their area of expertise.

 

Partner

 

Partners are the most senior leaders within McKinsey, responsible for the overall strategic direction of the firm, major client relationships, and the development of new business opportunities.

 

For this role, McKinsey experienced hires typically have at least 10 years of work experience in industry or consulting and have demonstrated exceptional leadership, business acumen, and a track record of success.

 

Other functional roles

 

In addition to client-facing roles, McKinsey also offers functional roles that support client service teams. These roles include positions in knowledge management, talent development, marketing, and business development.

 

The amount of work experience you have will determine where you will be leveled in these functional roles.

 

McKinsey Experienced Hire Recruiting Process

 

The McKinsey experienced hire recruiting process consists of submitting an application, passing the McKinsey Solve, passing an HR interview, passing the McKinsey first round interview, and then passing the McKinsey final round interview.

 

1. Application

 

The McKinsey experienced hire recruiting process begins with submitting an online application through McKinsey’s experienced professionals career portal. This application typically includes your resume, a cover letter, educational background, work experience, unofficial school transcripts, test scores, and office preferences.

 

• Resume: Highlight your professional experience, achievements, and skills that align with the role you are applying for

 

• Cover letter: Explain your interest in McKinsey, your career aspirations, and why you believe you are a good fit for the firm

 

• Educational background: Provide information on the schools you’ve attended and degrees you’ve earned

 

• Work experience: Provide information on the companies that you’ve worked at, your role and responsibilities, and how long you have worked there for

 

• Unofficial school transcripts: Attach a copy of your school transcript, which should include the courses you’ve taken, grades you’ve received, and overall GPA

 

• Test scores: Input your test scores on standardized tests you have taken, including the SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, MCAT, and LSAT

 

• Office preferences: Indicate your top three office preferences

 

2. McKinsey Solve

 

After submitting your McKinsey experienced hire application, you’ll be asked to take the McKinsey Solve.

 

The McKinsey Solve is an online assessment tool designed to evaluate your problem solving skills. It consists of various game-based tasks that measure cognitive abilities such as numerical reasoning, critical thinking, and pattern recognition.

 

This innovative assessment allows McKinsey to assess your analytical capabilities in a unique and engaging way. Performing well on the McKinsey Solve is crucial. A poor performance may hold you back from receiving a McKinsey interview.

 

3. McKinsey HR interview

 

If you pass the McKinsey Solve, you’ll be given an HR interview. The HR interview is a 30-minute interview conducted by a McKinsey recruiter that focuses on your background, experience, and motivations for joining McKinsey.

 

This interview assesses your fit with the firm’s culture and values. You can expect questions about your previous roles, career progression, and reasons for pursuing a consulting career at McKinsey. This is also an opportunity to ask questions about the firm, the role, and the recruiting process.

 

4. McKinsey first round interview

 

After completing the HR interview, you’ll be given a first round interview. This is where the real interviews begin.

 

McKinsey first round interviews typically consist of two interviews with consultants or engagement managers. These interviews include both personal experience questions and case interviews.

 

The McKinsey Personal Experience Interview (PEI) focuses on your past achievements, leadership experiences, and teamwork skills.

 

McKinsey case interviews assess your ability to structure and solve complex business problems. You will be presented with a business scenario and asked to analyze the situation, develop hypotheses, and recommend solutions.

 

A strong performance in these interviews is essential to move forward in the process.

 

5. McKinsey final round interview

 

The McKinsey final round interview, often referred to as the "decision round," involves multiple interviews with Engagement Managers, Associate Partners, and Partners. Similar to McKinsey first round interviews, these interviews include a mix of personal experience interviews and case interviews.

 

However, the cases may be more challenging, and the interviewers will be evaluating your problem solving abilities, leadership potential, and fit with McKinsey at a higher level.

 

You’ll also be asked a few fit questions, such as “why are you interested in consulting” and “why do you want to work at McKinsey?”

 

This round is critical, as it ultimately determines whether you will receive an offer to join McKinsey.

 

McKinsey Experienced Hire Application

 

The McKinsey experienced hire application requires a resume, cover letter, educational background information, work experience information, unofficial school transcripts, test scores, and office preferences.

 

There is no specific deadline for the McKinsey experienced hire application since McKinsey recruits experienced hires year-round. However, March to May is a particularly attractive period to apply.

 

McKinsey does experienced hire recruiting to fill in spots that are unfilled after undergraduate and MBA recruiting. Therefore, the March to May period is the recruiting period in-between recruiting cycles where McKinsey typically interviews the most number of experienced hires.

