McKinsey style case interviews are different than case interviews at BCG, Bain, and other consulting firms. Knowing the key differences could make the difference between passing your interviews and getting rejected.

 

In this comprehensive article, we’ll provide an overview of the McKinsey style case interview, tell you what to expect, and how to prepare.

 

If you’re looking for a step-by-step shortcut to learn McKinsey style 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 them hundreds of hours of time.

 

Overview of the McKinsey Style Case Interview

 

The McKinsey style case interview is a structured problem-solving assessment used to evaluate candidates for consulting roles. Unlike traditional case interviews, where candidates drive the direction of the case, McKinsey style cases are interviewer-led.

 

This means the interviewer guides the discussion, presenting structured questions one at a time, and evaluating responses independently.

 

Here are the key differences from traditional case interviews given at most other consulting firms.

 

1. Interviewer-led, not candidate-led

 

In a typical case interview at firms such as BCG or Bain, candidates are expected to structure and drive the problem-solving process. They define the approach, decide which areas to explore, and pivot as needed.

 

However, McKinsey style case interviews are different. The interviewer maintains control over the flow of the case, presenting specific questions at each step. Your job is to answer each question effectively rather than set the direction yourself.

 

2. More rigid with less freedom and control

 

Since McKinsey style case interviews are structured around predefined questions, candidates have less flexibility to explore different areas of the case on their own. This can make the interview feel more rigid and fast-paced.

 

Rather than an open-ended discussion, McKinsey’s format requires candidates to respond quickly and accurately to the given prompts, often moving through multiple frameworks or calculations within a short time.

 

3. Assessed on each question, not on holistic performance

 

In McKinsey style case interviews, each response is evaluated individually. There is little room to recover from mistakes because the interviewer assesses your ability at each step before moving on.

 

This is different from more open-ended cases, where interviewers may weigh overall problem-solving ability rather than focusing on isolated answers.

 

At McKinsey, structured, clear, and precise thinking is essential from the very first question to the last.

 

What to Expect in a McKinsey Style Case Interview

 

McKinsey style cases follow a structured, interviewer-led format. Below are the key components of the interview and what you can expect.

 

1. Summarizing information

 

At the beginning of the McKinsey style case and throughout the interview, you will be presented with information. This could be in the form of a client’s situation, financial data, or market trends.

 

You’ll be expected to quickly and concisely summarize the main points to demonstrate active listening and structured thinking. Be precise and avoid repeating unnecessary details.

 

Most importantly, confirm your understanding of the case objective with the interviewer.

 

For example: “Just to confirm, the client is a leading online retailer experiencing declining profits despite rising revenue. Is that correct?”

 

2. Asking questions

 

While McKinsey style case interviews are interviewer-led, you are expected to ask clarifying and probing questions when appropriate. Thoughtful questions can show business intuition and help uncover important case details.

 

Different types of questions you could ask include:

 

• Clarification questions: Ensuring you fully understand the case context

 

• Data-driven questions: Asking for missing pieces of information that could impact your analysis

 

• Hypothesis-driven questions: Narrowing down potential causes or solutions

 

Here’s an example: “Do we know if the decline in profitability is due to increasing costs, price reductions, or a shift in product mix?”

 

3. Creating a framework

 

McKinsey style case interviews require you to generate a framework specific to each question asked. You should outline a logical structure to break down the problem systematically.

 

Use MECE frameworks to ensure comprehensive coverage. MECE stands for mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive.

 

Keep frameworks simple, structured, and tailored to the case rather than relying on generic business frameworks. Always communicate your framework first before diving into specifics.

 

For example, if the case is about declining profitability, you might break it down into revenue drivers (price, volume) and cost drivers (fixed costs, variable costs).

 

4. Gathering information

 

Your McKinsey interviewer will provide data throughout the case. You’ll need to determine what’s relevant and how to use it.

 

Here are some guidelines to follow:

 

• Be specific about what data you need

 

• Prioritize key information rather than asking for excessive details

 

• Connect information requests to your problem-solving approach

 

For example: “To assess market potential, I’d like to understand the total addressable market and current market share.”

 

5. Setting up analyses

 

You will often be asked how you would analyze a particular aspect of the case before actually doing the math during your McKinsey style case.

 

Structuring your approach before diving into calculations helps you avoid making mistakes and reaching dead ends.