 

We’ll cover each component of the McKinsey experienced hire application in further detail and provide you with some helpful strategies and tips.

 

Resume

 

Your consulting resume is the single most important component of the McKinsey internship application. It is the first thing that McKinsey recruiters and resume reviewers will take a look at to decide whether or not you will receive an interview.

 

Your resume/CV summarizes your entire student and professional career, including your education, internships, work experience, volunteer experience, extracurricular activities, skills, languages, and interests.

 

No matter how much you network, you will not land a McKinsey internship interview unless you have a strong resume that showcases your experiences, accomplishments, and skills.

 

Therefore, you’ll want to spend as much time as you can crafting your resume and ensuring that it best highlights your achievements.

 

Cover letter

 

The cover letter is another critical component of the application. Although, the cover letter is not always read by McKinsey recruiters, it can potentially help distinguish or separate yourself from other candidates.

 

Especially for candidates whose resumes are on the borderline between receiving an interview and getting rejected, a well-written consulting cover letter can help candidates receive one of the last few interview spots.

 

The cover letter should be concise, memorable, and tailored to McKinsey. It needs to introduce yourself, explain your interest in McKinsey, and summarize why you’d be a great fit for consulting and McKinsey.

 

Educational background information

 

McKinsey’s internship application will ask you to fill in information regarding your educational background. You’ll be asked for a list of schools you’ve attended, degrees that you’ve earned or are pursuing, and your school start and graduation dates.

 

Although this information may already be on your resume, you’ll be asked to enter this information in separately because it helps make your application easier to screen and filter for.

 

Work experience information

 

McKinsey’s internship application will also ask you to fill in information regarding your work experiences. You’ll be asked for a list of companies you’ve worked at, your start and end dates, and locations of where you have worked.

 

Although this information may already be on your resume, you’ll be asked to enter this information in separately because it helps make your application easier to screen and filter for.

 

Unofficial school transcripts

 

McKinsey’s internship application will ask you to upload an unofficial school transcript. This transcript will show the classes you have taken, the grades you’ve earned in them, and your overall GPA.

 

You do not need to submit an official transcript. Instead, you can download an unofficial copy from your school’s website and upload it to your application.

 

Test scores

 

McKinsey’s internship application will also ask you to report your test scores for all of the standardized tests you have taken. These include the SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT to name a few.

 

You do not need to submit an official test score report. Instead, you just need to enter in your score and the sub-score breakdowns.

 

Office preferences

 

Lastly, McKinsey’s internship application will ask you to list up to three office preferences. You should select offices based on the geographical areas that you would like to live and work in.

 

In addition, McKinsey will ask you to give a weight to each of your top office preferences such that the sum of all weights equals 100%. For example, you could list your top three McKinsey office preferences as 50% San Francisco, 40% Los Angeles, and 10% Seattle.

 

McKinsey Experienced Hire Interview

 

McKinsey experienced hire interviews consist of case interviews, personal experience interviews, and fit interview questions.

 

Case interview

 

A case interview is a 20 to 40-minute interview in which you are placed in a hypothetical business situation and asked to develop a recommendation to solve a business problem. Case interviews are a special type of interview that all management consulting firms use in their interview process.

 

Examples of common types of case interview questions you could get asked include:

 

• What is causing profitability to decline and what can we do about it?

 

• How can we increase revenues?

 

• Should we enter a new market?

 

• Should we launch this new product?

 

• Should we acquire this company?

 

• How should we respond to this competitor?

 

The business problem that you will be asked to solve can be from any industry or function. Expect to see case interviews in industries ranging from retail to pharmaceuticals to financial services. However, know that no prior knowledge or experience in the industry is required to successfully solve the case interview.

 

Case interviews are used because they closely simulate what the consulting job will be like. In a case interview, you’ll need to use problem solving, quantitative skills, business judgment, and communication to work through the business problem, uncover insights, and make a firm recommendation.

 

Consulting firms, such as McKinsey, like to use case interviews in their recruiting process because they can assess a variety of skills and traits that are required to be a successful management consultant.

 

Personal experience interview (PEI)

 

The McKinsey Personal Experience Interview, or PEI for short, is a component of McKinsey’s interview process that is used to evaluate a candidate’s personal experiences, skills, and attributes.

 

During the PEI, the interviewer will ask you to provide specific examples from your past experiences that demonstrate certain skills or qualities. These could include leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, communication, and other relevant attributes. The purpose of the PEI is to assess your ability to handle real-world situations and to gauge how you might perform as a consultant.