 

Make sure that you are:

 

• Identifying key metrics and define how they relate to the problem

 

• Laying out the steps logically

 

• Explaining assumptions clearly before proceeding

 

6. Executing on math

 

McKinsey style cases frequently test math, especially in market sizing, profitability analysis, and breakeven calculations. You need to be quick, accurate, and structured in your approach.

 

• Use rounding and approximations when possible to speed up calculations

 

• Talk through your process so the interviewer can follow your logic

 

• Check for reasonableness so that your answers make business sense

 

Here’s how you might walk your McKinsey interviewer through some math: “The market is $10B, and we have 5% market share, meaning our revenue is approximately $500M. If our margins are 20%, our profits are around $100M.”

 

7. Interpreting charts and graphs

 

You’ll likely be presented with exhibits such as bar charts, line graphs, or financial tables during your McKinsey style case.

 

Some helpful tips to keep in mind:

 

• Identify the big picture. What is the chart telling you at a high level?

 

• Look for trends, anomalies, or comparisons that stand out

 

• Relate insights to the overall business problem

 

8. Answering business judgment questions

 

McKinsey style cases also assess your ability to make sound business decisions based on limited data. These questions test your intuition and strategic thinking.

 

Some helpful tips for this:

 

• Consider industry context. What factors matter in this business?

 

• Balance qualitative and quantitative reasoning in your response

 

• Use structured thinking

 

9. Brainstorming

 

You may be asked to generate solutions for a business problem, such as “How can this company increase its market share?”

 

Here are the keys to how to structure your creativity:

 

• Categorize your ideas to make them easier to follow (e.g., revenue strategies vs. cost strategies)

 

• Aim for a mix of conventional and innovative solutions

 

• Prioritize ideas based on feasibility and impact

 

For example, you might structure your brainstorming by saying: “To increase market share, we could (1) improve pricing strategy, (2) expand distribution channels, (3) invest in brand differentiation, and (4) acquire a competitor.”

 

10. Synthesizing a recommendation

 

At the end of the McKinsey style case, you are expected to summarize your findings and provide a clear, structured recommendation.

 

Here’s how to structure a great recommendation:

 

• State your recommendation in one sentence

 

• Support it with key insights from your analysis

 

• Acknowledge risks and next steps

 

Here’s what your recommendation could sound like:

 

"The client should streamline supply chain operations to cut costs for the following three reasons. One, our analysis shows that distribution expenses have increased by 30% in the past two years. Two, this strategy has minimal downside risk. Three, this strategy is implementable in the short term. As a next step, I’d recommend piloting the new logistics strategy in a smaller test region before scaling."

 

McKinsey Style Case Interview Tips

 

Succeeding in a McKinsey style case interview requires many different strategies and techniques. Here are six essential tips to help you perform at your best.

 

1. Be hypothesis-driven

 

McKinsey expects a hypothesis-driven approach. You should always have a working theory, guess, or hunch about the problem or solution.

 

• Start with an educated guess based on the case background

 

• Use data to refine or reject your hypothesis

 

• Structure your analysis around testing that hypothesis

 

For example, if a retailer’s sales are declining, you might hypothesize that customer retention is the issue and focus your analysis there.

 

2. Be proactive and not passive

 

Even though McKinsey style cases are interviewer-led, you shouldn’t just wait to be guided every single time.

 

• Anticipate the next logical step instead of waiting for a prompt

 

• Take initiative and suggest analyses and insights when appropriate

 

• Show ownership by treating the case as if you’re solving a real business problem

 

For example, if you analyze profitability and see costs rising, suggest breaking down cost categories instead of waiting for the interviewer to ask you to do something.

 

3. Answer the “so what?”

 

Facts and numbers mean nothing unless you explain why they matter. Always connect insights to the case objective.

 

For example, instead of just saying that customer churn increased from 15% to 25%, explain the impact. You could suggest that the company is losing customers faster than they can replace them, which likely is contributing to declining revenue over time.

 

4. Follow the Rule of Three

 

When listing reasons, brainstorming ideas, or structuring frameworks, aim to present three key points. There are several reasons for this:

 

• Three is easier to follow than a long list

 

• It forces prioritization of the most important things

 

• It makes your communication sound structured and professional

 

For example, if asked how to increase revenue, instead of listing random ideas, structure them:

 

• Acquire more customers (e.g., marketing and sales strategies)

 

• Increase spending per customer (e.g., upselling, adding premium products)

 

• Reduce customer churn (e.g., loyalty programs, better customer service)

 

5. Ask for time when you need it

 

If you need a moment to think, it’s okay to pause and think about it. McKinsey values quality answers over speed.

 

• Take 10-15 seconds to organize your response

 

• Don’t pause too often, but use it strategically

 

• Always communicate that you’re structuring your thoughts

 

For example, you might say something like: "That’s a great question. Let me take a few seconds to structure my thoughts."

 

6. Have a firm recommendation

 

All McKinsey style cases should end with a clear, decisive recommendation. Your recommendation should not turn into a vague discussion of all the work that you’ve done.

 

Instead, follow these steps:

 

• Start with your final recommendation first

 

• Support it with three key insights or takeaways from your analysis

 

• Address risks and suggest next steps

 

How to Prepare for McKinsey Style Case Interviews

 

Succeeding in a McKinsey style case interview requires consistent practice and focused skill-building. Here’s how to prepare effectively.

 

1. Practice cases with a partner or out loud by yourself

 

The best way to improve is by solving cases regularly. There are benefits to both practicing cases with a partner and practicing cases by yourself.

 

Practicing with a partner simulates a real interview, helps with communication, and provides feedback. Practicing by yourself helps develop structured thinking and improves math skills quickly.

 

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.

 

2. Practice with real McKinsey cases

 

McKinsey cases follow a unique interviewer-led format, so using any practice cases that you can find isn’t enough.

 

Use official McKinsey practice cases that are available online on their website. You should also watch videos of mock McKinsey interviews to understand the pacing.

 

When practicing, focus on answering questions efficiently since McKinsey cases assess you on each question rather than a holistic approach.

 

3. Improve your math skills

 

Fast, accurate math is critical for McKinsey interviews. To improve your math:

 

• Practice multiplication, division, percentages, and ratios

 

• Get comfortable doing calculations without a calculator

 

• Learn to estimate numbers quickly to sense check your answers

 

• Use drills and online tools to sharpen your skills

 

4. Improve your business acumen

 

McKinsey looks for candidates who have a strong business acumen. To improve on this:

 

• Read about common business problems in different industries

 

• Learn key profitability, pricing, and growth strategies

 

• Follow business news (e.g., The Economist, WSJ, HBR) to stay updated on trends

 

The stronger your business intuition, the better you’ll perform in brainstorming and business judgment questions.

 

5. Improve your communication skills

 

Clear, structured communication sets top candidates apart in McKinsey style case interviews. Here are some ways to improve your communication skills:

 

• Be concise and get to the point quickly

 

• Use structured thinking to organize your thoughts logically

 

• Summarize findings frequently and tie insights back to the case objective

 

• Practice explaining case answers out loud to improve your delivery

 

6. Practice structuring and creating frameworks

 

McKinsey expects you to quickly develop structured approaches to problems in their McKinsey style cases.

 

• Use MECE principles

 

• Develop custom frameworks and avoid generic ones such as Porter’s Five Forces

 

• Always include both qualitative and quantitative factors in your framework

 

A well-structured framework shows clear thinking and problem-solving ability, which is essential for McKinsey style case interviews.

 

McKinsey Style Case Interview Examples

 

We’ve compiled all of the official McKinsey style case interviews that we could find online for your convenience:

 

• Electro-light (McKinsey)

 

• Beautify (McKinsey)

 

• Shops Corporation (McKinsey)

 

• GlobaPharm (McKinsey)

 

• Talbot Trucks (McKinsey)

 

• Diconsa (McKinsey)

 

• National Education (McKinsey)

 

• Conservation Forever (McKinsey)

 

We also have two videos from our YouTube channel where we solve two of these McKinsey style cases step-by-step.

 

For more practice, check out our comprehensive case interview course. We have 20 practice cases based that can be done in the McKinsey style without a case interview partner. These practice cases are based on real interviews given at top consulting firms.

 

Land Your Dream Consulting Job

 

Here are the resources we recommend to land a McKinsey consulting offer:

 

For help landing consulting interviews

 

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

 

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 MBB 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.