 

The McKinsey PEI shares some similarities with consulting behavioral interview questions. These questions ask you to draw upon a time or experience in the past in which you demonstrated a particular skill or trait. Examples of behavioral questions include:

 

• Tell me about a time where you led a team

 

• Describe a time when you had a disagreement with a teammate

 

• Give an example of how you motivate people

 

• Describe a time when you solved a difficult problem

 

The McKinsey Personal Experience Interview is simply a single behavioral question that takes up 10 to 15 minutes, which is a long time for a single question.

 

Because your interviewer is only asking you one behavioral question, be prepared to dive deeper into your answer and story than in any other interview you’ve had.

 

Expect to be asked several follow-up questions:

 

• Why did you do the things that you did?

 

• How did you make this decision?

 

• What was going through your mind at the time?

 

• How did others react to this?

 

• What did you learn from this?

 

The interviewer doesn’t just want to know what happened and what you did, they want to get inside your head to understand why you did it and how you went about doing it.

 

Fit interview

 

McKinsey asks fit interview questions to assess your genuine passion for consulting and to see if you are actually interested in working at the firm.

 

There are two common motivational questions that you should prepare for:

 

• Why are you interested in consulting?

 

• Why do you want to work at McKinsey?

 

The first question evaluates whether you know what you are getting into. Do you actually have an idea of what consultants do and what you should expect on the job?

 

The reasons you provide for why you are interested in consulting will also help interviewers determine if you are interested in consulting for the right reasons. Are you motivated by the challenging, fulfilling business problems that you will solve? Or, are you motivated by the wrong reasons, such as the money or prestige.

 

The second question evaluates whether you’ve done your research on McKinsey. Do you know what makes McKinsey special among all the other management consulting firms? Are you interested in McKinsey for the right reasons?

 

How to Get into McKinsey as an Experienced Hire

 

There are five steps to get into McKinsey as an experienced hire: perfect your consulting resume, prepare for the McKinsey Solve, prepare for case interviews, prepare for personal experience interviews, and prepare for fit interviews.

 

1. Perfect your McKinsey resume

 

Your McKinsey resume is the single most important component that will determine whether or not you are extended an interview for a McKinsey internship.

 

Therefore, you’ll want to dedicate at least a few days perfecting your resume while also getting feedback from peers, your school’s career center, or even consultants that you know.

 

Make sure to follow the tips below to perfect your consulting resume.

 

• Keep your resume to one page only. If it is longer, you’ll need to make your resume more concise and less wordy

 

• Every bullet on your resume should start with a verb in the past tense to show that you have completed or achieved something

 

• Every bullet should have some kind of number or metric in them so that you can quantify your accomplishments and make them sound more impressive

 

• Your resume’s bullets should show a mix of quantitative skill accomplishments (e.g., analyzing data) and qualitative skill accomplishments (e.g., managing or working with others)

 

• Avoid using technical jargon, unfamiliar abbreviations or acronyms, and buzzwords with unclear meanings

 

• Your resume should prioritize showcasing your work experiences, particularly if you have worked at a brand name company

 

• Include personal interests at the end of the resume to give resume reviewers something interesting to read about

 

If you need professional help crafting the perfect resume that will land you consulting interviews, check out our resume review and editing service.

 

2. Prepare for the McKinsey Solve

 

The results of your McKinsey Solve assessment may determine whether or not you are invited to participate in the McKinsey Inspire program. So, it is important that you do well on this test.

 

There have been a total of six games that have appeared on the McKinsey Solve, though only the first two are used today.

 

• Ecosystem building: Create a stable ecosystem by choosing a location for the ecosystem and selecting eight different species to inhabit it

 

• Redrock case study: Ensure ecological balance in a nature reserve by optimizing the number of wolves in the four packs that live there such that wolves and elk can sustainably coexist

 

Below, we’ve outlined a video that explains what the McKinsey Solve is and walks you through exactly how to tackle the games you’ll see on your online assessment.

 

After watching this video, we highly recommend practicing playing these games before you take the actual McKinsey Solve. You can do this through PSG Secrets’ McKinsey Solve simulation. This simulation replicates the actual games you’ll be evaluated on in the McKinsey Solve.

 

3. Prepare for McKinsey case interviews

 

You will need to nail every single one of your McKinsey case interviews in order to land a McKinsey offer.

 

Case interviews are difficult and require a lot of time and practice to do well in them. Unlike behavioral or fit interview questions, it is extremely unlikely you will nail your McKinsey case interview unless you have practiced at least 5 to 20+ cases.

 

Below, we’ve put together a 30-minute video giving you a solid introduction to case interviews.

 

If you’re looking for a step-by-step guide to learn case interviews quickly and save yourself hundreds of hours, make sure to check out our comprehensive case interview course. Whether you have no business background, rusty math skills, or are short on time, learn the most effective case interview strategies and become a top 1% caser.

 

The course also includes plenty of practice cases that you can do without a case partner. This will significantly speed up how quickly you can master case interviews.

 

4. Prepare stories for the McKinsey Personal Experience Interview (PEI)

 

You are guaranteed to be asked a few McKinsey Personal Experience Interview questions throughout the McKinsey experienced hire interview process. Taking a little bit of time to prepare stories for these questions can significantly improve the quality of your answers.

 

To answer McKinsey PEIs, follow these guidelines:

 

• Prepare 6-8 different stories in advance that draw upon your professional and personal work experiences. This ensures that you have prepared answers and stories that you can draw upon no matter what behavioral question is asked

 

• Only select and share experiences that are the most impressive, impactful, or unique. You want to showcase the highlights of your experiences, not just any experience that is relevant

 

• Make sure that you the stories you prepare are collectively diverse. You’ll want to have at least one story that is relevant to leadership, teamwork, problem solving, resilience, integrity, decision making, communication, and interpersonal skills

 

• Structure your answer to help keep your answer clear and easy to follow. Most candidates use the STAR method, which stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result

 

• When giving your answer, cover the Situation and Task sections quickly and spend most of your time focusing on the Action and Result

 

If you want to learn how to answer 98% of behavioral and fit questions in just a few hours, check out our behavioral interview course.

 

5. Prepare answers to common fit interview questions

 

In addition to McKinsey Personal Experience Interviews, you are almost certainly going to be asked a fit interview question.

 The two most common fit interview questions are:

 

• Why consulting?

 

• Why McKinsey?

 

There are a variety of different reasons you could give for why you’re interested in consulting:

 

• You want to make a significant impact by working on the biggest, most challenging business problems that companies face

 

• You enjoy the diversity of solving business problems across multiple different industries and functions

 

• You see consulting as the quickest way to build a strong toolkit of both hard skills and soft skills that are needed to be successful in business

 

• You want to get an insider view on how companies are run and operated

 

• You want to develop knowledge and expertise in a particular industry or function

 

• You value the significant mentorship and professional development that consulting provides

 

• You find fulfillment in working with and servicing clients, helping deliver significant value to them

 

There are also a variety of different reasons you could give for why you’re interested in McKinsey:

 

• McKinsey works with large, globally recognized clients on high impact issues

 

• McKinsey has a wide range of different projects spanning across nearly all industries and functions

 

• McKinsey has some of the most ambitious, intelligent people that you’ll ever work with in your career

 

• McKinsey invests heavily in professional development and mentorship

 

• McKinsey is a global firm that provides more opportunities for international exposure compared to other consulting firms

 

• McKinsey has an extremely strong presence in government work, partnering with governments to drive policy initiatives and facilitate public sector transformations

 

Recommended Resources to Land a McKinsey Offer as an Experienced Hire

 

To give yourself the best chance of landing a McKinsey offer as an experienced hire, look into the resources listed below.

 

You don’t have to prepare your application and prepare for interviews by yourself. Getting professional help from a former MBB interviewer can significantly increase your chances of getting a McKinsey offer.

For help landing consulting interviews

 

• Resume Review & Editing: Transform your resume into one that will get you multiple consulting interviews

For help acing the McKinsey Solve

 

• McKinsey Solve Simulation: A realistic McKinsey Solve simulation that lets you practice the exact same games you’ll see during your online assessment. Learn how to ace the McKinsey Solve step-by-step with detailed guides and tips for each game

 

For help passing case interviews

 

• Comprehensive Case Interview Course (our #1 recommendation): The only resource you need. Whether you have no business background, rusty math skills, or are short on time, this step-by-step course will transform you into a top 1% caser that lands multiple consulting offers.

 

• Case Interview Coaching: Personalized, one-on-one coaching with a former Bain interviewer.

 

• Hacking the Case Interview Book (available on Amazon): Perfect for beginners that are short on time. Transform yourself from a stressed-out case interview newbie to a confident intermediate in under a week. Some readers finish this book in a day and can already tackle tough cases.

 

• The Ultimate Case Interview Workbook (available on Amazon): Perfect for intermediates struggling with frameworks, case math, or generating business insights. No need to find a case partner – these drills, practice problems, and full-length cases can all be done by yourself.

 

For help passing consulting behavioral & fit interviews

 

• Behavioral & Fit Interview Course: Be prepared for 98% of behavioral and fit questions in just a few hours. We'll teach you exactly how to draft answers that will impress your interviewer.